NewsNuggets – Page 21 – Rocky Mountain Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

20 Jun

“BE DIFFERENT IN THE WORLD” SOUTHEAST CAMP MEETING CHALLENGED BY AWR

Rajmund Dabrowski – Cañon City, Colorado … The third annual Southeast Camp Meeting convened June 16-18 under a theme of “Transforming Lives for Eternity.” It brought together some 200 believers to Cañon City, Colorado, from towns as diverse as Colorado Springs, Fairplay, and Lamar.

“We truly appreciate an occasion to meet with friends and make new friends whose faith in Jesus and his second coming unites us together,” commented a church member from Cañon City.

What was special about this year’s gathering, you may wonder? Firstly, the program featured an Adventist World Radio team together with a recording artist, Jennifer LaMountain. Secondly, we never had a baptism at previous meetings. “This year we will witness a baptism of five individuals prepared by pastors from Colorado Springs South and Fairplay,” announced Irwin Burton, head elder of the host congregation in Cañon City.

With the AWR team presenting their program, the camp meeting participants heard a variety of missionary endeavors sharing the Advent hope in Christ through an effective media to the people of the world in their own languages. Cami Oetman, AWR vice president, shared that, “people are more receptive than ever before.”

“I want the world to be inspired,” she declared. “You, too, can be involved. We must stand up and be different in the world … We are believers born for such a time as this. Jesus only saves lives,” she encouraged the congregation gathered in Cañon City.

The program featured effective evangelism of their ministry using digital ministry, including availability of a newly released “Digital Missionary” app made available for cell phone evangelism and showcased effectiveness of the so-called “God pods.”

Mickey Mallory, RMC ministerial director, remarked, “My heart was thrilled to hear stories of how God is using AWR to reach people around the world for Christ. The stories of what God is doing outside of the United States, helped us to remind us that we are indeed a world church.”

Duane McKey, AWR president, was enthusiastic to come to Colorado again after just a few short weeks ago from when an AWR Board Retreat met in Glenwood Springs. Being invited by a former Cañon City pastor to present at a camp meeting, McKey said, “we’ve never done that before, and this is a thrilling experience to be in the Rocky Mountain Conference.” He shared a mosaic of experiences the ministry had around the world, especially in areas where only a radio can reach populations by overcoming restrictions, cultural opposition, and geography.

The baptism included Leslie and Edward Hall, prepared through Bible studies by Marcos Melendez, elder from Fairplay, and as well as mother and daughter, Charlotte and Amy Mason, followed by Sylvia Jaramillo, a mother-in-law of Lucas Lujan, pastor at Colorado Springs.

For Pastor Lujan, this was a special camp meeting. He said, “it was to be in Cañon City, and it’s hard to find, at times, a fellowship even within the city. We do have many other brothers and sisters in the Adventist faith spread in a wide [area of] the state.”

He added that preparing and bringing three individuals to be baptized at this camp meeting was, “beyond the church or a person working. This is the working of God.” Introducing his mother-in-law, Lujan said that this baptism came three years after his wife, Asbury, was baptized.

—Rajmund Dabrowski is the RMC communication director and editor of NewsNuggets. Photos by Rajmund Dabrowski.

19 Jun

PATHFINDER TEEN LEADERS VIEW THE MAJESTY OF GOD’S CREATION

Samantha Nelson – Cody, Wyoming … The Pathfinder Teen Leaders in Training (TLTs) from the Cody Cowboys Pathfinder Club in Wyoming took a wonderful educational and spiritual trip from May 29-June 6, covering over 3,000 miles.

Led by Pastor Steve Nelson and his wife, Samantha, they visited several National Parks that showcase the geology of Creation and the Flood. These included Arches, Bryce, Canyonlands, and the Grand Canyon National Park, along with a couple side stops to explore local historical interests such as Moqui Cave in Kanab, Utah, Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and the Manitou Cliff Dwellings in Manitou Springs, Colorado.

All along the way, the teens read about the unique geological features of the various Parks from a Creation/Flood perspective, had daily devotionals, and played Bible trivia games. They had many deep and meaningful conversations about their walk with God, their church, how to reach the unchurched, and what they’d like to see in the future for their own church.

Dean Jeffers, a recent graduate of Cody High School who turned 18 a few days before the trip, has heeded the call to become a staff member of the Pathfinder Club. He remarked, “The Grand Canyon was amazing, and it shows God’s incredible power.” His sister, Cedar Jeffers, now the oldest Cody TLT at age 15, stated, “It was a wonderful trip, and it was so cool to see some of God’s amazing creations.”

—Samantha Nelson is from Cody Seventh-day Adventist Church in Wyoming. Photos by Samantha Nelson.

15 Jun

IT IS ABOUT COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD AROUND US

Anton Kapusi – Pueblo, Colorado … For the past few years, Pueblo-First Seventh-day Adventists (PFSDA) have been looking for innovative ways to fulfill the mission Jesus left for them and His church. By starting the Outreach and Education Center (OEC), every church department became part of the outreach planning and delivery.

On June 11, under the social outreach director Janet Vasquez’s leadership, the departments joined together and created “Fun Under the Sun,” a community event to present the neighborhood and Pueblo community with the benefits of being part of PFSDA. The church parking lot was transformed into a spiritual marketplace.

Under each canopy, a department gave out relevant information, gifts, and friendly invitations to upcoming programs and events. The departments represented included health, tutoring, Vacation Bible School, Hope Radio of Pueblo, Community Services, Angels of Kindness, the worship team, the prayer team, and Bible trivia.

The church also partnered with the local children’s library, The Raptor Center that brought five birds of prey, and the local Mexican Folklore Dance Group, OMAWARI, with their energetic dance program. Besides all the exciting events on the grounds, the two bouncy castles and Craft Corner were probably the biggest attractions for the kids. In addition, all visitors could enjoy healthy foods, snacks, and drinks for free. More than two hundred adults and their children enjoyed the good atmosphere, friendly hosts, and Christ-filled message.

Integrated for the event, all departments worked as one to show our community that we are here to be generous with our gifts and that we are here as part of them, not surrounded with walls of false religiosity but open to serve and share Jesus our Lord, Savior, and Coming King. He was the one who said: be wise as serpents and harmless as doves (Matt. 10:16).

Our event was an example of what it takes to follow Jesus. Jesus was unmistakable when he said, As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world (John. 9:5). But he did not stop there. He also called Himself the one who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29) while being recognized as the Savior of the world (John 4:42).

On the other hand, He made sure that his disciples and followers had the same attitude toward the world around them. He proclaimed: You are the light of the world (Matt. 5:14), but at the same time, this ministry of light reflection cannot be done if one is of this world (John 17:16).

—Anton Kapusi is the lead pastor at Pueblo First Seventh-day Adventist Church. Photos by Larry Downing and Anton Kapusi.

15 Jun

GLACIER VIEW RANCH: A SPIRITUALLY ELEVATING EXPERIENCE

Jasmine Miller – Ward, Colorado … Fifty-six staff members are preparing for their first set of campers next week at Glacier View Ranch (GVR) in Ward, Colorado. There are some returning staff members for this summer camp season but also plenty of new staff, some of whom are working at a summer camp for the first time. For the boy’s counselor staff, all are new to their positions.

Anton Kannenberg, a first-year assistant boys director, says he is “excited to train a new team of boys” and apply his experience as a boy’s counselor from a previous camp at Lake Whitney Ranch in Texas. Anton is also excited to be a part of the camp’s play telling the story of Joseph, exemplifying this year’s camp theme of “Elevate.”

This theme not only applies to the camper’s elevating their relationship with Jesus, but also, throughout the weeks, “how staff and the campers grow in their understanding of how much God actually loves them,” says Brandon Westgate, RMC youth director and pastor of GVR.

As Brandon prepares his staff for camp, one of the biggest challenges he sees is that “a lot of staff have had interrupted high school experiences because of Covid. It’s a challenge because the socialization with face-to-face learning was disrupted and some might not have had as much socialization.” Brandon assured that all staff members go through extensive training to be prepared for any experiences the summer might hold.

The staff have also been certified in first aid and CPR, completed background checks, learned about child abuse prevention, and completed Serve Safe training, the safety food handling course. They are also the only camp in Boulder that brings the Left Hand Fire Department to camp to talk about fire awareness to make sure the staff are prepared if there was ever a fire at camp.

This is Jade Teal’s, RMC assistant youth director, first year as the camp assistant director, and Jade expressed excitement about her first summer working at GVR. After working as year-round staff at several other summer camps in different states, Jade feels competent in her position and is “excited to get to see a different side of camp, spending more time focused on the staff and mentoring young adults,” which is what she is most passionate about. Her supportive husband Stefan will also volunteer around the camp, especially with archery.

The current camp season at GVR has many staff members from all over the U.S., including Texas, Tennessee, Nebraska, North Dakota, Wyoming, Georgia, and, of course, Colorado. They will look after nearly 500 campers who will be enjoying activities and meeting fellow campers in seven age-related groups. The first group, Explore Camp (age 8-10), is expected at GVR on June 18. They will enjoy their stay until June 23 when Adventure Camp will take over the GVR site.

Several of the staff from Colorado also attended GVR as campers and felt called to come back to work as a staff member. Jonah De Oliveira, a second-year media director at GVR, attended as a camper for two years and volunteered for two years before working as a paid staff member. Jonah explained how “camp friendships are great, but it’s only for a week. When you’re a staff member, you meet about sixty new people in eight weeks, and you get to know those people on a deeper level. I’ve made some of my best friends working here”.

As staff and directors prepare and pray over their areas, Brandon said working in the camp setting has given him “more hope for the future” and made him realize “youth are overlooked, undervalued, and underutilized in our churches especially.”

Summer camp is such a special place for young adults to elevate not only their spiritual growth but also their understanding of God’s purpose for their lives.

—Jasmine Miller is the marketing and communications consultant at GVR. Photos by Jonah De Oliveira and Jasmine Miller.

15 Jun

COMMENTARY: LESSONS FROM THE “OTHER” NUGGETS

By Mic Thurber

You must have no interest whatsoever in the world of sports not to know that the Denver Nuggets basketball team won its first-ever championship this week. The Nuggets Nation fan base finally gets to celebrate this victory in their 47^th year of existence. That’s a long time to wait!

Of course, owners and managers change over the years, but the current ownership team and management personnel adopted a strategy that they hope will bring them more than just a one-off winning experience. They want to come back to the finals many more times in the future.

What did they do that they feel gives them this potential?

In the modern sports world, player personnel are not often loyal to a team for the life of their playing years. Few and far between are the Bull Russells, Magic Johnsons, Jerry Wests, and Oscar Robertsons. Many teams are quite willing to lure big-name talent from other teams to stock up enough superstars to win.

I like what our Nuggets did. They found a couple of players–Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murry, to be exact—and then added some young, talented other players and let them grow together into the champions they became this week. They built their team for the long haul.

I was interested in hearing their coach allude to this in several of the interviews with him that followed their victory. And I was also very impressed by the unusually cohesive team spirit that they demonstrated. Their comments always included praise and support for the other players on the team, often saying that it took each of them to win.

If they manage to keep this spirit and this same talented group of players, my hunch is that they will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.

So, can we learn anything from them? Let’s see:

We often want fast results from our work. Sometimes those who don’t yet fully know Christ hesitate or are slower than we wish they would be about accepting the truth we have to share with them. But maybe we should be in it for the long haul instead. Patience, prayer, fellowship, loving, and reaching out all should be a part of our long-haul strategy. The Holy Spirit doesn’t necessarily work on our timetable! So, let’s build things that will last and leave the results to the Lord.

You don’t need superstars to win. Now, it’s certainly ok to bring in an evangelist to help bring some folks across the finish line. But I happen to believe that when the members of a local church are active in their community, intent on witnessing, and loving the people around them, they will be all the Lord needs to bring new folks into the church. You just need to commit and stay with it!

Love and visibly support one another. Just as the Nuggets were quick to lift each other up, we can do even better. After all, Jesus Himself said our love for each other was what would really mark us as His. My reading of the last few verses of Acts tells me that when the people of God love and take care of each other, then He will feel safe in sending new people our way. And when they come, God can trust that we will love and take care of them by making them full members of the family.

Who’d have thought we might have something to learn from watching some grown men play a kid’s game?!

—Mic Thurber is the RMC president. Photo from Unsplash.

14 Jun

FOUR COUSINS BAPTIZED ON THE SAME DAY IN BOULDER CHURCH

Debbi Lake – Boulder, Colorado … The Boulder Adventist Church congregation joined Graham Stafford, Ellie and Anderson King, and Harper Drane’s families and friends to join in their commitment to Jesus and witness their spiritual birthdays.

Graham is the son of Jared and Dani Stafford, Ellie and Anderson are the children of Elia and Dena King, and Harper is the daughter of Dalton and Melissa Drane. Siblings Dena, Dani, and Dalton and their families all live close enough to see each other often being members of the Boulder Adventist Church. Dalton passed away in 2021.

Dena King commented, “It was a wonderful day having two of my children as well as nephew and niece baptized together.”

J. Murdock, former associate pastor at Boulder Church and currently a chaplain in California, came to Boulder to baptize Ellie, Anderson, and Graham. Another former associate Boulder pastor, Jessyka Dooley, was invited to baptize Harper.

—Debbi Lake is the Boulder Church office manager and communication director. Photo supplied.

14 Jun

STEWARDSHIP: PART 4 – INVESTING AND NOT MERELY MANAGING

The biggest risk of all is not to take one.
– Mellody Hobs

When we speak of stewardship, the focus is usually on spending, managing, controlling, and administering the goods the steward has received from the master. Indeed, there is the accountability factor for what was received as well, but does the steward have an active role in growing his master’s wealth, influence, name, and realm?

The eldest servant of Abraham, Eliezer, who ruled over all that he had (Gen. 24:2), was sent to his kin to increase the family of Abraham and find a wife for Isaac. This new commission he received directly supported Abraham’s family’s expansion, influence, and name. At the same time, the God of Abraham was fulfilling the promise and the covenant He made with Abraham to increase the blessings and bring forth the Messiah (Gen. 12:1-3). Eliezer broadened the steward’s impact on God’s economy by taking an active role in God’s plan.

In the same way, In Jesus’ Parable of the Talents (Matt. 25:14-30), the commissioned servants or stewards multiplied the talents of silver or gold to increase the prosperity, wealth, and influence of their master. They were not only spending and ensuring that there would be enough money to survive until the master was back, but they actively invested and traded with what they received to increase their master’s riches, name, and dominion. They were as generous and as risk driven as their master, which put them in the category of good and faithful servant (Matt. 25:21,23).

On the other hand, the one servant that did not risk, invest, trade, and increase his master’s wealth was pronounced wicked and lazy (Matt. 25:26) and unprofitable (useless, good for nothing) (Matt. 25:30). Jesus taught his disciples that they have to go over and beyond expectations, norms, culture, and even commandments as His commissioned stewards and apostles. Stewardship is going beyond one’s duty, obligation, and responsibility. Jesus reminded his disciples: When you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, “We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.” (Luke 17:10)

So, what does all these mean in a practical sense? First, as we have seen previously, as a steward, you will be solely about the master’s business, increase, wealth, prosperity, good name, dominion, etc. As a steward, you are not about your interest and importance because the master’s well-being and progress are your well-being and progress. So, when you, as a steward, invest the gift of time, life, health, relationships, opportunities, skills, talents, character, lifestyle (yes, it is more than money), etc., in building the kingdom of God, expanding the knowledge and the name of the Most High, you are effectively profiting the “business and the economy” of God that is the mission of God.

Second, to prosper in the master’s kingdom and realm as a steward, you should innovate, look for opportunities/ways to present, and trade the gifts you receive. Following the master’s words goes beyond one’s duty and obligation; it is in complete surrender and dependence on the master and encompasses worship, honor, and complete devotion to the master. You will be willing to go beyond your mere duties and motions because you know the master intimately and know that you are loved selflessly and self-sacrificially (agape) by the master.

Lastly, investing, while risky, could bring massive profits. Risk-taking was and is primarily on the master’s side (Matt. 26:39,42) and secondary on the steward’s side (John 15:20). As stewards, we should continue being generous as the master is generous (Matt. 10:8) with all the gifts we receive because the growth and multiplication of the gifts are the master’s work and not ours (1 Cor. 3:7-8). Our job as stewards is to be extravagantly generous and spend the received gifts abundantly on planting and watering the good news God will make grow. Peter called this investment ministering or serving to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God (1 Peter 4:10).

Douglas Meeks, a theologian and economist, explains, “the economy of God, most briefly put, is the distribution of God’s righteousness.” Then he continues, “God’s righteousness means God’s power to create/liberate life out of the power of nothingness (nihil).” ¹The stewards are called to invest in people’s lives, to create and liberate fellow human beings under the banner of God’s economy of excessive distribution of His righteousness, grace, love, and mercy. This lavish and excessive proliferation of the received gifts is learned and starts in the steward’s household (oikos), which we will examine next time.

—Anton Kapusi is the lead pastor of Pueblo First Seventh-day Adventist Church. Photo by Pexels.

¹Meeks, M. D. (1989). God the Economist: The Doctrine of God and Political Economy. Fortress Press. p.77.

07 Jun

FAITH-BASED AND PLANT-BASED: NEW STORE OPENS IN NORTHERN COLORADO

Amelia Zimmerman – Loveland, Colorado … Eating healthy is a common desire for many in the Northern Colorado area. Wholesome Bites* was created with this in mind.

“I feel very happy that we can be part of the Loveland community,” assistant manager Sarah Sykora commented. After six months of planning, preparing, and prayer, the store is open to the public.

Wholesome Bites offers a wide selection of plant-based grocery items including refrigerated and frozen foods. From hearty granolas to pizza and empanadas, instant soups, and ice cream, the store offers a variety of ready-to-eat sandwiches, salads, and desserts that are perfect for those looking for a quick meal on the go. The store also sells fresh produce from Eden Valley Farm.

Wholesome Bites opened its doors to the community on June 5. Opening day was a success with over 70 customers coming to visit the store. Community members shared their excitement for the store.

“I think this store is great, it’s so needed,” a customer remarked.

Grab-and-Go items were a popular choice for those who came on opening day.

“My favorite is the lemon bar,” a young customer shared. “I’m so happy that you guys have grab-and-go items because I always forget to pack my lunch!” another customer said.

Sykora stated one of the goals of Wholesome Bites is “to make healthy eating something that is quick and easy.” The staff of Wholesome Bites wants it to be a place where people can come to feel happy, healthy, and whole.

The newly opened store is located at 1213 West Eisenhower Boulevard in Loveland, Colorado. Their hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Fridays.

The store strives to help people in their quest for physical, mental, and spiritual health. The staff of Wholesome Bites can’t wait to see you and solicit your prayers as they seek to serve God in the community.

—Amelia Zimmerman is a volunteer at Wholesome Bites. Photos supplied.

*Eden Valley Wholesome Bites is an independent service not endorsed by, directly affiliated with, maintained, authorized, or sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

07 Jun

MILE HIGH ACADEMY’S FAMILY AFFAIR

Kelly Koppelmann Waller – Highlands Ranch, Colorado … We have all heard of organizations being referred to as a “family.” Many truly are, especially in the culture of Adventism. No matter where you go, usually, you can find an old friend or a friend of a friend, and it’s comforting to have that place to belong.

Mile High Academy (MHA), a preschool through twelfth-grade school in a suburb of Denver, Colorado, is definitely a family. In May, MHA closed out its 109^th year of educating the young people of the Seventh-day Adventist community. While that fact alone is impressive, there was something extra-special about MHA’s senior class of 2023.

“Being able to attend MHA was so special to me, because my mom also attended MHA, making me a second-generation alumnus,” says 2023 graduate Kaylynn Linser. “It shows the impact of MHA’s community, and how it’s not just a school, it’s a family. And being able to grow up in that family has been such an amazing gift.”

Out of a class of 17 students, six of them had at least one parent who graduated from MHA. Furthermore, five of the six “legacy students” attended our school continuously from preschool/kindergarten through twelfth grade. One of the legacy students is even a fourth-generation MHA student, as her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother also attended the academy.

Making such a commitment is not an easy task, and that is definitely recognized. “We [Gloria and Tiffiny] realize the sacrifice that people have to put forth in order to receive an Adventist education. But if we didn’t believe in the value of Adventist education (MHA specifically), we wouldn’t have had four generations come through the doors of MHA. We love our school!” shares Gloria Gates Cross, who was a member of Mile High Academy’s first high school graduating class in 1965.”

Another parent echoed the sentiment. “We sacrificed financially to have both of our children in Adventist education,” said Kevin Waller. “The loving teachers and their positive influence on our kids made the tuition a little easier to pay.”

The MHA family extends much further than the class of 2023. “MHA has had a generational impact on my family,” says Jay Eno. “My wife and I both attended and met in high school. My three kids all attended from preschool to twelfth grade. My sister-in-law and brother have taught there. My nieces and nephews also attended MHA. Added up, the Eno family has over a century of experience at Mile High Academy.”

During the 2022-2023 school year, 18% of students across all grades had at least one parent who attended MHA. There are also seven members of staff who are alumni, all of whom chose MHA for the education of their own children.

—Kelly Koppelmann Waller is the RMC conference clerk, executive assistant for administration, and ministerial administrative assistant. Kelly was a teacher at Mile High Academy from 1996-2001. Photo supplied.

07 Jun

COMMENTARY: MOST WONDERFUL YEAR OF MY LIFE

By Ubaldo Gonzalez

I wasn’t Seventh-day Adventist as of May 2022. My family and I were attending the Baptist Church for more than 10 years. I considered our church to have good doctrine and scholars who knew the Scriptures, but, as in all places, there was wheat and tares. But I liked the fellowship with those who served the Lord from the heart, abiding by all that they knew.

My experience with church life has been extensive and varied. I gave my life to Jesus in 1992 at the Foursquare Church. I was a young man full of problems, but I found the solution to my struggles in Jesus Christ. Although I found deliverance from many of my issues, I knew I needed more of Christ and continued my search. I later united with Victory Word Outreach, the Assemblies of God, and the Baptist Church.

The journey has taken 30 years of searching and experiencing doctrines and people. I cannot say that everything I experienced was bad. In fact, I received one of the great blessings of my life when I met my wife in the church and watched my daughters grow up there.

But, one day, God revealed Himself to me in a personal way and that revelation made a profound change in my life. What made me change?

On one Friday afternoon, while watching an online video, I heard the presenter say, “The children of God follow His commandments and keep Sabbath, the seventh day of the week, as a day of rest, as is it written in Scripture in the Ten Commandments.” This was a new revelation to me as I had been a Sunday-keeping Christian from the time I first asked Christ into my heart. But I knew in my heart that I wanted to follow God and the example of Christ, and this revelation resonated with me.

I did not know where a Sabbath-keeping church was, so I went to Google to look for churches that keep the Sabbath holy. The research showed me a church just three minutes away from my house—the Mountain View Seventh-day Adventist Church in Longmont, Colorado.

For me, this was a very surprising thing as I had not heard of that church before.

On another Friday afternoon, I happened to be walking past the church and met some wonderful people there. Alphonso Magallanes, whom I later learned was one of the church elders, and his family were there cleaning the church and putting up a banner announcing a Bible Prophecy Seminar with Daniel Miranda. The seminar was to start soon, and they invited me to come to the meetings.

I was impressed to go to those meetings. There, I heard the most powerful presentations of Bible truth, and my life was changed as I received Christ as a “Commandment Keeping Savior.” He set me free from other doubts and gave me answers to questions that had been in my mind. After the Bible Prophecy Seminar on April 23, 2022, I was baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church by Pastor Tim Jones.

My life is an example that Christ has been, and will continue to be, here for everyone. It was His love that brought me to understand His Word and His love that keeps me continuing in His Word. It is not because I deserved anything, it is because He loves me that I can boldly proclaim that I am a follower of Jesus Christ. I found a Savior who loves me. He brought me to Himself as the way, the truth, and the life.

This has been the most wonderful year of my whole life.

—Ubaldo Gonzalez is a member of the Mountain View Seventh-day Adventist Church in Longmont, Colorado. Photo supplied.

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