NN June 2025 – Rocky Mountain Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

05 Jun

A WEEKEND OF FIRSTS FOR THE 2025 RMC PATHFINDER FAIR IN WYOMING

Brent Learned – Casper, Wyoming … Rocky Mountain Conference’s (RMC) annual Pathfinder Fair was held at Mills Spring Ranch (MSR) in Casper, Wyoming, for the first time ever. The day-long event was also extended to an entire weekend for the first time, May 30-June1.

Over 200 Pathfinders, staff, and supporting family members arrived at MSR to experience spiritual revival, outdoor recreation, and display what they have learned over the past year in their local clubs.

After the clubs arrived and set up camp on Friday, they gathered at the fire bowl for a worship service led by the Cornett family and Eric Mechalke from the Casper Seventh-day Adventist Church’s worship team. This was followed by an interactive worship message delivered by Edrey Santos, lead pastor of the northeast Wyoming church district, that involved Pathfinder volunteers taking turns holding up a rock. Everyone was delighted not to be under any fire restrictions at the time of the event and freely lit campfires in designated fire pits around camp.

Saturday morning started with flag raising by Aurora Las Aguilas Pathfinder Club followed by a parade of clubs from the center of camp up to the chapel where the Sabbath church service was held. After service, everyone headed to the cafeteria to eat a haystack meal together before dividing into four rotation group activities.

The day closed with the flag lowering and a worship service at the campfire bowl where RMC Club Ministries director Brent Learned talked about learning to walk in the freedom we were given at Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection two thousand years ago. The night ended after sundown with an exciting pine car derby race for all the pathfinders who had earned the pine car derby honor this past year and brought their cars.

Jamie Mira, member of the Denver South Hispanic’s Lion of Judah Pathfinder Club, commented, “It might’ve been a bit of a drive, but it was definitely a memorable weekend. I heard a lot of positive feedback!”

Bryan Lopez, Aurora Hispanic’s Las Aguilas Pathfinder Club member, said, “My experience of the fair was really fun! I feel like it brought me closer to God hanging around with everyone. It was fun doing the activities, and I think that everyone should join Pathfinders and experience these events. I definitely would recommend it for everyone.”

After flag raising on Sunday, clubs demonstrated their drilling and marching abilities through a friendly competition with one another to execute coordinated maneuvers. The event closed with the special Pathfinder Hall of Fame plaque being presented to Yolanda Rodriguez, a long-time supporter of the Pathfinder Club Ministries, before clubs packed up their respective campsites and headed home.

Ashlee Gonzalez, who assists in leading the Colorado Springs Hispanic Pleyades Pathfinder Club, remarked, “We had a lot of fun with the club. Even though we only brought three kids along, they enjoyed it a lot and got to really see what being a Pathfinder is all about. Maybe next year we can get more kids and more clubs involved!”

“Honestly, what a great camp and fair this was,” commented Asa Acevedo-Baez, member of the Pecos Hispanic Rocky Mountain Stallions Pathfinder Club. “I hadn’t experienced this in a while, and this weekend I got to relive it. I’m a teen rep, but I’m just another Pathfinder who got to bond, participate, and learn more about God with my friends. All thanks to God who allows us to carry on the mission through Pathfinders.”

Learned remarked, “I am really pleased with our Pathfinder coordinators Jodi Gage and David Hopkins who thought outside the box to extend the normal one-day fair into a weekend-long event and who decided to host it at MSR, which has never been done before. I am proud to be part of such a fantastic team of dedicated people who work together tirelessly to further our mission of ‘making it easy for kids to know God’ by organizing and hosting events like this and, most importantly, by continually mentoring and pouring into their local Pathfinders.”

—Brent Learned is the RMC Youth assistant director and Mills Spring Ranch manager. Photos by Daniel Sem.

02 Jun

UNION ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY RECEIVES GRANT FOR CULINARY MEDICINE TEACHING KITCHEN

Scott Cushman – Lincoln, Nebraska … The Ardmore Institute of Health* has awarded Union Adventist University’s (UAU) Master of Public Health Program a grant to establish a culinary medicine teaching kitchen (CMTK). The $35,000 will purchase six commercial-grade mobile workstations, each including the culinary tools and appliances to support two students at a time, enabling the university to host classes of up to 12 students in the teaching kitchen. Any remaining funds will support a student garden that was established by the university’s first public health cohort last year.

“With the CMTK, we can translate abstract nutritional guidelines into practical, appealing meals,” said Eric Aakko, director of Union’s Master of Public Health Program. “In public health, we promote healthy eating patterns to prevent chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease and ensure adequate nutrient intake across populations. Knowing how to cook healthy food that tastes good is essential for dietary adherence.”

Aakko is a certified plant-based chef educator and will guide students through an evidence-based culinary medicine curriculum established by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. The curriculum is entirely plant-based and teaches basic culinary and knife skills, including preparing a range of entrees, sides, and desserts. The first classes in the teaching kitchen will meet once per week for nine weeks starting in September.

The source of this grant, the Ardmore Institute of Health, was founded in 1947 and is committed to improving health and well-being through lifestyle change. The institute draws inspiration from Adventist principles of healthy living and the sanitarium movement in its work.

Cooking classes are far from a new frontier for Adventists. Aakko points out that lifestyle medicine mirrors many Adventist beliefs while providing a modern clinical and scientific framework for health improvement. “Both lifestyle medicine and the Adventist health message view health holistically, recognizing the interconnection between the physical, social, mental, and spiritual,” he said. “The Adventist health message goes beyond just health improvement to also seeing healthy living as a form of stewardship and worship.”

Learning culinary skills will help students address food insecurity and life in food deserts, issues Aakko has had to confront in communities throughout his work in public health. “The CMTK experience can empower individuals and communities to make the most of often limited resources,” he said. “This can involve teaching cooking techniques for inexpensive staples like beans, legumes, and whole grains, preserving food, minimizing food waste, and adapting recipes to utilize foods available through assistance programs like WIC or SNAP as well as community gardens and food banks.”

Additionally, the classes will provide public health students with an applied research laboratory. Aakko anticipates future research examining behavioral change and behavioral intention before and after participation in the culinary medicine program.

According to Aakko, research elsewhere has demonstrated that students who engage in a CMTK are more likely to adopt and maintain a healthier lifestyle while engaging with and promoting a healthier lifestyle to their patients and community. With so many of Union’s students heading into careers related to health care, a teaching kitchen on campus will empower them to become better health educators and advocates.

* Please note that the Ardmore Institute of Health is not affiliated with the Rocky Mountain Conference of Seventh-day Adventists or the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

—Scott Cushman is the director of Public Relations for Union Adventist University. Republished with permission from the Union Adventist University News website, May 14, 2025, article. Photo supplied.

02 Jun

CAMPION CELEBRATES THE CLASS OF 2025

Campion Academy News – Loveland, Colorado … Campion Academy in Loveland, Colorado, joyfully celebrated the achievements of the Class of 2025 during its graduation weekend, May 23–25. With 50 graduates, this year’s class is the largest Campion has seen in over a decade and is distinguished by its rich diversity and talents in both the performing arts and athletics.

The celebration began Friday evening with a heartfelt parent tribute where students expressed their gratitude in multiple languages including English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Indonesian, and Swahili, reflecting the cultural richness of the graduating class. The Class of 2025 included eight international students from Brazil and China, as well as students from six different U.S. states, many from recent immigrant families.

Commencement on May 25 featured inspiring messages from class president Toby Quillin and guest speaker Taurus Montgomery, the pastor who had led the Week of Worship in March of 2025. Montgomery encouraged graduates to live as “Champions,” explaining, “You spent your high school years here at Campion, but as you walk into life, God is calling you to live as a Champion—and the only difference between the two is the letter ‘H.’” He went on to define “H” as heart, humility, hope, habits, heroes, heaven, and the Holy Spirit.

During the ceremony, several students were honored for their academic excellence, leadership, and commitment to community service.

Approximately 90% of graduates have been accepted to college and plan to continue their education this fall. Union Adventist University (UAU) awarded $1.832 million in scholarships to Campion graduates. Many students will attend UAU or other Seventh-day Adventist universities across the country, while others have chosen local and state institutions.

Throughout the weekend, students showcased their musical talents in various performances, culminating in a commencement performance by Campion’s select choir, Koinonia.

Campion Academy is proud of the Class of 2025 and looks forward to seeing how they continue to grow and serve in their next chapter.

—Campion Academy News. Photos supplied.

02 Jun

EXPLORING THE HEART OF MONEY AND GENEROSITY

Jose Briones – Denver, Colorado … Our relationship with money often feels like a deeply personal matter, one shaped by experience, opportunity, and sometimes struggle. But according to certified financial planner Tammy Smith, the way we think about wealth is often rooted in early childhood, sometimes as early as six years old. These ingrained beliefs, often called money scripts, can influence financial decisions for a lifetime.

In our recent conversation with her in the Living Generously podcast, Smith shared insights on how biblical principles offer guidance for financial stewardship, challenging the idea that wealth defines self-worth and, instead, presenting money as a tool for generosity and purpose.

“Money is never inherently good or bad,” Smith explains. “It’s just a tool. The problem comes when people try to use it for things it was never meant to do—like buying self-worth or fixing relationships.”

According to Smith, money scripts can shape the way we manage finances in adulthood. Some people grow up believing that wealth equals greed, while others may associate spending with love, leading to unhealthy financial habits. These subconscious attitudes can impact saving, giving, and overall financial stability. Smith stresses the importance of reflecting on these learned behaviors and asking questions: “What did I learn about money from my parents? How do I feel about financial security today?”

Drawing from over 2,300 biblical verses on money, Smith discusses examples of generosity and financial wisdom found in scripture, from Abraham’s humility to Job’s deep commitment to helping others. “Job didn’t measure his worth by how much he had,” Smith notes. “He valued himself by how much he could help others.”

For individuals and churches alike, breaking free from limiting money scripts starts with awareness. Recognizing unhealthy beliefs and replacing them with values rooted in wisdom and generosity allows for a healthier, purpose-driven approach to wealth. As Smith puts it, “It’s not about how much you have. It’s about how well you use it.”

Listen to the full episode and gather more insights about how to use money for God’s purposes.

CLICK HERE to listen to the full episode, and CLICK HERE to see the full list of previous and future series episodes. To listen to the full podcasts on YouTube, CLICK HERE.

—Jose Briones is the RMC Stewardship Promotion and Content creator. Photo by Towfiqu Barbhuiya of Pexels.