16 Jul

Agriculture program still growing under new leadership

By Jill Harlow — Loveland, Colorado … Russell Branham, husband of Director of Development and Alumni Relations Darcy Force, has been hard at work planting Campion’s summer garden as the new Program Director of Acquainting Agriculture. Branham took over the care of the garden and produce sales as a volunteer last summer through this spring, including maintaining a winter garden. After Campion Academy procured a grant from AdventHealth this spring, he has been able to manage the garden as a part-time employee.

Branham has had previous experience working in greenhouses and gardens and has a personal passion for agriculture. “Long before I came to Campion, one of my personal goals has been to help teach people how to grow food for themselves,” he explained. “Agriculture seems to be a dying skill, and I think we need to get back to our roots. I’d like to see the young folks learn about growing and becoming self-sufficient.”

Without students or volunteers in the program this spring and summer (or the promise of a farmer’s market), Branham has kept the garden at a smaller, more manageable scale, and he plans to keep produce sales to our school and church community. Currently, he is growing crops such as bush beans, okra, brussel sprouts, beets, carrots, squash, radishes, turnips, asparagus, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, herbs, and raspberries. He expects to have produce available for sale in mid-August. With a future sweet harvest in mind, Branham has also started a small peach tree orchard from seed with 35 saplings growing strong.

In early July, through the use of grant funds, Branham was able to purchase a BCS 739 walk-behind commercial tractor as a much-needed piece of equipment to increase his efficiency. The tractor has multiple implements and he is currently using it for tilling the ground and creating new rows for planting. He is working to improve the garden area overall for future harvests. “Right now, I’m focusing on the health of the garden. It was very overgrown with weeds and I’ve been able to get that under control. I’m working on squaring off the sections we are using for growing and tarping off the areas around to reduce the weeds.” Branham uses all-natural methods of weed and pest control without the use of chemical pesticides.

In the fall, he plans to work with students to plant winter crops both in the greenhouse and in the ground using simple row covers. Campion is currently still seeking a classroom teacher for Acquainting Agriculture in order to offer it as a class, but Branham will work with students in the field.

The grant received from Advent Health will cover the basic costs of employing Branham and a teacher for the program for the next year. However, the program will still rely on donations as it continues to get established. If you have an interest in helping the agriculture program please consider donating for the following needs:

High Wind Tunnel Kit – $2,800
Implement – Rotary Plow $1,495 (to be used with the new tractor)
Used livestock tanks (items to be turned into large planters)
Large water containers (used is also fine, as long as no chemicals were used in it. Food Grade.)

–Jill Harlow is communication director for Campion Academy; photos by Darcy Force

16 Jul

Boost your immunity: Tips from Campion’s nurse

By Jenny Gann – Loveland, Colorado … ‘You are what you eat’ is a phrase we toss around to encourage someone to eat healthier. But have you really thought about it? Does the food and drink we consume really affect our health, or is this just an old adage that is outdated and not true?

Health is on the forefront of many people’s thoughts due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. It is estimated that seven percent of Google searches are related to a health topic. The most common topic searched is boosting one’s immune system. So, if it is true that we are what we eat, what do I need to eat to make myself healthier?

Searching the research databases and the internet one common theme emerges regarding foods that boost one’s immune system: they are all plant based. Not one food listed, on any site, is processed. Also, if you look at the nutritional makeup of plant-based foods, they are inherently low in fat. So, a low-fat, plant-based diet will boost your immune system and help prevent you from getting sick. An interesting study looked at vegetarians versus non-vegetarians and their levels of white blood cells. The body requires white blood cells to make antibodies against bacteria and viruses. So, the higher your white blood cell count, the better your body will be at fighting against invading bacteria and viruses, and the less sick you will be. The study showed that those who ate a vegetarian diet had significantly higher white blood cell counts as compared to non-vegetarians.

Unfortunately, our society bombards us with advertisements for foods that are not low-fat and plant-based. Companies spend billions of dollars each year marketing unhealthy, ultra-processed, high-calorie and high-fat foods. One of the most common means used to sway you is through commercials. Fifty percent of commercials are promoting ultra-processed foods. How do these ultra-processed foods affect your body?

One common element of all ultra-processed foods is that they are high in sugar. Sugar has a negative effect on your immune system. Sugar acts like a stun gun on your body’s cells. It stuns them into a cell coma, and they do not do their jobs. So those oh so important white blood cells we talked about that fight off bacteria and viruses, well, they are out of commission after consuming high-sugar foods and drinks. So now your body’s defenses are gone, and the intruders have free reign to take over your body and make you sick. The effect of sugar on the cells can last for several hours. So, if you are consuming high-sugar foods or drinks several times a day, you are keeping your white blood cells in a permanent coma and they never have the chance to do their job to fight off the intruding bacteria and viruses and you get sick.

So, does what you eat make a difference in your health? I’d say the research is pretty strong supporting a diet that is low in sugar and processed foods and high in plant-based foods.

–Jenny Gann, RN, OTR/L is Campion Academy’s nurse; photo by Rajmund Dabrowski

16 Jul

MILE HIGH ACADEMY TEACHERS CONNECT WITH STUDENTS AND FAMILIES DURING THE SUMMER

By Karrie Meyers – Highlands Ranch, Colorado … Mile High Academy teachers and members of the administration are visiting student homes this summer with signs of encouragement.

Typical summers at Mile High Academy include home visits with current and new student families. This summer, those visits look different due to social distancing requirements.

MHA teachers and staff are still embracing the opportunity to connect with families, but instead of visits inside the home, these visits are taking place in front yards with signs reading, “This family is loved and prayed for by Mile High Academy”.

“I loved seeing the students,” Taryn Clark, MHA’s fifth-grade teacher stated. “It was fun to see their excitement, to have them show us their bikes, scooters, rollerblades, pets and all the things that have kept them busy this summer.”

“MHA’s teachers have missed seeing their students,” Jamie Frain, MHA’s principal commented. “For most, the last contact with their students was via Zoom. Handing out yard signs is an opportunity for teachers to have in-person connection with their students. While a simple gesture, the yard signs also share with the neighborhood just how much MHA loves its students and families.”

“Even from a distance, it was great to see the faces and hear the voices of our students and families. It makes me excited for a new school year,” Rebecca Berg, upper school teacher and chaplain reflected.

Mile High Academy’s administration and teachers are planning for the upcoming school year with the anticipation of welcoming students on campus August 17.

–Karrie Meyers is Mile High Academy’s communications, development & records assistant; photos by MHA teachers

**To keep up with the latest administration communication, continue to check MHA’s announcement webpage at www.milehighacademy.org/2020-2021-school-year-announcements/.

**Mile High Academy is also open for enrollment. If you or someone you know would enjoy being a part of the Mile High Academy family, please connect with the administrative team via the school’s Virtual Admissions webpage,  https://www.milehighacademy.org/virtual-admissions/.

15 Jul

CASPER CHURCH shares FOOD BOXES with THE COMMUNITY

By Gabriela Vincent – Casper, Wyoming … The Casper church was able to distribute 100 food boxes to the community, thanks to a grant from Adventist Community Services.

Nancy Sybrant, local ACS leader, together with the Casper church, prepared boxes of food, each with enough for a family of four. Casper’s Home Depot donated the boxes, allowing for the purchase of additional food items for the community.

After advertising the food drive on the local Facebook classifieds, volunteers distributed the boxes to local residents. This allowed them the opportunity to visit and pray with the community.

“We could have just done a drive through, I know. It would have been much easier considering the amount of deliveries,” Shayne Vincent, pastor of the Casper district said. “It was such an incredible blessing to just visit and pray with people without an agenda. And it showed in their gratitude.”

“My husband and I had a very positive experience delivering food boxes to those who signed up online for them. We had some good conversations and were able to pray with several of the people,” Sybrant commented. “One gentleman said his wife worked at a home for abused women and her plan was to share the food with some of the ladies there. Going on God’s errands is such a blessing.”

The community was thankful for the visit and the food baskets. “Wanted to let you know that six people here in the building were helped by the generosity of your food box. Thank you very much,” said one recipient.

“Thank you so much for the box of food that was left. Absolutely perfect food for my grandkids. The generosity shown by your church and those who donated is so very much appreciated by us. Air hug, seriously, because words cannot convey the appreciation. I do have a question for you Seventh-day Adventists, do you worship (as a congregation) on Saturdays, as that is the seventh day of the week? Thank you, again,” commented another recipient from the community.

The Casper church would like to thank the NAD, RMC ACS, Casper ACS, Casper Home Depot, and all the volunteers who gave their time to make this community project a success.

–Gabriela Vincent is a member of the Casper, Wyoming church; photo supplied.

14 Jul

MILE HIGH ACADEMY 2020 SENIORS ENJOY DELAYED CLASS TRIP

By Jocelyn Aalborg – Lake Powell, Utah …It is without question that Mile High Academy’s 2020 senior class has had a school year unmatched by any other. The last quarter of their final year should be spent on campus making senior year memories. Instead, seniors were told to remain home and classes shifted to remote learning.

The seniors interacted via Microsoft Teams and Zoom sessions to end their academic year. Graduation events were a combination of virtual and prerecorded, culminating in a unique, outdoor graduation ceremony to abide by the COVID-19 directives in place at that time. However, the one event that, although delayed, could not be canceled was the eagerly anticipated senior class trip to Lake Powell.

“The administration, class sponsors and senior parents were determined to give this remarkable class their overdue senior class trip,” said MHA principal Jamie Frain. “We are pleased to share that the class enjoyed six fun-filled days in house boats on Lake Powell.”

Highlights of the trip included tubing, wakeboarding, paddle boarding, swimming, cliff jumping, playing games and cooking. Cell phone service was not available on the lake, so the seniors had an opportunity to disconnect and enjoy being together as a class.

“The trip was a nice way to be together one final time before they leave for different colleges next month,” said Lisa Venteicher, Mile High Academy’s 2020 senior class sponsor and upper school teacher. “We all missed making those final memories at the end of the school year.”

When it came time to pack up and head for home, most students said, “they didn’t want it to end and wished they could stay longer,” Venteicher added.

“This is a particularly special senior class,” Frain commented. “It is such a blessing for them to celebrate this milestone with their classmates.  We wish them the best!”

Jocelyn Aalboarg is Mile High Academy VP for finance and development; photos supplied

14 Jul

RMC TEACHER’S CONVENTION GOES ONLINE

By Lonnie Hetterle – Denver, Colorado … The 2020 RMC teacher’s convention, in August 3 – 4, will be held online.

This decision comes as Denver metro still has restrictions on large gatherings and the Conference made a commitment to limit expenses for the remainder of 2020.

The camaraderie and fellowship are always a blessing, and for that reason it was decided to move forward with the gathering online. The meetings are also a time to renew friendships, introduce new team members, as well as provide professional development. This will give the opportunity for the educators to come together even though separated by hundreds of miles.

The convention will cover the following topics: COVID-19 preparations for the classroom, training on a new testing system, and building relationships among teachers in RMC.

Part of the professional development will be training on the new MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) testing system.  Instead of once a year analysis with the I.T.B.S. (Iowa Test of Basic Skills) the student will be tested three times during the year.  This MAP testing is a shorter test but more thorough, and will be a computer-based test. It will give quicker results to teachers so they can modify plans to better meet the individual needs of the student. “MAP testing is well researched and will come with a wealth of useful information that will greatly enhance the learning for our students,” Hetterle commented.

Concerning COVID-19 and the uptick in cases in Colorado, RMC schools are planning to open in person next month. While tentative plans are ready, the education department is finding that the guidelines are needing to be modified on a regular basis.

RMC covers a large geographical area and some local modifications may be needed as local health regulations vary from county to county.  The department is currently in the process of obtaining supplies such as hand sanitizer, washable masks, and non-contact thermometers for all of our schools.

“The world we find ourselves in today is different as we continue to learn to live with the pandemic. I invite you to pray every day for our children, young people, and their teachers as we strive to be good citizens of this country and most importantly, a leader of young lives at the foot of the cross. Thank you for your faithful and continued support for our RMC Schools,” Hetterle finished.

–Lonnie Hetterle is RMC education superintendent; photo by Rajmund Dabrowski

14 Jul

Newday Hosts Third Annual Free Farmer’s Market

By Lisa Cardinal — Parker, Colorado … Three summers ago, the idea of a Free Farmer’s Market was just a dream. It became reality when Parker Task Force, one of Newday’s community partners, enthusiastically agreed to ensure that all summer long, our Free Farmer’s Market would have the best produce that could be found.

The final piece needed to make the Free Farmer’s Market a reality was a location. Managers of an apartment complex in the perfect location gladly agreed to let us use their space and Newday’s Free Farmer’s Market was born in the summer of 2018.

Today, Newday’s Free Farmer’s Market continues to provide high-quality fruits and vegetables at no cost to neighbors in our community, who otherwise would be unable to enjoy summer produce.

The Free Farmer’s Market season normally begins with a barbecue lunch at the apartment complex hosted by Newday where church members and residents of the apartment complex have opportunity to get acquainted, enjoy good food together, and take home beautiful produce. Neighbors return each week and, in addition to free produce, they are offered a recipe with ingredients using at least some of the produce of the week, along with samples of the recipe.

Throughout the summer, friendships develop, conversations take place, and prayer and other kinds of help become part of the Free Farmer’s Market experience. On the final day of Free Farmer’s Market each year, Newday puts on an ice cream party.

As the summer of 2020 approached with the complications of COVID-19 and subsequent health department guidelines, Newday discovered that the need for the Free Farmer’s Market was greater than ever. Parker Task force committed to partner again with Newday and the apartment complex warmly welcomed us.

A safe, socially distanced option for the Free Farmer’s Market was designed so that instead of neighbors having the opportunity to select produce themselves, they would wait in socially-distanced lines to be handed produce Newday had pre-bagged — one bag of fruit and one bag of vegetables for each family.

Truly, the need has been great and truly, neighbors are grateful. While Newday is unable to eat or socialize with our neighbors or build friendships during this summer’s Free Farmer’s Market, the church members are grateful for the opportunity to do good in a way we believe Jesus would if He were here today.

–Lisa Cardinal is executive pastor and interim lead pastor at Newday; photos by Julie Collett

13 Jul

FRANKTOWN CHURCH VOLUNTEERS CONTINUE BI-WEEKLY COMMUNITY FOOD DISTRIBUTION

By Jamey Houghton — Franktown, Colorado … The Franktown church has been partnering with Food Bank of the Rockies for the last year and a half. During the lock down, we missed one month of distribution. After that month, the health department allowed us to re-open with new guidelines for distributing food.

In the past, people have lined up with wagons, boxes and even empty laundry baskets to pick up food, passing through our tables loaded with food and choosing what they wanted. Our new guidelines require us to prepare boxes of food and have a drive-through style delivery.

So, a crew of volunteers from the Franktown and the Castlewood Canyon churches arrives at 9:30 a.m. when food is being packed into boxes for those lined up in their cars. They drive up, stay in their car and pop their trunk open. Our crew then loads the trunk with food boxes and they are on their way without ever getting out of their car. The volunteer group is made up of individuals from age seven to well into their 80s who come every second Friday to help make this happen.

We have been operating like this for several months and it has allowed us to continue to bless the people in our community with food for their families. These are people we see regularly and know many by name,” reports Jamey Houghton, church pastor.

Church prayer teams pray with the people in their cars while they wait for their turn to get food. “We are excited that we can continue to serve our community with the slight changes we have implemented,” Pastor Jamey added.

–Jamey Houghton is pastor of Franktown church; pictures, courtesy of the Franktown church’s Facebook page

09 Jul

Before you pick up the stone . . .

By Chris Morris . . . “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.”

These were Jesus’ words in response to the Pharisees in their desire to punish an adulterous woman while simultaneously discrediting Him.

Here’s the thing, though.  Technically, Jesus was obligated to condone the stoning of the adulterous woman.  Leviticus 20:10 and Deuteronomy 22:22 both delineate the God-given consequences for committing adultery. Why doesn’t he do so?

The story is told of a 3rd grade class on the first day of school. The bell rang to begin the day and students began to file into the classroom. One student was a very nervous girl. She was quiet and her limbs were trembling with anxiety. She found a seat in the back of the classroom. A few moments later, another student walked confidently into the classroom and sat down next to the nervous girl.  After a quick glance at the girl and her desk, this boy suddenly ran out of the room, only to return with a large cup of water.  The boy took the cup of water and doused the nervous girl.

The teacher immediately called the boy up to her desk and asked him why he did such a cruel thing. The boy remained silent.  After several more unsuccessful inquiries, the boy was sent to the principal’s office.  Ultimately, he was suspended from school for three days for his actions.

When the boy returned to school, his teacher paid close attention to his behavior. To her surprise, over the next few months, this boy was a model student. His grades were exceptional. He would volunteer to help the teacher at every opportunity.  He would even model conflict resolution skills on the playground when other students had arguments or fights.

One day, the teacher could no longer quiet her curiosity. She called this boy to her desk and asked him why he did what he did on the first day of school. The boy dropped his head, slumped his shoulders, and remained quiet.  The teacher assured him that he had already paid the penalty for the terrible behavior and that he would not receive another punishment. The boy shared with the teacher that he had noticed how nervous the girl who sat next to him was on the first day of school. In fact, he noticed she was so nervous that there was a puddle of urine underneath her desk. The girl had so much anxiety that she didn’t make it to the restroom. The boy stated that he knew this girl would be made fun of by the other students if they saw what he saw.  So, he decided to run out of the classroom, grab a cup of water, and douse the girl.  The teacher was astonished. The boy was willing to take the punishment for pouring water on the girl so that she would not be the target of mockery and ridicule.

Jesus didn’t condone the stoning of the woman for one reason and one reason only.  He had come to take the “stoning” for her.  Not only hers, but ours as well.

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God,” [2 Corinthians 5:21].

–Chris Morris is associate pastor for worship, youth and visitation at Littleton, Colorado church.

09 Jul

G. Alexander Bryant Named North American Division President

By Kimberly Maran — Columbia, Maryland . . . On July 9, 2020, the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s General Conference Executive Committee met virtually to receive the name of G. Alexander Bryant, the recommendation for division president, from both the North American Division’s nominating committee and executive committee. Bryant was confirmed in a vote of 153 to 3.

Ted N.C. Wilson, General Conference president and, as policy indicates for the vote of division president, chair of the NAD nominating and executive committees held on July 6 and July 7, said, “I’m looking forward to a renewed focus on the three angels’ messages and I believe that Elder Bryant can help lead in that great adventure, because that is what is entrusted to each of us. [He] is a mission-focused individual. He is someone who is a careful listener to people. He will take [these cares] to the Lord and ask for guidance. … I believe that God can use him in a very, very special way.”

“I am first indebted to God for His call to ministry and secondly to those who have poured into my life over the years,” said Bryant in response to the vote. “I am deeply humbled by the confidence Elder Wilson, our chair, and the NAD and GC executive committees have placed in me with this assignment. This task is too big for one individual or office. It is abundantly clear to me that it takes all of us working together to advance God’s kingdom and I just deeply covet your prayers.”

He added, “I ask for my wife and for myself — that you would continue to lift us up daily as we will you. … Hopefully, by our efforts together, we can hasten the coming of the Lord through our mission work throughout our territory and beyond; and Jesus will come and we can go home.”

Wilson affirmed the decision for NAD president, saying, “Alex, we will place you in prayer — that God will be with you and Desiree and your family as you take up these new responsibilities in a powerful way. … I know he will have a tremendous evangelistic imprint on North America for the future and it’ll be a privilege to collaborate with him on that.”

All world division executive officers serve as elected officers of the GC and their nomination and election by the region they represent must be approved by the General Conference Executive Committee. The division’s nominating committee is termed a standing committee. It was appointed by the NAD Executive Committee in 2015. During the past five years the nominating committee has recommended the names of individuals to the executive committee for vote in order to fill division vacancies.

Following an outlined process disclosed earlier, the division’s nominating committee met on July 6 and selected the name of Bryant, which was presented and voted on by the NAD Executive Committee on July 7. Bryant’s name was sent as a recommendation to the GC Executive Committee. All meetings were held virtually via Zoom with a previously-used electronic voting process.

Bryant replaces Daniel R. Jackson, who served at the NAD headquarters since his election in June 2010 at the GC Session in Atlanta, Georgia, and reelection in 2015 in San Antonio, Texas, until his retirement on July 1, 2020. The search process for a new executive secretary has begun.

Glenward Alexander (“Alex”) Bryant most recently served as executive secretary of the NAD and associate secretary of the GC, positions he’s held since October 2008 when elected at the GC Annual Council in Manila, Philippines. Bryant was reelected at the 2010 GC Session. While serving as the division’s secretary, Bryant conducted leadership seminars, training and orientation of conference executive officers; organized a division-wide diversity summit; coordinated the digitalization of the NAD Secretariat; and conducted annual evangelistic series.

Before coming to the division, Bryant served as the president of the Central States Conference in Kansas City, Kansas.

Bryant graduated with a double major in Theology and Business Administration from Oakwood College (now Oakwood University) in 1982.

He began his ministry that same year in Springfield, Missouri, and Coffeyville and Independence, Kansas. In 1986, Bryant was ordained, and he continued his education by earning a Master of Divinity degree from Andrews University in 1988. The Central States Conference voted Bryant to serve as Youth/Pathfinders/National Service Organization director, Temperance director, and superintendent of Education in 1990. He became president in 1997.

In addition to pastoring several churches early in his career, Bryant also served as a student missionary to Japan for one year. During his college years, Bryant’s administrative abilities helped him serve as the Adventist Youth director at Oakwood College and the Black Students Association of the Seminary (BSAS) president at Andrews University.

Bryant is the second African American elected to serve as NAD president. Charles E. Bradford, the division’s first president, was also African American. Previous division presidents include Alfred C. McClure, Don C. Schneider, and Daniel R. Jackson.

He is married to the former Desiree Wimbish, who served as superintendent of education for Central States Conference as well as former principal of the V. Lindsay Seventh-day Adventist School in Kansas City, Kansas. Desiree currently serves as assistant director and projects coordinator for Adventist Education in the NAD. The Bryants have three adult children and three grandchildren.

Click here for the video interview with Bryant about his education, early years in ministry, and his hopes for his current role as NAD president.

–Kimberly Maran is an associate director for the North American Division Office of Communication. Photo supplied.

This article was originally published on the NAD website.