NewsNuggets Page 41

Karrie Meyers – Highlands Ranch, Colorado … Classrooms are abuzz, and Mile High Academy halls are once again filled with the chatter and laughter of students as the new school year begins. But there’s no question–the busiest location of all is the MHA front office.

“We have processed more than 230 students for this school year with several more applicants still in progress and set to join us after the Labor Day holiday,” said Brenda Rodie, vice-president of operations, academics & records. “The front office is a constant stream of students asking questions, adjusting school and work schedules, and picking up school uniforms. I am thankful for our front office team. They work hard to keep the front office running smoothly and make sure each student’s needs are met. These kids truly become our family.”

In addition to meeting several new members of the teaching staff, students have also appreciated numerous campus updates that took place over the summer. Thanks to funds obtained through the AdventHealth Secondary Education Grant, the campus received a much-needed landscape update, which included pulling out overgrown shrubbery and trees and replacing them with drought-tolerant vegetation and rockscaping. Utilizing existing space behind the Lower School, an outdoor track was created to use for PE, recess, and general exercising. Fourteen classrooms received much-needed LCD displays, replacing old projectors. The displays not only make it easier for students to see in bright classrooms, but also incorporate touch technology, making learning fun and accessible.

“We are grateful for AdventHealth and their passion for Christian education,” said Andrew Carpenter, MHA principal. “Through their financial help, MHA and schools all around the United States are able to provide necessary updates to facilities as well as advance education to whole new levels. In return, their kindness reflects on the lives of our students as they prepare to go into the world to do Christ’s work.”

Last spring, the MHA gym suffered water damage to the floor. Additional financial donations allowed for the damaged portions to be replaced, and the floor to be refinished with new lines and logos.

“The gym floor looks really shiny,” said Layten M., student. “I like that. It now says, ‘Mustangs’ on the sidelines.”

A dedicated weight room was created for the Upper School and has already been put to good use as student athletes prepare for their Mustang season. Several new layers of mulch were added to the playground, and classrooms received new paint. The Upper School commons area also was rearranged, and a giant Scrabble game was hung on the wall, encouraging students to find new ways to form lasting friendships.

MHA hosted several summer events to reconnect new families with current ones. The events were held for each section of the school and included games, food, and laughter.

Reflecting on the start of the new school year, new MHA parent Myles Johnson said, “We have experienced an abundance of love from the school community ever since the time we toured, [enjoyed] the summer events, and so on. We can tell that our kids are loved by their teachers and the staff. We feel very blessed to have found Mile High.”

–Karrie Meyers, Mile High Academy communication director. Photos supplied.

Haley Beckermeyer – Loveland, Colorado … The Campion Academy seniors bonded as a class and grew closer to God over the five days of Senior Survival in the mountains at Glacier View Ranch August 31-September 4.

After their arrival, paired students were given supplies to build a shelter to stay dry. Many students brought duct tape and rope to help build their shelters. Several students brought hammocks and others slept on the ground. Thankfully, the weather was kind to the students. It was relatively warm and dry.

Each group that camped together collected sticks for kindling and chopped wood to build a fire, which they used to make their own breakfasts and suppers. They made stew, French toast, hotdogs, and breakfast burritos.

At night, the seniors gathered around the campfire as Chaplain Carlos Santana led them in discussions of faith centered around the theme “Level-up”. Senior Carlos Lopez commented, “My favorite worship was when everyone sat around the fire, and we opened up and were honest with each other by sharing our fears because now we know that we are not alone and have friends that have become like family to help us through.”

During the outing, the seniors all participated in team-building activities where they had to work together to cross through obstacles. “I really enjoyed the spider web, and the Ground is Lava activities because they got me closer with the other seniors, and taught us teamwork,” commented Noah Greenemeier, senior.

On the final day of the survival outing, early on Sunday morning, many of the seniors climbed to the top of a hill to watch the sunrise before packing up their camp to return to campus.

Santana said, “This was my first time going to Senior Survival, and it not only met my expectations but surpassed them. I saw God working in this senior class of 2023. God not only worked in them, but in me as well. It gives me hope for the spiritual future of the young people here at Campion.”

–Haley Beckermeyer for Student News Team. Photos by Blet Htoo.

Samantha Nelson – Worland, Wyoming … By God’s grace and miraculous provision, SonShine Academy in Worland, Wyoming began a new school year on Tuesday, September 6, reports Samantha Nelson, member of the school’s board.

A few weeks ago, no one in the Worland church knew if school would be held this year due to a medical crisis that head teacher Annette Treat is facing. When the school board held a special session to seek God’s will and determine how to proceed, a plan was put in place—call Malana Barnhill, the PreK/K teacher, to see if she would fill in for Annette.

If the response from Malana was positive, the next step would be to call Jan Warner to see if she would fill in for Malana. If her answer was yes, the next call would be to Heidi Snider to see if she would volunteer to assist as needed. The call chain included Debbie Curran who could oversee and assist with lesson planning and grading. As Samantha Nelson, temporary chairperson, made the calls, she was amazed at how God answered each one in the affirmative.

“Everyone was willing to do whatever it took to cover for Annette to preserve the school and provide a Christian education for the students. Yes, SonShine Academy would be able to have school this year,” Nelson reported.

Starting after the Labor Day holiday with two students in Prek/K (with the possibility of a third one enrolling), and six students in Grades 1-8 (with the possibility of two more joining in a few months), the teachers ask for prayer as they do their best to cover for Annette during recovery from her horrific medical ordeal.

“Lord willing, Annette will be able to return in a few months. But now, thank you for your prayers and financial support. SonShine Academy is truly blessed!,” Samantha Nelson added.

–Reported by Samantha Nelson, interim chairperson of SonShine Academy in Worland, Wyoming. Photo by Rajmund Dabrowski (2021-2022 school year).

Jana Thurber – Denver, Colorado … Jesus never tires of us coming to him in prayer. Hebrews 4:16 assures us, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.”

The August 26-27 Prayer Summit at LifeSource Fellowship, presented by Rick and Cindy Mercer, proved the Hebrews text to be trustworthy and true! The Mercer’s shared their personal his-and-her stories of how God dramatically saved their crumbling marriage by performing miracles in answer to their cries for his help.

Rick commented that from his personal experience, “Prayer is probably one of the most important things we can do in our Christian life. Prayer connects us with God. I know where I was before I began praying and where I am now. The way I look at it is, when we pray, we open a channel that gives God permission to come into our life and do what He wants to do.”

The Mercers are both in Christian ministry today because of their decision to pray BIG prayers.  They didn’t have anything to lose. As Cindy began to pray, God put it on her heart to fast and pray. Rick worked hard, but he also played hard. In his words, he admitted that “he had tried many times on his own to be good. But he was addicted to alcohol, cocaine, crystal meth, lust, and pornography.”

But as Cindy began to pray BIG, God put it on her heart to ask God to change her.  Things were still broken between them, but her husband began noticing a change in her. So much so, that he wanted to begin praying with her!

One evening, she asked him to join her in prayer. It was a pivotal moment in their marriage. They felt God’s physical presence as they knelt beside their bed and prayed for each other! God had been invited, and God responded. He came near. A new life’s journey together with God had begun while on their knees.  They give their BIG God all the glory and praise for the transformation He accomplished in their marriage, removing addictions and mending broken relationships too.

After the last session finished Sabbath afternoon and the cameras were turned off, Rick led those in attendance in intercessory prayer for each other, along with special requests from the audience.

“God’s spirit was present. Hearts were encouraged, and God was invited to enter the stories of those present,” shared Jana Thurber, RMC prayer ministry director.

“God does not leave us where he found us when we come to him in prayer asking for help. What an exhilarating adventure God promises and delivers. Though the path is not always smooth, I like to say that God changes us on the inside so we can deal with what’s on the outside,” she continued.

The prayer ministries department of the Rocky Mountain Conference plans to make an edited version of the Mercer’s presentations available soon, as well as add resources for your personal prayer walk or in church prayer ministries. An online participant in the summit remarked that, “this was God’s perfect timing to hear their presentations.”

Jana added, “I praise God with you that he does not turn away from our persevering prayers.”

–Reported by Jana Thurber, RMC prayer ministry director. Photos supplied.

Nathan Cranson – Montrose, Colorado … It is with a heart of worship and thanksgiving that I sit down to record what God has so beautifully orchestrated over this last month in the Montrose Adventist churches, shared Nathan Cranson, pastor of the Montrose Church.

It started with a retired pastor kneeling down to pray one Sunday morning.

“Lord,” he prayed, “what would you have us do with our school property?” The 20,000 sq. ft. building sits on 4 1/2 acres. It had served as an Adventist school for many years and was currently being rented out to another ministry.

Now, the local Adventist Hispanic church was interested in renting or buying it, because they had outgrown the chapel, they’d used for 10 years.

As this pastor prayed, a strong impression settled on him: “We should give them the property. His next thought was: Well, that’s a crazy idea! But the thought persisted.”

In obedience to this prompting, he took the idea to the next church board meeting. Discussions concerning the school property were not uncommon during these meetings, but not once had anyone presented the idea of giving away property that would likely be valued at one million dollars! There was talk of selling it and putting the money toward a new church building. There was talk of renovating it and moving our church out there… But giving it away? To our amazement, one board member after another spoke out in favor of this “crazy idea.”

It became apparent that if this were brought to a vote, it would pass. But this was way too big of a decision for a board meeting to make. We decided to take it to a business meeting.

Nearly a month later, the business meeting ensued with 35 church members showing up to discuss whether we should sell, give, or continue forward with the plan to rent the school building to the Hispanic church. Some members imagined that this would be one of many business meetings as every possible outcome would be discussed.

To our shock and amazement, an hour and a half into our discussion, someone called to question the motion that was made to give the school and property in its entirety to the Hispanic church. A two-thirds vote was needed to end discussion with the main motion to be taken to vote. The vote passed and just like that, the “crazy idea,” planted into the mind of a retired pastor had been set into motion.

Pastor Cranson remembers thinking, “We have just given away a million-dollar asset.”

I didn’t sleep much that night, he recalls. I knew that well-meaning congregations had split over much less. Expecting his phone to be blowing up the next morning with high intensity conversations, to his surprise, there were none. Oh, how little faith I have, he pondered. My insecurities were soon replaced with joy as the head elder of the Hispanic church hugged me and told me about the tears and rejoicing that were taking place as they enthusiastically made plans for their new mission headquarters.

It was a joy to come together the very next Sabbath for communion service. “Rather than a divided church, we witnessed perhaps the greatest communion attendance ever in church. It seemed that the familiar tunes of ‘And Can It Be’ and ‘Amazing Grace’ were carried with a sweeter spirit,” Nathan commented.

“God reminded me of the Bible text in 2 Corinthians 9:6 — ‘The point is this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.’”

He added, “It is time we start acting on more of these ‘crazy ideas.’”

The RMC Property department is working with both churches to prepare a document that formalizes the gift and establishes the conditions for the transfer. According to the Hispanic leadership, the intent of the gift is that the building will always be used by the Hispanic congregation. Because they (as well as the English congregation) are growing both sides believe that is what the future holds. However, if unforeseen circumstances arise, there is a desire to have mutual agreement on how or if to return the property.

–Shared by Nathan Cranson, pastor of the Montrose Adventist Church. Photos supplied.

Toby Quillin – Loveland, Colorado … While enjoying the scenery and the company, twenty-three Campion Academy students backpacked a total of twelve miles, reaching American Lakes and Lulu Mountain in Jackson County during the last weekend of August.

On Friday afternoon, August 26, the outdoor club hiked four miles up the steep side of a mountain to reach their campsite. Sophomore Marcela Zuniga commented, “I loved hiking even though it was hard, and I thought I wasn’t going to make it to the campsite. As I was walking up the mountain, I asked God to help me and he did!”

Along the way, a few of the students got a surprise visit by a mother and baby moose that temporarily blocked the trail. Haley Beckermeyer, senior, commented, “I thought it was cool seeing them that close. Even though she kind of halted our hiking process a bit, it was spectacular.”

On Sabbath, the group made their way up a steep trail to Snow Lake. Some chose to spend most of the day at the lake. “It was awesome getting to climb on the rocks, play in the water, and look at the scenery. The view of the forest and valley was honestly incredible,” sophomore Keaton Drake reflected.

The second option or students was to hike up the 12,002 ft. peak of Lulu Mountain. Keon Paez, sophomore, said, “At first, I didn’t think I would make it up because it’s super tall and my legs got [super] tired, mostly because I didn’t get a lot of oxygen up there. But, once I got to the top, I felt very relieved because I didn’t have to climb anymore. … The hike was hard but worth it.”

The weather in the mountains was constantly changing, explained Dwayne Rey, junior. “The weather was crazy–at times the sun would be out, and it was chill; but then, like two seconds later, it disappeared. It was super windy; then it would stop. It was raining; then the hail came. It was CRAZY!”

After breakfast on Sunday, the group hiked back down to the vehicles. “The hike down was a whole lot faster and more fun,” said Zuniga, “because of the steepness of the trail. It was such a relief to make it back to Campion after having many challenges and many good times.”

For the students who hadn’t camped or backpacked before, there were new skills to learn, including filtering water for the whole campsite, cooking food on a tiny stove, and even fitting a sleeping bag into its sleeve. “We all were working together to stay alive. We got water together for the entire camp. We bonded by experiencing the same struggles and the same laughs,” Sergio Enriquez, freshman, reflected.

–Toby Quillin, Campion News Team. Photos supplied.