NN Mar 2020 Page 5

Parker, Colorado … Newday Adventist Church in Parker said goodbye on February 29 to Pastor David Kennedy, who helped found the congregation in 2000 and has been its lead pastor. The sanctuary was packed for his last day, with overflow seating set up to accommodate the crowd gathered to say farewell to Pastor Dave and his wife Kim. The couple is moving to Kansas City, where Dave has accepted a leadership position at AdventHealth.

Three individuals were baptized during his final worship service–Eden Jaklich, a 6th grader at Mile High Academy; Roberto Amaya, a college student who started attending Newday at the invitation of his girlfriend; and Aura Stannard, a medical professional who started attending Newday last summer after being invited by a co-worker.

Pastor Dave’s final sermon wrapped up a series entitled “Transitions,” intended to help the congregation prepare for the transitional period ahead in which they will be searching for a new lead pastor. The final message focused on Acts 20, the story of Paul’s farewell to the leaders of the church in Ephesus. The sermon urged the congregation to remain faithful to the gospel, and Pastor Dave ended the message by following Paul’s example and kneeling to pray for his congregation.

After the service, the congregation celebrated with a fellowship lunch, followed by an emotional afternoon farewell program. Several Newday members gave brief speeches in which they shared memories of friendship with the Kennedys, expressed gratitude for the Kennedys’ service, and (in several cases) shed tears over the departure of a beloved friend and pastor.

“We have had the honor and blessing of loving God and serving our world with the most amazing community of people for 20 years. Stepping away from this group of people is one of the hardest decisions of my life, and it’s difficult to imagine serving in another city. People ask if we’ll miss the mountains, or the weather, or the Broncos.  Living in Denver is great, but we’ll really only miss the people of Newday who have loved us and served along side us so faithfully for so long,” Dave Kennedy commented for the NewsNuggets.

The service ended with Newday’s congregation joining together in unison to affirm Pastor Dave and Kim with the traditional farewell the congregation gives to departing members who have deeply impacted the Newday community: “We commend your service.”

—Jamie Santa Cruz, text; photos by Agape Hammond

Loveland, Colorado … For twelve volunteers, the eight-day adventure to Kings Children’s Home (KCH), an orphanage, near Belmopan, Belize began in the early morning hours of February 2. Eleven of the group came from Campion Church, and other nearby churches and began their journey at the Denver airport while Linda, our 12th volunteer and cook, joined the group during the layover in Houston.

“As our team spent time working and sharing together, we gained great blessings, making many memories and experiencing answered prayers,” said Bill Hay, coordinator of the mission trip, who shared his list of answered prayers, “starting with how the group came together in just the last six weeks before departure; how some passports were received in short order; how boarding passes were obtained even when the airline was missing several names; how Myrna was able to go even after becoming sick a couple days before departure; how the right radiator hose was found for the van used to get around.”

Favorite memories include our morning and evening group worship time, recounting individual answers to prayer, favorite Bible verses, special times with each unique child at the orphanage, the challenges of the electrical circuits, the almost nightly trips to town for ice cream, Sabbath school and church worship with kids and staff, a water taxi ride to Caye Caulker island, seeing the colorful variety of fish while snorkeling, a Sabbath afternoon visit to Xunantunich Mayan Ruins and Sabbath evening dinner at Western Dairy in Spanish Lookout, Belize.

Team members included Bill and Sherry Hay, Linda Reece, Lindsey and Myrna Greene, Patricia Velasquez-Torrez, Vicki and Daphne Kahler, Walt and Pam Sparks, Jerry and Marlene Ellquist, and Bob Aitkin, our van driver to and from the Denver airport.

A common theme in group conversations was the belief that one week was just not long enough. Many expressed the desire to go back,” Bill added. For more information about KCH go to Kings Children’s Home Belize.

—Bill Hay, text and photos

Erie, Colorado … First and second grade students held their annual fundraiser dinner and play at Vista Ridge Academy, February 27. More than 100 tickets were sold for the event, where attendees enjoyed a lasagna dinner provided by Blue Mountain Kitchen. Following the dinner, first and second grade students performed “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” Students first began learning their lines and music two months before the performance.

While the school is also known for its emphasis on instrumental music and other arts-based endeavors at the elementary school level, it also offers well-designed opportunities for young kids to act and sing, as well as learn about production, sound, staging, and costume and set design. These productions provide a wonderful opportunity for parents, friends, and extended family to connect with each other and see how the children are growing socially and academically through performance.

Vista Ridge Academy aims for students to strengthen each area of development during their time in elementary school. Giving students a voice through drama and music allows them to develop public-speaking skills, memorization, and self-confidence.

Every year, first and second grade students create a special item to be auctioned at each production to raise money to fund costumes, set pieces, and other production expenses. This year, with the help of Color Me Mine in Westminster, students painted mugs and plates with the Charlie Brown theme which brought in more than $350 at auction.

The school’s annual Spring Concert and Art Exhibit will be held Thursday, May 14 at 7:00 p.m. for all grades, PK-8.

—Marsha Bartulec, text; photos by Greg Floyd, group photo by Tomas Bartulec, auction photo by Marsha Bartulec

Leadville, Colorado … While students on campus of Campion Academy were wishing the snow was gone, the 28 students that were on Campion’s ski trip enjoyed it as much as possible. The outdoor club students spent three days, February 28-March 1, skiing and snowboarding at Copper Mountain Resort. Kylie Wehling, a sophomore commented, “Ski trip is about being freezing-cold, sore, and tired, but it’s also about having the time of your life with your friends in the most beautiful place in the world.”

Most were thankful just to be able to practice this iconic Colorado sport with their friends. Cade Lukens, a senior, expressed that “being able to snowboard with my closest friends hasn’t just made me a better rider, but has also helped me grow close to those I wasn’t close to before.”

For three full days, the students skied their way across three different mountains and over twelve thousand feet of elevation. Some students preferred to ride the terrain park jumps, and others preferred to cruise across the natural high-alpine terrain.

But there was more to experience on the trip to the mountains. On Saturday the students led the church service for the Leadville Seventh-day Adventist Church. The worship included praise and prayer, with four students sharing personal testimonies of times when God touched their lives. After a fellowship lunch, the group went tubing at the local sledding hill. “Sledding is always fun,” said Trent Kiefer, a senior, “especially when you try to fit as many people as possible onto one tube.”

—Jill Harlow, text and photo