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Jose Briones – Northglenn, Colorado … Fernando Lopez didn’t expect anything unusual that day. He was on a job site near Boulder, Colorado, installing a metal column on a balcony—routine work for someone with years of experience in welding and construction. But what happened next would leave his crew stunned, his doctors baffled, and Fernando convinced that something greater had intervened.

As he prepared the column, Fernando unknowingly touched exposed copper wiring hidden beneath a metal plate. The wires had been left behind by previous workers, taped off but still live. He was barehanded. The moment his skin met the metal, electricity surged through his body.

“I got stuck,” he said. “My hands locked onto the post. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t speak. Just a groan and trembling.”

His crew didn’t notice at first. Fernando stood frozen, unable to call for help. In that terrifying silence, his thoughts turned to his wife and children—and then to God. He offered a prayer, quiet but urgent: “Lord, if this is the way I’m going to end here on this earth, then I accept it. But if it’s not my time yet, you are the only one who can release me from here.”

Seconds later, something shifted. A jolt ran through his body, and his hands let go. He collapsed to the ground.

His supervisor rushed over, stunned. “It’s impossible for you to have let go of that wire,” he said, insisting Fernando go to the hospital. But aside from bone aches and some hair loss, Fernando walked away. No burns. No lasting damage. Just a story that defied explanation.

The incident happened years ago, but Fernando still shares it—not for attention, but as a testimony. A former Pentecostal church leader, he and his family joined the Northglenn Seventh-day Adventist Church after attending an evangelistic series led by Milton Peverini. His faith runs deep. He’s known for testifying to work colleagues about the importance of honoring the Sabbath no matter the job.

For Fernando, the memory of that day is about conviction. He believes he was spared for a reason, and that reason is to speak boldly about the God who saved him. “It wasn’t luck,” he says. “It was mercy.”

Today, he continues to work in construction, but with a renewed sense of purpose. He mentors younger workers, shares his story in church settings, and reminds others to take safety—and faith—seriously. “Every day is a gift,” Fernando says. “And I don’t take any of it for granted.”

His story has become more than a personal miracle. “I serve a God who still performs miracles,” Fernando says. And for those who hear his story, it’s hard not to believe him.

—Jose Briones is the RMC Stewardship Promotion and Content creator. Photo capture from RMC’s “Always Faithful” video series.

Liz Kirkland – Denver, Colorado … At a time when women leaders are navigating increasing demands in all aspects of life, Adventist Women Leaders (AWL), an initiative of the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists (NAD), created a space for renewal at their 2025 conference “Soul Care for Women Leaders,” held September 7-8, in Denver, Colorado.

Roughly 100 women from across the NAD, from as far as the Territory of Guam, gathered to focus on spiritual grounding, leadership resilience, and holistic growth. It wasn’t just another leadership summit but a space to find rest, strength, and wisdom to lead with clarity and confidence.

NAD women leaders of note in attendance were DeeAnn Bragaw, director of Women’s Ministries, Wendy Eberhardt, vice president for Ministries, Judy Glass, chief financial officer, and Bonita Shields, associate secretary for the Secretariat.

The evening program’s keynote speaker was Yami Bazan, an experienced educator, minister, and administrator currently serving as the president of Union Adventist University. She prompted attendees to notice every breath as a gift in a world demanding endless productivity.

“Every breath you take is the Creator breathing it into you,” Bazan affirmed, weaving together the paradox of strength and frailty for women in leadership — that leading with both is acknowledging humanity while staying open to the Spirit’s shaping. She emphasized that healing and realignment can begin in this place of openness. Moreover, leaders do not carry the weight of the world alone—God does.

At the heart of Bazan’s message was soul care: “To care for the soul is the sacred art of paying attention.” She noted that the soul is not a fragment of who we are but the wholeness of our being as created by God. “When we do not pay attention to our being, we do not pay attention to each other,” she stated. Bazan also cautioned attendees on the dangers of always saying “yes,” a relatable habit and cultural expectation that plagues the effectiveness of many women leaders. She urged them to truthfully evaluate if their intentions in doing this were truly for God or for themselves.

Drawing from theology, neurosciences, and even physical sciences, Bazan framed soul care as both deeply spiritual and profoundly practical. She provided simple, tangible invitations to reshape daily life, starting with pausing and dwelling honestly in God’s presence. She urged attendees to stay attentive: to notice what God is “nudging” them toward, to discern what to release, and to care for the wholeness of their being, including body, mind, heart, and spirit. Closing with awe, or making space for moments of wonder, these lessons served as a reminder that the most enduring leadership begins with the soul.

Newly appointed vice president of AWL, Janet Ledesma, associate dean and professor in the School of Leadership at Andrews University, opened the morning session with a devotional, reinforcing attendees’ call from God with illustrations of women in the Bible who also headed the call, namely Deborah, Esther, Mary, the Samaritan woman, and Moses’ sister Miriam. “Are you willing to be called by God and have a passionate heart for Him, embracing His calling? When we trust God, impossibilities in our lives become possibilities. Walk with the people He has asked you to serve. He has not called you to a profession, He has called you to be a leader.”

The program took a brief pause to bring current AWL committee members on stage for acknowledgement and to honor Celeste Ryan Blyden, AWL’s founder and first president, for her service to the initiative, although she was unable to attend the event due to prior obligations.

A reflective and sincere discussion on mentoring followed, with panelists including Eberhardt, Gina Creek, chief people officer for the Mid-America Region of AdventHealth, and Emily Brousson, former director of Undergraduate Leadership Development and adjunct faculty at Andrews University. Eberhardt mentored Creek and Brousson prior to and early in their careers. They both praised Eberhardt for her calm demeanor, courage to have tough conversations, and, as Creek said, “Her ability to extract the best out of the people around her.”

The discussion continued exploring the traits of valued past mentors, from patience to awareness to vulnerability, and providing the appropriate space for mentees to struggle and grow. The panel also delved into some of the barriers and challenges of mentoring. “I think one of the biggest barriers that women face is we have a tendency to think we have to do it on our own. We face so much pressure to perform at such a high level just to keep up with our colleagues and counterparts that it leads us to self-isolation in leadership,” shared Creek.

The final challenge from the panel came from Brousson: “If you are not currently in a mentoring relationship, think today as you leave about who that person might possibly be. Make a short list and just ask. And, on the flip side, look for opportunities to develop others and see what potential there is to grow in those beautiful relationships.”

Closing the program was Denise Crarey, a licensed clinical professional counselor and doctoral candidate who leads Outpatient Behavioral Health for University of Maryland Capital Region Health. She led by reflecting on her 20 years of women’s ministry in the Washington, D.C. area, referencing an NAD study on the mental health of clergy. “It’s not good. Our pastors are broken and they are not well — they look like they are, but they are not well,” she said.

She turned the conversation to the crowd, asking, “How are you doing? [There is a] sacred tension between vulnerability and visibility. People rely on you for answers when you may have questions about your own value, worth, and faith. You may have questions about your calling and life balance. Today, I bring a pause — permission for a sacred recalibration. It isn’t about producing more but becoming whole. It is leading from the well.” She used the metaphor of a well throughout her session as a source of life, restoration, and community, a powerful illustration of one’s emotional and spiritual reserves.

Crarey called to attention that many women in leadership are “parched,” pouring into others while their own reserves are dry. Crarey described it vividly: “Pouring while parched is leading, serving, and giving when your soul is empty. It is showing up for everyone else, quietly starving inside. It is leadership without replenishment.” She reminded the audience that Jesus never asks leaders to operate from exhaustion, extending a restorative invitation to “Come unto me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28, AMP). Crarey challenged the attendees to embrace practices that nurture the soul, like Scripture meditation, prayer before decisions, sacred pauses, and Sabbath rest.

Drawing on biblical metaphors and modern research, Crarey showed a sustainable path from parched leadership to overflow, stating, “Overflow is being in alignment where you can give without being drained.” Referencing inspiration from the Samaritan woman at the well, she underscored that authentic leadership flows from the abundance God provides, rather than the scarcity of one’s own reserves. “To lead from overflow is to lead in that promise — not drained by duties but fulfilled by God; not empty from pouring while parched but replenished by the living water that never runs dry.”

In post-conference remarks, AWL president Ann Roda, vice president, Mission Integration and Spiritual Care for Adventist HealthCare, reinforced the importance of soul care in leadership. “When you’re a leader, it’s easy to pour yourself out for others and forget to refill your own cup. Staying connected with other women in leadership and making time for restoration are so important. It’s not just about avoiding burnout. When we take care of ourselves, we lead from a place of wholeness, not exhaustion. Caring for ourselves is part of living out our faith — it’s a way of saying yes to God’s invitation to be well and to lead well.”

Brenda Dickerson, AWL committee member and Communication associate director of the Mid-American Union Conference, remarked on the organization’s growth and the impact of the symposium. “Having been involved with AWL since 2018, I am overjoyed to see how the organization has developed over the years and has achieved so many of its initial goals,” she stated. “This recent symposium, themed around soul care, has given women the opportunity to … strengthen their leadership by adopting the principles and practices our keynote speakers presented. In addition, those looking for a mentor … can look forward to the coming AWL initiative that aims to pair mentors and mentees.”

Participants of both the AWL Conference and the Passionate Leader Summit, held at the same venue September 4-6, also noted the value of these spaces for renewal and equipping. “The Passionate Leader and Soul Care women’s meetings were relevant, engaging, and enriching! Women from many places and callings came together and left better equipped to serve, mentor, and grow as daughters of God,” shared Audrey Folkenberg, director of Stewardship, Planned Giving and Trust Services for the Southern New England Conference.

Learn more about Adventist Women Leaders at www.adventistwomenleaders.com.

—Liz Kirkland is the Rocky Mountain Conference communication director. Republished with permission from NAD News September 24, 2025, article. Photos by Pieter Damsteegt.

Gerrad Vat – Loveland, Colorado … Students at Campion Academy in Loveland, Colorado, took a day from school to serve the community around Loveland, September 12. Students split into different job groups, picking up trash at parks and highways as well as quilting and sorting donations at Habitat for Humanity* and Serve 6.8.*

Finn Stenbakken, junior student, sorted clothes at Habitat for Humanity. “It really felt good to help them and really to help out servicing the community,” he shared.

Another group went to Highway 60 to pick up trash as part of the Adopt-a-Highway* program. Edward dos Santos, sophomore student, said, “It was my first time doing community service at Campion, and I had a very nice experience. We moved around a lot cleaning the highways, and I had a good group of friends which made it even more enjoyable.”

After serving in the community, the students continued working on campus: pulling weeds, making dorm improvements, and completing other outdoor projects.

Chris Davis, sophomore student, helped with sidewalk repair in front of the Administration Building. “I was one of the bigger guys in my group and worked with a 600-pound slab of concrete for the sidewalk, and it made me want to work for maintenance because it was super fun,” Davis recalled.

As part of Campion’s commitment to teaching the value of service, the campus holds service days several times each year. Students earn additional service credit hours volunteering on the weekends at churches and other organizations.

* These organizations are not affiliated with the Rocky Mountain Conference nor the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

—Gerrad Vat, Campion Academy Student News Team. Photos supplied.

Vanessa Alarcón with RMCNews – Loveland, Colorado … The North American Division (NAD), in conjunction with the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC), celebrated 100 years of Hispanic ministry in Colorado, September 13. More than 1,500 people gathered at Campion Academy in Loveland, Colorado, for a day filled with worship, fellowship, and gratitude for how God has led through the years.

The day began with welcoming remarks from David VandeVere, RMC president, and Hubert Morel, executive secretary of the Mid-America Union Conference (MAUC). Both leaders expressed joy at celebrating the ways God has guided Hispanic Ministries through the decades. “We are also here to celebrate what He will do in the future,” VandeVere reminded attendees.

Roberto Correa, MAUC Multilingual director, and Hugo Guillén, RMC Ministerial associate director and lead for Multicultural Ministries, served as hosts for the event. “To celebrate 100 years does not mean to stop, but to renew our mission. The best way to honor the pioneers is to continue preaching, serving, and loving our community until the Second Coming of Jesus,” remarked Correa.

Leaders from across the Division were present, including the NAD Hispanic Advisory Committee, which had held its annual meetings earlier in the week in Fort Collins, Colorado. “We were invited by the Mid-America Union in last year’s Hispanic Advisory Committee Meeting, where we meet annually with our nine unions. They informed us of the hundredth-year anniversary here in Denver, and anyone that could come would be great.”

He continued, “All the union vice presidents looked at me and said, ‘Why don’t we all go so that we can join them that weekend?’ So last year, it was voted to come here to Denver to celebrate the 100 years of the Hispanic work in this territory,” recalled Minervino Labrador, NAD vice president for Multilingual Ministries. Hispanic coordinators from every territory took the stage, greeting attendees and sharing words of encouragement from their regions.

Labrador shared the history of Hispanic ministry in Colorado. He reminded the audience that the beginnings were humble, but the growth has been clearly led by God. He acknowledged Marcial Serna, the first Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist pastor in North America and noted the challenges early pioneers faced when most of the Hispanic community was Catholic. “We must continue to grow His kingdom,” Labrador said. “You and I are here today thanks to Hispanic Ministries.”

The event featured a variety of evangelistic resources for members. Esperanza TV led worship and introduced its new mobile app for streaming faith-based content. Elvis Diaz, director of Sales and Marketing for El Centinela and Spanish-language books, encouraged members to continue spreading the gospel through literature evangelism. And Campion Academy’s select choir, Koinonia, also provided praise music at different times in the program.

The speaker, international evangelist and pastor, Alejandro Bullón, delivered a powerful message on how God equips His people to do amazing things for His kingdom.

The celebration also included recognition of pioneers within local congregations who faithfully carried the mission forward, as well as a showcase of Hispanic churches across the state. “Today’s event is a wonderful celebration of the pioneers and those that accepted the everlasting gospel and became members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church years ago,” stated Labrador. “And it was great to see actual pioneers of the work sitting here with us and receive special recognition. Every bit in our territory adds up to massive blessings in the North American Division. Everything matters. Everyone matters.”

Tomas DeGyves, director of Multilingual Ministries for the Central States Conference, joined Guillén in acknowledging these leaders and congregations, a moment that highlighted the unity between both conferences in ministering to Colorado’s Hispanic community. Guillén reflected, “I was blessed to see the churches come together … emphasizing that, even though we are two different conferences, we’re all preaching the gospel and getting to know Jesus more.” Looking ahead, Guillén shared his hope of seeing a congregation established in Wyoming.

The event concluded with 13 baptisms being officiated by RMC pastors Santo Valdez, Daniel Escalante, Daniele Fantoni, Leonardo Jimenez, and Guillén, followed by a concert by Felipe Garibo, internationally renowned music evangelist.

“What an honor to be a part of this anniversary. God has helped us for 100 years, and Hispanic ministries has grown,” remarked Guillén. “God will continue to do His good work, and we will continue to grow in the future. The fact that we’ve hit the 100-year mark is because we’ve grown and our growth shows in baptisms. Thirteen individuals from different churches were baptized. The Lord is with us.”

When asked what his hope for the future of Multilingual Ministries, and, in this context, Hispanic Ministries, Labrador remarked, “[It] is for our [migrant communities] to continue to share the gospel through their small group Bible studies, to work together to build up the Kingdom of God, and continue their growth, which has been exceptional in our division.”

—Vanessa Alarcón is head elder of the Boulder Adventist Church. Photos by Jose Briones and Liz Kirkland.

RMCNews – La Junta, Colorado … Members from Arkansas Valley Seventh-day Adventist Church and First Christian Church of La Junta, Colorado, joined the community for the annual Early Settlers Day, September 6. Twelve volunteers spent the day sharing Christ through their booth, “Christ Centered Living.”

The team began their day at 5:30 a.m., setting up in the park and returning to the church by 5:30 p.m. The booth centered around four questions: Who is Jesus? Who am I? Who am I to Jesus? Who is Jesus to me? These simple themes opened doors for conversations, prayers, and connections with community members.

Festival guests asked where the congregations worship, and booth volunteers shared information on attending Vacation Bible School to those with children. “People know us—they come by to talk and pray,” one volunteer reflected.

Throughout the day, the team distributed 16 cases of specially labeled water bottles, 600 T-shirts, and used 100 pounds of ice. More than 60 people signed up to win a set of Ellen G. White’s Conflict of the Ages books, while many Bibles and Spirit-filled resources were also given away. Several visitors returned to share how much they enjoy the book sets they had received in previous years. To date, the booth has placed 300 of these sets in the community.

For Ted Williams, lead pastor of Trinidad, Alamosa, and Monte Vista Seventh-day Adventist Churches in southern Colorado, the highlight of the day was seeing God at work. “God is busy, and He showed up again today for church in the park,” he remarked. The experience left the team grateful for the opportunity to witness, serve, and build connections through a community tradition.

—Event details provided by Ted Williams is the lead pastor of Trinidad, Alamosa, and Monte Vista Seventh-day Adventist Churches in Colorado. Photos supplied.

Liz Kirkland – Denver, Colorado … More than 200 women from around the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists (NAD) converged upon Denver, Colorado, to recalibrate and renew in purpose and mission at the NAD’s Passionate Leader Summit, September 4-6, 2025. This second run of the event is part of a four-course leadership plan developed by the department under the leadership of NAD Women’s Ministries director DeeAnn Bragaw. It is dedicated to women’s ministries leaders and volunteers who support women throughout the division.

“My hope for Passionate Leader was that women would come find a place of connection, a place of inspiration, and a place where they would be equipped; that when they left here, they would go back home feeling empowered in what they were truly called and chosen and equipped by Jesus to do, which is to serve the women in their local communities,” remarked Bragaw.

Emily Brousson, former head of the leadership program at Andrews University, opened the general sessions and threaded her messages of community and communication through the biblical story of Moses: “The actions of women saved and shaped young Moses, creating a safe space that enabled him to grow and fulfill his destiny.” She explored the elements of communication in detail and challenged attendees to reflect on what may have been lost in what was left unspoken or how outcomes might have shifted with clearer expression.

Michele Joseph, communication strategist and founder of Michele Joseph Creative Solutions, continued the critical topic of communication. Through several activities, she had attendees explore their purpose and mission, identify who they were serving, and evaluate how they were communicating their purpose to those they serve. Joseph imparted the importance of purpose, saying, “Purpose is your engine” to help create direction, focus, and build trust through consistency.

Gina Creek, chief people officer for the Mid-America Region of AdventHealth, began her session advising that a leader’s most important role is to define and develop future leaders, creating a platform for others to lead. She gave several scriptural examples of people pouring into others, urging, “This isn’t the work of just those who are qualified. This is the work of everyone who is Jesus’ follower.” Creek closed by providing insights on identifying and nurturing future leaders.

Through the story of Deborah—the biblical judge and prophet—Heather Quintana, editor of Vibrant Life magazine, illustrated the call to make disciples. She pointed out that Deborah not only followed God; she also led others to Him. Quintana stressed the importance of knowing one’s identity in Christ, as Deborah did, and shared practical leadership lessons: treat people with love rather than as problems to solve, offer genuine support, don’t fear rejection, and always leave room for the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

The focus of Saturday’s programming was healing, beginning with a multi-generational panel. The summit organizers were intentional about not only raising awareness of the uniqueness and styles of each generation, but also sharing what that means in the lens of Women’s Ministries and working together in local churches and the greater church structure.

Panel member Vanessa Alarcón, therapy program manager of Community Reach Center in Westminster, Colorado, and adjunct professor at Andrews University, noted, “The more we talked [during the panel], the more we realized that, throughout the generations, we’re all women and we all want to serve God. Sometimes there are aspects of humanity that put limits and barriers [between us], but God breaks all those barriers, and we just have to be mission-focused. So, let’s just break the barriers and work together.”

The remainder of the day’s program was focused on trauma-informed ministry, led by Beverly Sedlacek, co-founder and clinical director of Into HIS Rest Ministries, who received verbal affirmations throughout her presentation. Sedlacek defined trauma and the subsequent expressions of trauma, reminding attendees of the importance of working through their own challenges first to be more effective in helping others.

Sedlacek reflected on what it means to be a compassionate caregiver and the importance of understanding the needs and wants of a person in pain. She counseled participants not to give advice but to listen to how others want to be supported and to offer presence, attentiveness, connection, comfort, and hope. “When we try to give them cognitive solutions to heart problems, we miss them altogether,” she cautioned.

“Trauma-informed care is what we do,” shared chaplain Freddie Maye Jenkins of the South Central Conference. “The ministry of presence is what a chaplain does. [This session] was just a confirmation that I am fulfilling my purpose. This is the second Passionate Leader that I’ve attended, and it was just awesome.”

Supporting the event were a number of women-run and women-focused organizations, including enditnow^®, a global initiative of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to raise awareness and end violence; Woven Dignity, empowering refugee women with hope through sustainable work; AdventHealth; Adventist HealthCare; Adventist Women Leaders (AWL); and several more.

The concept of the “Friendship Bench” was also introduced and well-attended, as it was a physical seating place where anyone can meet and share with a trained, compassionate listener.

Integral to the running and success of the event were the tireless efforts of Heather Moor, project manager for the NAD’s Adventist Learning Community, and Marlene Poole, a member of the Rocky Mountain Conference women’s ministries team, who served in countless ways as on-site manager for Passionate Leader and the AWL event that followed. Moor presented a ministry budgeting seminar—adapting materials developed by Poole—and invited Mid-America Union Women’s Ministries director Donna Brown to present on grants.

Moor stepped in to create and present the multigenerational seminar and then acted as moderator for the multigenerational panel. In addition, Moor managed production and logistics to ensure media needs were met. “Without her expertise, leadership, and both up-front and behind-the-scenes work, Passionate Leader could not have happened,” praised Bragaw. “Heather made everyone around her look good because of her incredible way of stepping out of the spotlight to let it shine on others. She truly embodies what a Passionate Leader is!”

Closing the summit, Bragaw brought to attention the stories of the women in the Bible and how crucial they were for the ministries of both Jesus and Moses. She then had every woman stand and declare that they are “Mission Critical” to God’s greater purpose. Bragaw highlighted the ways the enemy, the devil, wants to take leaders’ focus off what is truly important. She also demonstrated vulnerability—a true trait of leadership—with the heartfelt story of the passing of her son at the end of the last summit in 2024.

While the 2025 Passionate Leader Summit was designed for women in ministry, the takeaways from the event were applicable to women in all professions and seasons of life. Old connections were uplifted and new connections made, and the interactive moments and open times provided a forum for women across the division to discuss personal and professional challenges, providing a safe and welcoming space for all during their faith journey.

“I realize how much I can grow, and it was eye-opening to think that the Lord picked me,” commented Margie Hood, Women’s Ministries leader of Barstow Seventh-day Adventist Church in California. “The journey has not been easy, and I am going to do the best I can with the leadership that has been bestowed. I loved [the summit], and I will definitely return, Lord willing.”

—Liz Kirkland is the Rocky Mountain Conference communication director. Republished with permission from NAD News September 17, 2025, article. Photos by Pieter Damsteegt and Liz Kirkland.