Denver, Colorado … “As COVID-19 sends the globe into crisis, it also sends us to our knees.” This sentence jumped at me from a page of an article in Christianity Today. An acknowledgement of our current predicament, it matches a call for all Seventh-day Adventists in Rocky Mountain Conference.

Last week, leaders of RMC called for our members to pause on Sabbath, April 4, to fast and pray, wherever we are. The NewsNuggets shared the call by saying: “[the] RMC team is designating April 4 as a day of fasting and prayer throughout the conference. All members are encouraged to consecrate themselves to pray for our conference, churches and communities. … Church leaders are encouraging all members during this critical time of COVID-19 pandemic to ‘take additional time for Bible study and prayer.’”

Ed Barnett, RMC president, commented, “It is my prayer that God will continue to bless you as we move through this trying time! Please use this time to spend more time in God’s Word”

Today, March 23, the officers of Rocky Mountain Conference issued a letter (read letter here) to all church members, which will be sent by regular mail. Relating to the Day of Fasting and Prayer, the leaders wrote, “If you have any extra time under our unique circumstances, please spend quality time in God’s word. It always gives hope and encouragement. We are having a special Sabbath on April 4. We have set this day aside as a Day of Fasting and Prayer for the Church in the Rocky Mountain Conference. I believe this can be a day to draw closer to Jesus and a day to bring our Conference and each member into prayer.”

Being a people of hope, may we always remember to recognize the presence of our Lord in our lives. As the psalmist wrote, “I lift up my eyes to the hills – from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.” (NRSV)

Rajmund Dabrowski