NN April 2021 – Page 2 – Rocky Mountain Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

21 Apr

MONTROSE DISTRICT PASTOR NATHAN CRANSON ORDAINED TO THE GOSPEL MINISTRY

By Jon Roberts – Montrose, Colorado … In front of 200 church family members, friends, and fellow pastors, Nathan Cranson, pastor of the Montrose district, was ordained to the gospel ministry, an acknowledgement of Christ’s calling on his life.

Cranson recalls God leading his life at an early age.

“In a time of need, God reminded a three-year boy to trust in Him. At thirteen, He gladly entered into this boy’s heart. Shortly afterward, with a love and joy that could not be expressed, He planted in this boy’s heart the deep desire to share His goodness with the world,” Cranson reflected. “This boy is me and this ordination service is NOT a testimony to my faithfulness to God but rather His faithfulness to me.”

Cranson grew up in Paonia, Colorado with seven siblings and is the middle child of parents Addie and Greg Cranson. He was the first Adventist in his family, introduced to the church by his childhood friends and neighbors. After building friendships in school, Cranson recalls being invited to the “Arise” convention with David Asscherick where he was baptized. He married the love of his wife, Michelle, 2 ½ years ago and they have one four-legged child, he affirms.

David Asscherick, pastor of Castle Rock church remarked on this special occasion. “‘By their fruits, you shall know them.’ Nathan bears the fruit of having been called to the gospel ministry. Anyone with eyes to see can discern this. It was an enormous honor for me to baptize him as a teenager and then to be a part of his ordination 17 years later.”

Dean Coridan, president of the Iowa-Missouri conference, who helped Cranson begin his ministry work, introduced him at the service. Coridan was glad to be part of the service. “We are thrilled to be a part of the ordination of Nathan and Michelle. He started ministry in the IA-MO Conference and he definitely demonstrated that he had a call to ministry. The churches loved him and he exhibited skill in leading people to Christ. We were so happy to be able to participate in his ordination.”

“To have two conferences involved in Pastor Nathan Cranson’s ministerial growth and eventually his ordination is a testimony to the beauty of being a part of a world church where churches and conferences work together to provide opportunities for men and women to shine for Jesus,” Mickey Mallory, RMC ministerial director, commented on the event.

Cranson recognizes and appreciates the many who helped make the day one he will not forget. “What a blessed moment. Surrounded by family, friends, loving church members and spiritual mentors, to recognize the faithfulness of God in my life. He has seen me through so many trials and triumphs and deserves every bit of the glory. Oh, what joy to remember that He who has begun a good work, is faithful to complete it! What an honor and a privilege is to serve the living God.”

He added, “A special thank you to everyone who shared this moment with me. Your prayers, presence, and participation were what made it so special.”

–Jon Roberts is RMC communication/media assistant; photos by Nathan Cranson, Mickey Mallory, and Susan Inglish

20 Apr

OPINION: What shall we eat?

By Karla Klemm … “Eat food, not too much, mostly plants,” said Michael Pollan well-known nutritionist and author of numerous best-selling books.

I appreciate the refreshing simplicity of this statement as a registered dietitian and find it to be quite true. I also know that what we eat can be as sensitive a topic as are politics and religion among gatherings of people, especially in the Adventist church.

Interestingly, research is discovering that a plant-based approach to eating is important for health. Ellen White was ahead of her time in this regard. The benefits of being a vegetarian are famously documented in the Adventist Health Study and the Blue Zones book by author Dan Buettner. Yet, the judgmental nature of feeling superior about one’s nutritional practices is not helpful and can be quite divisive.

There is a term coined in 2008 by dietitian Dawn Jackson Blatner called flexitarianism that is gaining steam in 2021. This approach to eating advocates the following principles:

Eat mostly fruits and vegetables, legumes and whole grains
Focus on protein from plants instead of animals
Eat the least-processed, most natural form of foods
Limit added sugar and sweets
If choosing to eat meat, fish, eggs or dairy products, make it occasional and purchased from local sources

Research shows consumers care about buying local foods, decreasing their footprint on the climate through food, and eating foods that have ingredients we can pronounce (or that don’t have an ingredient list which means they are probably from the produce section of the grocery store). There has also been a “diet culture” change. People want to change their eating habits rather than go on a diet which is a “quick fix” and is not sustainable for a lifetime.

I would encourage individuals to cook more at home or learn to cook if you don’t already, eat meals together and, if possible, grow your own food. Eat the colors of the rainbow with the myriad of delicious produce offerings available in grocery stores. Buy local in-season produce when you can and make half of your plate fruits and vegetables at every meal.

Last but not least, love people! After all, does it matter what they eat?

–Karla Klemm is a registered dietitian and a member of the Grand Junction church; photo by UnSplash

20 Apr

INTERVIEW WITH DOUGLAS INGLISH: ON ADMINISTRATION, MINISTRY, AND VWs

Not altogether unknown in his ministerial role for the Rocky Mountain Conference, Douglas Inglish was invited to fill the position of vice president as of April 1, a vacancy left with the retirement of Eric Nelson.

A Hoosier, Inglish was born in Michigan City, Indiana and graduated from Andrews University in 1982 with a major in history and a minor in political science. After college, he served as boys’ dean at Ozark Adventist Academy for two years. He then left church employment to pursue other work opportunities but returned to teaching a few years later. After a year of teaching, he was given the opportunity to go into full-time ministry as a pastor where he spent the next 25 years serving rural, multi-church districts, multi-pastor metropolitan churches, and churches associated with Adventist institutions, including Sunnydale Academy and Minnetonka Academy. He has a Master’s Degree in political science from the University of Arkansas. Prior to joining the RMC team, Inglish served as the property manager and director of trust services, stewardship, and personal ministries for the Minnesota Conference. He has served as RMC director for planned giving and trust services since 2016.

In an interview with NewsNuggets, Inglish shared a few glimpses into his roles and personal experiences serving the Adventist church in several regions of North America.

Rajmund Dabrowski: How has your life-long ministry as a pastor, teacher, and conference departmental director, including trust and stewardship in RMC, prepared you for this executive leadership role?

Doug Inglish: It’s been good to have been involved with many of those different areas of church and education work, and it was important for me to understand the different positions that our own employees are involved in.

Of course, it’s not always possible to have done something on every church level, and I certainly haven’t, but getting a breadth of experience is important. My experience came from the fact that I’ve not spent my entire church career in one or two conferences. Working with committees at the conference and union levels gave me a familiarity with [administrative] processes, and with different ways of viewing those processes, as well as different philosophies of leadership and functions. This makes [it] possible for me to work with people who have different viewpoints. That background of working with different people gives me a level of comfort in working with pastors and churches.

RD: What are your strengths as a leader?

DI: There are evangelistic pastors, pastors-builders, and pastors who are peacemakers, but in my pastoral ministry, I was an administrative pastor. We don’t always choose what gifts God gives us, but I discovered that I enjoyed being an administrative pastor.

Sometimes, I would come into a church that had some processes that needed tweaking. For example, almost every church I ever came to, I would ask who’s on your worship committee? And their answer was, “Well, we don’t have one.” So, I would say, “I don’t like being the only one who decides how we worship. Let’s get process to make group decisions.” Or it might be a wedding policy, or streamlining officer selection. Whatever we could do to improve function and further the mission.

NN: How is this going to apply to the church diversity we have in the Conference?

Doug Inglish: I recognize there are different kinds of pastors and congregations out there and it’s important that we figure out their strengths, and the needs of a particular church. Whenever I came to a new church, it took me the better part of two years to really understand what that church’s strengths were, what the community’s needs were and how we line those up.

I’d like to think that I will be including the same approaches when it comes to pastoral placement. It is helpful to understand the church’s needs at that particular time. Are they primed and ready to do some serious evangelism? Are they struggling to get along with each other? Or do they need someone who can organize a capital expenditure, like putting up a new building, or an addition to the church.

NN: When reviewing your weaknesses, what needs a little bit of fine tuning?

Doug Inglish: You know the classic answer, I just give too much of myself. That’s always a hard one to be able to articulate, but I’m aware of it. You know, there are things that I need to address. And one of them, frankly, is a core need of this position. This is a record keeping position. This may sound funny from somebody who’s been working in trust [services] for as long as I have, but details are something that I prefer leaving to somebody else. I will need to work on this and like having someone to keep me on track, keep me focused.

To accomplish all this, and more, there is a need for prayer, and this isn’t the first job that has required that. You need that on two levels. I need time with God. But it’s also gratifying to know that other people are praying for me. I’ve had pastors who have reached out to me since I’ve come into this position for no other reason than to say: I’m praying for you in this new challenge.

NN: We live in a very picturesque area of the United States. In RMC we enjoy the nature in Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico. In your administrative role you will travel, travel, travel. Are you scared of such a prospect?

Doug Inglish: I love traveling. One of the reasons that my wife, Susan, doesn’t want to be employed full time is that she can travel with me. Of course, the Rocky Mountain Conference is the ideal place if you enjoy that kind of thing. We drive around and look at each other and say, “What took us so long to get here?” But more than just, you know, enjoying the ride, is when we get there.

When I go to a church I visit the area around it every opportunity I get. This is a beautiful part of the country. We’ve got park passes. As far as the diversity of the region, we are enjoying different cultures and food, as well as typography and climate, and everything else. It’s just an adventure to be able to discover all those wonderful places.

NN: One could say that your predecessor was a walking RMC encyclopedia…

Doug Inglish: That is intimidating because I am not. I have been in this conference in a narrower role, and for not very long. That’s going to take some getting used to for me and the conference. I don’t know everybody. And I don’t know all the situations like Eric did. And I think that was one of the great strengths of his work here for a very long time.

NN: … but being a newcomer to this has some advantages.

Doug Inglish: It gives you a fresh perspective. It gives you a fresh start. I followed some good pastors, but there were always people in those churches just waiting for change, just as some people were ready for a change when I would leave a position. But you have to keep it in perspective; change for the sake of change is seldom worth the effort, and even when changes are needed it’s usually tweaking, not a complete overhaul. I would say that no one should expect a revolution in this department. It isn’t broken, so big and obvious fixes aren’t necessary.

NN: Looking ahead, what are some of the goals you can identify at the beginning of your journey?

Doug Inglish: The answer a year from now will probably be different than what I say now. Because my goal right now for the next six months is to understand my position better so that I can serve better and to learn better the situations that need to be addressed. Currently, there are ongoing situations that I’ve had to jump into the middle of, and my colleagues, Ed Barnett, George Crumley, and Mickey Mallory have had to say, “Well, let’s give you some background.”

NN: Is there such a concept for Doug Inglish as having free time? How do you spend it? How do you recharge yourself?

Doug Inglish: I love working on the house, and you know, I’m a VW freak. Everybody knows that about me, it’s kind of a part of my identity. I spent a better part of 16 years rebuilding an old VW because it was such a basket case. And it took that long because you can only give so much time. While I no longer own it, it’s out there with a plate on it being driven right now. But what I discovered was that doing mechanical things can stress me more than relax me. Doing carpentry relaxes me. So we bought a house that needs some upgrading. And I’m having the time of my life.

And, uh, the bane of my existence currently is Pinterest because once it came out, my wife has some wonderful ideas for what I ought to be doing. My usual initial reaction is I don’t have that skillset, but with her encouragement I’ve done things I never would have tried otherwise. It’s something that we do together that we both really enjoy.

Susan is the idea person. She says, this is what I want to see happen. And I say, I think I know how to make that happen. That’s actually one of my strengths in office, I believe.

NN: Many of us want to know about your family?

Doug Inglish: I will begin with my wife, Susan. We met on a double date. My best friend was taking her out. We’re still friends now, by the way. It was one of those things where from the moment I took her out the first time, there was never any doubt. I was in over my head. It was just the easiest thing in the world to get to know her and make a decision [to marry her]. This is a lifelong partnership. We’re coming up on 39 years this year. We have a daughter, Chelsea, who is the youth pastor at the Madison campus church in Nashville, and a son, Joshua, who is a graphic designer, and his wife teaches third grade at Collegedale Academy.

As for my family background, I’m the son of a pastor and I have two brothers. We’re all close. Family is important to us. It means a great deal. Family, that’s where I give lot of my spare time.

NN: What is your message to the church?

Doug Inglish: We have a mission and when we are fulfilling it, there is joy.

–Rajmund Dabrowski, text and photos

19 Apr

COVID’S TOLL ON MENTAL HEALTH: CAMPION STUDENTS SHARE THEIR STRUGGLES

By Haley Enochs – Loveland, Colorado … Even though Campion Academy has been able to meet in-person for most of the school year, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the mental health of students.

In the United States, depression, anxiety, and suicidal thought rates have significantly increased within the youth population. The Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey found that 56% of young adults reported feeling symptoms of anxiety or depression and 26% experienced suicidal thoughts at some point during the past year.*

Campion students reflect on the affect the pandemic has had on their mental health.

Some say it can be hard to maintain a positive attitude and stay connected with others, especially during times of quarantine. “Even though I don’t always show it, I like being around people,” Ivan Mogaka, Campion junior said. “Lockdown made it very hard to get the social aspect of life and when my friends are not near, I become lonely and sad.”

Ohers, who express themselves through touch or facial expression, find it especially hard to wear a mask and social distance. “COVID has negatively affected my mental health because I am a very touchy guy. My love language is touch, so it feels like I can’t convey my happiness to others right. I love hugs and the distancing is hard on hugs,” said Jared Marcenaro, Campion junior.

Anxiety has increased among some students. “Since the pandemic started, it has been hard for me to stay positive,” a student reflected. “Before COVID, I struggled with anxiety and the pandemic added to the problem. I have struggled with social anxiety the most since I haven’t been able to interact with others regularly. However, God has been the main frame of happiness in my life and I have learned how much I need to lean on Him in difficult times.”

It is helpful knowing there is a better future ahead, regardless of what happens here on earth. “One way I have stayed positive and strong throughout this pandemic is by maintaining my spiritual life. All the changes in plans and schedules have made me realize that God is the only one who can be a constant in our lives. Our circumstances will change, but He never will. I find my strength in that promise,” Kylie Wehling, Campion junior, commented.

–Haley Enochs, is a senior at Campion Academy; photo supplied

Editor’s Note: If you are a student experiencing mental health issues, don’t be afraid to reach out. Speak to a trusted adult, such as a parent, teacher, or guidance counselor or text HOME to 741741 to chat with a live, trained Crisis Counselor.

**Panchal, N., Kamal, R., Cox, C., & Garfield, R. (2021). The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use. Kaiser Family Foundation. Retrieved from https://www.kff.org/

19 Apr

OPINION: BY BEHOLDING WE BECOME CHANGED

By Michelle Velbis … As I stand at the door helping my students get out of their cars, before they grab their lunch boxes and backpacks, I take inventory that at least 75% of them have to put away their digital device before they can snatch their things and say goodbye to their parents. When they enter in the door and sit down to wait for school to start, they get their devices out again. Looking down the school hallway, it seems to be a long row of swans with craned necks and intense downward stares.

This isn’t a high school, but a K-8 school, and at the end of the day, the scene is repeated–students not talking to each other, but are focused on that small rectangular device. For those who have forgotten to bring their device I hear the lament, “I am bored.”

As an educator and mother of six children, I have become increasingly alarmed at the behaviors and patterns I have been seeing in my school and in my own family, so I started to do some research. In fact, I became a Certified Digital Health and Wellness Level 1 Professional by The National Institute for Digital Health & Wellness. Unfortunately, the research has opened my eyes to more than I bargained for, and thus I feel a burden to share some of what I have discovered.

Throughout the course and in my research, I was struck with the realization that this boiled down to a spiritual battle and the enemy had found a very effective tool to distract and divide us from our Savior and each other.

The Message version sums it up very well in 1 John 2:15-17, “Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him.”

Isolation. Isn’t that what Satan wanted for Adam and Eve in the Garden, to isolate and tear them away from their heavenly Father? I think that is still his goal and he has come up with some persuasive and intrusive ways to do just that. What better way than to come up with a device that separates families into their own bedrooms to stare at a little screen and keep them scrolling for hours. A device that keeps us from going outdoors for the fresh air and exercise that we so vitally need to stay physically and emotionally healthy–not to mention the communion that it brings with our Creator. A device that keeps us tethered to what the world thinks instead of our wonderful Counselor.

In The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis’ main demon says to a younger demon, “But do remember, the only thing that matters is the extent to which you separate the man from the Enemy (God). It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing.”

Satan, the great deceiver, tries to come up with alternative and unfulfilling decoys for all of God’s perfect plans. Dr. Nicholas Kardaras, one of the world’s foremost addiction experts, says in his book Glow Kids that, “Perhaps even more worrisome than the addictive nature of our new digital way of connecting is the idea that electronic connection does not seem to satisfy our deep-seated need for true human contact.” One of the largest groups affected by interactive and immersive technology are our teenagers, who naturally crave those connections.

The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, recognized as the world’s leading nonprofit organization helping those addicted to alcohol and other drugs states, “The extreme use of technology can disrupt normal patterns of mood and socialization in teens. Dependency upon social media, gaming, or other platforms to function can become the new and unhealthy ‘normal.’” In fact, they go as far as to say that, “Researchers have found evidence that people who overuse technology may develop similar brain chemistry and neural patterning to those who are addicted to substances.”

When was the last time you saw young people outside playing together? How about even just congregating without a device? How about going to a restaurant and seeing a family without someone looking down at a device? Even in our worship services, there are usually more heads looking down at their devices than up at the speaker.

I don’t say all of these things in condemnation, because I am just as guilty as anyone. But I do feel compelled to ask myself, my family, and my community to have more conversations about this topic and to do some heartfelt inventory on my/our personal relationships and the one with my/our Savior.

In fact, I am challenging myself, my school, and you to a Screen Free Week. The Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood is leading out in a national screen-free week, from May 3-9.* It was very interesting when I told my middle school students I would be giving them this challenge. One of the reactions I got was, “That’s like asking us to go a week without food!” That passionate response confirmed that we need to take a closer look at how addictive, especially for our young people, these little pocket computers, and other screens, have become.

As I go to the Bible for answers and solutions, I find verses that remind me of the intimate relationship that the Lord wants to have with me. I am also reminded that by beholding Him, I will be changed into being more and more like Him. (2 Corinthians 3:18). My question then is, “What am I beholding?”

My new daily prayer is that I will focus on my relationship with my God, who sees me and loves me and calls me to intimacy, and the relationships with those closest to me. I also pray for strength to not concentrate on what others say through likes and dislikes, YouTube, and other forms of media. I claim this promise and encourage you to do the same, “Come close to God, and God will come close to you” (James 4:8 NLT).

–Michelle Velbis is Springs Adventist Academy Principal; photo by iStock

*For more information and resources, go to <commercialfreechildhood.org/screen-free-week>

15 Apr

ROBERT MCALPINE ORDAINED

By Jon Roberts – Alamosa, Colorado … Friends, family, and colleagues of Robert McAlpine gathered on April 10 for the ordination of Robert Alpine to the gospel ministry.

McAlpine’s mother, MaryLou, always knew her son would be a minister. “When I became an Adventist, Bob was going into second grade and he would take his Bible to school until he was asked not to bring it. I was still [practicing] Catholicism at the time. One day he purposely didn’t get on the bus to go home because he didn’t want to go to catechism [class]. When Bob got home, I made him get in the car and I took him to catechism [class]. That night he said to me, ‘Mom you know where the truth is. Why do we keep going back to the Catholic church?’”

McAlpine’s father, Duff, agreed it was natural for his son to be ordained. “It seems so natural, it really does. I’ve seen this for a long time. I’m not at all surprised.”

Members reflected on McAlpine’s approach to ministry which includes recognizing everyone as equal in God’s eye’s, regardless of gender.

“Pastor Bob has been instrumental in my spiritual journey. He has encouraged me a lot in ministry. I was ordained as an elder because of him. He saw God’s call on my life and made it happen. He has been a good ministry partner for many years,” said Winema Van Iwaarden, Alamosa elder.

Monte Vista church attendee, Sean Eubanks, commented on what McAlpine’s ministry means to him, saying, “He makes me think and challenges me to go deeper in Scripture.”

Being ordained brings mixed emotions for McAlpine. “I really appreciate the recognition of the church that God has called and I wish that the church recognized all callings equally.”

For the ministry charge presentation, Mic Thurber, ministry director for Mid-America Union Conference, recognized the mixed emotions McAlpine was experiencing as he quoted the apostle Paul, “Everyone who calls on the Lord will be saved.”

Former Alamosa district pastor, Jim Moon, also addressed equality during the ordination message, touching on the idea that “ordination is affirming God’s call to the ministry.”

“We are just affirming what God has chosen and so it seems like a simple thing, but to those who feel like that, we are not affirming that can seem like a weird thing and to those who are being affirmed, like you and me. Wow, we are being affirmed but what about them.”

A neighboring Christian church, which shares a parking lot with the Alamosa church on Sunday, showed their appreciation to McAlpine by thanking him publicly for the friendship and support the two pastors have developed over the years.

During the ordination prayer, RMC president, Ed Barnett, extended a welcome and invitation to the neighboring pastor, Jeron Parkins, of Living Water Bible Fellowship to join other ministers on the platform to lay hands on Robert and his wife Sarah as they ordained the couple and their ministry.

There were frequent smiles of joy on the faces of members of the participating congregation who saw how the McAlpine family was an integral part of the ceremony. All five children were excited to be present, the smallest sitting on Bob’s and Sarah’s laps, enjoying this special day.

At the conclusion of the service, Bob Alpine commented: “I’m very thankful that the Conference supports me, and that the local congregations support me, and most importantly that Jesus has led us here and has blessed our ministry. I would also like to thank Jim Moon who brought me here and made me the unpaid associate. He is a big part of the reason I’m in pastoral ministry today. I especially want to thank my parents, and most of all my wife and my family, Without their support, it wouldn’t be possible for me to be in this position.”

–Jon Roberts is RMC communication/media assistant; photos by Rajmund Dabrowski and Jon Roberts

15 Apr

PROCESS FOR SELECTING NEW RMC PRESIDENT REVIEWED BY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

RMCNews – Denver, Colorado … Following the formal announcement by Ed Barnett, RMC president, about his retirement at the end of August, the RMC Executive Committee on April 13, was also informed of a suggested process for electing a new president.

Gary Thurber, Mid-American Union Conference president, reported on the process of selecting the next president. Constitutionally, the Executive Committee is responsible to fill officer vacancies between constituency sessions. Timing of the retirement means that the Conference is neither in a rush nor at leisure to fill the position, it was explained.

Thurber asked all members for suggestions of attributes desired in the next president as well as names they wished to be considered. He is planning to meet with the committee at the June 15 meeting to share those attributes and names.

It was noted that the committee may choose to have a special meeting in July to begin the voting process or wait until the regularly-scheduled August meeting. Since best information comes from references rather than interviews, it was suggested that only the top candidate be formally interviewed by the committee, rather than the top three or four with elimination based on the interviews.

There was general committee consensus to wait until the June 15 session to vote on the details of the process.

In general RMC ministry reports, Campion Academy principal Don Reeder reported on ongoing student recruitment for the 2021-2022 school year. He expressed appreciation for the special funds provided by the Conference.

Mickey Mallory reported that he met with a team at Campion Academy about the formation of a Ministerial Club with an aim to give practical experience to students in functions of ministry, helping them to consider whether they have a ministerial calling.

Reporting on current developments in education, Diane Harris, RMC director of education, said that the Conference support to all schools was a big morale boost. The Glenwood Springs church school is re-opening for the 2021-2022 school year. She informed the committee that Mile High Academy is meeting with local pastors about financial and other support and is pleased with the response as ten churches have pledged support.

The Executive Committee voted to form a committee to give study to a policy that would make every church within a certain distance of the school a constituent of MHA. The policy may serve as a model for other area schools within RMC. Commenting on the proposed action, Don Reeder expressed concern over how this might affect CAA recruiting, and that the committee might address that as well.

Presenting the current financial state of RMC finances, George Crumley, RMC vice-president for finances, said total tithe through the month of February was down by 2.38% while the base tithe, which we budget, was up 5.27%. “So far, through February, the operating fund is tracking better than what was anticipated. Much of this is related to some expenses that have not occurred yet relative to the budget. As we progress through this fiscal year, we will incur those expenses and thus track much closer to what we budgeted for,” he said.

Crumley also informed committee members that the Lifestyle Center is exploring the possibility of having a lifestyle physician come on board who would function as an independent contractor in association with the center for consultation regarding a person’s health and how lifestyle choices can make improvements. If this arrangement can be met, it would be funded by fees and donations, Crumley explained. The committee voted to appoint Dr. Tim Arnot as Lifestyle Specialist Physician for the Denver’s Lifestyle Center, with the cost being met by fees he will charge supplemented by donations for up to three years.

The committee also voted to appoint Matthew Moreland to the newly created position of Corporate Real Estate Manager, which shall have signing authority for real property only at the level of the association secretary and association treasurer.

The next Executive Committee meeting is scheduled for June 15, 2021.

15 Apr

WORSHIP AND EGG DROP AT VRA

By Marsha Bartulec – Erie, Colorado …Students experienced a special week-long worship event at Vista Ridge Academy during the first week of April, where they were able to connect with God through lessons, stories, prayer, and fun, including an ending to the week which involved eggs being tossed from the roof.

The week of worship was sponsored by the RMC youth department team, which is visiting schools across the conference to encourage youth to dive deep into the theme “Fully Alive.”

One third grader’s favorite part was the theme song, This is Living, from Hillsong Young & Free. “The theme song at the beginning of each day was amazing! I liked doing all the hand motions,” they remarked.

Each day, a new theme was introduced based on what it means to be fully alive with Jesus. They included, “Because God loves the world, He sent us Jesus”; “Because God sees me, I know that I am his child”; “Because God values me, I value myself”; “Because God is with me, I can do what is right”; and “Because God loves me, I can love others”.

The week ended with some science and fun as Kiefer and Jessyka hosted the school’s annual Egg Drop event. All students, from preschool to eighth grade, were invited to participate.

Students were given instructions and parameters two weeks prior to the event to create a device that would keep a raw chicken egg intact when dropped from the school roof. While Kiefer dropped each device from the roof, Jessyka helped students see if their egg survived. Those students with an egg that survived received a dress down pass, meaning that they were able to have a dress down day at school.

“We always have such fun at VRA! The kids have such a fun and loving energy and the teachers always make us feel right at home, said Jessyka Dooley, RMC assistant youth director. “Kiefer and I especially loved getting to help with the egg drop. We’re so excited to see so many of the VRA students at Glacier View Ranch this summer.”

Kiefer Dooley, RMC youth director, reflected on the week. “I had a blast connecting with the students at VRA for the week of worship. [The first four days] were online, so we met over Zoom and the kids saw us on TVs in their classrooms. On Friday, we zoomed into the classrooms from the school and helped with the egg drop in person! I was honored that the kindergartners wanted to “meet me in real life instead of on TV” and that the first and second graders wrote a song for me. It was a lyrical masterpiece, consisting entirely of my name in different melodies and harmonies. Overall, we were thrilled to make connections and encourage the students to live in the Fully Alive way of Jesus.”

–Marsha Bartulec is the vice principal of administration at Vista Ridge Academy; photos supplied

15 Apr

COMMENTARY: DEATH SENTENCE

By Samantha Nelson … Recently, I have been experiencing a decline in health due to various diseases, some autoimmune, some neurological, and some genetic. I’ve also received new diagnoses for symptoms I’ve had since childhood, which brings a sense of relief, even though the disease itself is incurable. At least there are answers.

In doing research on each of the issues I’m struggling with daily I found three commonalities among them: stroke, heart attack and sudden death. It sounds like a death sentence! Especially since I’ve already had “mini-strokes” and am experiencing heart issues.

I’m sure many readers can relate, as chronic pain, autoimmune disease, cancer, or any of a host of diseases that plague our modern society may be affecting you even as you read this. Some of these diseases can be cured; some can be treated or managed with improved diet/lifestyle or medication; and others simply progress with no known treatment or cure available. For those who are living in these realities, it may also feel like a death sentence and that can be discouraging.

But did you know that all of us are under a death sentence? That’s right! But the difference between our earthly sicknesses and this particular death sentence is twofold, because this death sentence is eternal. Oh, but there is also a cure! Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Thankfully, this text not only reminds us that we are under a death sentence because of our sins, it gives us hope! There is a treatment and a cure for this death sentence—and that cure is Jesus, our Lord and Savior!

No matter what you’re going through, the death sentence you face in this life is temporary. This world will pass away someday soon and our earthly troubles and illnesses will end also. The challenges many face daily with health, finances, marriages, etc., will all come to an end when Jesus returns. However, between now and then, we have a choice to make: will we choose Jesus and allow Him to cleanse us from sin and remove the eternal death sentence from us so we can spend eternity with Him?

That is my choice, and I pray it is yours, too.

–Samantha Nelson is a pastor’s wife who serves alongside her husband, Steve, in NW Wyoming. She is co-founder and CEO of The Hope of Survivors, a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting victims of clergy sexual abuse and providing educational seminars to clergy of all faiths. She and Steve love traveling, hiking in the mountains, and enjoying the beauty of God’s creation. Photo by pixabay.

15 Apr

CAMPION FRIENDSHIPS WARM UP ON THE SNOW

By Jill Harlow – Loveland, Colorado … Sunny smiles and slushy snow made for epic spring-skiing conditions for the 18 students on Campion’s annual trip to Copper Mountain.

The students spent three days skiing and snowboarding together during the four-day trip based out of Leadville. “With COVID disrupting a big part of the year, it was refreshing to get off campus and enjoy God’s creation,” Kylie Wehling, Campion junior reflected.

Coming from Kansas, Jared Marcenaro was one student who experienced skiing in Colorado for the first time. “What made the trip great for me was being able to learn and fail around friends,” Marcenaro remarked. “They always helped me back up and told me what I could do better. They also pushed me to do more difficult runs and tricks.”

The students were in agreement that the relationships formed from time spent together were the highlight of the trip. “The people who were there made the trip fun,” said Love Pickle, Campion junior. “On the slopes, we were cheering for each other, which was so ‘sick,’” she explained.

Reflecting on the adventure, Campion junior Karson Lee said, “I think the relationships between friends and even people that didn’t hang out before grew so much on the trip. I had a great time with my friends, but I also had an amazing time hanging out, laughing, and getting to know people who I hadn’t known very well before.”

Aside from skiing and snowboarding, the students spent Sabbath together in an intimate setting worshipping and studying the Bible. After church, they took in the mountain views while tubing down the local sledding hill.

The evenings were spent catching up on homework and enjoying some rowdy ping pong tournaments.

The ski trip had been rescheduled due to COVID quarantine restrictions after spring break, but even in April, Copper still had sufficient snow to keep all of the runs open, and the students appreciated the warmer-than-usual temperatures. Pickle commented, “Honestly, the fact that the weather wasn’t freezing cold was the finishing touch.”

–Jill Harlow is Campion Academy’s communication director; photos supplied

NN April 2021 Page 2