NewsNuggets Page 3

23 Jul

WALKING WITH JESUS AT THE WYOMING CAMP MEETING

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RMCNews – Casper, Wyoming … Camp meetings have been a defining tradition in the Seventh-day Adventist Church for over 150 years, with James and Ellen G. White laying the groundwork for these gatherings in the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) region with evangelistic effort in Colorado in the 1870s. Playing a vital role in spiritual revival, community building, and denominational identity, these gatherings provided a space for both instruction in Bible truth and connection among scattered members.

Overtime, camp meetings evolved to include youth programming, health education, and mission promotion, but the original simplicity, rustic settings, and familiar format of worship, Bible study, and fellowship remains the trademark of the RMC Wyoming Camp Meeting.

The 2025 Wyoming Camp Meeting was held July 15-19 at Mills Spring Ranch (MSR) in Casper, Wyoming, with this year’s theme being “Walking with Jesus.” The featured speaker was Dr. Greg A. King, a renowned Bible scholar, a passionate teacher currently serving as dean of the School of Religion and professor of biblical studies at Southern Adventist University, and a man whose “greatest mission is helping people experience the abundant life that comes from a deep relationship with Jesus.”

When asked what message from his presentations Dr. King hoped would resonate with the attendees, he remarked, “That the key to the Christian life is an ongoing walk with Jesus Christ. It is important to have a daily relationship with him.”

And, for many attendees, their annual camp meeting experience is an important part of that ongoing faith journey. “I have attended camp meetings starting when I was about four or five years old with my mother, and I’ve been speaking at them for about 30 years or so,” reflected Dr. King. “So, I’m a long-time camp meeting camper. And the Wyoming Camp is just beautiful with sweet fellowship that is a foretaste of heaven.”

A long-time Wyoming Camp Meeting attendee and member of the Gillette Seventh-day Adventist Church in Wyoming is Diane Montoya: “I think I started coming up in the mid-1980s, and I’ve been to almost every one since then. I love the messages that I get here every day. There are things that I get in the messages that help me through the next year.”

But not all that joined this year’s event are long-time attendees. This was the first year for Mary Miles, member of the Torrington Seventh-day Adventist Church in Wyoming. “I have learned so much, and I am just so much more on fire for God than ever before. Pastors talking about fear and how to get rid of it … It made me feel like I’m not alone. This whole experience made me feel like I’m not alone.”

A lot goes into the planning and fulfillment of every camp meeting, and they would not run without a dedicated team of individuals. Wyoming district pastors Edrey Santos, Mark Phillips, and Kevin McDonald hosted and provided morning devotionals and workshops. Leandro Bizama, associate pastor of Worship and Evangelism at the Campion Seventh-day Adventist Church in Loveland, Colorado, stepped up last minute to provide music programming and direction for the event, and RMC president-elect David VandeVere gave inaugural remarks.

With the relatively recent transition of new pastors in the Wyoming region, Liz Cornett, assistant clerk of the Casper Seventh-day Adventist Church, took on a leadership role in this year’s camp meeting as the coordinator. “My first experience with Wyoming Camp Meeting came in 1991 after I had just moved from the Oregon Conference to Casper. I was 14 years old and had left everything I knew behind,” Cornett recalled. “I arrived at Mills Spring Ranch, and I knew absolutely nobody that first day; how lonely that was!  So, I decided to change that.”

“So, every young person that looked around my age that walked into camp, I immediately walked up to and said, ‘Hi, I’m Liz!’  I made so many new friends that week!  When I went to Campion Academy in the Fall, several of them were there saying, ‘Hey! I remember you from camp meeting!’  Some people became my friends for life, and we still stay in contact,” she continued.

“Camp meeting to me is a time to leave behind the day-to-day grind of life and separate for spiritual renewal,” reflected Cornett. “This is made up of many things—friends, nature, uplifting messages, and music.  This year’s camp meeting has become one of my favorites.  The combination of spiritual messages, real-life application workshops, family activities, and making music filled my cup to overflow. I praise God that I was given the opportunity to be a part of it, and I am looking forward to camp meeting again next year!”

New to this year’s camp meeting experience was the presence of the RMC summer camp staff. They were facilitating the RMC Blind Camp session that ran concurrently with camp meeting, assisting in a number of facility projects at MSR, and providing support for camp meeting. “It was off the charts watching all of the young people this week—helping out, cooking, and taking care of things,” commented Mona Fellers, member of Torrington Church.

Also hosted at this year’s Wyoming Camp Meeting was the first of six regional RMC Town Hall sessions. The town hall was divided into two segments: the first being breakout sessions on mission and ministry topics followed by conference ministry reports from department directors. “I loved the town hall breakouts. I managed to catch parts of two of them and wanted to go to more,” remarked Cornett.

“I would encourage more of our members to attend Wyoming Camp Meeting,” closed Cornett. “It is where we support and lift each other up and see that we are not alone up here in the vast prairies and mountains but that we are one conference, one church, and one message to proclaim to a world in desperate need of Jesus.”

—RMCNews. Photos by Liz Kirkland and Susan Inglish.

22 Jul

ADVENTHEALTH CASTLE ROCK CELEBRATES RIBBON CUTTING FOR PITTMAN PATHWAY WELLNESS TRAIL

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AdventHealth – Castle Rock, Colorado … Following AdventHealth’s mission to help team members, guests, and patients Feel Whole, AdventHealth Castle Rock officially opened the Pittman Pathway Wellness Trail with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Located on a 10-acre site in the southeast corner of the hospital campus on Limelight Avenue, this publicly accessible quarter-mile trail was made possible through generous contributions to the AdventHealth Castle Rock Foundation and was completed earlier this summer.

The trail includes several pieces of outdoor workout equipment, an incline, and useful health tips along the path.

“This initiative serves as an outreach to the community for health and wellness,” said Executive Chef and Manager at AdventHealth’s Manna Restaurant, Dan Skay who came up with the idea. “The community can walk the trail or guests and patients can come out here to get away for a little bit.”

The wellness trail is named after former AdventHealth Castle Rock CEO and current Rocky Mountain Region Chief Financial Officer, Jeremy Pittman.

“From the very beginning, we’ve had this vision for AdventHealth Castle Rock to be a place of healing not only when you’re sick, but when you’re well,” said Jeremy. “How do we better invite the community in and create this connection where a hospital isn’t a scary place. This is one more step in that direction.”

Team members and community supporters attended the ribbon cutting including AdventHealth Castle Rock CEO, Michelle Fuentes, who had the opportunity to dedicate the trail to her longtime friend.

“I have had the opportunity to know Jeremy for a very long time, and I know that he absolutely adores this hospital and that he is 100% committed to the work that we’re doing here,” said Michelle. “To dedicate something like this for my friend is a real honor.”

The primary goal of the trail is to embody AdventHealth’s C.R.E.A.T.I.O.N. life principles (Choice, Rest, Environment, Activity, Trust in God, Interpersonal Relationships, Outlook, Nutrition), serving as a resource for those seeking healthier, more fulfilling lives based on a whole-person health philosophy.

The creation of this trail will allow AdventHealth Castle Rock to create a deeper connection with the community as they continue the mission of “Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ.”

“I always say, it’s the people in this community who make it amazing, and I am so humbled and honored to be a part of spreading whole-person care with this trail,” said Jeremy.

—AdventHealth News. Republished with permission from the AdventHealth News & Stories website, July 10, 2025, article. Photos supplied.

The beginning of the path by the AH CR emergency department.
An example of some of the workout equipment.
22 Jul

MEET UNION’S NEW CHAPLAIN: MOLLIE DUPPER

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UAU News – Lincoln, Nebraska … This summer, Union Adventist University (UAU) is welcoming a familiar face back to campus as chaplain. Mollie (Cummings) Dupper will lead the Campus Ministries team starting in July.

A 2014 Union graduate, Dupper knows the pivotal role Campus Ministries plays in the lives of students. “I love Union,” Dupper said. “I loved being a student here, I loved working in Campus Ministries, and I met my husband here. I really have a heart for Union Adventist University. This place shaped who I am as a person and how I have served in ministry ever since.”

Buell Fogg, Union’s associate chaplain, has long been a mentor to Dupper. “I’ve known Molly since she was a seventh grader at North Star Camp,” Fogg said. “I have seen God lead her to Maplewood, and to Union, throughout her career and now back to Union. I can’t wait to see how the Lord continues to lead through her. I am so excited!”

According to Dupper, Fogg is the reason she chose Union as a student. “He came recruiting at North Star Camp when I was 12,” Dupper recalled. “I remember thinking, How can I be like that guy when I grow up? I can’t believe I get to work with him now!”

She also credits Rich Carlson, chaplain emeritus, as a mentor and major influence on her ministry. “My freshmen year, I came to Union so jazzed to work in Campus Ministries, but all the jobs were already filled,” she said. “I went to Pastor Rich’s office and asked, ‘How can I get involved?’ He turned the question around and asked what ministry I wanted to create.” She and a friend developed a proposal to partner with faculty and staff to host students once or twice a month in their homes. They named their ministry Soul Food.

“I knocked on Pastor Rich’s door hoping for a position that already existed, but being given the space to actually make something—to look for a need then create a ministry to serve that need—was a big learning moment,” she said. “It’s not just stepping into positions others have built, but looking around prayerfully to find a need that isn’t already being met. That shaped the way I look at ministry.”

Armed with a degree in religious education, Dupper’s post-college career began as a Bible teacher at Collegedale Academy in Tennessee. After marrying Carl Dupper, also a 2014 Union graduate, she joined him in Florida where he worked for AdventHealth, and she served at WholeLife Seventh-day Adventist Church as first a youth pastor, then young adult pastor, and finally senior pastor before moving to the Spring Meadows Seventh-day Adventist church, also in Florida, where she worked once again in youth ministry. Meanwhile, her husband had a meteoric rise at AdventHealth, becoming CEO of AdventHealth Central Florida just five years after graduating from Union. Following the pandemic and having just welcomed their first child, the couple decided to move to Carl’s home state of Colorado. They launched a home cleaning service, TidyTask, which continues to expand under Carl’s leadership (watch a presentation Carl gave during Union’s 2024 Leaders Building Leaders Conference). Most recently, Mollie has been an associate pastor at the Boulder Seventh-day Adventist Church in Colorado.

“In each ministry setting, whether a school, a youth group or a young adult ministry, I’ve adopted the model I learned from Pastor Rich at Union: servant leadership, giving space to journey with Jesus, offering the freedom to identify an unmet need, and helping find the resources to create a ministry,” Dupper said. “Everywhere I’ve had the opportunity to do that, it’s been amazing seeing the transformation as youth and young adults come alive: becoming followers of Jesus and leaders of ministry.”

Though living in Colorado, her children (Wesley, age 4, and Alice, 18 months) already feel like Nebraskans. Many of the classes she took while completing her master’s in pastoral ministry from Andrews University met on Union’s campus, and she chose to march in Union’s graduation to receive her diploma in May. Dupper said, “My son has come to Lincoln so many times, when I asked him what his favorite place is, he said, ‘Nebraska!’ Taking my master’s classes on Union’s campus has been a lot of fun for me and the kiddos.”

A new chaplain is not the only major change in Campus Ministries for the 2025-2026 academic year. The office has been relocated to the former Career Center just off the Atrium of the Don Love Building. The remodeled space features three offices, a larger lounge area and a kitchen. The move is part of an effort to make the Atrium the hub for student life and activities, joining the athletics office, library, Student Association offices, Student Center, Student Health, Student Success, and Writing Center on the north side of the Don Love Building.

“I’m really excited to get to know the students, faculty and staff: the Union of today,” Dupper says. “I want to hear what God is placing on their hearts and what God is calling this student body to do. I am praying I can be a support to them, to remind them who they are in Christ, that they are absolutely loved by Jesus Christ, and that He is journeying with them.”

Carlson shared his excitement to see Dupper in the role, saying, “Mollie comes with good experience, and even more importantly, a good spirit. She has a great heart for Jesus, and that’s the best gift she can share with the students.”

—Union Adventist University News. Republished with permission from the Union Adventist University News website, June 27, 2025, article.  Photo supplied.

21 Jul

NO WALLS, JUST WONDER: RMC’S COWBOY CAMP MEETING BLENDS NATURE AND SPIRITUAL RENEWAL

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Ron Johnson – Uncompahgre National Forest, Colorado … The 25th annual Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) Cowboy Camp Meeting was held in the scenic valley surrounded by 12,000-foot peaks in the Uncompahgre National Forest of Western Colorado, July 9-13. Attendees came from as far away as California and Georgia, and a common theme of conversation was that this is one of the most beautiful locations in Colorado.

There are no facilities at this site, except for portable toilets that were brought in, and it is next to a wilderness area, so campers brought their own accommodations ranging from motor homes, travel trailers, truck campers, tents, and even a few brave souls who slept in hammocks.

Nathan and Charlote James presented inspiring messages in the morning and evening. Nathan is lead pastor at the Hot Springs and Custer Seventh-day Adventist Churches in South Dakota. His wife, Charolet, has a master’s in music education and serves at the state veterans’ home as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CAN). In addition to morning and evening meetings there was a women’s tea, a plant walk to identify edible plants, and a Sabbath School for the little campers.

The theme of Nathan’s messages was having a mountain experience with God and nature. He began his messages with fascinating stories of amazing ants, capturing bobcats in chicken coops, mountain goats licking salt from hikers, and a flying squirrel that he thought was a bear leaping on him while sleeping in his hammock at 2:00 a.m. one morning. He also talked about life-saving wilderness rescues and wilderness quotes by Ellen G. White and naturalist John Muir.

Nathan spoke of the importance of each of us to make gratitude a primary focus in our lives and how it would influence us, asking, “what do I have to be thankful for and what benefits are lacking in my life because of a lack of gratitude?” He spoke of making sure there is room in our hearts for Jesus every day and not underestimating the power of our testimony.

Charolet’s messages were on Isaiah, a Bible book of contrast and complexity that presents God’s work of salvation with the themes of judgment, comfort, and hope. The first thirty-nine chapters are filled with judgment for sin, and the last twenty-seven chapters declare a message of forgiveness, comfort, and hope.

Charolet shared her study methods of journaling and highlighting texts using colored pencils to lace and develop Isaiah’s thoughts: red for when Jesus is speaking, blue for when Isaiah is speaking, yellow for happy thoughts, orange for warning, purple for sad, and green for instruction.

Tiffany Westmoreland, and attendee of the camp meeting, commented, “A highlight for me was the description of the character of Isaiah. His fiery rage against the iniquity of God’s people. Yet he sees God’s goodness and mercy in contrast to his own lack of love and empathy for God’s wayward people.”

The plant walk, attended by 23 people, was organized by the health and young adult ministries of Grand Junction Seventh-day Adventist Church in Grand Junction, Colorado, and led by the Health Ministry director, Duane-Sue Jardinico. Aaron and Jami Dove, attendees and members of the Grand Junction Church, stated that their favorite “tidbit” from the walk was learning that Aspen tree bark has yeast that can be used for baking bread and also learning uses for Arnica, red clover, various thistles, wild currants, yarrow, and wild red raspberry.

When asked what they enjoyed about camp meeting, the Doves remarked, “we really enjoyed the music at each meeting. There is something special about worshiping together in the mountains.”

The younger campers had their own Sabbath School class led by Cindy Pickell, from Ringgold, Georgia, and her helper, “Pumpkin,” a young adult from Monticello, Utah. Jami says, “The children enjoyed songs, stories, and art projects. Favorites [of theirs] were the sharing song and learning to share some toys. Another favorite activity was pulling nature items, such as flowers, pinecones, and leaves, out of a treasure box. Everyone learned how much Jesus loves us.”

Cindy and her husband Chuck Pickell enjoyed a nearby hidden waterfall accessed by a short hike through a field of columbines. When it came into view, Cindy clapped her hands with joy, removed her shoes and socks and waded in the cold creek—very briefly. When asked what she liked about Cowboy Camp Meeting, she reflected, “I really appreciated the wonderful, fun, upbeat gospel songs led by Charolet and Tiffany, and it was great to have so many musical instruments—accordion, ukulele, violins, guitars, and recorders. I also appreciated the pastor’s stories and the study of Isaiah, which is something I have not heard before.”

Chuck remarked, “I really appreciated the music and the selected speakers. A highlight for me was getting to know people, and I am thankful for the attitude of everyone from the leaders to the attendees. Everyone was so helpful!”

Karen Fishell, also a member of the Grand Junction said, “[This is] my first time to camp during the camp meeting, and it was an amazing experience. We were blessed by friendly people, incredible views, wonderful music, and speakers! A special blessing was a women’s tea on Friday afternoon. Cindy Pickell loves to do teas with women. She brought the table settings, teas, juice, pastries/cookies/muffins, and encouraging notes. There were even hats if you wished to borrow them. With a dozen women from many places, she orchestrated introductions, affirmations, and prayers. We met new friends and were encouraged and blessed by this experience.”

Several people expressed their appreciation of the efforts by the organizers to provide this camp meeting in the mountains each year saying it affords a special blessing not found in other camp meetings. Next year’s RMC Cowboy Camp Meeting is scheduled for July 8-12, 2026.

—Ron Johnson is a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and is the RMC Cowboy Camp Meeting treasurer. Photos supplied.

21 Jul

NEW CAMPION ACADEMY ADMIN TEAM PREPARES FOR EXCITING YEAR AHEAD

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Jill Harlow – Loveland, Colorado … Campion Academy in Loveland, Colorado, is launching the 2025–2026 school year with a new administrative leadership team, bringing renewed energy and a united vision to uphold the school’s Christ-centered mission.

Leading the team is Kaleb Leeper, who joins Campion as principal after serving as vice principal at Shenandoah Valley Academy in New Market, Virginia, and as a teacher in Georgia. With a passion for spiritual leadership, academic excellence, and student mentorship, Leeper sees Campion as a place poised to thrive.

“I am excited for this opportunity to lead because Campion Academy has so much potential,” Leeper said. “It has a reputation for strong academics and the support of a deeply connected church and alumni community. I believe uplifting Christ should be first, best, and last in our school. I look forward to seeing where God can lead as we move forward with humility and holy boldness.”

Oliver Bragg joins the team as vice principal, bringing nearly a decade of classroom and leadership experience. Bragg is passionate about empowering both students and teachers and is committed to building a strong academic and spiritual foundation across campus.

Returning to her alma mater, Cara Greenfield steps in as vice principal of Finance. With nearly 20 years of experience in school administration and finance, including international posts in Canada and Cambodia, Greenfield brings both expertise and a deep personal connection to Campion Academy.

“For each of us on the leadership team, coming to Campion has been providential,” Leeper added. “It’s clear that God has led in preparing this team for their new roles. By His grace, we will build a campus where Christ is lifted up, the Word of God is the rule of faith, and where every student is supported to thrive in this life and the next.”

Campion Academy invites the community to welcome the new leaders at an open meet-and-greet event on Saturday, July 26, at 7 p.m. at the Campion Seventh-day Adventist Church at 300 42nd Street SW, Loveland, Colorado. Parents, teens, and community members are encouraged to attend to get to know the leadership team beginning with a time of worship and followed by games and fun in the school’s gymnasium.

—Jill Harlow is the Campion Academy communication director. Photos supplied.

16 Jul

WELLNESS SUPPORT: A NEW NAME, A NEW FOCUS

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Rick Mautz – Denver, Colorado … As RMC’s health ministry changes its name to Wellness Support, the emphasis is not on the new name as much as a new focus that this name reflects. Wellness is more than the absence of disease or living 10 years longer—It encompasses the physical, emotional, spiritual, and social wholeness.

“Throughout my years of doing health work, I always sensed that the approach we often used was to give information and assume that people would make changes and their health would improve,” remarked Rick Mautz, RMC Wellness Support director. “But when the program was over, they went back to their old ways.The missing link I discovered was ongoing support, provided by people who truly cared.” 

He continued, “And information alone does not bring about change in people’s lives, whether physically or spiritually, nor give a complete picture of who God is and how He cares for each one of us.  I did not want to just continue with a system that neither worked nor reflected the character of God. I believe that the way Jesus worked is the best model to follow, and a study into His work revealed His perfect balance of information, listening, and ongoing support.”  

“Information alone will not bring wellness,” continued Mautz. “If we are to reflect our compassionate Savior, though, we need to be there for people, to support them as they struggle with aspects of wellness in their lives. Information is available everywhere, and if all we give is information, we are dispensable. What is often missing is support; when we supply that, we become indispensable to our communities.”

The lack of interest in health programs in the church is more than likely related to too much information and too little support after the information is provided. That does not mean that good health information is unnecessary, but it should not be the main strategy.

“Partnered with good information, whether it is regarding a lifestyle that reduces the risk of disease or discovering what brings peace to the soul and happiness to your home, the most needed ingredient is a compassionate friend who is there to provide support, walking beside you through the difficult parts of your transformation. This is what reflects Christ to our community and churches. That is the reason for a refocus and a new name,” commented Mautz.

He continued, “We could have introduced a new focus to health ministry by changing the name to indicate that we are serious, it is important, and the new name will keep that new focus always before us.”

This new name can be used both in churches and out in the local community to replace “health ministries.” In churches, it describes how people can support each other by listening to them and supporting their growth where they are and not where one thinks they should be. In communities, the name Wellness Support serves as a banner that each church can use under which they introduce to their community wellness principles while providing ongoing support.

Using this new ministry name provides a consistent visual and continued recognition of this important service for each wellness program: “As we find ways to keep in touch, ask questions, listen for needs that we can meet, and be truly interested in them, not just their attendance at our programs. It tells them that we are interested in providing support and coming alongside them on their wellness journey,” urged Mautz.

“As we drop the word health from our name, it will distinguish us from our Adventist health care institutions, and also describe our distinct role of support to those services. They provide health care; we provide Wellness Support. We will continue to work on developing the best way that we can help provide that needed ongoing support in the most appropriate and meaningful way.”

Wellness Support is being designed for laypersons and professionals alike. A part of that training is the LIFT -Jesus’ Way of Coaching program, a coaching training for all members to develop the skills of connecting with people, listening, and asking powerful, engaging questions that lead to personal transformation. It provides guidance on how to provide ongoing support that is the key to their success. This training is available online at rmcsda.org/lift.

Mautz reflected on an encounter with a recent attendee of one of the hands-on plant-based cooking classes: “She was not too familiar with the Adventist denomination. She told me that she loved what we were doing but was mostly impressed that we would take our Sunday afternoon to do something as crazy as try to teach 17 people how to prepare some new healthy meals. I think what she saw was support rather than information. That is what impressed her and why she will be back. The reward of watching the excitement of people finding wellness in a supportive environment is priceless. The harvest is just waiting for workers. Choose to get involved.”

“I am excited about the future of the Wellness Support ministry and look forward to working with each church in the Rocky Mountain Conference as we make this transition. I am praying that each church will be a Wellness Support Center for their community, and we will work together to reflect our Savior to the world in this most meaningful area of service,” Mautz closed with.

You can find out more by contacting Rick Mautz, Wellness Support Director at rickm@rmcsda.org

—Rick Mautz, PT MS, is RMC Health Ministry director and director of the Rocky Wellness Support Center. Photo by Ziph on Unsplash.

14 Jul

VISTA RIDGE ROBOTICS TEAM MAKES HISTORY AT SUNSHINE INVITATIONAL WORLD EVENT

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Marsha Bartulec – Daytona Beach, Florida … The EnginEagles robotics team from Vista Ridge Academy (VRA) in Erie, Colorado, has made an extraordinary leap in just its second year of existence. They competed on the world stage at the Sunshine Invitational, an international robotics event hosted by FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL), June 24-28, in Daytona Beach, Florida.

With more than 11,000 teams worldwide, only 655 were selected to attend a world-level competition this year, and the VRA team was one of them. Even more significantly, the EnginEagles team made history as one of only three Adventist robotics teams to attend a world event for the first time in Adventist Robotics League history.

“Our journey began in the Adventist Robotics League, where we participated in both regional and national competitions,” commented VRA principal Marsha Bartulec. “After earning first place at our regional event and being named Champion’s Award Finalists at the national level, we were chosen as the alternate for the Sunshine Invitational. When the opportunity came to join the global competition, our team enthusiastically accepted.”

Though the VRA team didn’t place at the world event, the experience was invaluable. Competing alongside top teams from across the globe offered inspiration, challenges, and a deep sense of accomplishment.

“This team has shown incredible growth and perseverance,” continued Bartulec. “Their journey is a powerful reminder of what can happen when students are encouraged to pursue excellence with passion and purpose.”

The team’s success would not have been possible without the selfless dedication of the team’s coaches. Their leadership was instrumental in helping students develop technical skills, creativity, and teamwork.

Team coach Richard Gildersleeve reflected, “To go from a new team to the world stage in just two years is extraordinary. The students gave it their all, and it’s been a privilege to guide them through the process.”

Of the five team members, four graduated this year and will be entering high school in the fall. “We’re incredibly proud of their accomplishments and look forward to seeing how they carry these skills into the future,” remarked Bartulec.

One team member shared, “This was a once in a lifetime experience! It was an amazing experience being able to travel and connect with people from around the world.”

Bartulec closed with, “As we celebrate this historic season, we’re already preparing for what’s next. A new team will form in the fall, ready to build on this legacy of innovation, teamwork, and courage. Congratulations to our incredible robotics team—you made history, built friendships across the globe, and made us proud.”

—Marsha Bartulec is principal at Vista Ridge Academy. Photos supplied.

10 Jul

COMMENTARY: OVERWHELMED AND EMPOWERED – A NEW DELEGATE’S EXPERIENCE

In

By Liz Kirkland

The moment I stepped into America’s Center Convention Complex for the 62nd General Conference Session, I was swept into a current of humanity—so many people from so many places filling the facility.

While more than 99 percent of the tens of thousands of people in attendance are technically strangers to me, there is still the knowledge that we are all bound by our love of Jesus and our support of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. You can look anyone in the eye and find a smile, a nod, a gesture, a kind glance. We don’t always speak the same language, but we share the same Spirit. Even the smallest moments feel uniting.

As a first-time delegate and GC Session attendee, I wasn’t certain what to expect. After the 2024 International Pathfinder Camporee in Gillette, Wyoming, I anticipated being similarly overwhelmed and overstimulated—and I was right. This is particularly true in the exhibitor hall, with some of the best-designed exhibit booths I have ever seen.

One thing that struck me immediately is the global tapestry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church present here. As you walk around, you hear the hum of many languages and see the traditional cultural dress from around 200 countries. Around 60 interpreters are employed during the session to provide translations in eight languages. Every session, every motion, every amendment is translated and relayed in real time, keeping the 2,809 delegates united in purpose, if not always in opinion.

Amidst the diversity and density, everything runs with remarkable order. With previous experience in event management, I give sincere praise to the logistics team for maintaining timetables, moving thousands of people expeditiously through food lines, organizing more than 100 vendors, and attending to the needs of multigenerational, multicultural delegates and families. The complex is a machine with a pulse—structured but alive.

The session floor is a room I never imagined walking into where I didn’t just get a seat, I got a voice with my fellow believers. To be chosen from your region to cast votes that shape the policy and direction of the global church leaves you with the feeling of both humility and a huge sense of responsibility.

Of course, not everything is awe-inspiring. Some items on the agenda move with lightning speed while others drag on with the number of people at the microphones. Sessions can run long, the mood can shift to irritability, and fatigue can become a spiritual test.

And then there are the commenters, those well-meaning individuals who feel compelled to speak to seemingly every motion, even the ones that seem procedural or self-evident. Yet, the very act of people stepping up to the microphone is one of the most compelling parts of the session. The floor becomes a window into the values, histories, and passions of regions far from your own. It becomes evident that unity in mission may not necessarily mean uniformity in faith experience.

I can say mid-session that I am physically tired but still spiritually energized. Each day at session reminds me that my church family is not just a local congregation or even a national organization, but a global family—passionate, hopeful, messy, and deeply connected. Being a delegate hasn’t just given me a vote; it has given me a sense of what it means to belong to a faithful group of Christ’s followers.

—Liz Kirkland is the RMC Communication director. Republished with permission from the NAD News July 10, 2025, article. Photos by Caleb Durant and Bryant Taylor.

Liz Kirkland, a first-time delegate and attendee, votes on agenda items at the GC Session. Photo: Caleb Durant | Iowa-Missouri Conference
Delegates pray together during the business meetings at the 2025 GC Session. Photo: Bryant Taylor | Southern Union
10 Jul

THE REAL CENTER OF POWER

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Beth Thomas – St. Louis, Missouri … In America’s Center Convention Complex, Room 120 hums with a quiet energy. An estimated 1,000 guests are coming together daily—not to debate motions or cast votes, but to seek divine guidance through prayer.

Coordinated by the General Conference Ministerial Association and part of the Revival and Reformation initiative, these prayer sessions provide an opportunity for reflection and intercession. They are open to everyone and provide a space for attendees to pray for the business of the church, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the personal burdens they carry.

These are significant meetings, and decisions are being made for the future of our church. “We believe the Holy Spirit needs to guide those decisions,” said Melody Mason, one of the coordinators. “Of course, we have consecrated leaders who are praying, but we believe that we are like Aaron and Hur behind the scenes, holding up the arms of Moses. We are here to hold up the arms of our leaders, to pray for the Holy Spirit to be poured out on every aspect of session, whether it’s the worship services, the agendas, the committee meetings, the nominations—we’re here to pray.”

And it’s not only delegates and family members who are taking advantage of the prayer room. Convention workers and people from off the street also feel comfortable joining in the prayer sessions, Mason said. “They’ve told us, ‘This is my favorite place to come during my break,’ and they’re praying with us.”

The prayer room is open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and daily programs begin with a revival time when guests join in worship and praise. This is followed by a study on Elijah, during which they learn lessons from his life on how to be God’s last-day “Elijah”—calling for revival and reformation. Pastor Don MacLafferty has been leading these sessions interspersed with a study of the Word and prayer.

Room 120 remains open throughout the day for personal prayer and meditation.

Other Opportunities

The prayer room is not the only place where guests can explore this power. Several ministries in the exhibit hall are offering unique spaces for prayer and reflection.

One special place is a quiet corner in the General Conference Family Ministries booth, covered with brightly colored Post-it notes holding very specific prayer requests. Sharing about their Prayer Rest Stop, Dawn Venn, senior editorial assistant for Family Ministries, said, “People will pause here for quite a while and just pray over the requests they see—the people, the countries. Then they’ll leave and bring back their family members or friends to experience this.”

Others are adopting this idea of a prayer wall as a ministry for their own churches. “It is an easy way to engage the community and church through prayer. Visitors can take a photo of the posted prayer requests to take home to pray over,” said Daniel Taipe, a creative consultant working with Family Ministries. “Guests are recognizing names and prayer requests of friends and promising to pray over them. It’s a simple activity to connect members together.”

And while there are opportunities to uplift specific personal prayer requests, booths such as Mission to the Cities and the Ministerial Association highlight large secular cities and local towns in need of prayer. At the Global Missions exhibit, Karilyn Suvankham, communication specialist with the Department of Adventist Mission at the General Conference, shared how people can use the Mission to the Cities prayer map featuring 580-plus cities of 1 million or more people to specifically pray for the unreached in those areas of the world.

In yet another area, a Spirit of Reflection Tree stands in the center of the North American Division Adventist health-care systems exhibit, a statement to the uniting power of spiritual connection with the divine that crosses cultural boundaries.

Whether whispered in Room 120, scribbled on a Post-it note, or lifted silently in front of a city map, each petition is a reminder that prayer is the heartbeat of the church.

—Beth Thomas is an assistant editor of the Adventist Review. Republished with permission from the Adventist Review News July 9, 2025, article. Photos by Mark Froelich and Josef Kissinger.

Karilyn Suvankham points out cities on a prayer map. (Photo: Josef Kissinger)
A group gathers for prayer around the Spirit of Reflection tree. (Photo: Josef Kissinger)
09 Jul

EQUIPPED TO SERVE, EMPOWERED TO LEAD

In

Beth Thomas – St. Louis, Missouri … Women from across the globe are gathering in St. Louis for a unique four-day event hosted by the General Conference (GC) Women’s Ministries and Ministerial Spouses Association. This four-day program (July 7-10) held in the America’s Ballroom at the convention center brings together female leaders and ministry spouses for inspiration, learning, and fellowship. Meetings include devotionals, division reports, practical seminars, exercise breakouts, and worship led by groups from various world divisions—many dressed in traditional attire representing their cultural backgrounds.

“It would be a missed opportunity not to gather when so many women from different divisions are here in one place,” said Galina Stele, GC Women’s Ministries director. “We want to give them the opportunity to learn from each other, support one another, and grow spiritually and missionally.”

Each morning begins with a devotional by Nina Atcheson, Adventist educator and editor of the new Alive in Jesus Sabbath School curriculum. “She helps us connect more closely with Jesus in our personal devotional lives,” Stele said.

Afternoon seminars address practical topics, including surrender to Christ, discovering spiritual gifts, family health, trauma recovery, and mission engagement. Presenters include Sikhululekile Daco (Adventist Review associate editor), Karen Holford (Family Ministries director, Trans-European Division), Margret Mulambo (Ministerial Spouses Association, Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division), and Elaine Oliver (General Conference Family Ministries associate director).

Division reports from both Women’s Ministries and Ministerial Spouses directors allow leaders to hear how women are being nurtured and empowered across the globe. “Our church is incredibly diverse, and it’s enriching to see what our sisters are doing in other corners of the world,” said Stele.

Jasmin Stankovic, a volunteer from Australia, supports language translation efforts for Spanish and Portuguese speakers. When asked what she enjoyed most about the event, she said, “The best part is the sense of community. Even if we’ve never met, we feel like sisters. It’s like a blended family.”

All meetings are translated into multiple languages—Spanish, Portuguese, French, Russian—and, for the first time, include American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation. “We are recording everything with ASL included, so even if people can’t attend live, they can still be blessed,” Stele added.

The meetings will conclude with a consecration service led by Pastor Ramon Canals, director of the General Conference Ministerial Association. Organizers hope participants leave not only encouraged but also recommitted to their local ministries.

“We’ve been planning this for more than a year,” said Stele. “It’s our prayer that every woman who attends leaves feeling nurtured, empowered, and ready to serve.”

—Beth Thomas is an assistant editor of the Adventist Review. Republished with permission from the Adventist Review News July 8, 2025, article. Photo by Christina Collard.

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