RMCNews – Denver, Colorado … The Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) Executive Committee met August 11 with a focus on the conference’s future and mission happening across all of its churches, schools, and ministries. From planning efforts to inspiring stories of lives being changed, the meeting offered a look at how God is already working across the conference.
President’s Report
Dave VandeVere, RMC president, led his report looking forward at the planning efforts for the 2027 RMC Constituency Meeting happening August 22 and conference-wide communication initiatives to better connect the vast geographical regions and ministries of the conference. He followed with pastoral personnel updates and reviewed his recent preaching and worship travels.
VandeVere also providing a historical review of the formation of the conference recalling the pioneer efforts of Mrs. Cora M. Thayer, later Jones, and her two daughters settling in the Georgetown area and being “lights in the darkness,” bringing Adventist representation to the region.
Vice President for Administration’s Report
This was the first Executive Committee meeting for Nathaniel Gamble as the new RMC vice president for Administration, in which he opened with an introduction himself. He noted that he is a Colorado native that graduated from Mile High Academy. While employed with RMC, he has pastored 10 churches and is still the acting director for Public Affairs and Religious Liberty (PARL) department along with completing his doctorate decertation on the Trinity. He is joined by his ministry partner and wife, Alex, and their toy poodle, Johnny.
Through his membership report, Gamble noted a total membership of 21,942 people in RMC as of August 9 including 16,493 documented members and 4,999 non-members. He remarked that he found a “slow drift” towards a decline in membership of 3.1% since 2020 through his evaluation. Gamble also gave emphasis to the designation of “non-member” as being a large group of engaged individuals with investment and inertia to discipleship.
The final portion of Gamble’s report was to provide insight to his priorities under this new role, including analyzing factors for membership losses and helping churches with strategies to connect with inactive and non-members. Gamble will also be filling vacancies on the various conference committees and subcommittees and working on integrating the outreach RMC ministries like Adventist Community Services (ACS), PARL, Wellness, and Stewardship into the larger RMC mission.
Mission Focus
The RMC Executive Committee meeting then transitioned into the newer standing segment of meeting focusing on mission highlights from around the conference.
The first to speak was Dany Hernandez, director of Mission Integration for AdventHealth Colorado, shared how the AdventHealth system seeks to offer patients and team members “glimpses of Jesus” through a Christ-centered approach to care. Using the story of a man who experienced numerous surgeries with unsuccessful outcomes before coming to AdventHealth Porter, Hernandez described how the patient immediately sensed that the hospital felt different and more like family. The goal, Hernandez explained, is to create an environment where people from all backgrounds can experience God’s love saying, “We want to make sure that when you leave, you’ve experienced Jesus.”
Brandon Westgate, RMC Youth director, spoke next starting with the particularly strong year of youth summer camp maxing out occupancy at the facilities at Mills Spring Ranch in Casper, Wyoming. “This year we had around 83 campers at camp. We were moving staff around to house the different campers because we were at capacity. We were literally searching for beds.”
Beyond the numbers, Westgate illustrated that the summer produced significant spiritual moments. During the final worship service at each summer camp session, parents were invited to participate and see firsthand what their children experienced throughout the week. One young camper decided to be baptized, and his father also made the decision to be baptized with him. Their pastor from their local church came to camp to baptize both father and son, creating what staff described as an especially meaningful moment and a powerful reminder of why summer camp ministry matters.
Andrew Carpenter, the new RMC associate Superintendent, spoke next with updates from the Education department highlighting how a school experience transformed more than just one student’s attitude toward education—it opened a door for an entire family to discover Jesus. After struggling with her previous school, one young girl enrolled in Mile High Academy in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, after a neighbor recommended it.
Her positive experience at the school also inspired her younger brother to enroll, and they would both worship together during chapel. The experience eventually led their family to ask questions about Bible studies, church, and faith. Carpenter shared, “Sometimes we reach the families through the kids who have an experience with Jesus.”
Financial Report
Darin Gottfried, RMC vice president for Finance, presented after the mission highlights. He was able to report a small increase in Tithe of 0.22%, or just under $20,000, through June of this year.
The August meeting closed with a clear reminder that RMC’s mission is ultimately about people’s relationship with Jesus. With ministry highlights from the hospital bed to a summer camp cabin to a classroom, each story showed the power of intentional ministry to open doors to faith. As conference leaders continue to address challenges and plan, there is a sense of purpose of creating more opportunities for people to experience the love of Jesus.
—RMCNews. Photo by Liz Kirkland.
