03 Feb

PASTORS GATHER FOR FELLOWSHIP AND REVITALIZATION

By Jon Roberts – Colorado Springs, Colorado … Pastors, chaplains from local Centura/AdventHealth hospitals, and conference office employees gathered for the annual winter minister’s meetings in Colorado Springs on January 31.

The event, typically held in February, is a highlight for the pastors who can fellowship with their colleagues from around RMC and provides an opportunity to take home some practical learning and apply it in their home churches.

“Since we couldn’t meet face to face last winter due to the pandemic, it was great being able to meet together again. While thankful for virtual meetings, it is especially sweet when we can see each other face to face,” said Mickey Mallory, RMC ministerial director.

Reflecting on the meetings, John Davidson, lead pastor at the Canon City Adventist Church, said, “I really appreciate being able to get together with the other pastors from around the conference for fellowship. The pastors often don’t have that fellowship in their local church, and to be here and able to fellowship with other pastor–what a blessing that is.”

Steve Nelson, lead pastor in the Cody, Wyoming district, echoed Davidson’s sentiments. “I enjoyed reconnecting with fellow pastors and encouraging others in ministry.”

The gathering began with a devotion by Craig Carr, newly appointed Mid-America Union Conference ministerial director and former RMC ministerial director. Carr remarked that it was good to be back among friends and colleagues and explained how Jesus seeks us and wants to help us by healing and comforting us.

The morning continued with a powerful message of hope and restoration provided by Richie Halversen, Southern Union Conference church growth and revitalization director. Halverson shared his story of redemption and restoration from opioid addiction and how Jesus and his family never gave up hope on him. He appealed to the pastors to never give up hope on anyone.

Halversen continued the morning by giving practical advice on how to reconnect to the community. He explained that we need to make the first move by being involved in the community and meeting people where they are.  He went on to say that churches need to meet the needs of the area and provide a safe space for individuals to share and be accepted for who they are. Finally, he explained that churches need to give people the Gospel.

His presentations encouraged the gathering appeared to enjoy them thoroughly.

“I was blown away [by] how Richie shared solution after solution resolving all the many questions I’ve had over the years of how to reach our communities for Christ during our new inministry meeting on Sunday. And I would say that this sentiment was shared by many of us in that room,” remarked Shayne Vincent, lead pastor, Casper Church district, on the new in-ministry meeting on Sunday before the wider pastor meeting on Monday.

Davidson, reacting to Monday’s presentations, said, “Richie has a heart for evangelism and evangelism is what keeps our churches young. If we are involved in evangelism, the members who have been there for a long period of time can mentor someone who is new.”

Halversen remarked that he enjoyed spending the day with the pastors and hoped the presentations help build community.

“I hope the pastors feel encouraged, empowered, and equipped to share the good news of the Gospel in their local context,” said Halversen.

After lunch, the meetings reconvened with Mic Thurber, RMC president, addressing the crowd.  He remarked that this was an important meeting for him as he was able to see the pastors face-to-face and introduce himself to them. The gathering concluded with department leaders presenting and sharing information with the pastors and answering their questions.

Reflecting on the day, Mallory said, “With Pikes Peak appearing beautifully in the west, our pastors learned how to reach peak performance when it comes to helping people find spiritual rest in Christ. With Jesus leading, there is no mountain (obstacle/addiction) so big that cannot be overcome.”

Nelson was thankful for the meetings. “I am taking from these meetings the importance of doing what is working in your church.  Successful ministry is recognizing where God is at work and joining Him. I’m thankful for our wonderful leadership and God’s blessings that never cease in RMC.”

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

02 Feb

REDUCING YOUR SUGAR INTAKE

By Dustin Stegen — If there is anyone out there who is like me, this blog might be for you. Let’s talk about sugar. Ah, sugar, so tasty, so lovely. I want it all the time. It is almost everywhere and in so many foods. Sometimes sugar is the main ingredient in some of our favorite foods. All of this sugar may be great for a few seconds on our tongues but (I don’t want to be too cliche here) all that sugar really likes to hang out around my midsection for days. Sometimes years.

Sugar is quite a large subject to talk about but what I want to share is how to, if you are wanting to, reduce the amount of sugar in your diet. Let me define something first. I am not talking about reducing or eliminating carbohydrates from my diet. 50-60% of our daily calorie intake should come from carbohydrates. They are the best source of energy for most people. They come with hundreds of vitamins and minerals making our bodies thrive. I am talking about the added sugar put into our food for flavor. This sugar can easily increase the amount of empty calories entering our bodies.

Here are a few ways that have helped me reduce my sugar intake:

Reduce or eliminate sugary snacks. The obvious foods to eliminate are all the candy and baked goods that are literally everywhere! Soda, desserts, and drink additives are big ones. They are just there to add sugar to your life. I cut those out completely. By completely, I mean I try to completely cut these out of my life. I did have a cookie last week and it was great. This is a work in progress.

Read Nutrition Facts Labels. There are a lot of foods containing way too much-added sugar. I decided I would extremely reduce the amount of foods I eat with any added sugar in them. We have carbohydrates in our diet, so food with natural sugar in them is acceptable and necessary. Strawberries, bananas, orange juice, etc. all contain natural sugars that are good for us.

For a frame of reference, when a food contains 12 grams of added sugar per serving, that means there are 3 teaspoons of sugar in each serving. I would never sit down and eat 3 teaspoons of sugar but when it is hidden in some snack bar I guess I would. Knowing this has really put how much-added sugar there is in food into perspective.

Replacement foods. Once I realized how many foods contain extremely high levels of sugar, it seemed like there weren’t a lot of options for food items anymore. We still need to eat though. I just made some healthy food swaps. Instead of crackers and peanut butter, I ate carrots and hummus. I even started putting hummus on toast in the morning rather than peanut butter. Instead of candy and baked goods, I eat fresh or dried fruit. Doing this can reduce the amount of sugar in your diet and at the same time increase the amount of health-promoting nutrients your body craves.

Improving willpower. Other times I make a strong effort to say no to the temptation of candy and sweets.

Self-control is like a muscle. The more we use it the stronger it gets.

When I see a pile of fresh cookies or birthday cake, I tell myself I will be happier without those sweets. And that really works for me. And in the times it doesn’t work, I don’t count it as a failure I just move on.

Forgive yourself. It is not easy to say no to sweets and sugary foods all the time. We are human and sometimes struggle with our goals. If I want to stay away from sugars but I eat a brownie that afternoon, I tell myself that it is fine, enjoy it and move on. There is no point in beating yourself up for breaking one of your own rules. An occasional treat isn’t going to put 35 pounds on your waist. In this instance, moderation is important when it comes to foods containing low levels of nutrients.

Sweets are great for mental health but not always good for our blood sugar levels.

Remember, these are the steps I have taken to separate myself from sugar. This is not a prescription for you to follow. In no way do I want to make sugar the enemy or cause any of my readers to start obsessing about how much sugar is in foods. Disordered eating is a serious situation and it can start with the best intentions. Like always, remember your body is the temple of God and you were bought for a price. Take care of what Jesus Christ loves so much, you.

— Dustin Stegen is a Registered Dietitian and lover of all things outdoors, cooking and teaching others about living a healthy lifestyle and eating. He is the founder of Ten Times Better, LLC a nutrition consulting business that focuses on connecting faith and food. Photo by Unsplash

This article was originally published on Outlook Magazine’s website

02 Feb

REFLECTION: MAY I PRAY?

By Joel Reyes — It took me by surprise. Not the prayer. His prayer was short and simple. “Lord, bless us today and thank you for our food.” There were a few more words I don’t remember because, at that point, I was deep in thought and gratitude for his simple prayer.

He had come to our school four years earlier. He had never seen a Bible before, but he brought one as part of his school supplies on the first day of school. He had a hard time making sense of the book. It had lots of pages and some strange words, but he seemed to like the stories.

One day, as the class wrapped up morning worship, Sam* raised his hand and asked, “Can you pray for my grandma? She is sick.” Soon, he was talking about Jesus and His death on the cross for our sins.

It is customary in our classroom to pray for our meal before making our way to the cafeteria. Students are invited to pray, but only a few will occasionally volunteer; the majority are too shy. On this particular occasion, Sam raised his hand. “May I pray?” he asked.

This moment was so significant for me because Sam’s family is Buddhists. They did not bring him to our school because of their Christian beliefs. Before entering our school, Sam knew nothing of the God we worship. Nothing about Christ or how to find books, chapters, and verses in the Bible. But on that day, Sam had chosen to participate in one of the most cherished practices of our faith: prayer. Talking to God as to a friend. Then I thought about Sam’s journey through our school and the mission of our small Adventist school.

We frequently refer to the goal of Adventist education as one of “redemption.” When we talk of redemption, we talk of evangelism to bring humanity into a relationship with God. “In the highest sense, the work of education and the work of redemption are one, for in education, as in redemption, other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Education pg. 30. But how many times do we see elementary schools as centers of evangelism? Many years ago, I attended a meeting of pastors and principals in the conference where I was serving. One of the pastors addressed the assembly to express his opposition to his church deviating precious funds to support the local school rather than investing in church evangelism. That was some years ago, and I am glad most of my pastor friends see our schools as centers of evangelism. However, I still wonder how many well-intended church members continue to see Adventist schools as financial burdens rather than the centers of evangelism they truly are.

Two years after enrolling Sam in our school, the family enrolled his younger sister. One day Sam learned about Pathfinders and wanted to join the club. His parents agreed. Not long after, his sister followed him there too.

Sam’s story sheds light on an Adventist reality: our existence. We are here for a reason: to take the gospel to all the world. In other words, our raison d’etre as Adventists is evangelism. To bring others to the knowledge of the Three Angels’ message. What better place to start than our schools? It’s not a secret that our churches are aging, and we are struggling to replace the members we are losing. Some churches are becoming empty buildings, sparsely occupied once a week on Sabbath mornings. It is time that our education and ministerial departments come together and realize that we are one, and for our churches to thrive, we need to grow together, and we need to invest in the evangelism of the young.

–Joel Reyes is the principal at Intermountain Adventist Academy in Grand Junction, Colorado; photo by iStock

*Not his real name

02 Feb

RMC WOMEN’S MINISTRIES IN 2022

RMCNews with Jana Thurber – Denver, Colorado … “Women need other women. We build a better community when we gather for Bible study,” Jana Thurber, RMC women’s ministries director, commented on the importance of the outreach ministry.

Thurber is excited to plan events for the women of RMC in 2022. She sees the ministry as a chance for women to fellowship, support each other, and study God’s Word together. “To pray, laugh, praise God, cry or provide comfort. Or to celebrate each other’s joys and answers to prayer. We are stronger when we journey together. We are stronger when we serve each other!”

According to her, women’s ministries exist to serve and provide outreach to the community.

“Women’s ministries is not only about who we are as Seventh-day Adventist women, but [also about] using our creative abilities in serving our church and community as Seventh-day Adventist women.”

She adds, “Women’s ministries activities are focused on helping women grow deeper with Jesus so we can invest ourselves in our local church and community. I’ve heard some of your stories already, and I’d love to hear more. If you have a story in your church from women who have attended your events and it’s been such a blessing, they just had to share it, please let me hear from you!”

Thurber is planning special events and gatherings for 2022, but she is also launching a new friendship evangelism program.

“Please join with me in prayer that God will open doors for a new kind of weekend event next year called Friendship Evangelism.” It’s a weekend for RMC women to invite friends, neighbors, or co-workers of different faiths who, like us, want God to draw near through music, praise, worship, prayer, and amazing speakers. Our purpose in planning this kind of retreat is to join with our community friends in uplifting God and focusing on His Word. We will need sponsors to help us put on this kind of retreat next year in the Front Range. If you would like to be a sponsor for Friendship Evangelism, please contact me at 303-282-3638.”

Thurber says she is blessed to work with a leadership group of volunteers to plan events. “I work with a talented and prayerful leadership group. This group of gifted women is already working with me to plan this year’s Women’s Retreat, September 23-25, at GVR, to bless our conference women.”

Thurber says that prayer is central for her department. “Above all, my work with the women of our conference is a work grounded and nourished in prayer. I regularly pray for individual church women’s ministries leaders, our conference leadership team, and women pastoral spouses. I hope you’ll join me in this prayer venture and that you will include me in your prayers as I seek to follow God’s heart in leading women in our conference.”

Calendar of Events for 2022:

February 22, 6:30 pm – Ginger Bell, leader of Women of Spirit in Brighton, has invited Ardis Stenbakken of Loveland to present, “More Than a Love Story: The Best is Yet to Come,” an in-depth study of the book of Ruth. A musical selection will also be presented. Due to Covid restrictions, a meal will not be provided. Location: The Armory Performing Arts Center, 300 Strong Street, Brighton. Reservations: Call or text Ginger at 720-980-9006 by Feb. 16. Women of Spirit meets quarterly in February, May, September, and November. It is a special evening for women to attend a spiritual event that includes a light meal (unless Covid restrictions are in place) served on beautifully-decorated tables. A musical selection is followed by an inspirational message from various professional speakers of many faiths. This event has been in existence for about 25 years in Brighton. Attendance is a mixture of women from the community, our church, and surrounding Adventist churches.

February 27, 10:00 am – International Women’s Day of Prayer at the Campion Church Community Center featuring Jana Thurber, who will delve into the prayers of Elizabeth and Mary, their relationship with each other, and how God’s answers to their prayers changed their lives and moved their hearts toward God, fulfilling God’s mission. A light brunch will be served. For more information, call 970-667-7403.

March 26, 2022, Church service and a Saturday night program – The woman’s ministries department at Canon City church welcomes Alicia Patterson. Patterson will speak for the church service and give a special presentation Saturday night. All who learn from her will be blessed by her giftedness in teaching thought-provoking ways to study and understand the Bible. As she shares her stories and teaching, lives are brought closer to Jesus.

May 10, 6:30 p.m. – Women of Spirit program by “The Legendary Ladies,” a women’s historical performance organization. For reservations or more information, call or text Ginger at 720-980-9006.

August 6 – “EnditNow” The Campion Church service will feature a special guest who will address the subject of abuse, particularly domestic abuse. “EnditNow” is the worldwide program of the Seventh-day Adventist church’s women’s ministries. The issue of abuse in all its forms will be addressed.

September 17 – Hyveth Williams, professor of homiletics at the Theological Seminary at Andrews University and director of the doctor of ministry program, will be a guest speaker for the Canon City women’s ministries weekend. She is the first black female pastor and first female senior pastor in the Adventist denomination. For more information, call Jill at 970-231-4383.

September 23-25 – RMC women’s ministries annual retreat will be held at Glacier View Ranch. This is for women of all ages. The featured speaker is Sharon Leach, a gifted and delightful woman with a profound experience with Jesus who has a knack for powerful and uplifting biblical messages. Sharon was the first female vice president of Southwestern Adventist University. The weekend theme is, “When Jesus Enters Your Story….You Can Become God’s Wonder Woman!” Leach will be sharing the stories of women in Jesus’ lineage who became “God’s Wonder Women” when Jesus entered their stories! Teens are invited to come with their mom or a parent-approved chaperone. The teens will enjoy their own weekend speakers and activities. Get on the mailing list to receive the Registration Form. Call 303-282-3638 and leave a message that you want to attend. Please include name, email (include spelling, if necessary), and phone. A Registration Form will be emailed as soon as it’s available.

October 28 and 29 – A special weekend for women at the Campion Church. Special features and guest speakers will be announced.

–RMCNews with Jana Thurber, women’s ministries director for RMC; photo by Unsplash