NewsNuggets Page 3

Jocelyn Aalborg and Karrie Meyers – Highlands Ranch, Colorado … Twenty one Upper School students at Mile High Academy (MHA) embarked on a life-changing mission trip to Belize, where they have immersed themselves in the culture while experiencing a journey of service and spiritual growth. These students, accompanied by faculty members, made a positive impact on the communities they encountered on their trip, March 7-18.

The students met late at the airport on March 6 ready to take off on the 7-hour trip. The beginning of their adventure started March 7 as they arrived safely in Belize, exhausted and excited for their upcoming adventure.

Throughout the trip, the students engaged in various activities aimed at serving and connecting with the local community. On March 8, they commenced their work at the MOVE Center and the Solomon School, where they led Week of Prayer sessions for 160 students, initiated construction projects, and fostered relationships with both students and staff.

The Mission Trip continued with visits to local churches, including replacing a roof at Fireburn Seventh-day Adventist Church and installed new ceiling tiles at the Guinea Grass Church. Cody, MHA’s local contact from MOVE that helped plan the trip on location, shared the following: “Thank you very much for the generous donation you sent us, as well as for the labor you gave us for Fireburn Church. We are truly very grateful to God, first of all, and to you and your work team. Only God can reward you for the work you do.”

MHA not only participated in outreach programs in multiple villages, but they also helped conduct a health fair, mechanics brigade, and children’s program in a community with no Adventist presence. But it wasn’t all work as they enjoyed moments of relaxation, including a day at the beach and a tour of the Lamania Ruins, immersing themselves in the natural beauty and rich history of Belize.

At the Solomon School, the students poured their hearts into construction projects, such as constructing a new covered eating area at the school. This involved building a concrete slab, pillars, and roofing, leaving a lasting impact on the local infrastructure and community. They were concerned they wouldn’t be able to finish the roof before they left due to the Sabbath hours. But that wasn’t good enough for the team. Late Saturday night, via construction lights, the team placed the final piece of metal for the roof installation.

As the mission trip ended, the students bid farewell to their newfound friends with heartfelt goodbyes and reflections on the profound connections they had forged. Despite the challenges and triumphs encountered along the way, the students returned home filled with gratitude for the transformative experience and eager to share their stories of faith, service, and cultural immersion with their families and community.

“We are immensely proud of our students for their dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to service,” said RD Gallant, MHA’s Upper School Bible teacher and chaplain. “Their experiences in Belize have not only enriched their lives but have also reinforced our school’s mission of nurturing global citizens and compassionate leaders.”

—Jocelyn Aalborg is the vice president of finance and development, and Karrie Meyers is the marketing and development coordinator at Mile High Academy. Photos supplied.

Brandon Westgate and Jeri Lynn Rogge – Ward, Colorado … Many exciting things are happening this year at Glacier View Ranch (GVR), not the least of which is our summer camp program. With the addition of a few new activity offerings, including a baking class, digital photography, and a drama class, the choices for our campers to engage in new experiences are expanding!

We are also thrilled to announce that we are bringing blind camp back to GVR this summer. This week is dedicated to those who have low vision or no vision and have a desire to interact with others with similar life challenges. We can only make this possible by having a strategic partnership with Christian Record Services for the Blind.

Jeri Lyn Rogge, director of editorial and outreach ministries for Christian Record Services Inc., had this to say: “National Camps for Blind Children (NCBC) ministers to blind children and adults, and it’s a joy to welcome Glacier View Ranch as one of eight partner locations for the 2024 summer camp season.”

NCBC offers scholarships, enabling campers to attend at a minimal cost. “We’re grateful for partners, such as Glacier View Ranch, that recognize the potential for eternal impact in the lives of individuals who attend blind camp. While we want campers to have so much fun that they’ll invite their friends to join them next year, our greatest hope is they will learn more about Jesus and His love for them,” said Rogge.

Speaking from experience of facilitating blind camp for four years at a different conference’s camp, Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) Youth Department director Brandon Westgate said, “Blind camp is such a unique opportunity for our campers and staff to make real human connections. Summer camp staff are always amazed by the abilities of people with limited vision. When our staff witnesses how well these campers engage with all the camp activities, including riding horses, swimming, rock climbing, and yes, even archery, our staff cannot help but be impressed.”

We are thankful that we can facilitate a special week for members of the blind community to network with others and have an amazing week filled with adventure at GVR.

The age range for GVR Blind Camp is 8-65, so it’s not just for kids. This is a fantastic opportunity for us to minister to a segment of our community that is often overlooked, and we at RMC are grateful for the partnership with Christian Record Services to make this a reality for our campers.

To register for blind camp, or any other week of camp this summer, visit rmcyouth.org

—Brandon Westgate is the RMC Youth Department director, and Jeri Lyn Rogge is the editorial and outreach ministries director at Christian Record Services, Inc. Christian Record Services, Inc. is an official ministry for the blind community of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America. Photos supplied.

Carey Jordan – Loveland, Colorado … At HMS Richards Adventist School in Loveland, Colorado, the significant project to revamp the school’s gymnasium is near completion. This building, which has stood as a cornerstone of Adventist Education for the community for many years, is receiving a much-needed facelift. This is to preserve its legacy and ensure its continued role as a place to educate and grow our students in a relationship with Jesus and for a life of service to God and to those around them.

The gymnasium has been showing signs of wear and tear, prompting the school to look at ways to improve it for daily use. With the help of volunteers and donors, the school has been working diligently to refurbish the gymnasium and make it a special place to practice, play, worship, and perform.

The restoration process has not been without its challenges, but the school and church community have shown dedication every step of the way. From repairing the weathered floors, doors, and trim to updating the aging colors and curtains, each phase of the renovation has been met with determination and ingenuity.

As the project nears completion, there is a sense of anticipation among students, staff, and community members. A student ran up the stairs yesterday, looked over the balcony and rested his head on his hands, taking several minutes to stare at the beautiful gym with a smile.  Everyone is excited about this space.

What’s next? HMS is already laying the groundwork for future enhancements. Plans are in motion to proudly display the American flag in the gym. Additionally, the school aims to hang sponsorship banners from local businesses, further fostering ties with the community and ensuring sustainable support for its endeavors.

Through it all, the HMS school community remains steadfast in its gratitude for the blessings received and the collective effort that has brought about this remarkable transformation. As the gymnasium undergoes its metamorphosis, it serves as a tangible testament to the power of God, the importance of community, and perseverance by so many to His work.

As we prepare to open the doors for use in a few days, we are optimistic about the future of the gymnasium and the school as a whole. It’s been a long journey, but we’re excited to see the positive impact this space will have on our students and the broader community.

—Carey Jordan is principal at HMS Richards Adventist School. Photos supplied.

Vanessa Alarcón – Denver, Colorado … Pastor Ruben Rivera, Hispanic Ministries Director, will retire from the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) after 36 years of ministry, March 31. Ruben is the longest serving Conference director. His wife, Patty Rivera, who is currently the Hispanic Women’s Ministries Director, and was a Children’s Ministries Director, will also end her service upon his retirement.

Ruben’s entry into ministry began when he visited a Seventh-day Adventist Church in Mexico City, Mexico, when he was a teenager. “I heard a pastor preach for the first time,” he reminisced. “I remember hearing him teach God’s word and having a deep desire to do that someday.”

Ruben made the decision to be baptized at 16, the only individual in his family to have joined the faith. He quickly became involved with church leadership, becoming the Sabbath School director, assistant director of Personal Ministries, communication director, and head deacon of his local church while still a young teenager. He also was a colporteur.

His family was not originally supportive of his desire to study theology, especially his father. So opposed, that his father had threatened to estrange him from the family. And even then, Ruben chose to follow his calling and enrolled in courses at the University of Montemorelos in Mexico.

There, he was the director for the university’s Pathfinder and Adventures clubs. He graduated with his bachelor’s in theology in 1985. While he was studying, he met his wife, Patty Rivera, who was an international student from Peru studying nursing.

During his summers as a university student, Ruben was a colporteur and traveled to Mexico, the United States, and Puerto Rico sharing God’s word through literature evangelism.

Rubén’s journey in pastoral ministry began in 1985 in Mexico City, serving as an associate pastor before being entrusted with the care of seven congregations in the southern district of the city. After only a couple of years of service, they both moved to Illinois where Ruben attended the Northern Seminary to complete his master’s degree in theological studies.

Upon graduation, the Minnesota Conference offered him a pastoral position, helping establish Hispanic ministry in Minnesota from nine people to 60 in the first year. Throughout those years, Ruben and Patty had their three daughters, Evelyn, Vanessa, and Joanna.

From there, he served in the Michigan Conference as a pastor, Hispanic Ministries superintendent, and Hispanic Ministries coordinator. While he pastored, he completed an additional master’s degree in Pastoral Ministry and his Doctor of Ministry from Andrews University.

He later transitioned to a pastoral role in three different districts with the Georgia-Cumberland Conference before joining the Rocky Mountain Conference in 2006. There, he began serving as the pastor of Denver Hispanic (Pecos) and Denver Central. In 2008 he was transferred to the Denver South Hispanic. In 2010, he began serving as the Hispanic Coordinator for the RMC. He has had that role for the last 14 years.

Mic Thurber, RMC president, reminisced, “To see a faithful and fruitful Adventist worker retire is always bittersweet. Ruben and Patty have been a wonderful blessing to the Rocky Mountain Conference for so many years. Their kind and Jesus-like work among us will not soon be forgotten. It’s just hard to say goodbye to people you love and appreciate so much.”

“But we also send them on to their next phase of life with our best wishes and prayers,” Mic continued. “They have well earned this time of rest and we wish them Godspeed as they leave us. Thank you, Ruben and Patty, for your lives and ministry. You will be missed!”

Throughout his ministry, he has written various articles for El Centinela (Spanish version of Signs of the times) and Revista Adventista (Spanish version of the Adventist Review), and other publications outside of the United States. Just last year, he wrote the North American Division Missionary Book of the Year for Hispanic Ministries, entitled An Abundant Life. During his ministry he was a well-known speaker in the Hispanic community, and served in different events, such as: retreats, training, teaching, theological symposiums, weeks of prayer, and evangelistic series.

“From the first time I met them over 25 years ago, Pastor Ruben Rivera and his wife, Patty, have always been a tremendous and steady support to me personally. Their love for God and his people is very apparent in all that they do. What a joy it has been working together with them in the Rocky Mountain Conference to help support pastors and their families and lay leaders and their families,” shares Mickey Mallory, RMC ministerial director.

Mickey continued, “I honestly believe that there will be people in heaven because of their ministry. When reflecting upon their contribution to the Lord’s work, I can’t help but exclaim the words of Jesus, Well done, good and faithful servants (ESV, Matt. 25:23).”

Pastor Frank Wilson, RMC Pastor, has known Ruben since their shared time ministering at the Michigan Conference. Wilson describes him known for his humility and dedication to God’s work. “He never hesitated to make sacrifices for his family and God’s family … His advice, sermons, and interpersonal relationships were exemplary and worth emulating.”

—Vanessa Alarcón is elder and church clerk at Boulder Adventist Church. Photos by Rajmund Dabrowski.

Pedro Vieira – Granby, Colorado … Campion Academy’s international students had a winter retreat at the YMCA of the Rockies in Granby, Colorado, to experience snow sports and some of the activities that they are not used to in their home countries.

As soon as they arrived, the students went to the snow tubing area and enjoyed sliding down the hill. Eriane Saraiva, Campion Academy senior, shared, “It was an amazing and new experience for me. It was very hard going up and down holding my tube, but I think my favorite part was snow tubing with all the Brazilians. I felt really happy at that moment.”

For Sabbath, they started with a worship time with Jill Harlow, Campion Academy international club sponsor, sharing a message about how snow represents purity and the brightness of God in the Bible.

After worship, they went snowshoeing in the surrounding mountains, where they took a lot of pictures and got to enjoy the cold but sunny weather. Yngrid Silva, Campion Academy junior, commented, “I loved the view of the park when we went snowshoeing. I was very cold and tired of using the snowshoes, but it was good to experience the hike and take a lot of pictures with my friends.”

The students practiced ice skating and had the chance to go snow tubing again Saturday afternoon. In the evening, they enjoyed playing sports and roller skating in the YMCA gym.

To finish the weekend on Sunday, the students went skiing and snowboarding at Winter Park, Colorado, getting to experience the adrenaline of a new sport for most of them. Nicolas Rodrigues, Campion Academy freshman, added, “I really loved the trip and I really had fun. I think it was a little hard to snowboard, but, in the end, it was kind of easy. I wasn’t used to being that cold and I’ve never worn so many jackets in my life, but I really enjoyed the international retreat.”

Campion Academy currently has 20 international students from Brazil, as well as students from Democratic Republic of Congo, China, and recent immigrants from Tanzania and Mexico.

Luca Lu, Campion Academy sophomore from China, shared, “It was my first time going to a mountain resort. It was so fun to try some snow sports, and the icy world truly gave me an unforgettable memory.”

—Pedro Vieira, Campion Academy Student News Team. Photos supplied.

Michael Taylor – Casper, Wyoming … Nearly 60 attendees from Wyoming and Colorado gathered on for the 2024 Wyoming Winter Retreat at Mills Spring Ranch (MSR) in Casper, Wyoming, February 16-18. This event has happened annually for more than 30 years, and this year’s program happened thanks to the hard work of the team from MSR with a team of lay people from the Casper area.

After a mild start to the 2024 winter season, a fresh blanket of snow arrived just days before the guests showed up to provide the “winter” feeling of this retreat. The timely arrival of fluffy white powder allowed many attendees to enjoy such outdoor activities as sledding and snowshoeing.

However, the favorite option for many attendees was snowmobiling, as Hasina from Mead, Colorado, shared, “I loved learning how to drive a snow mobile with my friends.” Mary from Torrington, Wyoming, also giggled as she mentioned that she rode a snow mobile for the first time in her more than 60 years of life.

While the recreational activities were popular, they were not the only highlight of the weekend. This weekend was also a spiritual retreat and focused on drawing closer to God through meaningful worship services each day.

These services were enriched with music by a praise team made up of members from across Wyoming and Colorado, led by Lyle Wortman and his praise team. Sydney from Casper, Wyoming, noted that she especially enjoyed seeing little kids and youth involved in the music for the retreat.

Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) Youth director Brandon Westgate was the featured speaker for worship services. During his talks, Pastor Westgate appealed to members with the Good News of freedom from sin and our status as a child of God. He shared his testimony along with Bible stories to connect Bible truths in a practical and personal way. He also presented a workshop on how to have meaningful Sabbath experiences. Karen from Fort Morgan, Colorado, said that she was thankful for the chance to reconnect with God through the weekend’s spiritual services.

The Winter Retreat team is already looking forward to next year’s event at beautiful Mills Spring Ranch, and they hope to see many more people gather for the weekend of February 14-16, 2025. For more information about other family-friendly events happening throughout the year at MSR, visit www.millsspringrach.com

—Michael Taylor is pastor of Casper Seventh-day Adventist Church. Photos supplied.

Vashty Segovia Santos – Loveland, Colorado … Occupational professionals from the Campion Seventh-day Adventist Church in Loveland, Colorado, hosted Campion Academy students for a job fair. The students had the opportunity to meet and ask any questions with people in different careers that they might want to pursue.

Keaton Drake, Campion Academy junior, shared, “It was very interesting and helpful to get advice and knowledge from people who are experienced in the profession I’m interested in. They were very friendly and were willing to answer all my questions. It was a good experience to be able to learn from someone in the field I want to work in.”

​Professions like occupational therapy, graphic design, photography, law, and education were a few of the careers represented there. The occupational professionals talked to the students about colleges and universities that they could apply to for their career track.

The job fair was a great way for the students to see what the future has in store for them. “They really helped me figure out exactly what kind of job I want and how I can get there,” Campion Academy sophomore Max Bicknell expressed.

—Vashty Segovia Santos, Campion Academy Student News Team. Photos supplied.

José David Rodríguez – Denver, Colorado … The immigration rate has increased to almost 40% in the United States according to 2024 Gallup polls. This means that, currently, the United States is receiving nearly 260,000 immigrants a month.

Such volume creates issues in communities as the local infrastructure cannot support them and they have become viewed as an unwelcome burden: few job opportunities, not enough housing, or not enough “good Samaritans” to sustain that high number.

As a Seventh-day Adventist Church in the United States, we are not ignorant about these issues, Denver, Colorado, notwithstanding. Each Sabbath, the Denver metropolitan and mostly Spanish-speaking churches receive people from Nicaragua, Honduras, Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia, and from Venezuela. All are in need of financial help to pay the debts they left behind or the basic needs of now, like simply the need to eat.

Looking at the recent situation, the congregations could help the immigrants with some basic resources: paying for food, providing housing, offering rides, and supplying clothing. However, due to the high demand, churches are struggling with fulfilling their needs. Hispanic pastors and their congregations have been also engaged in allowing some immigrants to stay at their houses, even for months, teaching them how to live in this new land and for eternity.

But lately, we can report good news. It is a pleasure to see new conversions—people that once were desperate but now are living with hope in our Lord Jesus.

Luis and Nancy, a couple from Colombia, after struggling for many years in their native country, decided to take the risk. Luis had built up a savings of 30 million of Colombian pesos (around 7,500 U.S. dollars) enabling them to travel. Together, with their nine-year-old daughter, Luciana, they spent two months crossing through Mexico.

Emmanuel and his five relatives left behind Cuba. They spent five days crossing el tapón del Darién (Darien Gap), which is regarded as a very dangerous jungle. “It is not uncommon to see people dying from exhaustion, others just being abandoned by the group, and yet others drowning in the mud,” reminisces Gerardo. After five months of searching, Emmanuel and his family arrived in the Loveland Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist Church in Loveland, Colorado, and gave their lives to Jesus.

John, Walter, and Christian are three young men of 22, 23, 28 years old, respectively. They were seeking a place to sleep when they were befriended by a pastor and were invited to live in his house for four months. During that time, they learned about Jesus and his love for the humankind. To God be the glory that, while they were eating the spiritual bread, the Creator provided with food, jobs, and everything else according to his promise:

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all
these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33).

It was at South Aurora Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist Church in Aurora, Colorado, named as “El Refugio del Amor” (Refuge of Love), where Luis, Nancy, Luciana, John, Walter, and Christian met one Sabbath of the last summer. Describing their journey with tears and hugs, they gave courage to each other.

José David Rodríguez, lead pastor at El Refugio del Amor Church, recalled one special evening: “Luis met Jesus at Pecos church where, after one night, he finally decided to enter with his wife Nancy. That night when an altar call was made, Luis came to the front, and I could see the Holy Spirit was upon him. That night was his best night yet, and he knew it. I did too.”

It was at the 2023 Rocky Mountain Conference Hispanic Camp Meeting at Glacier View Ranch (GVR) in Ward, Colorado, with no previous arrangements, that Nancy, Luis, and Christian were baptized and became as active part in the kingdom of God.

There are many stories we can witness around us. We certainly know that, even in this upside-down world, God continues to write in straight letters.

—José David Rodríguez is pastor of three Spanish congregations, including El Refugio Denver Metro Spanish Church in Berthoud, Colorado. Photos supplied.