NewsNuggets

By Logan Earles

After the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide:  Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you (Joshua 1:1-5).

Courage is often described as being able to do something although you are afraid. I think this is a decent definition but stop for a second and think about someone you have seen be courageous. What did they do? How do you think they felt? What was courageous about their action?

Courage is not a constant action or feeling but is determined by the situation that requires it.

Our lives today are filled with moments where we can practice courage. What’s so interesting about courage is that it is not locked to one situation but can be expressed through many different moments in life. We see this with Joshua, the new leader of the Israelite people as they were entering into the promised land. Joshua had to express courage in 3 different ways, and I believe that is why God told Joshua to be courageous three different times in Joshua 1:1-9.

Joshua needed courage to deal with the loss of a loved one in Moses, he needed courage to deal with his present situation and new role as leader of a nation, and he needed courage to face armies and cities in his future.  Maybe you are in need of courage to deal with something in your past, to deal with a present situation, or something on the horizon. God has advice: let’s dig into it together.

Courage to Face the Past

Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them (Joshua 1:6).

The opening to the book of Joshua tells us that Moses has just died and Joshua is now the leader of Israel. Joshua just lost his lifelong mentor and friend. Joshua and Moses were together almost the entire time the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness. Joshua saw all of what was happening on the mountain of God, he was their when Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to it. He saw God heal the people with a bronze snake.

I think it’s fair to say that Joshua’s loss was bigger than many of the people in Israel because of how closely he worked with Moses. To face this loss takes courage. Grief is a pain that can take away your strength, motivation, and desires. When God gave the command to Joshua to be courageous, He gave it in the immediate context of Joshua’s great loss. It’s clear to me that God knows that to deal with the loss of someone; to deal with hurt in the past, you must have courage.

Courage to Face the Present

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go (Joshua 1:7).

The people of Israel needed a leader, and Joshua knew what this meant. It meant he had to deal with a bunch of whining and complaining people who never listened for very long. It meant that he had to advocate for them just as Moses did over and over again. Joshua was not only dealing with the loss of a loved one but a new reality of intense responsibility.

Days upon days of tasks and decisions. Our lives at times can feel as if all we do is make decisions, all we do is perform our duties and go onto the next day. This requires courage. Believe it or not, God understood that we are limited in our ability and understanding, and He knows that, for us to keep going, it will require a measure of courage.

Courage to Face the Future

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9).

Sometimes our lives are filled with thoughts of the past and our present situation that the future comes at us like a brick wall. Joshua was not afforded the opportunity to just stay in the present and deal with his past. His future was coming quickly and there were actual brick walls in his near future.

The place that Joshua and the Israelites were about to go to was the same place that the people just one generation before were adamant was too scary to go. They were terrified. They had no idea how they could handle the people who lived in Canaan. Joshua and Caleb displayed courage back when they were spies and God commanded Joshua to have courage once more for the future that God will bring the Children of Israel into.

Courage from Above

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).

The past, present and future all require courage to deal with. This is the reality of Joshua’s life and of ours.

What I love about what we see from Joshua’s story is that God gives him a promise. Three times God has told Joshua to be courageous. In every instance God has promised help with that.

God says to be courageous as Joshua has lost a dear friend, and, through it all, He will be with Joshua. God tells Joshua to be courageous as he takes up the mantle of leadership, and, through it all, God will be with Joshua. God tells Joshua to be courageous as he enters the promised land, and, through it all, God will be with Joshua.

Courage is not something that is only from within. In fact, I think true courage comes from above. Maybe you need courage to deal with something in your past, in the present, or in the future. Through it all, God is with you.

—Logan Earles is the associate pastor at the Littleton Seventh-day Adventist Church. Photo by Michael Dziedzic of Unsplash.

Devotional message from NAD Women’s Ministries

Some years feel like a smooth, well-marked road. I hope 2025 felt like that for most of its past 348 days.

But … maybe you’ve felt off-kilter—pulled in a dozen directions, disappointed by doors that didn’t open, or bruised by situations that seemed unfair or confusing. Maybe you’ve poured yourself out in your home, your church, your workplace, and quietly wondered, “Does any of this really matter? Does my part matter?”

In God’s kingdom, the answer is a resounding yes. You are mission critical!

“Mission critical” describes something essential to the success of the objective. If it fails, everything is at risk. Women have always been mission critical to God’s work, often without applause, platform, or spotlight.

Think of the women in the life of Jesus and the early church:

• Joanna, Susanna, Mary Magdalene and many others supported Jesus and the 12 disciples from their own means (Luke 8:1-3)
• Mary, Jesus’s mother, his aunt, Mary the wife of Clopas, Mary Magdalene, Salome and others stood near the cross as he was crucified (John 19:25, Mark 15: 40-41)
• Mary Magdalene was the first to see Jesus after his resurrection and shared the news with the disciples (John 20:11-18)
• Lydia (Acts 16:14-15, 40), Mary, mother of John Mark (Acts 12:12), Priscilla with Aquila (Romans 16:3-5) and Nympha (Col 4:15) all hosted the early Christians in their homes

Their faithfulness was not “extra.” It was essential, mission critical.

History echoes this, too. Mavis Batey cracked enemy code’s, leading to a pivotal British victory in War War II and massive breakthroughs in counterespionage. Katherine Johnson’s mathematical calculations lead to the success of the space program in landing after orbiting the earth. Their quiet, exacting work changed the course of history.

The world may overlook this. Heaven does not.

You are mission critical, but everything you get caught up doing may not be. It is important to know the difference. We can spend so much energy on things that drain us but don’t actually advance God’s purposes—perfect plans, flawless events, everyone’s approval, or getting our own preferences met.

A helpful question is: If this doesn’t happen exactly the way I want, will God’s mission actually fail? If the answer is no, then it may not be mission critical.

What is mission critical?

• Staying rooted in Jesus.
• Loving people more than appearances.
• Protecting unity more than our pride.
• Choosing prayer instead of panic.
• Prioritizing people over perfection.

That’s where our time, our hearts, and our “yes” matter most.

As we close out 2025 and step into 2026, the holiday season whispers a steady truth: Emmanuel, God with us, has not left us. Even when things did not go as planned, He was there. Even in the hardest parts of this year, He was shaping you, holding you, and preparing you for fruit you may not see yet.

Jesus says in John 15:16 that you are chosen and appointed. You are not a spare part in God’s story. You are wanted and placed on purpose. Your obedience, your prayers, your presence, your “yes” to God in this next season is mission critical.

As you cross the threshold into a new year, let this be your declaration:

I am called.

I am chosen.

I am appointed.

I am mission critical.

—This devotional is based on NAD Women’s Ministries Director DeeAnn Bragaw’s message “I Am Mission Critical” and is republished from the December 15, 2025, NAD Women’s Ministries Email Newsletter. To watch the full sermon preached at the 2025 Passionate Leader Summit, click here. Photo supplied by Pauline Misiak.

Doug Inglish – Granby, Colorado … In the early 2000s, the Seventh-day Adventist church in Granby, Colorado, officially closed. But in the years since then, a little at a time, church members from various places moved there for work, retirement, or other reasons. They came from other parts of Colorado, other states, and even other continents, with one member coming from Nigeria to make a life for himself in the Rockies.

Being so remote from the nearest churches, they tended to worship at home, often viewing a worship service on Hope Channel or some other provider. None of them knew much about the presence of any other Adventists nearby.

That began to change over the last couple of years. As members made occasional trips to distant churches, they heard about the possibility of someone else living in their area. For Tad and Michelle Long, it was enough to encourage them to do something about it. Visiting the Estes Park Church, all the way on the opposite side of Rocky Mountain National Park, they made acquaintance with elder and Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) pastor Rex Bell.

Bell and his two brothers have a long history in Granby. Their parents helped establish the church there, and they spent much of their childhood in and around the mountains of Grand County. There could not have been a better advocate for finding a way to put a light in the community. With his encouragement, they put out fliers all over the county inviting people to a study of the Book of Revelation. This led to the discovery of five other local Adventist residents, in addition to a couple they already knew who live there part time.

Tad’s brother and elder, Robb Long, is a pastor and evangelist who served in several conferences and is currently the Ministerial director of the Indiana Conference. It did not take much persuasion for him to agree to come to Granby and hold meetings as part of the North American Division’s Pentecost 25 initiative.

“The first blessing to come out of the meetings is that it brought together about a dozen Seventh-day Adventists who live in the area,” commented Doug Inglish, RMC vice president for Administration. “They are meeting regularly for church services and getting to know one another. No longer do any of them wonder if it’s true that other believers are around, they now know it and are doing something about it.”

The congregants were joined in celebration of this by Robb Long and his wife Chris, Bell, and Inglish.

“The second blessing is that seven people who knew nothing of our church came the first night,” Inglish continued. “Not only do all seven continue to come, but they have also been joined by three more! The meetings are still going on, so please pray for the Lord to work His will through them.”

Inglish remarked on a “third blessing” that happened December 6 when they gathered for a meal and worship service. Following an encouraging message from the Bible about the effectiveness of prayer led by Tad, Inglish talked to them about officially forming as a group within the Rocky Mountain Conference.

“There are still some steps to take in the process, but the day ended with a handshake agreement that they could represent themselves as a Seventh-day Adventist Church, so that the process of recognition and the status as a group rather than a full church yet would not be confusing to seekers who come to learn about God and about what the Bible teaches us,” informed Inglish.

And what they chose to call themselves is the Grand Valley Seventh-day Adventist Church. They wanted a name that would not limit them to one community but would imply an invitation to all within the immediate area. Other actions that day included identifying a group leader, a treasurer, and a communication leader.

“We are beyond excited to see where our God leads with this endeavor!” says Tad. What began for Him and Michelle as a four hour round trip a couple times a month to the nearest church, and longer in winter, has already resulted in bringing together other Adventists who didn’t have that option, and now is connecting them with “souls who are looking for truth.” There is strong hope for the future in what seemed to be a dormant territory.

Inglish reflected, “Though the church closed a couple decades ago, it is clear that the Lord’s work did not end in Granby and the surrounding area. He always had believers there, and He always had a plan.” As Bell says, “What a joy it will be when we get to the Kingdom and tell those who built the previous church that the work was reestablished! The light never went out in Grand County.”

—Doug Inglish is the RMC vice president for Administration. Photo supplied.

By Liz Kirkland

As an occasional archivist of the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) office, an interesting newspaper clipping found its way to my desk from the most recent wave of office purging. It was an article in religion section of the May 7, 1996, issue of the Wall Street Journal from staff writer Calmetta Y. Coleman, who primarily covered retail and business topics in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

As a youth growing up in the 1980s and 1990s, the article title “Churches Preach a High-Tech Gospel” caught my attention. I wondered what grand “new” technology was making waves in churches 30 years ago. To no surprise, it was the implementation of the large projection screens behind the pulpit that is a staple in even the humblest of churches now.

I was amused by the parallel conversations of today of looking to keep the youth engaged in church services while others viewing the technology equivalent to heresy.

I was nostalgic at the mention of overhead projectors, remembering the delight of a change in media when the teacher would wheel the squeaky cart to the front of the classroom.

And then, I was surprised …

Halfway through the article, the General Conference (GC) of Seventh-day Adventists was mentioned for being a tech forerunner through its transmission of Christian training by satellite and nearly 2,000 of its churches receiving projection equipment. While, anecdotally, our greater Church has been cautious in embracing new technologies, this feels like a good moment to set my preconceptions aside.

We look forward with anticipation to seeing what the OneVoice27 GC media initiative will bring and how many souls it can connect. As we continue to grow in innovation, who knows—maybe we’ll make the national news again for being on the forefront of media and mission.

CLICK HERE FOR A PDF SCAN OF THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE

—Liz Kirkland is the RMC communication director. Photo by Liz Kirkland via Adobe Firefly.

Grace G. – Denver, Colorado … The sixth of December was a day of music and Christmas spirit. Students from Mile High Academy (MHA) in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, performed “Feast of Lights” at Campion Academy in Loveland, Colorado, in the morning and then followed it up with another performance at the Denver South Seventh-day Adventist Church in the evening.

Sophomore student Adeline P. had this to say about the events: “Feast of Lights was a great, but tiring, experience. We traveled back and forth to sing. I had a good time. I am an alto, and my favorite songs to sing were ‘Masters In this Hall’ and ‘The Coming of The Lord.’”

Students commented on how beautiful it was to see all the candles lit at the end of the service—a symbol of light and hope in the Second Coming of Christ. It was a firm reminder that this season is all about the birth of Jesus.

“My experience [performing] as part of the choir in Feast of Lights was amazing! I had a lot of fun singing different songs and enjoyed watching the drama. My favorite song was ‘Bless the Children,’ because we had a small group of children that sang with us,” said Annabelle D., a junior student at MHA and part of the student select choir VOCE.

“It was beautiful to see Campion Academy, community members, and Mile High Academy all come together to perform in this yearly celebration,” remarked senior student Grace G. “And let’s not forget the key to the whole event, Mrs. [Debbie] Miranda—head of the MHA music program. The event included a huge shout-out to her for organizing the event, as well as the important role she plays in the community.”

—Grace G., MHA senior student and Journalism Staff. Photos supplied.

Liz Kirkland – Denver, Colorado …  A year-long series of public concerts, community outreach initiatives, and Bible study efforts across southeast Colorado has energized local Seventh-day Adventist churches as part of the North American Division initiative Pentecost 2025 in their mission to connect residents with Jesus in meaningful and accessible ways.

Beginning in August, Ted Williams, district pastor for Trinidad, Alamosa, and Monte Vista Seventh-day Adventist Churches, and ministry partner Mary Bennett coordinated with local Adventist churches a three-city music evangelism effort. Williams commented, “It was awesome. God opened the doors for all this stuff, and it all fit together.”

A Three-Month Evangelistic Concert Cycle

The outreach opened with international Christian violinist Jaime Jorge, who performed in Trinidad on August 22, Lamar on August 23, and La Junta on August 24. In September, vocalist Michael Harris followed the same rotation from September 26–28, with the Folk Mountain Gospel duo concluding the cycle October 17–19, even being Alamosa in the morning of October 18.

Each venue—including Trinidad State College’s theater, Lamar High School’s auditorium, and at the newly remodeled Otero College Stafford Theater in La Junta—was intentionally held in neutral public spaces rather than church buildings: “These concerts were intended for people to meet Jesus in a neutral environment,” remarked Williams.

Attendance exceeded expectations, with one La Junta concert drawing 55 people. “People came up to me and said, ‘We didn’t know you had anything like this. Please do this again,’” he recalled.

Lamar: Media Outreach and Public Bible Programs

Lamar Church expanded the concerts with six nights of Voice of Prophecy programming, including MindFit, and extensive citywide outreach. The team mailed 5,000 of Ellen G. White’s Pathways to Peace books to every address in town, followed by personal visits from Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) pastor and area Bible worker Julio Diaz.

The event was broadly advertised through local radio, news media, and personally delivered flyers, with the turnout averaging around 30. While the response was lower than hoped, it was meaningful and added to interest lists that are now being cultivated for continued outreach.

La Junta: Thousands Reached Through Settler’s Day

The Arkansas Valley Church near La Junta, Colorado, held its annual booth at Settler’s Day community event, September 6. Over 300 Bibles from the 1,400 Bibles that Bennet had purchased from the closing of a Christian bookstore were given away that day.

Residents also signed up to receive the full Ellen G. White Conflict of the Ages series. “People were actually asking for them … they were excited about the books,” Williams said. “Pastor Julio passed out 70-some sets from this year’s session.”

Many different additional Christian publications, “Under the Influence of Jesus” t-shirts, and over 600 “Get Out of Hell Free” water bottles were also distributed. Williams noted, “We have something for everyone.”

The church also hosted Lee Venden, a nationally renowned pastor, educator, and author with ties to the RMC, with his ministry partner and wife Margie for a multi-day evangelistic weekend October 24–26. Ongoing efforts with local pastors and community members have continued to expand spiritual connections. “Pastor [Bryan] Choi has been a breath of fresh air. Things are working well with his leadership, and he is taking it to the next level,” praised Williams, fellow RMC pastor.

Trinidad: Steady Attendance and Growing Inclusivity

Diaz wrapped up the regional efforts for the year, November 16-22, with a special series at the Trinidad Church entitled “What is Truth?” Trinidad’s evangelistic week drew as many as 20 attendees nightly, with a full church for the Sabbath services. Williams highlighted an unexpected blessing of a group of 10–15 residents with limited English proficiency from a nearby Bible camp attending weekly, some of which are not Adventist.

“The [Trinidad] Church is learning to incorporate people that they didn’t know,” Bennet said. “They’re starting to work together, which is really awesome. That’s what Pentecost 2025 is—evangelism and incorporating the world to come to know the Lord. It’s presenting Jesus Christ to anybody and everybody and then letting Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit convict them.”

A Culture of Openness and Evangelism

The team emphasizes long-term impact, and, ultimately, Bennet said the churches are embracing their calling: “The churches are opening up which was my understanding of Pentecost 2025—to present the gospel and invite people to come to know the Lord. I’m seeing it happen, and It’s exciting.”

—Interview conducted by Liz Kirkland, Rocky Mountain Conference Communication director with Ted Williams is the district pastor of Trinidad, Alamosa, and Monte Vista Seventh-day Adventist Churches and ministry partner Mary Bennet. Initial article draft curated by ChatGPT based on the interview; extensive revisions and editing by Liz Kirkland. Photos courtesy of Ted Williams.

Aome Jacob Angeles – Loveland, Colorado … It was the reveal for the Adopt-A-Student program at Campion Seventh-day Adventist Church in Loveland, Colorado, December 6, in which church members anonymously “adopted” a Campion Academy student to support with prayers, gifts, and letters of encouragement.

The Adopt-A-Student program is split across the two semesters of the school year, and the female students participate in the first semester. Over potluck, the students got to find out who had been behind the gifts all semester.

Teagan Phillips, a junior student participating in the program, reflected, “I was thankful for the gifts and excited to see who my family was. I was a bit nervous while waiting to see who it was, but, when I saw them, I was really happy. I had a great time hanging out and eating with them.”

Overall, the female students enjoyed the semester and were grateful and blessed through the program. Taylin Weber, a junior student, shared her favorite gift: “My favorite gift from my adopted family was definitely the blanket they got me, especially with the cold weather!”

“I really enjoyed the gifts and anticipation of the reveal,” said Kelly Borne, senior student. “The prayers were super helpful, and it was overall a great experience. It kept me looking forward to something each week.”

—Aome Jacob Angeles, Campion Academy Student News Team. Photos supplied.

RMCNews – Denver, Colorado … The final Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) Executive Committee (ExCom) meeting opened December 9 with a reflective devotional message heartfully given by committee member and head elder Vanessa Alarcón that carried through the day-long meeting: the joy of service.

Alarcón recalled her 20 years of membership with the Adventist Church since her baptism in 2005 including such experiences as participation in Pathfinder Club ministries, achieving Master Guide accreditation, involvement with the Hispanic Adventist Youth Federation (FEJA), attending Adventist educational institutions, and pastoring.

Alarcón repeatedly remarked on the “joy of serving” on the executive committee as it has been an opportunity to be with mission-driven people: “While we do spend our meetings reviewing reports, everything we do is to expand the mission and Kingdom of God.”

President’s Report

The committee members split into small teams to offer prayer for each item on the day’s very full agenda, with the meeting reconvening with the presidential report from Dave VandeVere, the new RMC president as of August 1. He began his report thanking Alarcón for “bringing us back to the joy and fellowship of belonging to the Church.”

VandeVere reported on key initiatives across the conference and beyond highlighting the General Conference’s growing emphasis on leveraging media for evangelism in 2027 and continued collaboration with leadership from AdventHealth in the Rocky Mountain region. He shared progress on the planning for a multi-day mission-based event to be held in the Front Range area in 2026 and that his endeavor to meet with every RMC employee, both field and office, will be mostly complete by the close of the year.

Additionally, VandeVere highlighted support for young adult social media initiatives, Literature Evangelism subcommittee activity, a quarterly preaching offering for churches, and efforts to strengthen RMC’s organizational culture.

Along with development of the staff members at the conference office, VandeVere began a multi-part informational series for the ExCom board members. This first part reviewed the roles of the local church and conference, putting much importance on the reverse hierarchical structure of the greater Seventh-day Adventist Church.

VandeVere also reviewed with the attendees RMC’s legal and liability structure emphasizing there is no independent legal entity for the churches and schools, but all are under one entity of the Rocky Mountain Conference. This is why legal decisions have to be made as a whole as the liability is shared across all RMC entities.

Vice President for Administration’s Report

The report from the vice president for Administration, Doug Inglish, shared optimistic news that there is currently only one open pastoral position in the conference with promising candidates being reviewed by the local district churches. There will also be a ministerial internship opportunity at a local church for an upcoming graduate from seminary school. The hope of the intern program is to assist in the training of new pastors.

Ministry Reports

The recommendation to the committee to have Marlene Poole serve as the Conference’s director for Women’s Ministries was passed. Poole is a local prayer leader with experience in Women’s Ministries.

Hugo Guillén, RMC Ministerial associate director and lead for Multicultural Ministries, gave a report on Pentecost 2025 efforts in RMC, the North American Division’s evangelism initiative, highlighting eight baptisms at an RMC Hispanic church, including a woman from the country of Columbia, and a local member to share his moving testimony of the loss of his only child. Hugo remarked that this initiative has been motivating local leaders to share Jesus and has planted seeds that will grow for generations.

Ruby Guillén, the unofficial RMC Hispanic Women’s Ministries volunteer director and event lead, reported on the success of the RMC Hispanic Women’s Retreat held October 24-26 at Glacier View Ranch (GVR) in Ward, Colorado, with 140 registered attendees representing 17 churches. Twenty of the registrants were teens who benefited from the youth-specific programing. Ruby praised the assistance of Bonnie Camarillo, RMC receptionist, and VandeVere thanked Ruby for her volunteer service with the event.

The members of the RMC Ordination Committee were approved representing pastors and administration. This committee exists to give extra attention to the ordination process and timeline and to evaluate the criteria for the candidates.

Teacher training initiatives led by the RMC Education Department were highlighted by Paul Negrete, RMC associate superintendent, reporting promising metrics associated with the professional development of conference educators. He also shared the story of the lead teacher Karen Espinola at the Lighthouse Seventh-day Adventist Christian School in Fort Morgan, Colorado, facilitating three student baptisms with two more soon to come, representing over one third of the school’s student base.

Academy Reports

Kaleb Leeper, new principal at Campion Academy in Loveland, Colorado, gave a brief report, starting off with discussing a new institutional focus of not just gaining conference support but giving it as well: “We want to be part of everyone’s ministry. We have been collaborating a lot on campus, but we want to expand that to the community.” Leeper assessed the academy’s biggest challenges—enrollment and managing aging facilities—remarking, “Every week, there is a prayer answered, but we continue to solicit your prayers.”

Continuing the theme of the joy of service, Andrew Carpenter, principal at Mile High Academy in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, spoke of the academy’s greater purpose of achieving “a higher joy for the wider service in world to come not in just the world now.” He highlighted the significant growth in enrollment over the last decade with 285 students currently enrolled.

Carpenter also reviewed the school’s future goals including more personalized learning, expanded student character development, and greater alignment with the Adventist identity and mission. He also introduced the committee members to the new middle school science lab, funded by a grant from AdventHealth, and the entrepreneurial student innovation lab.

Financial Reports

Darin Gottfried, RMC vice president for Finance, gave a brief financial summary for the Conference through October reporting the income 1.82% above budget, expenses 3.26% under budget, and gross tithe up 3.50%. Gottfried presented the proposed 2026 budget recommended by the RMC Administrative Committee and reviewed by the RMC Executive Committee which was accepted.

The new year’s budget will allow for additional pastoral and teacher positions and increased employee costs to meet NAD’s recommended rates and rising healthcare costs. The significant rise in property insurance costs, of up to 60%, is still under evaluation, but Gottfried reported that the Conference has been able to return almost $200,000 in insurance savings to local churches with the Conference’s self-insurance initiative since 2023. This initiative has been a model for other entities within the greater church structure.

From the stories of transformed lives to strengthened ministries, from renewed partnerships to bold plans for mission, the common thread running through the final RMC Executive Committee closing meeting of 2025 was the joy of serving. It is the joy of standing with people who love Jesus and are committed to enlarging His kingdom. It is the joy reflected in pastors, teachers, administrators, and volunteers pouring themselves into the communities they serve. As we look ahead to a new year, may this spirit of joyful service continue to shape our identity and propel our mission.

—RMCNews. Photos by Liz Kirkland.

By Brenda Dickerson

One spiritual discipline that has been meaningful in my life is the practice of expressing gratitude—to God, family, friends, colleagues, even strangers. Cicero, a Roman orator and philosopher who died in 43 BC, is credited with saying:

“There is no quality I would rather have, and be thought to have, than gratitude. For it is not only the greatest virtue, but it is the mother of all the rest.”

Blessings and challenges 

I’m very blessed to have grown up in a loving Christian family. My parents had family worship time every day with my two older brothers and me. We went to Adventist church school all the way through.

I’ve always believed God exists and that He loves me. I’ve always believed the Bible is true. I’ve always prayed. I’ve been on prayer teams and done prayer walking, experienced anointing services. I’ve helped set up prayer room experiences for camp meeting. It’s a huge part of my spiritual life.

But about eight years ago my prayers took a dramatic shift.  I used to have a lengthy list of specific things I prayed for each day of the week. But one book changed that.

“One Thousand Gifts”

This book by Ann Voskamp taught me about a new level of thankfulness. It’s not just for November. The eucharist is for every single day of my life. It helped me realize, in fact, that giving thanks and honor to God is the reason for my existence.

And it’s not because God needs to hear my thanks and praise and adoration of Him. It’s because I need to give it. When I’m consciously thanking God and expressing praise and intentionally slowing down and looking for His beauty and grace all around me …I cannot —at the same time—be complaining about things, or criticizing others, or feeling envious of others, or finding fault with how God is directing life here on this planet. It’s one or the other. And God knows I will be much happier if I’m giving thanks.

And God also knows that He is the only one worthy of that level of praise, and He is the only one we can safely adore and worship. Humans will always worship someone or something. Here are three points that I’ve learned to deeply appreciate:

#1   Since God is the only one we can worship without being destroyed by them, He is actually being gracious in instructing us to worship Him and thank Him.

 In her book Ministry of Healing, Ellen G. White says:

“When you open your eyes in the morning, thank God that He has kept you through the night. Thank Him for His peace in your heart. Morning, noon and night, let gratitude as a sweet perfume ascend to heaven.”(p. 253)

“It is for our own benefit to keep every gift of God fresh in our memory. By this means faith is strengthened to claim and to receive more and more. There is greater encouragement for us in the least blessing we ourselves receive from God than in all the accounts we can read of the faith and experiences of others.  (p. 100)

#2   Having a thankful heart keeps my priorities straight. It takes away anxious thoughts and gives me peace.

Plenty of studies show the physical benefits of practicing gratitude:

• Causes the brain to release feel-good chemical dopamine and serotonin.
• The result is reduced stress, reduced depression and reduced anxiety.
• People who practice expressing gratitude also report feeling happier and more optimistic.
• They report fewer physical symptoms and they exercise more often.

#3   Praise and thanksgiving keep me in the presence of God, where there is fullness of joy and pleasures forever more. The book The God Chasers, by Tommy Tenney, still fascinates me because he shares personal experiences of being in the presence of God, experiencing worship and praise and thanksgiving on a very deep level. He talks about the crucial importance of seeking God’s face, His presence, above God’s hand—meaning His material blessings.

Heb. 12:28 says, Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and this let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.

I’m learning how good it is to view prayer as a time to receive from the Lord and as a time to “yield a sweet savour unto God.”

How I’ve grown 

My weekly prayer journals that I started many many years ago still contain a few occasional requests of God … but now it’s at least 90% thanks and praise.

I do also have a few personally written prayers that came to me very quickly and just flowed out as I was sitting in silence before God. I treasure those and revisit them often, along with favorite scripture verses.

One verse I have wrestled with over the years is I Thess 5: 16-18: pray continually … give thanks in all circumstances.

Of course, we know we can’t live life continually on our knees in active prayer, but I’ve come to see having an attitude of gratitude as a way of being constantly in prayer. Gratitude always turns what we have into “enough.” It helps us Be still and know that I am [He is] God (Ps 46:10).

Being still before God always gives me something to be grateful for.

“Giving thanks in all circumstances” often reminds me of a story I read about Corrie ten Boom and her sister Betsy in a Nazi concentration camp during WWII. Betsy insisted they thank God for the bed bugs in their filthy and overcrowded barracks. Corrie resisted, but her sister said they must give thanks IN all circumstances, not FOR all circumstances. So, they made a habit of thanking God in that wretched place.

Were they thankful to be imprisoned? No. Did God expect them to be thankful to be imprisoned? I don’t think so. God allows things in life that are not His express will. He allows people to make poor choices and take sinful paths. But this is an example of being able to find something in every situation for which to give thanks. Saying that God is in control means that eventually everything is going to work out according to His plan.

Later, of course, they learned that the bed bugs had kept the night guards from forcing themselves into the women’s beds in their particular barracks, since they were known to be infected.

Another book that has really impacted me is “Hearing God’s Voice” by Richard and Henry Blackaby. I’ve read that one twice, a couple of years apart, because it’s so deep in some areas and I’m still not sure I’ve gotten to the bottom of it. I’m still learning to differentiate between the voices (thoughts) in my head.

There’s More

#1 I have a pretty active brain that can be all over the place and I’m constantly asking a lot of questions and also asking, “Is this thought from God?” Or is my brain just making up stories? Since we don’t really understand the complexity of the human brain it’s hard, because we know God wants to communicate with us. And we know the Holy Spirit is living within us as Jesus promised in John 14:17: The Holy Spirit will live with you and be in you.

#2   Jesus says, “My sheep know my voice and follow me.” So, the challenging process of quieting my mind to hear—and know—the voice of Jesus is ongoing for me. I know there’s more …

I read the words of scripture every morning. I memorize them. In that way I’m choosing to fill my mind every day with Jesus’ words. But I know there’s still more. I read stories in the Bible of great prophets who hear God’s voice and prayer giants like George Muller, and I’m always inspired to quiet my mind, continue seeking God’s face, and listening for His voice. There’s more …

#3   There’s more because everything starts with the mind. Our thoughts create our attitudes. And I believe that our attitudes and perceptions are in fact more important than what’s actually happening in our lives. How we frame things is our reality.

Disaster or opportunity?

During the Covid shutdown and isolation this became really clear to me. Many people were panicking and having high levels of anxiety about the future, while other people were calm … not stressed out, focusing on the promises of God and trusting Him for the future. Similar situation for everyone, but it was an example of how some people framed it as disastrous while others framed it in terms of opportunities.

Covid helped me focus more on the deepest dimensions of discipleship in my life—scripture daily in my mind, praying without ceasing, and choosing to give thanks and celebrate.

“Arrange your thoughts toward the light.” —Carmen Jacob

Yet even in the dark times there is always something to celebrate. God made sure of that by giving us a weekly Sabbath. Celebrating Sabbath is a whole other spiritual discipline that’s worth exploring on its own.

What I want more of

In a recent Vibrant Life magazine, I learned about “glimmers.” Have you heard of glimmers? The term was introduced by Deb Dana, a clinical social worker. Glimmers are micro experiences and sensations that soothe our soul and create feelings of safety and calmness. They are reactions to sight, sound, sense, taste, smell, or memory.

Glimmers are the opposite of triggers. We have to deal with triggers, but we also need glimmers to thrive.

The Bible invites us to look for glimmers (Phil 4:8). True, the Bible includes more songs of lament than praise. It tells us to “grieve when you need to. But also seek out the glimmers of joy and hope.”

Glimmers increase resiliency to life and help us anchor ourselves in our present existence. Some examples of glimmers are feelings of awe or reverence, enjoying good food, inspiring music, hugs, warm sunshine, beautiful views, laughter. Expressing gratitude for the glimmers in life enables us to live graciously and generously.

Glimmers are also about moments of beauty or tranquility. God continuously creates rampant beauty. The changing seasons beg us to notice the beauty and the consistency and be reminded that God is always faithful to His promises. He is the Creator of everything good, and He has power to restore sections of beauty on the earth.

So, I believe that if He cares enough to create beauty still—in spite of how His creation has been marred by sin—He will continue to create beauty of character in me.

What do I want more of? I want to see more of His beauty … and I trust Him to lead me deeper in His way and His time. I thank Him that it’s a prayer He will always answer “Yes” because I know it’s what He wants too—for everyone who takes His name.

A final prayer

This prayer was written in the 17^th century by an author named George Herbert:

Thou hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more—a grateful heart;
Not thankful when it pleaseth me,
As if Thy blessings had spare days,
But such a heart whose pulse may be
Thy praise.
Amen

* This post is condensed from a presentation I gave during a spiritual retreat in February 2024.

—Brenda Dickerson is associate director of Communication for the Mid-America Union and editor of OUTLOOK magazine. Republished with permission by OUTLOOK magazine from the November 3, 2025, blog post. Photo supplied.

Samantha Nelson – Farmington, New Mexico … Just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, chef Teresa Morlan held a three-night cooking school at the Piñon Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church in Farmington, New Mexico, on how to create delicious vegan holiday meals—from entrees like Sham Ham to desserts like pumpkin pie and parfaits.

“We were very happy with the turnout, as 60 people had registered in advance and 45 actually turned out—many from the local community who had never visited our facility before. Sadly, Pastor Steve and I had to miss the first two nights due to a funeral service for his father. Otherwise, the count would have been higher,” shares Samantha Nelson, coordinator of the event.

The testimonies received speak for themselves:

“I was shocked at how good the quality of the food was,” remarked participant Wes Branch. “I had never had vegan food before and was pleasantly surprised. I really liked it!”

Participant Alondra Delgado commented, “Good ideas for holiday cooking and vegan options. Inspirational testimonies that uplift the Spirit.”

“I have really enjoyed Teresa and Derek! I loved the sweet treats!” shared church member Robbie Wilcox, and participant Joshua Roy said, “I love good quality food!”

“My mom took the cooking class and absolutely loved it,” remarked Michele Wayne. “She brought home really good food and ideas.” Participant Sharon Wayne commented, “Excellent way to learn about vegan cooking.”

“I thought it was a wonderful way of learning how to cook differently and healthier and to fellowship and make new friends,” shared Aztec Seventh-day Adventist Church member Taylor Henning.

Morlan did a great job of presenting the importance of choosing the best and healthiest possible food and ingredient options and interspersed the cooking demonstrations with spiritual life lessons. Her husband Derek worked beside her in prepping, cleaning, and serving.

No one left hungry and those who won the drawings for leftovers each night were very happy. It was a great success with one attendee even saying she hoped we would plan to have Morlan back each year.

—Samantha Nelson writes from the Piñon Hills Seventh-Day Adventist Church where her husband is lead pastor. Photos supplied.