14 Apr

CODY COWBOYS GO TO NEW HEIGHTS TO EARN HONOR

By Samantha Nelson – Cody, Wyoming … Members of the Cody Cowboys Pathfinder Club experienced a seven-mile excursion in the wild to help them achieve the hiking honor on April 9.

The wildness journey was a seven-mile round-trip hike through the Elk Fork Canyon outside of Cody along the North Fork.

Reflecting on the day’s events, Micah, Cody Cowboys member, said, “It was long!” He was the first one back to the waiting vehicles.

The group hiked along the river and up the mountainside, enjoying the fresh, cool air and fellowship and watching for bears beginning to emerge from their winter hibernation.

Steve and Samantha Nelson, Cody district pastor, surprised the group by showing up at the starting point to celebrate their achievement and providing much-appreciated refreshments.

Anita Holdren, Cody Cowboys’ assistant director, expressed her appreciation for the Nelsons. “Thank you so much for coming up! It was a nice surprise to see you both, and the fruit was absolutely amazing!”

–Samantha Nelson is wife of Steve Nelson, pastor of Cody, Wyoming district; photos by Hardy Tyson, Loralei Jeffers, and Elaine Holdren

13 Apr

GC Executive Committee Votes to Temporarily Attach Ukrainian Union to the General Conference

By Adventist News Network and Adventist Review – Silver Spring, Maryland … During its annual Spring Meeting, the Executive Committee of the General Conference (GC) of Seventh-day Adventists voted unanimously on April 12 to attach the Ukrainian Union Conference (UUC), the church’s administrative region covering the country of Ukraine, directly to the GC, until other comprehensive arrangements can be made. The GC is the administrative body located in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States, that oversees the world church.

Previously, the UUC was part of the General Conference’s Euro-Asia Division (ESD).

According to the action voted by the GC Executive Committee, the attachment of the UUC to the GC is effective immediately and comes as a result of the “current geopolitical matters [that] are causing administrative and mission challenges for the Ukrainian Union Conference and the Euro-Asia Division.”

“In the context of current events,” Ted N. C. Wilson, president of the GC, said, “it has become very apparent that the Ukrainian Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists should be detached from the Euro-Asia Division and temporarily attached directly to the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Please pray for God’s leading in His work in Ukraine as the church follows in Christ’s footsteps of ministering to people physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually during very challenging times.”

According to the GC Executive Committee’s voted action today, a 21-member Ukrainian Union Conference Oversight Committee, chaired by GC general vice president Artur Stele, will provide direct guidance and supervision from the GC for denominational activities in Ukraine. In addition, according to the voted action, the UUC’s attachment to the GC will be reviewed periodically “to determine the best way forward for organizational and mission advancement.”

“The structure of the church must always serve the mission of the church,” Stele said. “Unfortunately, we do not live in a perfect world. The current tragic situation in Ukraine simply requires a change in the operational structure for the mission to be accomplished. We have listened carefully to our leaders in Ukraine as well as the leaders in ESD, and it has become obvious that change was necessary,” he said.

“The traumatic and tragic events that have taken place recently in Ukraine have deeply affected the world,” Wilson said. “Our hearts are greatly saddened and burdened by the terrible violence and loss of life in Ukraine. We earnestly pray for an end to the bloodshed and for peace to again come to Ukraine and to Russia and are very grateful for the outpouring of Christian love and care by so many church members in Eastern Europe and around the world regarding this tragedy of so many refugees fleeing their homeland.”

The ESD will continue its work of administering activities of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the rest of its assigned territory.

“Please pray for God’s blessing and guidance on this important region of God’s great worldwide church, especially during these very challenging times,” Wilson said.

Stele noted that it’s important to remember that even in these circumstances, we are all God’s children and want to be together when Jesus returns. “We have the same Father. We are looking to the same heavenly Kingdom,” he said. “Our people in ESD are members of the same family. They love each other, they care for each other, and wish the best for each other and plan to be together in heaven. Even with the change in structure, even while the horrendous situation has forced our people to be separated, they still pray for each other and look for a day when we all will be united with each other and will all together worship our Savior Jesus Christ face to face.”

–Adventist News Network and Adventist Review; photos by iStock and Ukrainian Union website

Ukrainian Union Headquarters

This article was originally published on the Adventist Review Website https://adventistreview.org/release/executive-committee-of-the-adventist-church-votes-to-temporarily-attach-ukrainian-administrative-office-to-the-general-conference/

12 Apr

STINKS, TIGERS, AND PLAYING WITH FIRE AT IAA SPRING WEEK OF PRAYER

RMCNews with Jami Simpson – Grand Junction, Colorado … “My favorite part of the week was when John Henri lit his hand on fire,” remarked several students from Intermountain Adventist Academy (IAA) when asked about the spring week of prayer sessions held the first week of April.

The spiritual emphasis for the week at IAA and Little Lambs Daycare was “The God of Wonders,” featuring John Henri Rorabeck as a guest presenter. A naturalist and a science instructor who loves connecting people with the Creator God, he enjoys finding examples of God’s love in nature and believes that the way we treat creation shows what we think of our Creator. For the past 15 years, he has worked in camp and nature ministry in various states and parts of Canada and currently shares God’s character with elementary-aged students through after-school science programs in Maryland.

The special programs feature activities that the students connect with, including a nature hike field trip for each class. Second-grader Daniel enjoyed the museum and the hiking excursion. “I liked when John Henri hiked with us, showed us how dangerous fire is, went to the museum with us, told us about the love of God and how powerful it is. He told me on the way to the museum that there’s a lizard with three eyes.”

Haille, a sixth-grader, also enjoyed the field trips. “My favorite thing about the week of prayer was when we went on our field trip, and we found quartz and mica.”

Henri also connected the scientific method with how God never changes and introduced the school to various animals, including a skink.

“I learned about a skink, and it will stick by its partner no matter what,” said Jocelyn.

Elloise, a fourth-grader, wants a new pet. “I loved and learned about the animals. I am going to try to convince my mom to get a skink!”

Learning about larger animals was what other students will remember. “I learned about this animal that looks like it has two heads, but the tail looks like the head, and we learned about animals called tigers, and I like to do the quiz. Week of prayer was fun,” said Myia, a second-grader.

Henri held a program for kids and adults at the Grand Junction Adventist Church on Wednesday evening and a class on making slime Thursday evening. He also had the kids praising God through song. At the end of each presentation, he had a quiz time with prizes involved.

For Gavin, an eighth-grader, the praise songs were the best part. “I liked the guitar playing.”

Experiments and field trips were fun, but students also left the meetings having heard how much Jesus loves them and takes care of them and that they can share Jesus with people around them by how they act and what they say.

–RMCNews with Jami Simpson is the second through fourth grader teacher at Intermountain Adventist Academy; photos supplied

07 Apr

COMMUNITY SERVICE TURNS TO JOY AT MILE HIGH ACADEMY

By Jon Roberts – Denver, Colorado … Students at Mile High Academy middle school ditched the books and the classroom April 1 for a chance to give back to the community by committing to a day of service.

Three groups departed MHA campus that Friday morning, each with a mission project to complete. The projects included helping to organize offices and storage areas at Denver South Adventist Church, accomplishing much-needed painting of the baseboard at Denver South Hispanic Adventist Church, and helping pack dental kits for families in need at the Special Olympics headquarters.

Reflecting on the importance of serving the community, Andrew Carpenter, MHA principal said, “Service days are important at MHA because they are a time in which we can put our faith into practice. Service is part of our CHERISH core values and giving our students opportunities to serve is essential to helping our students develop holistically.”

Denver South was happy to have MHA students assisting them. “Mile High Academy came to Denver South with 14 of their middle schoolers. They were an amazing help organizing, stacking, throwing out, cleaning, and more. We almost ran out of things for them to do because they work so fast and so well. We are so happy to be part of a school that also helps the churches that support it. And we are always happy to have more young people in our churches,” said Mikey Archibeque, Denver South associate pastor.

Students enjoyed the opportunity to serve others.

Connor, a seventh-grader reflected on the event, “We went to Denver Hispanic Church and painted baseboards.  I enjoyed the day and enjoyed getting out of the classroom.”

Caleb, an eighth-grader said, “It was fun.  We went to the Special Olympics and we were packing dental kits for them.”

Carpenter added, “I hope students learned the joy of service.”

–Jon Roberts is RMC communication / media assistant; photos courtesy of Mile High Academy’s Facebook page

 

07 Apr

Campion student earns Master Guide

By Jill Harlow – Loveland, Colorado … Olivia is a senior at Campion Academy. She was honored on March 26 during the Campion Adventist Church worship service for having completed the requirements for Master Guide: the highest level of achievement in Pathfinder leadership.

Having already completed the Adventist Youth (AY) courses offered, Olivia decided to take on the challenge of the Master Guide coursework starting last summer. Reflecting on her motivation, Olivia said, “I have been in Pathfinders for over seven years, and I plan to be involved in Pathfinders for the rest of my life, so I wanted to get it now while I had a mentor and someone to do it with me.”

Campion church Pathfinder director, Alex Rodriguez, helped her through the process. The Master Guide curriculum typically takes years to complete, but Olivia managed to achieve her goal amidst her busy schedule. “The hardest part for me was finding the time to watch all the classes and read the books,” she explained; “I enjoyed the reading and listening parts, but it was hard to make time for them in between school and work.”

“Olivia has stood out as a model Pathfinder and young adult going above and beyond in both her cooperation with the club and her own personal development,” Rodriguez explained.

He also remarked on Olivia’s perseverance, saying, “First of all, continuing in the club during the high school years is a feat in and of itself. Olivia’s determination to continue in the club is inspirational. But what makes her accomplishments more incredible is her level of engagement.”

Rodriguez added, “A few years ago, she came on as full staff while still being a part of the teen leadership training program. Since then, she’s held dual roles (teen leader and staff member) and has gracefully occupied both roles. In her staff role, she has served as an AY instructor, drill and march instructor, and TLT instructor.”

Olivia shared that being involved in Pathfinders helped her learn hands-on life skills through the various honors, camp-outs, and drill and march. Being a Pathfinder has had a major impact on her faith: “Being around those who believe similarly to me and spending time getting to know them, has strengthened my relationship with God and has made me interested in learning more,” Olivia furthered. “Being in the Pathfinder Bible Experience helped grow my knowledge of the Bible, while at the same time, [it] allowed me to have fun with my friends.”

She plans to continue her involvement in Pathfinder leadership while she is studying at Andrews University next year. She encouraged other high school students to continue to be involved in their local clubs saying, “Pathfinders is a good way to take a break from the craziness of life and spend time with friends learning about God. It has drawn me closer to God and encouraged me to share my faith with others. As an older Pathfinder, I get to teach some of the classes for the younger ones. Teaching them impacts not only their lives, but mine also. Even though it can be hard to make time to be part of a club, it is worth the time put into it.”

Rodriguez emphasized her impact saying, “Olivia exemplifies the life of a dedicated young Christian and has become an integral part of our Pathfinder club and of the Campion church and community. Her efforts and tireless work and sacrifice have had a great impact on both young and old. I’m certain there will be folks in the kingdom of heaven because of the godly witness that she has been.”

–Jill Harlow is Campion Academy communication director; photo supplied

06 Apr

PLAY NICE IN YOUR SANDBOX AT CHEYENNE ADVENTIST CHURCH

By Paulette Yaple – Cheyenne, Wyoming … How to avoid conflict in work, home, and church relationships was the theme of the weekend seminar on March 19 at the Cheyenne Adventist Church.

The seminar featured Ron Price, author of the Play Nice In Your Sandbox books and RMC executive committee member. Price shared principles on preventing conflict in relationships, including how to speak and listen correctly and how to add more fun to your relationships. Attendees learned the catchphrase “Push the Pause Button,” which consists of taking time to choose your attitude in advance.

Price said, “I enjoy equipping people to manage conflict in a God-honoring manner. It really is not that difficult if you know a few basic tools, tips, and techniques.”

“Ron’s teaching on quickly and effectively dealing with conflict in relationships was invaluable! He has a way of presenting the most useful information in a very entertaining way. Our congregations were very blessed,” said Bill Nixon, pastor at Cheyenne Adventist Church.

Reflecting on the event, Meridee Mason, Cheyenne church clerk, said, “Both my husband and I received a real blessing [while] attending Ron Price’s weekend seminar. Ron has such a gentle, but great, way of dealing with the difficult people that are in our lives every day at work, shopping, or sometimes even at church. So good for all of us to remember to stop, take a step back and re-evaluate the situation instead of snapping back and then evaluating the situation,”

Nixon added that meetings had some attendees inquiring about the Cheyenne church. “After attending Ron’s series, one guest was so impressed with what he heard and how it was presented, he asked for information on joining our church and is now in Bible studies.”

–Paulette Yaple is communication secretary at Cheyenne Adventist Church; photo supplied

06 Apr

FRONT RANGE SCHOOLS UNITE FOR ECONOMICS LESSON

By Marsha Bartulec – Ameritowne, Colorado …Fifth and sixth graders from four Front Range schools–Brighton Adventist Academy, HMS Richards school, Mile High Academy, and Vista Ridge Academy– united on March 31 to run a town for a day.

The students participated in Young Ameritowne, a hands-on educational experience in free enterprise while learning about the basics of banking, economics, and citizenship. Ameritowne is a four-hour event where students physically apply concepts they have learned as they step into roles as town citizens.

The journey to Ameritowne began with teachers covering 25 lessons in basic economics, banking, government, money management, ethics, and philanthropy. All citizens (students) fill out applications and are interviewed for the jobs of their choice. Citizens running for mayor and/or judge must submit a written speech. The candidate with the most votes from other citizens wins.

A few days before the Ameritowne event, students met on the campus of Vista Ridge Academy for training. They were divided into training groups–quality control, management, sales, accounting, and media. Student citizens finished the training by meeting in their business groups, with managers leading team meetings. Reflecting on the training, HMS Richards student Conner said, “It really prepared me for Ameritowne on Thursday.”

Upon arrival at Ameritowne, the citizens were given an orientation about the day’s expectations. Then they went to their shops to prepare for the town to open. All citizens then met in the town square for opening ceremonies. The town hall workers, which included the mayor, judge, and police officers, were introduced by reporters and were sworn in. The mayor gave a speech and opened the town by cutting the ribbon. Once at work, citizens began working as producers, earned a paycheck, and spent their breaks as consumers purchasing goods and services from the businesses.

“One of the lessons students learned was the importance of teamwork,” said Natalie, an HMS Richards student. “When we work together, we can have success! I learned this by having an awesome team.”

Vista Ridge Academy student Luke, learned what it’s like to have a job, “I had fun, but you learn that you don’t always get along with your co-workers. There are ups and downs with a job.”

For others, staying out of trouble was the most important lesson. “My favorite part was not getting arrested,” a student from Brighton Adventist Academy shared.

After leaving Ameritowne, students evaluated the success of their day. Each business group received a bank balance statement to see if they made a profit. They also assessed their spending habits and the choices they made in Ameritowne. Reflecting on the experience, HMS Richards student Suelita has advice, “Learn now; don’t wait until later.”

Sandy Hodgson, Vista Ridge Academy principal, said, “The opportunity to collaborate with sister schools in this real-world learning is amazing. Our students were able to practice skills that will help them be better citizens now and in the future.”

Vista Ridge Academy plans to continue coordinating this event for local Adventist schools biannually.

–Marsha Bartulec is vice-principal for administration at Vista Ridge Academy; photos supplied

06 Apr

2024 CAMPOREE PLAN COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS IN GILLETTE WYOMING

By Paula Vogler – Gillette, Wyoming … With planning well underway for the International Pathfinder Camporee to be held for the first time in Gillette, WY, in 2024, thoughts are turning to how the group can get involved with the community while they are there.

Community service projects are a big part of the camporee and for residents of Gillette that could mean seeing more murals spread throughout the town. Gillette resident Laura Chapman and Jessica Seders, Campbell County Convention & Visitors Bureau director, came up with the mural idea after learning about the camporee and the desire for its participants to get involved with their host community.

Chapman said the concept is simple: have local artists prep a mural somewhere and then have groups of pathfinders come to paint them in something like a paint by numbers format. However, she said executing that idea is going to take a lot of planning.

From lining up local artists and identifying locations for the murals to securing funding and supplies, Chapman said the planning will also include figuring out exactly how to coordinate this with the groups of pathfinders that sign up for a two or three hour block of time.

“It’s quite ambitious,” Chapman said. “I’d love to have 20 sites for them.  There’s a lot of pre-planning that needs to be done ahead of time, like how can we accomplish it in a set amount of time? What’s realistic to expect? We have a very talented pool of local artists. I’m really excited to get us all on the road to make this happen.”

Seders said Gillette already has a few artists who do murals and because Gillette is a “pretty active art community,” she is not concerned about finding artists to help.

“We do have a few artists who do murals already in town and their style is very different from each other so I think we’re going to see very different styles in the projects,” Seders said. “We have to identify property owners who will let us paint directly on the building or put up a canvas next to or on a building.”

Heather Rodriguez, a Gillette artist who completed a mural inside the town’s Adventurarium, said she saw the paint by number mural concept in action at Disney World. She said there, someone sat at a booth and when visitors came by, they received a paint container with a number on it and a foam brush to help paint the mural.

Rodriguez said there are so many ways to create murals, even ways to do it where they could be set up and taken down before the harsh Wyoming winters affect them.  As another project, she also suggested pathfinders could paint a number of fiberglass animals native to Wyoming like a fox or antelope and spread those around town. “It’s another way for the kids to be involved and have permanent art on display,” Rodriguez said. “I think we’re all created to make things. With kids it’s just this sense of doing something great. Creating something that has a lasting impact and value is really important.”

Chapman echoed those sentiments.

“I’d love to do something in such a way that when the kids come back next time they can say, ‘oh I did that,’” Chapman said. “It would be something to celebrate their efforts.”

Anyone interested in getting involved with the mural project is encouraged to contact Laura Chapman at 480-205-9879.

The International Pathfinder Camporee will be held at the Cam-Plex grounds August 5-11, 2024 with 55,000 pathfinders from 105 countries expected to attend.

— Paula Vogler writes for 2024 International Pathfinder Camporee; photos supplied

This article was originally published on International Camporee’s Facebook page.

05 Apr

DENVER HOSTS ANNUAL NAD CHURCH FINANCE CONVENTION

RMCNews – Denver, Colorado … Treasury staff, stewardship directors, and planned giving and trust services personnel from various conferences within the North America Division recently met in Denver for the annual Beyond the Bottom Line convention and training.

With the event theme, Transformative Leadership: Thriving in a Changing World, the convention took place at the Grand Hyatt Hotel on March 27–29. The gathering allowed conference employees to fellowship, share ideas and techniques, and attend professional-growth classes.

Fellowshipping and sharing best practices were a highlight of the convention for Darin Gottfried, RMC vice president of finance. “I enjoy getting to see other treasury employees and hear about how they are doing things differently and how we might be able to use some of those ideas in RMC. It was a great time of getting to know new people and reconnecting with others that I have known for years.”

The convention was hosted by Southern Adventist University School of Business and the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists. According to the event’s website, the overall mission is “To offer the highest quality continuing professional education designed to encourage excellence in financial management to the treasury leadership and support staff of conferences, academies, Adventist Book Centers, and institutions within the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists.”

A variety of seminars were offered, ranging from stewardship to investing for retirement.

Gottfried appreciated the seminars and feels better equipped to meet the challenges ahead for the church as an organization. “I learned about new challenges that are coming for the church as an organization and ways in which we can meet these challenges.”

–RMCNews; photo by Jon Roberts