NewsNuggets Page 3

03 Apr

RMC HISPANIC CHURCHES UNITE AT MILE HIGH ACADEMY FOR “DAY OF BROTHERHOOD”

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Hugo Guillén – Highlands Ranch, Colorado … A special event took place that brought together several Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) Hispanic churches in the Denver metro area, March 29.

The Saturday event titled the “Day of Brotherhood” aimed to promote Adventist education among the local Hispanic community. The RMC Education Department supported the event with the presence of its directors and staff who were ready to share important information with members interested in enrolling their children in one of the RMC Adventist schools.

“We had the opportunity to hear a sermon from the president of Union Adventist University, Yami Bazán,” remarked Hugo Guillén, RMC Ministerial associate director and Multicultural Ministry coordinator. “In the morning, attendance was around 550 people, and, although the afternoon attendance was small compared to the morning’s, the spirit of worship, unity, and interest in our educational system remained strong.”

“The Multicultural Department of our Conference will continue seeking the best ways to collaborate with all other ministries and departments of the Rocky Mountain Conference. We know that challenges will continue to threaten God’s people, but we are confident that by staying united with God and with one another, we will have no reason to be discouraged,” he concluded.

—Hugo Guillén is the RMC Ministerial associate director and Multicultural Ministry coordinator. Photos and video supplied.

02 Apr

COMMENTARY: I INVITED A FRIEND TO CHURCH AND SHE SAID YES

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Lisa Cardinal – Parker, Colorado … Over a year ago, a couple moms in my neighborhood and I, along with our then fourth-grade girls, began a monthly Do Good Feel Good Group, where, in addition to good conversation as moms and daughters, we do good things for others.

As friendships grew, I became aware that these moms were unchurched, and I believed God put us in each other’s lives for more than just the Do Good Feel Good Group. I began praying for them and for the opportunity to invite them to Newday Adventist Church in Parker, Colorado.

What does an opportunity to invite look like? Would it be obvious? Would they ask me to come to my church? Knowing that Easter is one of the easiest times in the year to make an invitation to church, I wondered if perhaps Easter might be the opportunity. So, I decided when our next group meeting came around, I would invite them to Newday.

Here’s how it happened: we were sharing back and forth about our plans for spring break, when I asked about their plans for Easter. It was the usual Easter egg hunt, Easter baskets, and coloring eggs. “What about you?” they asked. “What are your plans for Easter?”

There it was. The opportunity. Because I had planned to invite, the opportunity was obvious. “Our Easter celebration involves going to church,” I shared, and I invited them to come to Newday with us. Their answer was a quick, “Yes.” It turned out they wanted to find a church to attend for Easter.

According to research from a variety of sources:

  • Sixty-three percent of Americans say a personal invitation from a friend or neighbor would be effective in getting them to visit a church
  • Eight out of 10 people will say “yes” to a personal invite to church
  • Seven out of 10 unchurched people have never been invited
  • Only two percent of church members invite an unchurched person to church

These are remarkable statistics! Think about it. Seventy percent of unchurched people have never been invited to church, and 80% of those people would say yes to a personal invitation! What if you knew the answer to an invitation to your church is likely to be yes when you invite your friend from work or the gym or your neighbor or a parent at your kids’ school?

Here’s what I believe: when you plan to invite, the opportunity will become obvious.

—Lisa Cardinal is lead pastor at Newday Adventist Church. Photo by Priscilla Du Preez of Unsplash.

02 Apr

CAMPION ACADEMY SKI CLUB EMBRACES END OF WINTER

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Jill Harlow – Loveland, Colorado … The ski and snowboard club at Campion Academy in Loveland, Colorado, hit the slopes at Copper Mountain Ski Resort in Frisco, Colorado, on their three-day trip, March 22-24. They were thrilled to experience both fresh powder and sunshine on Sunday and warm Spring conditions on Monday.

The Leadville Seventh-day Adventist Church in Leadville, Colorado, generously hosted the students in their basement and bunk room. After beating a snowstorm by driving up Friday evening, the students put on the church Sabbath service for the local members on Saturday. The Students with a Testimony (SWAT) trip is an annual ski club tradition, and the members enjoy fellowshipping with the students.

Another tradition of the trip is sledding after the church service. “Sledding is always one of the most enjoyable parts of ski trip for me, and that’s mostly because you get to see the ‘science’ skills of the students truly emerge as everyone puts their best efforts together to see exactly how far (and more importantly, how fast) the sledder can truly go,” explained Euan O’Keeffe, senior student.

This year, student Jack Jordan brought a collapsible shovel and created jumps for the tubes. After sending people sailing off the first one, they built a second jump further down the hill.

O’Keefe continued, “We truly sought to answer the question, ‘How many ramps is a reasonable number to go down?’ The answer was one. Of the three people who were able to get down to hit the second ramp, three crashed. Great memories!”

On the ski days, the students grouped up according to ability, and they all challenged each other to improve their skills and try harder runs.

Student Elin Sorensen, one of the expert skiers, shared, “On Monday, Jack, Zach, Addison, and I set a goal to ski as many runs as possible in the morning. It was fun because we were just going really fast, and we were able to touch many different runs on the mountain.”

New to Ski Club this year, Joshua Profir, a freshman student, commented, “The best part of ski club is getting to know people you’ve never really talked to before, then becoming friends with them, and then getting to ski with those friends.”

Overall, the days in the beautiful Colorado mountains offered a chance for the club members to improve their skiing and snowboarding skills while enjoying each other’s company.

—Jill Harlow is the Campion Academy communication director. Photos supplied.

02 Apr

DENVER SOUTH CHURCH TO RELEASE ORIGINAL PRODUCTION EASTER WEEKEND

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Ken Griffith and Brenda Jones – Denver, Colorado … There is the Biblical recounting of the story of Easter: Jesus’s crown of thorns; Pontius Pilate’s choice to ignore Jesus’ innocence; a brutal crucifixion as Jesus hung between two thieves begging Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34, KJV).  And the Roman soldiers, casting lots for his clothing as Jesus hung lifeless from the cross.

But how would today’s typical Jane or John Doe handle this earth-shattering event?

Denver South Seventh-day Adventist Church in Denver, Colorado, will present an original dramatic and musical presentation entitled “WHO IS HE,” April 19. Written by creative director Ken Griffith, member and audio coordinator for the church, the production will utilize the church’s own collection of actors and musicians.

Griffith hopes to take audience members on a journey that most of Christians say they want to experience but he poses the question of if they are ready for it.

“Finding unique ways to tell familiar stories is the aim of every script I write,” says Griffith. “We all know the hits: Christmas, Easter, Mary and the disciples; but is there another angle? How else could we approach this story?”

Specifically for this production, he says, “Is there a way to include humor in this serious story? That’s what I aim for: to maintain the seriousness of the message while keeping it light enough for all to enjoy.”

CLICK HERE for more information on attending the program.

—Ken Griffith and Brenda Jones write from Denver South Seventh-day Adventist Church. Graphic supplied.

31 Mar

STUDENTS ACTIVE IN OUTREACH AT CAMPION

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Addison Gann with Jill Harlow – Loveland, Colorado … Students at Campion Academy (CA) in Loveland, Colorado, go to their classes, spend time with their friends, and learn life skills while the school’s staff try to show God in everything they do. This year, the students have also been more active in taking on projects to share the love of Christ with the community around them.

CA Student Outreach director Addison Gann has been planning monthly outreach events to meet different interests of students and needs of the community. The very first month, students weeded around a local horse stable and, afterwards, took a tour of all the animals there.

Next, students could sign up to go to a local park and hand out free cookies, lemonade, and GLOW tracts. The simple activity, however, turned into a powerful moment of connection: “Nothing too major happened until we moved to the skatepark,” recalled Jasmine Smittick, senior at Campion.

“We weren’t originally going to go there but we decided to because we had some time and extra supplies. But when we got there, we met someone who told us how he was nondenominational but studying. He told us he heard about Seventh-day Adventism and started asking us questions. We ended up talking for about half an hour.  I just thought it was an amazing opportunity to talk to him and help plant a seed in someone’s heart!” she concluded.

In the Fall, students woke up early on a Sunday morning to rake leaves at a small local church, and they ended the morning with almost 30 bags of raked leaves.

To end the first semester, almost the entire student body at Campion wrote a letter of encouragement to a high schooler at another Adventist academy simply to uplift and encourage them for their finals.

For the outreach in January, the artistic students showed off their skills through rock painting. Once the rocks were given their finishing touches, they placed them around town to give someone a smile during their day.

In February, students made blankets for an organization called Project Linus.* Students went over to a faculty member’s house for a meal, and then they started the process of making 22 blankets. Students worked diligently for 3 hours, measuring, cutting, and tying to complete their blankets. Lillian Resz, junior student, shared, “Making blankets over this outreach really helped me connect and fellowship with people that I didn’t talk to all the time. It felt really personal to be able to make something that will be used and helpful to others. I know that it will make an impact!”

Students have been working on another letter-writing project in March to connect with peers at another Adventist academy.

The most exciting outreach activity, however, is yet to come! In May, Campion Academy hopes to be able to participate in its biggest outreach activity yet—a meal-packing event for those in need in our own community. They want to make 15,000 meals that will be distributed throughout Loveland and the surrounding areas.

The students are trying to raise $8,000 to cover the cost of all the meals and delivery. If you feel called to support this initiative, please consider donating. If you would like to donate, contact the Student Outreach director Addison Gann by emailing [email protected]

* Project Linus is not affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church nor the Rocky Mountain Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

—Addison Gann is the Campion Academy Student Outreach director with Jill Harlow, Campion Academy Communication director. Photo supplied.

26 Mar

PATHFINDERS’ DEDICATION TO BIBLE STUDY LEADS TO SUCCESS AT UNION PBE EVENT

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Brent Learned – Minnetonka, Minnesota … Three Pathfinder teams from the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) joined 20 other teams from the five conferences within the Mid-America Union Conference (MAUC) for the union-level Pathfinder Bible Experience (PBE), March 22.

The 23 teams converged at the Minnetonka Christian Academy in Minnesota to answer 90 Bible questions on the books of Romans and 1 Corinthians. Pathfinders from the RMC teams—Loveland Cougars, Aurora Las Aguilas, and Littleton Lights—studied their Bibles diligently for months in preparation for testing and had successfully progressed through area- and conference-level testing in February of this year to receive an invitation to participate at the union level.

Brent Learned, RMC Club Ministries director, commented, “PBE is a fun way for our kids and teens to engage in the scriptures; diving deep into the nitty gritty language of the text and often individually memorizing many chapters and collectively as a team of six, memorizing entire books of the Bible. I am proud of all three of our RMC teams for their commitment to Bible study and memorization.”

DJ Mundung, from the Littleton Lights Pathfinder club, remarked, “It has been a fun experience, fun to learn about God and the scriptures.” Genna Miranda, also a member of the Littleton Lights team, commented, “The Pathfinder Bible Experience has strengthened my relationship with God in the past three years. I feel like whenever I dive deep in God’s word, certain things in the text stand out and speak to me with what I am dealing with in the moment. It’s like God is speaking directly to me, and this brings me closer to Him.”

Ines Salazar, director of the Aurora Hispanic Las Aguilas Pathfinder club, said, “Our Journey began five months ago, and we thank God because, although the journey has not been easy, it has been with His (God’s) help and blessing.”

“Each of the Pathfinders on the team has given their best, investing long hours of dedication and commitment in their studies,” he continued. “They have testimonies of how the Word of God gives them tools to testify for the truth, for their Savior. We, the staff and parents, pray that their faith will be strengthened for we trust that the fruits will be seen in eternity! We will continue preparing for the last round, remembering to do our part and leaving the outcomes in God’s hand. We believe that faith honors God and God honors faith.”

Both Loveland Cougars and Aurora Las Aguilas Pathfinder teams earned first-place ranking at the event and have been invited to test one more time this year at the North American Division (NAD) PBE-level event in Battle Creek, Michigan, April 25-26. Littleton Lights Pathfinder club earned a very respectable second place standing, especially given that they just started their club last fall.

“As Pathfinder leaders,” Learned reflected, “we are excited about the number of churches within our conference who have recently started, or are in the process of starting, an Adventurer and Pathfinder club and participated in PBE events where the study and memorization of scripture is encouraged and made exciting for our young people.”

He continued, “In the RMC Youth Department, which includes Club Ministries, our mission is ‘Making it easy for kids to know God.’ PBE is an important tool to encourage kids and teens to spend time in the scriptures and grow strong in relationship with Jesus and with each other. I think Paul said it best in 1 Corinthians 9:22-23 (ESV): I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the Gospel.”

“I love it when our young people get into the word, and the word gets into them,” closed RMC Youth director Brandon Westgate.

—Brent Learned is the RMC Youth assistant director and Mills Spring Ranch manager. Photos by Venus Douglas and Yamiley Gonzalez.

26 Mar

CHRISTIAN RECORD SERVICES PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

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Christian Records News – Lincoln, Nebraska … After a tenure of more than nine years marked by creativity, collaboration, innovation, and dedication to mission, Christian Record Services (CRS) president Diane J. Thurber announced a late July 2025 retirement during the organization’s Board of Directors meeting on March 17.

Under Thurber’s leadership, CRS achieved significant milestones, including the following:

  • Implementing Board-directed restructuring and relocating to new headquarters in Lincoln, Nebraska.
  • Formalizing agreements with Church and industry-leading publishers to increase the availability of materials to be converted into accessible resources for people who are blind or have low vision.
  • Acquiring and integrating PhoneFaith, a telephone outreach for the blind and low-vision community, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Reimagining National Camps for Blind Children by offering collaborative partnerships with Adventist camps and retreat centers.
  • Guiding the organization’s 14-member team to provide consistent services to members in North America, utilizing new communication technologies and distribution processes.

Thurber’s guidance proved essential in stabilizing and driving the organization forward, creating opportunities for lasting impact on the blind and low-vision community.

“Our president gave the Board quite a shock in announcing her plans to retire early. The Board regrettably accepted her resignation after extending great appreciation and gratitude for her remarkable and exemplary leadership,” said G. Alexander Bryant, NAD president and CRS Board chairman. “Diane has taken this ministry from a point of almost closing to thriving today. Under God, we owe her a debt of gratitude.”

Upon receiving Thurber’s announcement, the organization’s Board of Directors voted to engage the services of Faith Search Partners to assist in locating a new president for the 126-year-old ministry. Additionally, it appointed Board members to serve on a search committee to bring a recommendation for its consideration in the coming months.

About Christian Record Services, Inc.

For more information about Christian Record Services, Inc., a 501(c)(3) ministry of the North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, providing free accessible services and programs to people living with blindness or low vision, visit www.christianrecord.org  or call 402.488.0981.

—Christian Record News. Republished with permission from Christian Record News & Events post, March 18.  Photo supplied.

26 Mar

FROM SOCCER FIELD TO THE SANCTUARY: JUAN VASQUEZ’S FAITHFUL RETURN

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Jose Briones – Greeley, Colorado … Juan Vasquez, a committed member of the Greeley Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist Church in Greeley, Colorado, shared his story of faith and transformation with the stewardship department recently.

Raised in an Adventist household, Juan’s early years were filled with church activities. He found himself drifting away for five years, however, choosing soccer over sermons. “I remember the church fondly,” Vasquez recalls, “the singing and potlucks, but I wanted something different.”

His path back to the church was gently guided by his wife, whose encouragement was pivotal. “She always believed in the importance of faith,” Vasquez admits. “Even when I stayed outside during service, she never gave up on me.” Over time, this encouragement turned into a profound spiritual pull that brought him back.

Juan describes this transformation as nothing short of an awakening. “There was a moment, a deep realization, where I felt a real connection with Christ. It changed everything,” he says. No longer did he attend out of obligation; his renewed faith became a driving force in his life: “I’m not here because I have to be, I’m here because I want to be.”

His dedication is particularly evident in his involvement with youth and family ministries. “Supporting young people and families feels like my calling,” Vasquez shares. His passion for these ministries stems from his personal journey and the belief in the importance of personal encounters with Christ.

In reflecting on his journey, Juan encourages others who may be on their own paths of faith, whether they find themselves currently inside or outside the church. “Everyone’s journey is unique,” he acknowledges, “but what remains constant is the power of a personal relationship with Christ. It’s not about where you are physically, but where you are spiritually.”

His story is not just one of return and redemption, it’s an ongoing testament to the continuous growth that faith can inspire. As he continues to serve passionately, Vasquez remains committed to fostering a welcoming and vibrant community within the church. “We all have a place here,” he concludes, “and my hope is for others to experience the same transformative love and purpose that I’ve found.” Watch Juan’s story below.

—Jose Briones is lead pastor at the Fairplay Seventh-day Adventist Church and is the RMC Stewardship Promotion and Content creator. Photo capture from RMC’s “Always Faithful” video series.

26 Mar

FEJA RMC CELEBRACIONES DEL DÍA MUNDIAL DE LA JUVENTUD EN TODO COLORADO

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Daniel González – Denver, Colorado … Este pasado Sábado 15 de Marzo, muchas iglesias Hispanas de la Rocky Mountain Conference, bajo la dirección y orientación de la Federación de Jóvenes Adventistas (FEJA), se reunieron tanto en la Zona Metro como en la Zona Montaña para celebrar y ser parte de este movimiento global que moviliza a TODOS los jóvenes y a la iglesia en general.

La IASD Hispana de Denver Sur fue la sede de las actividades en el área metropolitana, donde tuvimos un santuario lleno. De manera similar, la IASD Maranatha en Montrose fue la sede de las actividades en la Zona Montaña.

En total, participaron 10 iglesias que ayudaron a organizar los eventos en ambas áreas de Colorado, con más de 200 personas involucradas, incluyendo adultos y niños, en este día tan especial.

El enfoque de este año fue “Comunidades Transformadas”, enfatizando la importancia de ser una influencia positiva en nuestras comunidades.

Previo a este día, varias iglesias llevaron a cabo una Semana de Oración Juvenil en la que aprendieron sobre la importancia del evangelismo en territorios y situaciones difíciles en el mundo. Una de las lecciones más importantes reafirmadas el Sábado fue que no debemos dejarnos moldear por este mundo, sino ser transformados a través de Jesucristo.

Durante el Sábado, Clemente Martínez Jr. y Abimael Chávez compartieron un mensaje de fe y un llamado de acción en los sermones de la Zona Metro y Montaña, respectivamente. Luego, disfrutamos de una deliciosa comida y un tiempo de confraternización.

Por la tarde, varios grupos de jóvenes se dirigieron a diferentes partes de las ciudades anfitrionas para repartir alimentos, bolsas con kits de higiene personal, Biblias y literatura diversa. Además, ofrecieron oraciones, abrazos y mensajes de esperanza y compasión a quienes necesitaban algo especial en ese día.

Hay algo hermoso en ver a los jóvenes sirviendo a su comunidad, incluso en maneras que pueden parecer simples a nuestros ojos, pero que para quienes lo reciben, marcan una gran diferencia.

Tras finalizar esta actividad de impacto comunitario, cerramos la noche con deportes y comida en los gimnasios de Mile High Academy y la IASD Maranatha.

Esta es la primera vez que la juventud hispana de nuestra conferencia se reúne de esta manera y en una cantidad tan grande de personas, y esperamos que no sea la última vez que lo hagamos.

Síguenos en nuestras redes sociales.  INSTAGRAM: @fejarmc  |  FACEBOOK: @fejarmcunido

—Daniel González es el presidente de FEJA de RMC. Fotos proporcionadas.

26 Mar

FEJA RMC CELEBRATES GLOBAL YOUTH DAY ACROSS COLORADO

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Daniel Gonzalez – Denver, Colorado … Hispanic churches from around the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC), under the leadership and guidance from the Hispanic Adventist Youth Federation (FEJA), gathered in both the Conference’s metro and mountain areas to celebrate and be a part of this global movement that mobilizes all the youth and the church in general, March 15.

The Denver South Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist Church hosted the activities in the Denver metro area with great attendance. Similarly, the Maranatha Montrose Seventh-day Adventist Church in Montrose, Colorado, hosted activities in the regional mountain areas.

A total of 10 churches participated in and helped organize the events in both areas of Colorado, with more than 200 people, including adults and children, involved in this special day.

This year’s focus was “A Community Transformed,” emphasizing the importance of being a positive influence in the communities.

Prior to this day, several churches had a Youth Week of Prayer in which they learned the importance of evangelism in difficult territories and situations in the world. “One important thing that was learned and reaffirmed on Sabbath was that we should not let ourselves be influenced by this world and instead be transformed through Jesus Christ,” remarked Daniel Gonzalez, FEJA president.

During a Sabbath service, Clemente Martinez Jr. and Abimael Chavez delivered a message of faith and a call to action during the sermon in the respective areas. “We enjoyed a delicious meal and had a nice time of fellowship,” Gonzalez continued. During the evening, various youth groups split up into different parts of the host cities to give away food, bags with personal hygiene kits, Bibles and various literature, as well as offer prayer, hugs, and some form of compassion and positive messages to people in the community needing something special that day.

When the outreach activities had concluded, attendees ended the night with sports and a fellowship meal in the gyms at Mile High Academy in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, and the Maranatha Montrose Church gyms.

Gonzalez reflected, “There is something beautiful when you see young people serving their community in even the simplest ways to our eyes, but to the people receiving it, it always makes a huge difference. This is the first time that the Hispanic youth of our conference gather in such a way and in such an amount of people, and we hope that this will not be the last time we do this.”

For updates and to see what is going on in the RMC FEJA Community, follow them on social media with these links. INSTAGRAM: @fejarmc  |  FACEBOOK: @fejarmcunido

—Daniel Gonzalez is RMC FEJA president. Photos supplied.

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