NewsNuggets – Page 25 – Rocky Mountain Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

25 May

THIRD GRADE AND THRIVECARE PARTNERSHIP

Karrie Meyers and Denae Yuros – Highlands Ranch, Colorado … The Mile High Academy’s third-grade class has been visiting the ThriveCare assisted living facilities once a month. They enjoyed time with the residents by singing songs, playing games, and reading. The ThriveCare facilities are owned and operated by MHA parents Casey and Erika Leno and are mainly located in the Littleton area.

“Some of us went to the Yarrow House from December to May. Each time we visited, we exercised and sang songs with them. We had fun singing and reading. One person who changed our lives was Miss Lovey. We looked forward to our visits because of Miss Lovey. We need to be more like her because she is kind. Going to ThriveCare was important to us because we got to make new friends,” said the Yarrow House Group.

The Ingalls House Group said, “We went to ThriveCare because we enjoyed visiting during service day and wanted to keep going. Our group visited friends at the Ingalls House. We loved the creativity and the excitement of going to the house. We also had fun playing, singing, dancing, reading, eating snacks, doing arts and crafts, and making friends with the residents.”

“I’m glad I got the chance to go to ThriveCare. I feel really good because I got to spread God’s word a lot,” said Judd, a third-grade student.

MHA student Riley said, “ThriveCare was a fun place with really nice people, and I loved to learn about my person. I learned that she was 101 years old, and her favorite subject was math. My other person liked saying, ‘God bless America.’ She passed away, but she was so nice and kind. We know everyone misses her a lot. I hope we can go back soon.”

And another student Brody recalled his favorite part of the visitations: “We got to dance. We got to sing and have lots of fun. I LOVED IT!”

Denae Yuros, the third-grade teacher, commented, “Each visit filled my heart with so much joy as I watched my students interact and communicate with the residents. Together they sang songs, played word games, made crafts, and read books. Forever friendships were forged almost immediately upon entering each home.”

She continued, “We want to give a special thank you to Cindy Roldan for connecting our class with Barb, the activities director at ThriveCare, as well as going with us on several visits. Barb expressed countless times how much of a difference our students were making in the lives of their residents, and she looks to a continued partnership with MHA. Thank you to Casey and Erika Leno for giving the third graders an opportunity to serve and love the residents. We appreciate everyone involved with this year-long service experience.”

—Karrie Meyers is the marketing and development coordinator, and Denae Yuros is the third grade teacher at Mile High Academy. Photos supplied.

24 May

PATHFINDER FAIR – SAFE TRAVELS

Cyndi Tapia – Greeley, Colorado … We began our trip from Greeley to a Pathfinder Fair in Grand Junction, Colorado, on May 21. It was about 6:30 p.m. when we passed Parachute, Colorado, that we had to stop at a gas station after hearing a loud and strange sound coming from the engine. We opened the hood and attempted to locate the source when a man approached us and asked for permission to help us.

We agreed and stepped back.

After inspection, it was determined that the alternator was failing. A black cap was missing, and sparks were flying. He mentioned that he had the exact truck, a Ford F150, but a year older. He offered to give us the alternator from his truck at no cost if it was the right fit. All we had to do was go with him to his house two miles away. My father agreed and we followed him to his house.

We arrived at his house and my brother, father, and the man all got to work. That Friday before, my mother had an insistent thought when loading up the truck: “Don’t forget the tool bag.” Those tools were needed to remove the old alternator, and, within a matter of minutes, the “new” alternator was installed. After starting the truck and using a meter to check the voltage, we were ready to go.

In exchange for payment, the only thing the man asked for was that we help another person. To pay back a good deed by being good to others.

It wasn’t until after we said our goodbyes and he wished us safe travels that we realized no names were ever exchanged. We don’t know the name of the man that God sent to help us, but we do know he was an instrument of God.

—Cyndi Tapia is the Greeley Lesem Pathfinder Club sub director. Photo supplied.

23 May

JESUS IS AT THE CENTER IN CEDAREDGE WITNESSING CLASSES

Rachel Williams – Cedaredge, Colorado … Ever since September 2022, a small group of church members has been attending PEWS class at the Cedaredge Seventh-Day Adventist Church almost every Monday.

This small group has one mission: learn how to be a good witness for the Lord in unexpected conversations.

PEWS stands for Personal Effective Witnessing Strategies and was developed by Patrick Williams.

Patrick says, “PEWS is a 59-page syllabus meant to be used in a group setting. It’s a course designed to help you become an effective witness for Jesus in spontaneous, informal settings by becoming more connected to the Savior.”

But this course wasn’t thought up on the spur of the moment. For months, Patrick and three other men from the church had been meeting at a local diner. The three men always seemed frustrated that they never knew what to say when God came up in conversations with people they knew.

This got Patrick thinking.

Asking God for help and inspiration, Patrick began creating the PEWS document with prayer, study, and research.

Having attended many witnessing classes before, Patrick knew that the main thing people were missing in “learning how to witness” was gaining a deeper relationship with Jesus.

As Patrick put it, “You can’t share what you don’t have. We talk about church doctrine, lifestyle differences, and then throw in a little bit of Jesus.”

One of the active members of the group is Rachel, Patrick’s daughter. During her sermon in February, she identified fear as something resulting from life’s “rough patches” and “everyday problems” as well as concerns about a future “time of trouble.” She said we must not minimize trouble but face it with the faith of Jesus.

The attendees would read through the syllabus and have a discussion.

There was some homework involved and attendees were encouraged to practice giving a short testimony, creating a list of skills and talents that could be used for witnessing, etc.

While there were only eight members present, the group ended up diving into a variety of deep topics and the struggles they faced sharing their faith.

Joe Saber, a class participant, said: “I have always had difficulty in personal witnessing. The PEWS class has given me the tools with which to approach this challenge more successfully. It leads one through the process step by step. The sword and shield concept encapsulates the steps in the process, so I never felt at a loss as to what to do next. Try it you’ll like it!”

The group hopes to use what they’ve learned to lead others to Christ.

Commenting on the serious involvement of church members in mission in Cedaredge, Pastor Steve Schwartz remarked, “We see examples of younger people lead by their elders, and we also see older people inspired in mission by young disciples.”

—Rachel Williams, a Gen Z young adult and a leader in the Cedaredge Adventist Church. Photo by Rachel Williams.

23 May

Brighton Academy Hosting Python Coding Camp and Kids Camp

Jodie Aakko – Brighton, Colorado … Brighton Adventist Academy’s doors will remain open this summer for two outstanding summer camp opportunities: Python Coding Camp and Kids Camp. Each camp runs for six weeks from June 5 to July 13.

Python Coding Camp will be led by Dr. Jide Williams, an adjunct professor at the University in Denver who holds certifications in Python programming and machine learning. It is designed for beginners in computer programming from age ten to adult who want to learn the basics of Python programming. Each student will complete a class project.

This class will develop confidence in the students’ computer programming skills to be able to start solving real problems before, during, and after college in any field.

“This summer coding camp offers a deep understanding on how to apply logic in solving problems, because the student is exposed to problem-solving by using algorithms developed with Python codes. In addition, the students will develop a good background to possess the prerequisite skillset needed to either continue to learn computer programming in college or to apply the acquired skillset in a completely different field of study,” summarizes Dr. Jide Williams.

“I want to learn Python because I can use it later in life. I want to learn coding to operate and program robots that I can build. This sounds like a great class to take this summer so I can have more experience in engineering,” said 10-year-old Ericsson Aakko, a student enrolled in Python Camp.

Kids Camp students will enjoy a summer camp theme of “The World Must be Explored.” Youth, ages five to thirteen, will spend their time venturing on field trips or staying on campus to participate in water play, storytelling, or crafts. Traditionally, the summer camp kids also have the option to serve as Vacation Bible School leaders for one week.

Ms. Sandra, director of Kids Camp and Little Lambs Learning Center, has six weeks of fun learning planned for the camp participants. “My goal is to provide opportunities for children to explore this summer in ways that promotes growth academically, spiritually, physically, and socially.”

“This is the bast part of summer! I love Ms. Sandra and the best part are the field trips and helping at VBS,” reminisced Sienna Radu, Brighton Academy student and Kids Camp veteran.

Both camps are open to the public. For more information and to register, please email [email protected]

—Jodie Aakko is principal of Brighton Adventist Academy. Photos supplied.

BAA-Camp-2 — Dr. Jide Williams leading instruction in front of the classroom.

18 May

TEENS TAKE LEAD FOR WEEK OF PRAYER

Haley Beckermeyer – Loveland, Colorado … Nearly 50 Campion students shared testimonies, verses, skits, prayers, and songs during the school year’s last Week of Prayer, starting May 8. A different class planned and hosted the worship service after lunch each day.

Students learned not only more about God, but more about the challenges their peers have gone through. “It was surprising to hear the stories of people that I don’t usually see or hear talk often. Each of their different stories showed how God can use everyone for His glory,” commented Jovana Maldonado, a Campion junior.

Julia Santiago, another Campion junior who shared her testimony, reflected, “I was a little nervous because this was my first time sharing my testimony, but it helped bring me closer to God. It felt good to share my story and how God showed me His love is better than anything else. Jesus showed me that I need to be like my dad: show the love of God even when things aren’t going the way we want.”

Campion sophomore Jasmine Smittick shared how she recognized God working in many ways in students’ lives. “In several of the testimonies, people started to push God away before they decided to come close to Him. It made me realize that even when we want nothing to do with God or don’t want to put effort into spending time with Him, He’s still there for us waiting to help us as soon as we let Him,” she explained.

New for this academic year, Chaplain Carlos Santana created a student committee to plan all the aspects of Week of Prayer. Santana commented, “From the testimonies to the object lessons, poems, and skits, all the groups that went up for Week of Prayer did such a great job! I believe that the message continually shines through in each of these mediums. The student leaders and teams did a marvelous job getting these groups of their peers together to be successful.”

In an unexpected ending after vespers to Week of Prayer, the lights were turned out and the students were told to immediately exit the building to a safe place. They were ushered to the bus barn in the back of campus where they were surprised to find an “Underground Church.” They spent the evening continuing to worship together in a unique setting. The Underground Church allowed students to live out the experience of persecuted Christians around the world.

—Haley Beckermeyer, Campion Academy Student News Team. Photos supplied by Campion Academy newsletter.

18 May

SHARING A GOOD CUP OF TEA WITH MONTROSE WOMEN

Jacqueline Davis – Montrose, Colorado … The Women’s Ministries of the Montrose Seventh-day Adventist Church hosted more than 150 community women for afternoon tea on Sunday, May 7.

This is the sixth year that the Montrose Women’s Ministries put on fancy hats, drank tea, and snacked on a lavish variety of delicacies fit for any proper tea provided by ladies from the church.

The idea came from Judy Kelley who wanted to do something special for her mother. She remembered her mother always loved hats and had a large collection. Judy recalled the story of her and her sister pulling out all the hats and having a special tea party for her mother prior to her passing. As the story goes, Judy, Ruth (Judy’s sister), and Jerilyn Pester started the small women’s ministry event in the fellowship hall of the church.

“We had to take a couple of years off because of Covid,” said Judy, “but [watching] how much it’s grown has been so special. [This year] we welcomed twice as many ladies as last year. They come from around the community, and we just really love to share our special moments with them. The participants seem to really enjoy it.”

The afternoon tea included speaker Jeanie Ryan, and violinist Michelle Cranson provided the musical part of the program.

“We do this for no charge because we want to make sure that anyone who wants to be a part of it can be,” said Kelly. “Church ministry isn’t just about coming to church. Sometimes it’s about reaching out to the people in your community and sharing a good cup of tea.”

—Jacqueline Davis is the communication director of the Montrose Adventist Church. Photos supplied.

18 May

THE ANNALS OF ADVENTIST HISTORY: THE BIRTH OF A DENOMINATION

By Nathaniel Gamble

On May 21, 1863, the Seventh-day Adventist Church was officially organized at the denomination’s first General Conference Session in Battle Creek, Michigan. Such a date makes May 21, 2023, the 160^th anniversary of that momentous occasion. There have always been three traits which define our denomination: a mission from shared, central beliefs; external pressures as the primary cause for ongoing theological, organizational, and liturgical development; and the use of pragmatism to solve our problems.

The Adventists who came out of the Millerite Movement and eventually formed the Seventh-day Adventist Church were a wild bunch of people and held a variety of political, economic, and religious convictions. Divisive issues we struggle with today were also faced by the nascent Advent believers: the place of women (and men!) in the church, multiple ethnicities and multiculturalism, church governance, the sequence of end time events, increased technology, and what it means to be human.

The early Adventists realized they needed missional unity that only God could give, which ultimately came in the form of convictions from the Sabbath and Sanctuary Conferences of 1846-1848: the seventh-day Sabbath, Jesus’ second coming, death as sleep, the heavenly sanctuary as God’s solution for evil, and the presence of the Holy Spirit and his gifts in the church (especially the gift of prophecy). The Seventh-day Adventist Church built on these five pillar doctrines as the key to its missional unity and identity.

But like other Christian groups, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has usually been slow to make necessary changes to its administration, theology, and worship, often being pushed by external factors into these adjustments. Missional success forced Adventists to develop an institutional framework, first by actually creating a denomination to further evangelism, and later by creating unions and divisions to make administration more manageable.

Likewise, early Adventists remained noncommittal about the nature of God and tolerated Trinitarian, Arian, Unitarian, and Deist views among their members. But the influence of Adventist revivals in the late nineteenth century, the 1888 General Conference Session on righteousness by faith, and the Bible studies on Jesus and the Holy Spirit throughout the 1890s helped convince the Seventh-day Adventist Church that a Trinitarian view of the Godhead made the most sense of their mission and message.

And the wide variety of worship experiences among early Adventists, with some services being cold and sterile and others including shouting, clapping, and stomping, resulted in the publication of hymnbooks and resources for baptismal preparation, as well as conversations about the order of a worship service that continue to be felt in “contemporary” and “traditional” worship styles in the twenty-first century.

Due to both our God-given mission and these external factors, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has often been pragmatic about solving problems. For instance, the Seventh-day Adventist Church leaves the matter of pacifism or military service up to the individual conscience and simply asks, “Which option helps you follow Jesus better?” Similarly, the denomination has thought a lot about the practical aspects of pastoral ministry and what God calls a person to do, but it has never been very interested in theological questions about the difference between clergy and laity, the role of sacraments in the Christian life, or the relationship between baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and ordination.

Amidst the ongoing challenge of racism for every Christian denomination, the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s historical involvement in abolition and example of incorporating racial diversity into the denomination continues to serve as an inspiration for current church members to emulate. While our stand against racism was more full-throated in the past than it sometimes is in the present, our ongoing method of addressing racism has made us one of the most racially diverse denominations in the world. The same pragmatism is present in our treatment of creation and evolution, gender and ordination, worship styles, Christian behavior, sex and sexuality, human trafficking, work and money, and a thousand other concerns.

The result of this menagerie has been the birth of a denomination that serves as a spiritual family with collective beliefs and a common life purpose. Wherever you go and wherever you’ve been as a Seventh-day Adventist, you always belong to a people and you always have a spiritual home that is continually being healed by God. And this means you’re always a representative of the wildly exciting—and slightly eccentric—denomination known as the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

1863, your church was born! Today, you are a consequential part of it. And God leads!

—Nathaniel Gamble is the RMC religious liberty director. Photos courtesy of Michael Campbell and Center for Adventist Research.

history-2 — The first Adventist camp meeting at the E. H. Root farm in Wright, Michigan, 1868, overlayed with the third Seventh-day Adventist meeting house in Battle Creek, Michigan, 1866.

18 May

RMC PRESIDENT’S WORD: ‘TIS THE SEASON – AGAIN!

By Mic Thurber

No, not that season where you are supposed to be jolly, though I can imagine a lot of students and their parents feel a sense of joy right now. I’m talking about graduation season! The school year has come to a close, and there is much to celebrate in the Rocky Mountain Conference.

Of our conference’s 18 schools, including Campion and Mile High Academies, some 781 of our children have successfully completed another year of school. Among them, 17 are graduating high school at Mile High and 35 from Campion. We also have 55 graduating eighth graders, and 59 students will be moving from kindergarten to first grade.

All this happens because of our dedicated and excellent teaching force of 81 staff under the leadership of our very professional education department composed of Diane Harris, Paul Negrete, and Sandy Hodgson.

I’m very proud of all our schools, students, faculty, and departmental leaders. I send my best wishes and congratulations to all our graduates, along with encouragement to those who are still heading toward their graduation in coming years. I also want to say a special word of thanks to our teachers and education team leaders for your tireless work for our children. God has surely gifted our conference with you!

Every so often I hear questions and conversations asking if it’s really worth it to invest so much in Adventist education. For me, the answer is always a resounding “Absolutely!” Our schools are our front line of evangelism and are becoming more and more important as we see what’s happening in the world around us.

Please don’t misunderstand me. It’s in all our best interest as citizens for there to be a strong and healthy public school system. Though I went through Adventists schools for all my elementary, secondary, and college years, in addition to some graduate work at UNC while I was teaching, there was one year I attended the local community college in Charlotte, North Carlona. I was taking a year’s break from my formal education pursuit to work for the Carolina Conference for a special project for young adults that my father was leading that year. Not wanting to get too far behind, I went to the local college to take some basics—English, math, and music theory (I was planning to be a music major back then).

My experience was good overall, and the teaching staff was very good. A couple of things, however, reminded me how valuable it is to have the atmosphere of a God-honoring school environment. I will always remember the day in English class when the teacher threw out a scenario, she wanted each of us to respond to. She said, “Imagine that something terrible has happened in the world and there is no more food. You are down to your last loaf of bread, and your neighbor comes knocking at your door and asks if you have any bread left that you could give them. What is your response?”

It was interesting to hear the various responses from my classmates. Finally, she pointed to me and asked what I’d do. I told her, “Well, I’m a Christian and wouldn’t hesitate to share what I had, even giving it all away if I needed to help them.” My teacher just looked at me with the most perplexed look. “Why in the world would you do that?” She asked. I replied something like, “Well, if it’s my last loaf, what real difference would it make anyway. And besides, it means more to be of help to someone else than to just satisfy myself. That’s what I think the Bible would ask of me.”

She just shook her head as if to say, “I don’t get it.” And obviously she didn’t. She was actually a very good teacher and very decent to all of us. It’s just that something was missing in her. And you can’t share what you don’t have.

In every classroom every day in Rocky Mountain Conference schools, there is a teacher that does have something special to give away—a saving knowledge of Jesus. Oh, we want them to be well educated teachers who are properly certified and who teach well. And our teachers are all indeed that. I don’t know about you, but I’m eternally grateful for what’s truly different about our schools.

I hope that during this graduation season that you can speak a word of thanks and encouragement to a teacher or principal, or to one of our education leaders. It’s ok to invite them over for supper or watermelon and ice cream or hand them a gift card to a favorite place to eat as a way of saying thanks for their hard work. If you can’t do that, a warm handshake and word of thanks will go a long way.

—Mic Thurber is the RMC president. Photo supplied.

16 May

ANGELS AT SUMMER CAMP

Brandon Westgate – Denver, Colorado … The RMC youth department began its partnership with Angel Tree Camping^® in the fall of 2020. Under the leadership of RMC assistant youth director, Brent Learned, Mills Spring Ranch (MSR) in Wyoming entered into an agreement with Angel Tree Camping^® to create opportunities for children with incarcerated parent(s) to attend summer camp free of charge.

One camper was sponsored through the program and attended camp the summer of 2021. In 2022, six were registered. There is a new partnership between RMC youth department and Angel Tree Camping^® is creating an opportunity for more young people to experience summer camp at Glacier View Ranch (GVR).

The RMC youth department is excited about this new partnership that will offer the ministry of GVR Summer Camp to these young people who may not have the chance to attend a Christian summer camp any other way.

Brent reminisced about the experience at MSR: “It is exciting to serve those that need summer camp the most in our community and experience Jesus’ transformational power throughout our week together at summer camp.”

It is anticipated that 12 campers from the Angel Tree Camping^® sponsorship will attend this inaugural summer at GVR. There has been interest already.

Involvement with the RMC youth department aims to have a fruitful partnership moving forward as we seek to elevate Jesus as the only hope of redemption and salvation. They are looking forward to connecting with some new young people and anticipate the number of campers who register from Angel Tree Camping^® will grow each year. It is our hope that we will connect them with Jesus!

Prison Fellowship and Angel Tree Camping^® offer a fully paid scholarship to campers who meet certain qualifications. If you know someone who you think may qualify, or if you desire more information about Angel Tree and Prison Fellowship, click here.

To register your camper for summer camp, click here.

—Brandon Westgate is the RMC youth department director. Photos supplied.

16 May

STEWARDSHIP: PART 2 – THE IDENTITY OF THE STEWARD

… My Lord and my God!
(John 20:28)

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “identity” as the distinguishing character or personality of an individual¹ that is also, by definition, “individuality.” Etymologically speaking, we find the word’s origin in the Latin idem, rendered as the same or sameness.² It is captivating how the language and the meaning of words change with time. This change is vital to our reflection on the steward’s identity.

In today’s world, people look at their identities in many ways. People and organizations have their personal, cultural, national, and religious distinctive identification, names, logos, language, ethics, culture, ethos, etc. While we speak of our world as the “global village,” we all want to be unique and distinct. Identity connects people just as much as it separates them.

When we speak of the steward’s identity, we should see it as “the same as the Lord” rather than “distinguished from the Lord.” The steward should have the identity or similitude in the Lord and not in anyone or anything else (2 Cor. 5:17). The local church’s needs and priorities could alter, organizational leaders could move on, social and religious practices could be swayed into a new direction, and if, as stewards, our identity and loyalty are found in any of the above, our faithfulness to the Lord will also vary.

In the parable of the Talents or the Unprofitable Servant of Matthew 25:14-30, we find three servants who were entrusted with the master’s property and who received a commission to grow his economy and wealth in his absence. Two were saturated with their master’s identity and his will and became highly successful and productive. While the unprofitable servant exclaimed, “Lord, I knew you to be a hard man,” (Matt. 25:24) disagreeing with the essence of his master and rejecting to identify with him. His identity crisis was manifested in egotism, arrogance, and selfishness, resulting in laziness, disobedience, unfaithfulness, and uselessness.

Speaking of servants growing the kingdom under challenging times, Ellen G. White explains: These will not be talking of self, vindicating self, but will lose their identity in Jesus Christ … All pride must perish, all jealousy be overcome, all ambition for supremacy be given up, and the meekness and trust of the child be encouraged.³

A steward only responds through service and gives what one has already received. The grace of being a steward of the master’s affairs is, in itself, the most exceptional honor a servant could have. Living in the master’s house, attending the master’s business, and handling his economy are the wealth of gifts the steward receives to express the most profound gratitude through investing.

LeRoy Froom explained this bond as: … the greatest needs of the hour, next to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, is for the remnant church to have a new vision of God’s ownership and man’s stewardship.⁴ This new vision of God’s ownership will bring the proper identity to every servant entrusted with the master’s gifts. All those who have accepted Christ’s Lordship become stewards of the “manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10), despite one’s economic, intellectual, social, and material properties.

However, the suppressed reality could be that, as Christians, we could perceive the church body as the lord. Ben Maxon noted, Most spiritual problems come from either a failure to integrate the gospel into our life or to accept the lordship of Jesus Christ.⁵ Having Christ as the Lord of the steward resolves spiritual problems, brings solutions, and answers questions due to the Lord’s greatness! We can not be stewards without a Lord. The question remains, do we fully identify with the Lord?

In Part 3 of the series, we will examine the awe-inspiring nature of the steward’s Lord, the Lordship of Jesus Christ, in whom we find the meaning of stewardship.

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

¹ Merriam-Webster. Identity. In Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/introvert

² Online Etymology Dictionary. Identity. In Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/

³ White, E. G. Testimonies, p. 130-1.

⁴ Froom, L. E. (2012). Stewardship in Its Larger Aspects. Pacific Press Publishing Association – Kindle Edition. 122.

⁵ Maxon, B. (2010). Get Normal: How Partnering with God Transforms Your Life. Stewardship Ministry Department, General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. p. 132.

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