NN June 2020 Page 3

By Alise Weber – Littleton, Colorado . . . The sun peeked through the clouds and shone down on the lawn of the Littleton church just in time for the evening outdoor church service.  Just an hour earlier, wild winds, angry clouds, and a downpour, complete with hail, had touched upon the same ground.

Members were gathering for this evening worship service on June 6 to conclude their seven-week series on Esther, led by pastors Andy Nash and Chris Morris. In the spirit of celebration, as the Jewish nation did when saved from certain death, a Purim celebration was planned directly after the church service.

As the worship service concluded, Nash ended with inspiring words that reflected on the bravery of Esther. The members were challenged “to go forward to make a difference in this world, as Esther did.”

Then, the Purim celebration began!

Individually wrapped baklava with bags of pre-packaged popcorn and bottles of water were handed to attendees ready to rejoice in the spirit of victory. Children volunteered to reenact a play depicting the story of Esther. The script was read, the actors and actresses used their improvisational skills to act out the scenes, and the joyful crowd joined in by offering comedic boos and cheers as each scene unfolded.

Following the skit, the assembly participated in traditional Hebrew dancing. A giant circle was formed on the lawn, wide enough for everyone to social distance.  As the music began, everyone used a grapevine step to the right and then twirled in unison before clapping twice. Several rounds of Hebrew dancing followed before the glow of the sunlight began to fade.

The film, “One Night with the King,” began playing on the screen, and children eagerly grabbed their chairs for a chance to watch.

“It was a beautiful night, that not only revisited the story of the brave queen who saved her people from death but made Scripture come alive by adding a multi-sensory experience that all ages could enjoy,” one of the pastors commented.

—Alise Weber is associate pastor for children’s and family ministry; photos supplied, video by Cesiah Morris

Casper, Wyoming … With all that has been going on in our country over the past few months, including the shut-down of many gatherings, Casper church families requested a graduation appreciation Sabbath ceremony for their many young adults who graduated from high school and college this year. Since Casper Church began drive-in services on May 9 and reopened its regular services on Memorial Day weekend, May 23, they were able to accommodate this request.

Casper was grateful they were able to provide some recognition for their achievements due to most ceremonies being cancelled due to Covid-19, Pastor Shayne commented. The Casper congregation celebrated these 2020 graduates on Sabbath, June 6:  Alexis Dvarishkis, Lacey Evert, Adam Cornett and Timmy and Jeff Pike.

The church also extended recognition to Austin Pedersen (pictured), in their sister church in Wheatland, who graduated this year as well.

Pastor Shayne joined them in his own Andrews University regalia, preaching on “How to Overcome Fears,” and encouraging each graduate to pursue their calling by facing failure as a normal part of learning and growth.

“The churches in Casper and Wheatland are very proud of their accomplishments. We pray that God will continue to bless and walk with every single one of them,” Pastor Shayne added.

—Casper Church Communications; photos by Anca Vincent, Traci Pike & Liz Cornett, and Cynthia Pedersen.

By Karla Klemm — What makes up the fabric of a life? How can I explain my love for cooking, enjoying a walk in the woods and reading a good book, especially poetry? These traits most assuredly come from a variety of people in my life, especially my maternal grandmother, Millicent “Milly” Doleman Barrett.

She was born February 3, 1907 to a young mother in northern Idaho who, for an unknown reason, was not able to care for her. In the same town, there lived a couple, John and Agnes Doleman, who had three teenage boys–James, Horrace, and Frank.  They had always wanted a girl, so as my grandmother recounted to me, “when they heard of this homeless baby, they took her into their home and adopted her”. Her older brothers loved her dearly and doted on her. There were always interesting things to do on their ranch–horses to ride, cows to herd and chickens to feed. One of the boys had a goat and he would hitch it to a wagon and give Milly a ride.

As she grew, she decided to become a teacher and attended Walla Walla College for two years. She later recounted to me her pride in the fact that she was adopted by a Seventh-day Adventist family. Her parents had joined the church when their three boys were quite young.

My grandmother met Raymond Barrett in Oregon at a bus junction and they later eloped in 1928, much to the chagrin of both sides of the family (they went on to be married for 58 years). They had one daughter, Joanne, my mother. As I grew up near my grandparents, they were like second parents to me and my brother and sister. We had many lazy summer days playing in the nearby woods, reading books aloud and running around the perimeter of the house to see how high we could get our heart rate to go. I can still taste the homemade bread and Tillamook cheddar cheese sandwiches she would make for us after climbing the hill from the bottom of the driveway where the school bus dropped us.

My grandmother would have been most interested if there had been ancestry.com when she was alive. The mystery of the origin of her birth family was a consistent presence in her life, yet how fortunate she felt to have been adopted by her family. This makes me reflect on how awesome and special adoption can be.

In the words of Jon Piper, “Adoption is the visible gospel.”

I have huge appreciation and admiration for those who are able to adopt children. From what I’ve read and heard, it swells the heart beyond measure. I look forward to the day when I might know the full origins of my family tree. In the meantime, I’m so thankful for the family who made room in their hearts for my dear grandmother.

—Karla Klemm is a member of the Grand Junction, Colorado church; she facilitates church community events.

Pictured (left to right) is James, John, Frank, Agnes and Horace with young Milly.

By Ron Price — Farmington, New Mexico . . .This week I’ve been thinking about the joy that is to be found in getting out of ourselves to focus on being a blessing to others.

May this video inspire you to think about who you can bless this week.

To watch the video please click here

–Ron Price is a member of the RMC executive committee from Farmington, New Mexico. Email him at: [email protected]

By Jon Roberts – Denver, Colorado . . . “Everyone has a story” was the message heard among a group of 20 Seventh-day Adventist church members, leaders, and pastors who joined a city-wide protest at the State Capitol in Denver, Friday, June 5. They came from Aspen Park, Boulder, Castle Rock, Fort Lupton, LifeSource, Littleton, and Newday.

Some joined a racially diverse group which had gathered, while others joined to stand in solidarity with friends and individuals who has been disenfranchised and mistreated for years.

A member of the Boulder church, Becky De Oliveira came with her two young adult sons, Joshua and Jonah. She said, “I enjoyed attending the march for social justice with a group of Adventists from Greater Denver. Many of them I’d never met.”

“The protest was peaceful and filled with hope. I truly do hope for lasting change and healing for our country,” she added.

Joining marches and standing up for equal rights was part of the mission of the early Adventist church.

“We [Adventists] were on the cusp of the abolitionist movement, women’s suffrage, and we had involvement in a living wage before a minimum wage was in existence,” Nathaniel Gamble, pastor of Fort Lupton and Aspen Park churches commented. “It’s important to stand up for our brothers and sisters.”

Homemade signs included artwork or just words written with a sharpie pen, each with its own message: “With liberty and justice for some??” “All lives matter only when black lives matter.”

“Not about looting a target; not about being one either.” “We’re not trying to start a race war; we’re trying to end one.”

Nearly half of the Adventist group were young adults. For some, this was the second march they attended that week.

“I was proud to join voices with the RMC Youth who stepped up and spoke out as a force for good within our broken system.” Kiefer Dooley, youth leader from Rocky Mountain Conference commented.

“It’s been a tumultuous season in America. In the wake of the murders of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd at the hands of police officers, our country settled into a deeper level of unrest than that spurred by the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. It became clear to us that the systemic racism that dwells in many of the structures and organizations in our country can go on no longer.”

Interactions between Adventist participants and community members were seen throughout the grounds of the capital. Others from the group stood on the sidewalk holding signs.

Horns honked in solidarity, while community members were handing water bottles and popsicles to the children in the crowd. Several local restaurants provided food, including vegan and gluten-free options, to make sure everyone in the community could enjoy themselves.

The gathering had a street fair feeling with something for everyone. If you wanted to protest, you could.  If you wanted to stand silently as an onlooker, you could.  If you wanted to listen to each other’s story, you could. It was obvious that the participants came for a reason: racial justice for all.

This was not like a protest you normally see on television; this was a chance to come together as one community to take a stand against an issue that has divided America for far too long.

“The difference I see here is that so many Caucasians are participating. Usually the marches are African-Americans stating ‘look how bad we’ve been treated,’” Robert Davis, member of Newday said. “This one is not about grievances; instead, the message is, ‘We are tired of the racial divisions. Every life doesn’t matter till black lives matter.’”

The message was loud and clear. Hope lives. Love wins in the end.

“While it was a moving experience to join our voices with others seeking reform and justice, it’s clear that our involvement cannot stop with a protest or a march. We must unite together in daily actions that bring justice to the downtrodden and freedom to the oppressed,” Jessyka Dooley, RMC assistant youth director, commented. “We are called to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God. We are called to leave the 99 to bring rescue to the 1.”

“The march was such a clear demonstration of the tenacity of hope — we believe that wrongs can be set right, that change can come, and that humanity can grow in its understanding and interaction,” Jenniffer Ogden, pastor of the Boulder church said. “The march showed me once again that humans believe in hope and are looking for ways, they can actively participate in making change happen for the betterment of all.”

—Jon Roberts, is communication/media assistant for the Rocky Mountain Conference; photos Rajmund Dabrowski, Jenniffer Ogden, and Jon Roberts.

Columbia, Maryland . . . “To my African American brothers and sisters, I want you to know that I am deeply sorry. I am saddened that you have experienced prejudice and bigotry — even in the church — and that there have been times when you were not allowed eat in the same cafeteria or go to the same washroom as whites.” stated Daniel R. Jackson, President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America.

To watch the full statement please click here

This video originally appeared on the NAD website.

By Don Reeder – Loveland, Colorado . . . “We understand that many of our students have been faced with acts of racism during their lives.” stated Don Reeder, principal Campion Academy.

Campion’s full statement below:

“In response to recent events, I want to assert that Campion Academy stands firmly against racist acts and racist speech. Our campus enjoys a culturally and ethnically diverse population. We consider that diversity as one of our strengths. We encourage the celebration of that diversity in providing ways for our students to share their culture and embrace their differences. It is with an especially heavy heart that we watch these current events, knowing it greatly impacts our students and alumni of color.

We understand that many of our students have been faced with acts of racism during their lives. We are committed to continue making Campion Academy a safe, respectful atmosphere for our students, regardless of ethnic background. Racism divides and is used by the forces of evil to keep the knowledge of God from reaching the world. It hurts His children, impacting their growth and success. We will not tolerate racism.

Campion seeks to follow the charge given by Jesus to go into all the world and lift up Jesus as stated in John 12:32, as well as the assertions in Galatians 3:28 and many other verses that we are ALL one in Christ. We celebrate being a part of the most ethnically-diverse Christian faith in the United States and will continue to teach our students to uphold those values for our brothers and sisters of all ethnicities.

In support of this commitment, Campion Academy will work with our African American students and alumni to hold ourselves accountable, and to ensure that our campus remains supportive in the ways they need. Please join us in doing all that we can to root out racism.”

–photo supplied

By Jon Roberts – Littleton, Colorado . . . “Standing up, listening up, and looking up” were the focus of an open dialogue on grace and race held by two Littleton Church pastors on Facebook Live, June 3.

“Standing up for injustice—listening up to the experiences minority groups have endured,” said Chris Morris, associate pastor, and “looking up, a reference to researching and reading. We want to provide practical ways for you to be able to act.”

“We have an opportunity,” said Andy Nash, lead pastor. “It is one thing to love, to be good people, to be friends. But there is a time to speak.”

Nash said the purpose of the dialog was to “to encourage and model honest conversation that leads to hope and healing. Our focus is to call people to draw on the love in their hearts and stand up for others, as Christ did.” The dialogue was viewed by nearly 1,000 people.

Morris shared there were times when he experienced racism as a little boy in school and during a field trip in college. He said it is important to “just listen to people, without interrupting them, to let them open their hearts.”

What’s next for the Adventist Church in America? “We have to keep our foot on the gas pedal,” Morris said. “We can’t let this go unanswered. We (pastoral leaders) must do a better job preaching about social justice and the gospel. The minor prophets were all about social justice. Dignity is all about the gospel. If we don’t start speaking up, I fear we won’t have a voice in our communities much longer.”

“This spring,” added Nash, “we have been studying the story of Esther. She had a choice to make about whether or not to stand up for others. We’re living in a similar circumstance. And something feels different this time—I’m hopeful this can be a turning point in the way we love each other and stand up for each other.”

The open dialogue happened during America’s eighth night of protest for equal rights and justice following the brutal murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 31.

To view the entire conversation please click here.

—Jon Roberts is communication/media assistant for RMC; photo supplied by Littleton Facebook Page

By Lee Lee Dart — When I was 5 years old, I would help my grandfather on his farm in Texas to pick strawberries. He would tell me to only pick the ripe ones. I was a child who was a pleaser and wanted to get things just right, so I would ask him after I picked each one “Is this one ripe?” This desire to pick right has carried me all the way through adulthood. As a life-long Adventist and now a pastor, I long to please my heavenly Father in all I do and say. I have been blessed by my Adventist tribe in so many ways and thank God for the beautiful picture I have come to know of Christ through our beliefs.

But I have also struggled with the overemphasis we have had in our denomination on being deceived. This unfortunately led to focusing on which ones are the spiritual “bad strawberries”.  And it took my eyes off the beautiful ripe ones. It brought more fear of deception in my relationship with Christ resulting in my asking over and over “Is this a deception, God?”

This is why I have treasured the writings of John, the disciple. I believe he must have related to this fear as well. Over and over in the Book of 1 John are these words, “This is how we know.” This phrase is music to my ears. John is teaching us HOW to know what is right and what isn’t. He gives us the foundation of discernment and it boils down to knowing Jesus. If you have Jesus, the Son, you have life and light and will never walk in darkness. If you believe in Jesus and are filled with His Spirit, you will not be deceived. In fact, you will do right, live as Jesus lived, and obey His word. If you remain in Christ, you will keep His commands. And His commands are not burdensome; they are a delight. You will not approach the throne of God in fear, but in confidence. Your mutual relationship of love, founded and grounded in His love for you, will result in deeply loving mankind and the desire to lift up humanity.

My lifelong desire to pick right has changed to my lifelong desire to know Him. And my focus on knowing Him has been a spiritual game-changer for me. I can walk with Christ and follow the Lamb wherever He goes, in freedom, confidence and security. The beautiful God I have come to appreciate through our doctrines is now the beautiful God I have come to know personally.

—Lee Lee Dart is lead pastor of The Adventure Adventist Church in Greeley, Colorado

By Ted N.C. Wilson – Silver Spring, Maryland . . . In this time of pain and unrest across the United States, our hearts continue to go out in sympathy to all who have suffered, and especially to the families of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, whose lives ended tragically.

As Seventh-day Adventists, we stand together worldwide in condemning racism, bigotry, hatred, prejudice, and violence in all of its myriad forms. We know that God is a God of justice, who sees and knows all, and we look to Him to fulfill His Word when He says, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay” (Romans 12:19).

On behalf of the Seventh-day Adventist worldwide family, I have sent letters of condolence to the families of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, expressing our sorrow for the tragic loss of their loved ones and stating unequivocally that as Seventh-day Adventists we stand strongly on the biblical principles that go against hatred, rage, racism, bigotry, evil surmising, prejudice, and more, and offered the families support, hope, and encouragement through God’s Church. In addition, we are sending each family a small, tangible indication of sympathy and practical encouragement in the form of an edible fruit arrangement, facilitated through Oakwood University’s connection with Edible Arrangements.

I encourage you, too, as a Seventh-day Adventist, to reach out to these and other individuals within your local community, bringing, in a practical way, the peace, comfort, hope and courage that only Christ can provide as we follow His example in ministry outlined in Luke 4:18.  As Christians, we seek to practice, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit—“love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22,23). While the world is filled with wickedness and sorrow, let us take encouragement from God’s Word in helping us to find a better way. Jesus Christ is central, as He is the only One who can truly change a person’s heart in this sin-filled world.

God calls us to shine as lights in this dark, sin-sick world, pointing all to Jesus Christ, our Savior, and ministering in a tangible way to those who are in need physically, socially, emotionally, mentally, and most importantly, spiritually. “A large number of precious souls are groping in darkness, yet longing and weeping and praying for light.”[1]

Let us ask God to guide us as we reach out with healing hearts and hands, ministering to those who are needing hope and healing now.

And as we look to the future, let us never forget that one day very soon, Jesus Christ will come again and take all those who love Him to a much better place, where “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

—Ted N.C. Wilson, President General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists; Photo by Unsplash

[1] Ellen G. White, Counsels to Writers and Editors, p. 65.

This article was originally published on Adventist News Network June 1, 2020.