NN Mar 2025 Page 3

Karrie Meyers – Highlands Ranch, Colorado … Mile High Academy (MHA) in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, recently wrapped up its inspiring FOCUS Week culminating with a vibrant Culture Celebration and Parade, February 24-28. FOCUS Week, which stands for “Focus On Christ’s Ultimate Sacrifice,” is a biannual tradition at MHA, designed to deepen students’ faith through daily chapel services and engaging messages about Christ’s love and sacrifice.

This year, MHA was honored to welcome Miguel Tello as the guest speaker. Tello is an experienced educator, mentor, and certified mental health coach with over 20 years of experience. His journey includes serving as a missionary in Bolivia for 11.5 years where he directed a children’s home and cofounded another children’s home and boarding academy in the jungle.

Today, he and his wife, Tara, run PM Orchards, a ministry dedicated to helping young adults transition into adulthood, strengthen academic skills, secure college scholarships, and break cycles of trauma.

With a heart for education and mental health, Tello delivered daily chapel messages for each of MHA’s school levels, sharing powerful personal stories of God’s faithfulness and practical ways to “Abide in Christ.” His messages deeply resonated with students, including MHA junior student Logen, who shared, “This was one of my favorite FOCUS Weeks. I really appreciated how Mr. Tello shared the struggles he faced, yet he always reflected on how much God continued to bring positives into his life.”

The week concluded with MHA’s Culture Celebration and Parade, where students proudly represented their cultural heritage through traditional attire and colorful flags. The gym was alive with energy as classrooms marched in, displaying the diverse backgrounds that make up the MHA community.

A special missionary spotlight was shared by Gabi DuBose, wife of MHA fifth-grade teacher Jason DuBose, who talked about her experiences as a student missionary in Palau, followed by an inspiring message from Tello about how Christ answers prayers—even in the most unexpected ways.

To top off the morning, students and guests enjoyed a selection of bite-sized foods from around the world. Cindy Roldan, MHA’s director of Student Services, who coordinated the event, reflected on its impact, saying, “It was so much fun seeing our students proudly representing their heritage. Though we come from different backgrounds, this celebration reminded us that we are all One in Christ.”

MHA hopes to expand the Cultural Celebration and Parade into a larger community-wide event, inviting even more families and friends to take part in this meaningful tradition. Roldan concluded, “As MHA looks to the future, traditions like FOCUS Week and the Cultural Celebration will allow MHA to continue to foster a learning environment where faith, heritage, and community come together, shaping and inspiriting the next generation.”

—Karrie Meyers is the marketing and development coordinator at Mile High Academy. Photos supplied.

Jose Briones – Denver, Colorado … In the latest episode of the Living Generously podcast series, Roger Hernandez, Southern Union Conference Ministerial and Evangelism director, dives into the heart of evangelism, offering practical and inspiring insights for Seventh-day Adventists in North America. Grounded in the North American Division Pentecost 2025 initiative, the discussion emphasizes evangelism as an essential, everyday practice for meeting the needs of communities and staying relevant.

Hernandez paints a vivid picture of evangelism, describing it as “one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.” He encourages churches to weave evangelism into every aspect of their activities—beyond isolated events—whether it’s through youth programs like Pathfinders or ministries for men and women. Using relatable metaphors, such as the process of courting, he simplifies evangelism as building relationships that naturally lead to declarations of faith.

Challenging misconceptions, Hernandez advises churches to focus on positivity and celebrate small wins rather than dwelling on participation gaps. He highlights the diversity of evangelistic methods, urging individuals to embrace their unique talents—whether it’s teaching Bible studies or something as personal as baking a cake—to contribute to a shared mission.

The podcast also spotlights personal connections, stressing the power of visitation and the need to rebuild trust within church communities. Hernandez emphasizes collaboration among church leaders and proposes tools like a sermon calendar to ensure consistent teaching across multiple congregations.

Prophecy is another key theme, described as a source of assurance in an uncertain world. Hernandez calls for courage, curiosity, compassion, and Christ-centeredness in evangelistic efforts, encouraging listeners to embrace risks and engage in a lifestyle of sharing their faith.

Ultimately, the episode serves as a motivational call, challenging Christians to embed evangelism into their daily lives and reflect its principles in every interaction.

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 Alicia Steels of Unsplash.