NN Dec 2022 Page 2

Brandon Westgate – Denver, Colorado … The Rocky Mountain Conference office staff team welcomes Pastor Jade Teal, most recently the associate pastor in Colorado Springs, as assistant youth director. On December 1, Jade joined assistant youth director Brent Learned and youth director Brandon Westgate, in ministering to the youth of the Rocky Mountain Conference.

“I am well pleased that Jade has accepted the invitation to join our department. Jade brings a fresh enthusiasm and energy that will help us continue to enhance youth ministry in our conference,” said Brandon. “I am looking forward to witnessing what the Lord will do as our department presses forward.”

Commenting on her appointment, Jade said, “I am super excited to be joining the youth department.” She has been involved in youth ministry since she was a teenager and is “thrilled to be able to continue fulfilling God’s call on my life with the Rocky Mountain Conference.”

Born in North Carolina, Jade grew up a pastor’s kid and the family relocated several times, living in three states before she studied at Union College for her Bachelor of Science in religion and a minor in International Rescue and Relief.

Working at summer camps during her time at Union, “I fell in love with youth ministry and especially camp ministry because I saw first-hand how big an influence it has on kid’s spiritual growth,” Jade commented.

After graduating in 2021, she moved to Colorado and served as the associate pastor at the Colorado Springs Central Adventist church. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Stefan, and their two cats, reading, horseback riding and spending time in God’s creation.

Commenting about youth ministry, Jade believes, “It is extremely important that our kids get to know Jesus and experience a personal relationship with Him while they are young so that as they get exposed to more of the influences of the world as they grow older, they already have that foundation and can stick even closer to Jesus.”

“I am honored to be joining a youth department that strives to make it easy for kids to know Jesus,” she adds.

–Brandon Westgate is RMC youth director. Photo supplied.

Anton Kapusi – Pueblo, Colorado … Crises arise suddenly and unexpectedly, leaving people in vulnerable and needy places. One of the main goals of Adventist Community Services Disaster Relief (ACSDR) in the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) is to have church members ready to swiftly and competently respond to a given emergency.

Cathy Kisner, RMC director for ACSDR, in collaboration with Pueblo First Seventh-day Adventist Church ACSDR director Kathy Hayden, has organized the second training session for willing volunteers. Earlier this year, a group of volunteers completed the Donations Operations Course and prepared to participate in assisting individuals in crisis through the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation Inc. (ICISF) training program.

W. Derrick Lea, North American Division (NAD) ACS Executive Director, was the guest speaker and instructor during the two-day training, which took place November 19-20. His presentations made the training thought-provoking and informative while being pragmatic and realistic. At the same time, with her local insights, Cathy made the examples even more tangible.

All nineteen participants completed the course and earned a Certificate of Completion in Special Issues in Emotional and Spiritual Care (2.0 Contact hours) by NAD ACS and a Certificate in Assisting Individuals in Crisis (13 Contact hours) by ICISF and the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). This training opened the way for those willing to assist in a crisis.

Crises makes people vulnerable and can hurt them physically, emotionally, socially, and in many other ways, including spiritually. As the stewards of God’s gifts, we are responsible for looking for ways to aid and serve those in immediate need of assistance and help.

ACSDR gives the opportunity and opens the way for volunteers to serve and care for those hurt, just as Jesus did. To quote the Adventist Church’s founding pioneer, Ellen G. White: “A uniform cheerfulness, tender kindness, Christian benevolence, patience, and love will melt away prejudice and open the heart to the reception of the truth. Few understand the power of these precious influences.” (Evangelism p. 543). The power of kindness, compassion, love, a giving hand, and a listening ear, especially when people are most vulnerable, should never be underestimated.

–Anton Kapusi is pastor of the Pueblo First Seventh-day Adventist Church. Photos supplied.

By Sandy Hodgson

In about two weeks, schools across the Rocky Mountain Conference will be wrapping up their first semester with students anticipating the wrapped gifts under the tree as they enjoy their Christmas vacation. Reflecting upon this first semester, the Office of Education has been witnessing to the many gifts that Adventist education provides, whether in RMC or Union College classrooms.

Diane Harris, director of education, along with Paul Negrete, associate director, and Sandy Hodgson, assistant director, all took time during first semester to visit all 18 of our schools. Intending to offer support and encouragement, we instead often found ourselves encouraged by the impact our teachers are making in the lives of their students, their churches, and their communities. From our one-teacher schools to our larger academies, our teachers are intent on making learning the focus of their programming by collaborating across campuses in person, by zoom, and by telephone.

Our teachers are intent on improving language arts and reading. Many are in their second year of a four-year training program called Unlocking the Code. This program utilizes neuroplasticity in rewiring brain strategies to aid in accelerating reading potential. During our school visits, we were given the gift of seeing the program in action and the progress our students are making.

RMC education leaders, along with a group of educators from Campion, Mile High, and Vista Ridge academies were able to attend a High Reliability Schools Workshop in Florida at the end of October. The focus helped school leaders create conditions for students to be successful. Being a “high reliability” organization means that we are accountable for ensuring that what we are doing is the right work and is, in fact, working.

Most recently, while in Lincoln, Nebraska for year-end meetings, I was able to participate in an education class at Union College. Senior elementary education majors were learning how to collaborate with school boards and churches. What a gift to see future educators interested in building strong relationships with churches, pastors, and school boards. Superintendents and principals from across the Mid-America Union also had the opportunity to meet with Union College education majors and offer support and encouragement as they prepare to enter the workforce and direct their students to the Creator of the Universe.

“Something Better” is the theme of the upcoming 2023 NAD Teachers’ Convention in August. Rocky Mountain Conference Educators are already moving in that direction. What a gift to partner with our schools and churches to offer “something better” throughout the Rocky Mountain Conference.

–Sandy Hodgson is RMC assistant director of education. Photos by Diane Harris.

Anika Engelkemier – Parker, Colorado …  Known as “Mothers of Preschoolers,” MOPS is a group of women who LOVE moms. Newday Adventist Church is launching a MOPS group and expanding the group to include moms of all ages and in all seasons of life–from expecting mamas to empty-nesters! We exist to resource, empower, and equip moms in our community to do the good and hard work of motherhood. Through community, prayer, and good food, the hope is that moms will leave each MOPS meeting feeling refueled and ready to go.

Newday Adventist Church is excited to reach out to moms in the Parker community and surrounding areas. We are coming out of a long season of loneliness and are ready to offer a safe space to develop true friendships and community.

Søren Kierkegaard, a 19th-century theologian and poet, wrote “People settle for a level of despair they can tolerate and call it happiness.” This is the year we no longer settle for tolerable despair, but instead, dream bigger, risk greater and love better. And the way we’re going to do that is through the company we keep. We’re here to remind you that having your people by your side is not a perk of living a giant, beautiful, juicy life; it’s a prerequisite.

It’s time to toss out any notion that we must do any of this alone, that it’s “too late” to create an abundantly rich group of girlfriends or that the pace of life leaves no room for meaningful connection. Instead, we’ll take in something new, something God is always using to reach out to us–deep relationships.

Having a genuine, supportive, honest group of female friends in your circle is one of the biggest life upgrades. If you desperately want this kind of friendship, but it feels hard to come by, you’re not alone. Community is such a cliché concept, but the truth is, we are all pretty desperate for it. We know it will make our lives better, and yet finding friends as adults can feel intimidating. Despite our best efforts, we seem to be in the midst of a loneliness epidemic.

At Newday MOPS, we will pursue friendships where we aggressively believe in each other, pray for each other, and believe the other deserves the world. If you’re ready for a community like this, then you belong here. Your best days are ahead of you. We are going to be here cheering you on. Kids pastor at Parker, Anika Engelkemier, says, “What you can’t do alone, we can and will do together.”

Organizers say there is space for moms in all seasons of life, from expecting to empty nesters. Beginning with January 19, 2023, meetings are scheduled on the 1st and 3rd Thursday evenings at Newday Adventist Church (6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.) with dinner provided for moms as well as childcare. To register, link https://forms.gle/YmjVxodVnjpXtS3f9

–Anika Engelkemier is Parker Adventist Church Kids Pastor.