NewsNuggets Page 52

RMCNews – Highlands Ranch, Colorado … Mile High Academy students, teachers, staff, and community celebrated the accomplishments of the Class of 2022 with a week filled with special events. Being the first normal graduation in two years, the excitement quickly mounted as students helped set up chairs, gave high-fives during the annual senior walk, and shared contagious smiles as the school year drew to a close.

The first graduation ceremony of the week started with the Kindergartners on May 17. Marching down the aisle among their smiling families and friends, the class of 20 graduates proudly stood before their families gathered in the gym.

“We are so glad you came to celebrate with us,” said Aria, a kindergartener.

The class hosted the entire ceremony, including singing “I am a Promise” and “Jesus Loves Me” and offering family tributes of thanks and love to their parents. Tassels were moved, Andrew Carpenter, MHA principal, gave handshakes, and the students ended the program with an enthusiastic recitation of the poem “I Did It.” They marched down the aisle to applause, cheers, and blowing bubbles.

The following evening was eighth-grade night. With 27 graduates, the largest graduating class of the year couldn’t stop smiling during the entire program. Walter Weber, MHA middle school teacher, challenged each to “Go to high school. Be strong. Be brave. And be aggressive,” in his commencement address.

Logen, class president, in his goodbye to the middle school teachers, said they “all have a special place in our hearts.” He closed his speech, which included humorous roasts of the teachers, with thanks to his class, and by exclaiming “Go Mustangs!”

The final graduation events of the week were focused on the senior Class of 2022. Following MHA’s tradition, there were four ceremonies for the seniors: Blessing, Consecration, Baccalaureate, and Commencement.

The Blessing, hosted at LifeSource Adventist Fellowship, was a private, family event with tributes, where graduates received their cords, sashes, and scholarships among family and friends.

Consecration, hosted at Littleton Adventist Church, included a special, heartwarming baptism of senior Wilson.

“Graduation is such a special, exciting time as the class moves forward in their academic journey,” said Diane Harris, RMC director of education and Wilson’s mother. “We are so proud of each individual in this senior class.”

Paul Negrete, RMC associate director of education, challenged the students to “Give your life to Christ every day. Consecrate your ways to Him. Live a life of meaning for time and eternity.” The Seniors proceeded to offer tributes to their beloved high school teachers, and each Senior was presented with a Bible signed by MHA staff and teachers.

Baccalaureate was scheduled to be held at Denver South Adventist Church; however, the ceremony was moved to the MHA gym due to the snow, downed trees and power lines. The circumstances and change of venue didn’t deter the class from enjoying a sermon by David Asscherick, Light Bearers & ARISE co-founder and instructor, and music performed by Leandro Bizama, former MHA music teacher and current associate pastor at Campion Adventist Church.

That night was the eagerly anticipated Commencement, the last time the eight members of the class of 2022 entered as MHA students. Walter Weber challenged the students to “put your faith and your dreams in Him.”

Union College handed out more than $150,000 in scholarships, with a total of more than $700,000 from all Adventist universities awarded to the seniors.

The seniors were formally welcomed as MHA Alumni, and a burning torch was passed to the new senior class of 2023.

Carpenter reflected on the academic year that had just came to a close by saying, “This has been a tremendous year. I couldn’t be prouder of all the students as they made my first year at MHA memorable and special. We’re excited for the things to come for the next school year, and we are grateful for each family in our community. Have a great summer, and congratulations to all the graduates in the class of 2022!”

–RMCNews; photos supplied

Matthew Moreland is the associate director of planned giving and trust services for the Rocky Mountain Conference. NewsNuggets invited him to share the value of the services offered to not only church members but the services they provide to the local church as well. In part 1, we will look at the services the department provides to local churches and the lesser-known services that are also available. Next week, in part 2, we will examine the estate planning options available free of charge to RMC members and how to take advantage of this free service.

NewsNuggets: Thank you, Matthew, for sitting down with us. When we hear the name “planned giving and trust services”, many people think of the will and estate planning services offered. What are some of the other items the department handles?

Matthew Moreland: We are responsible for all the properties within our conference. Some of our work is similar to serving as a property manager. If a church or school is buying or selling a property, we handle that.

We also handle the lease agreements when the church or school is being rented out to another entity or when one of our groups lease a facility.

NN: If a local church wants to rent out their facility, they should work through your department. Why?

Matthew Moreland: We have certain insurance and tax exemption protocols that need to be followed to ensure our schools and churches don’t lose their tax exemption status. We have to confirm that everything is in place and has had a legal review before renting out to anyone.

NN: Is it important that every church follows the procedures and steps before renting out their facility?

Matthew Moreland: Yes, this process protects all parties involved and makes sure we track usage for the required annual reports. Failure to follow procedures could result in legal exposure, loss of insurance coverage, or increased costs.

NN: You mentioned that the department handles all the church and school properties. Are there other properties you manage?

Matthew Moreland: Our main job is to facilitate wills and trust, but we occasionally receive a donated property. Under the direction of the Property & Trust committee, we view the property received and then list it for sale.  We sometimes receive mineral rights on a particular piece of property and handle those in a similar manner.

NN: What other services do you offer to the local churches?

Matthew Moreland:  We offer estate planning seminars. These have been on hold the last couple of years, but we will schedule more in the future. The goal is to help families understand how to plan for their own security and to carry our their charitable intent efficiently, whether they work through our department or otherwise.

This summer [2022], our team members plan to attend all of the RMC camp meetings, so we will have the opportunity to meet individuals and answer questions. We always have someone there from our department.

NN: Your work sounds like a lot of business transactions. I understand that planned giving and trust services considers the work you do is a ministry. Can you explain how you share the love of Jesus?

Matthew Moreland: During COVID, I received many calls from people wanting to ensure their estate was in order, but it took [on] more of a pastoral role because people were lonely. There were people who didn’t leave their house for six months, and they had a need to talk to somebody. They just wanted the comfort of knowing everything was okay.

I don’t rush to get off my phone calls with people. It is a privilege to listen to and comfort them.

Someone called me every other week, and we would talk for a half-hour or sometimes an hour. They were lonely, and I was able to visit with them. I had a relationship with them because I had done their estate planning. The spouse passed away during this time, and it was important to me to be available to minister to this individual. A very important part of our ministry is to give peace of mind to individuals.

In many cases the support we offer goes beyond the individual who signs an estate plan with us. We can support their family by helping settle the estate, helping them understand the responsibilities they have been assigned, or directing them toward the resources they will need, such as providing forms or contact information for agencies they will need to work with. If we can help a family member cut through red tape, meet a deadline, or remember an important step, we feel really good about that. That’s part of how we honor the wishes of those who put their trust in us.

–RMCNews; photo by iStock

RMCNews – Highlands Ranch, Colorado … Parents waved and cameras flashed as 26 donut-stuffed students and a handful of teachers and volunteers headed out, vehicles overloaded with tents, sleeping bags, and food, destined for Moab, Utah to camp under the stars, raft, and appreciate God’s nature on the annual eighth-grade class trip.

The expedition started out uneventfully, with the long drive to Moab where they would set up camp. Spirits were high until it came time to set up the three 12-man tents. Unfortunately, the wind deflated the hopes of an easy setup, but the class was determined to get the job done. The wind, though, was not finished and proved too much to handle, resulting in the tents being torn over the next few days, and causing the need to leave the campsite a day early to stay at a hotel.

Before leaving, students found time to hike and enjoy the beautiful scenery found only in Moab. Rafting down the river was a first for many and while the rafting was mostly uneventful, an unexpected meet-up with a water rapid caused teacher Christina Hernández and the two students riding in her raft to fall overboard. The only resulting injury was to Hernández’s backpack.

By then, the class was done battling high winds, flying tents, bathing in freezing cold water, and having their mouths filled with dust. The vote was made to turn their torn-tent homes into cozy rooms and warm showers at a local hotel.

Logen, an eighth-grader, summed up his feelings in a text to his mom by saying, “Greatest shower ever.”

The next day, their continuing adventure found them hiking and journeying to Glenwood Springs, where the students spent the night and woke up to enjoy a morning swim in the hot springs before returning home.

Reflecting on the adventure, Lindsey, eighth-grader said, “My favorite part about the trip was the fact that we were in the water most of the time. All of us would play around and splash each other. I loved how we all worked together to put up the tents for the first two nights and how we all couldn’t wait for the hotel beds.”

She continued, “We all bonded and appreciated all the fun that we had. This trip is definitely a big memory that’s going to be with us forever.”

Andrew Carpenter, MHA principal, commented on the adventure. “It was a good time had by all. We are grateful for the time together, laughing and appreciating the break from school to explore Moab. A shoutout to Mrs. Hernández and Pastor Jamey Houghton for working so hard to make this trip special for the kids.”

–RMCNews; photo supplied

This article was adapted from a social media post on Mile High Academy’s Facebook page.