NewsNuggets Page 68

14 Jul

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL TURNED OUTREACH IN PUEBLO

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By Louisa (Joey) Perrin – Pueblo, Colorado … After a ten-year break, Pueblo First Seventh-day Adventist Church held Vacation Bible School (VBS) June 27 to July 1, an arm of its Outreach & Education Center. “We held our breath to see what God would do. Yet this project was a great blessing for our church and the surrounding neighborhood,” commented Anton Kapusi, church pastor.

On the first day of VBS, we welcomed 26 kids, of which only five were regular attendees from the church! “This was His hand at work,” Kapusi and the organizers concluded.

One parent said they were happy we offered an evening activity for the kids in the community. Another parent loved the interactive materials we sent home so they could discuss what they learned as a family. “We also had a parent who said she was baptized at Pueblo First long ago as a young person and was happy to have her child join VBS,” Louisa (Joey) Perrin, VBS director shared.

Spark Studio* was the model we used for the program. The theme of the lessons focused on Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Following a prayer offered by Pastor Kapusi, the children praised God through singing and dancing. During a worship rally ‘Imaginarium’,” the kids reviewed the Bible lesson and learned about God’s plan for us. We used science to help the kids understand the meaning of God’s work. The children who learned the most and danced the best received prizes. On the last day, there was much excitement when kids made tie-dyed T-shirts with their names and the church children’s ministry motto, “Kids for Christ.”

The organizers invited the children and their parents to church on Sabbath for their VBS graduation where the pastor and the VBS director presented certificates for completing the Spark Studio VBS, and a personalized water bottle with the VBS logo.

All but six of the children and their parents attended the graduation service. They stayed for the message presented by the DayStar school board chair, emphasizing the importance of the education of our children, and setting a foundation for them to grow and find their gifts for God’s purpose. Several guest parents expressed interest in who Seventh-day Adventists are and our upcoming programs for the children and youth. One parent even attended Angels of Kindness, a community outreach to feed the homeless.

*VBS program for 2022 was developed by Spark Studios in which kids will learn that God’s creativity didn’t stop in Genesis. The Master Artist is working to redeem, reclaim, and transform us–His creation–to the design He planned for us. Kids will see the beautiful truth that they are God’s workmanship as they learn to use their talents to bring glory to Him.

–Louisa (Joey) Perrin, VBS director; photos supplied

Pueblo VBS Volunteers Helping with Check in
Pueblo VBS Group Photo
14 Jul

NURSING PROGRAM AT ADVENTHEALTH UNIVERSITY DENVER INSPIRES STUDENTS TO REIGNITE THEIR FAITH

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By Brianna DiPilato – Denver, Colorado … “If I had followed my timeline and not God’s … I wouldn’t be here,” said Savanah Watson, AdventHealth University Denver nursing student. “As cliché as it may sound, you need to let go and let God.”

Since 2009, Centura has partnered with AHU Denver, located on the Centura- Porter Adventist Hospital campus, to provide the next generation of caregivers with tools they need to compassionately care for the whole health of their future patients — mind, body and spirit. Centura Health holds faith as a sacred foundation and believes in spreading inspiration through behaviors and actions.

Savanah Watson and Albreny Chavez are nursing students at AHU Denver. As they work through the nursing program and their clinical rotations in Centura hospitals, not only have they acquired the skills needed to become future nurses, but they also have found reasons to re-ignite their faith and live out their true purpose.

As first-generation college students, the road to finding their way after obtaining their Associate of Science degrees was bumpy. With help and support from the AHU staff, coupled with a passion to give back to others and a calling to get closer to God, Watson and Chavez pursued the AHU Denver nursing program.

“Coming to AHU, one of the classes we had to take was the Philosophy of Health Care with Pastor Seth Day. The class touched on the healing ministry of God and how to incorporate that into our everyday care. At that time in my life, I was very lost and wanted to find guidance. The school brought my faith back to light and gave me hope,” said Chavez.

To further cement their faith, Chavez was baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church in July 2021, which followed Watson’s baptism in November 2020 — marking the first two baptisms in the history of AHU Denver.

Throughout high school, Chavez learned how to help her mom work through many health issues, including struggling with diabetes. Later in life, her then-boyfriend had brain surgery, and Chavez was there to help with his post-operative care.

“That’s where I found my passion for wanting to become a nurse. I want to help other people and have a healing ministry within myself,” said Chavez.

For Watson, her call to nursing was solidified when her little brother, now 16 years old, was born with a double nuchal cord, which occurs when the umbilical cord wraps around the baby’s neck twice. After almost dying during birth, he recovered in the neonatal intensive care unit — a floor that Watson strives to work on someday.

“I have a passion for people, human science and wanting to help other families like the nurses who helped save my little brother,” said Watson.

As Watson works toward her goal of becoming a NICU nurse, she also wants to obtain her graduate degree and would love to come back to AHU Denver as a nurse educator. Chavez has set her sights on becoming a nurse practitioner with the hopes of guiding other nurses along the way. The collective goal to mentor comes from the same mentorship and support they’ve received in their classes and during their clinical rotations in Centura’s hospitals.

“The staff was so welcoming and supportive, always willing to pull us in and hold our hands through every experience,” said Watson.

As they fondly recall their time spent with Centura caregivers, they attribute their positive experience to the attentive, hands-on training they received while on-site.

“At Centura-Avista Adventist Hospital, the clinical instructor would start every clinical rotation with a prayer and ended with one as well. It was so grounding and really helped you get into the right mindset to care for your patients,” said Chavez.

Thanks to their decision to “let go and let God,” Chavez’s and Watson’s unique paths led them to one another and to AHU Denver, where they are able to re-ignite their faith, form connections and find purpose.

— Brianna DiPilato, Centura Health. Previously published in OUTLOOK magazine, reprinted by permission. Photo provided – pictured (l to r) are Albreny and Savanah.

07 Jul

ICE-COLD WATER ADDS EXCITEMENT TO GVR BAPTISMS

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Rajmund Dabrowski – Ward, Colorado … Just as Rocky Mountain Conference youth director Brandon Westgate was about to step into the Glacier View Ranch Lake to baptize one of seven candidates, he asked candidate Alaine who she wished to baptize her. “Jessyka!” was her decisive answer. Little did she know during this short exchange that she would be stepping into a near ice-cold water.

Brandon, along with Jessyka Dooley, his associate, and one of the summer camp directors, were the officiating ministers. Stepping into the water that July 1 Friday afternoon was a life-changing moment for seven campers as they declared their belief in Jesus Christ.

Adventure Camp 2022 at GVR was the second group this summer to see a baptism. As Jessyka shared, “Fifteen campers were baptized and over 50 made the decision for baptism.”

“It’s been an amazing summer watching so many campers experience God’s wild love for them. Ending each week with camper baptisms is a clear reminder of why we are here,” Jessyka explained.

The 2022 camp season at Glacier View in Ward, Colorado, and Mills Spring Ranch in Casper, Wyoming, will have a total of 440 campers, many of whom have never held a Bible. Some of them call their parents asking if they can get a Bible. Hearing their comments, counselors give them a copy. There are 55 counselors, staff and volunteers providing a daily service and steering the campers to experience unforgettable activities and spiritual guidance.

Trenton Brantley joined the camp service in 2019 as assistant boy’s director. In his words, “GVR is a camp where you can really see the connections between the counselors and campers.”

“Summer Camp ministry is all-consuming and tiring, but always so worth it to minister to these campers and show them the love of Jesus,” Jessyka said.

–Rajmund Dabrowski with Jessyka Dooley. Photos by Rajmund Dabrowski and GVR team.

07 Jul

BAPTISMS AT CAMP

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By Brandon Westgate – Ward, Colorado … Every year at Glacier View Ranch during our summer camp program, some of our campers decide they want to begin or better solidify their spiritual journey with God through baptism. These campers may be divided into a few different categories.

Some of these campers come to camp already prepared to be baptized. They have studied and have talked to their parents who are excited for their decision. There are others who have been involved in their local church and have grown up in a healthy faith community who have an experience at camp that compels them to decide to be baptized. Then there are some who come to camp with very little exposure to organized religion. They have not grown up in a faith community, yet because of what they learn about Jesus at camp, they decide to begin a faith journey with Jesus through baptism.

Some campers don’t fit neatly into any of these categories, yet because of what they have experienced at camp, they desire something greater for their life. Some of them desire to be baptized as well.

Some may say that these young people are not ready for baptism because they have not been led through a series of doctrinal studies. To this, I would simply say that baptism is the beginning of a faith journey, not a graduation ceremony for having completed a theology degree. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus said we should make disciples. We do that by modeling Jesus to the people we encounter. We endeavor to do that at camp for our campers. Matthew quotes Jesus as saying that we should then baptize them and teach them (in that order) which is why we recommend to our campers and their parents to connect with a spiritual leader who can guide them in their new faith journey.

Some may argue that these young people are having an emotional response to God. I would affirm this to be true. I would further submit that anytime we encounter a God who is for us, who loves us with WILD* love, who has done everything He can do to save us and who desires to be with us eternally, it should evoke an emotional response! Baptism is emotional in the same way a wedding is emotional. The person being baptized is entering into a covenant relationship with Jesus and that is reason enough to rejoice and to be overcome by His WILD love!

*WILD is a theme for the GVR 2022 camp season

Brandon Westgate, RMC youth director. Photo by Rajmund Dabrowski

07 Jul

PASTORAL CALLED CONVENTION

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RMCNews with Shayne and Gabriela Vincent – Lexington, Kentucky … After the hustle of preaching at their churches on June 18, Pastor Shayne Vincent and wife Gabriela made their way to the Denver airport from Wyoming for a 3 a.m. flight to Lexington, Kentucky. This was their first quinquennal North American Division (NAD) pastoral meeting, and it was a huge blessing.

Shayne met with old friends he had not seen in nearly two decades. Gabriela visited with her family who pastor there in the NAD. They also enjoyed meeting with friends they had come to know only through social media. More than 5,000 pastors and their families came from all over North America.

Among the many daily classes provided, issues from technology in ministry to budgeting in pastoral families were covered. Classes were also tailored for the pastor’s spouse and for their children, which led to 14 baptisms among the pastors’ children.

Gabriela stated, “I was blown away by the transparency and the willingness of our denomination to address tough issues such as mental health, LGBTQ, equality, and balancing family life in ministry.”

And Shayne noted, “I was encouraged to see so many pastors in the tech session who had successfully made community the center of their churches and online ministry. It reaffirmed that I am on the right track and gave me many new ideas for my own ministry”.

Along with the many break out classes, there were also main auditorium presentations that highlighted many well-known Adventists, including George Knight. Pastor Ted Williams from the Southeastern Colorado District shared with Shayne, “It was such a blessing to see the exclusive focus of the convention be Jesus!”

The convention ended by noon on Wednesday, affording enough time for many pastors to travel an hour north to “The Ark Encounter,” where they were blessed to experience a full-scale replica of Noah’s Ark. “It had the size of a cruise ship if you smooshed the top down,” commented Shayne. Inside were four massive floors, each one exploring a different aspect of the animals, the judgment in the Bible, and a deep dive into creation science.

The RMC Pastors were blessed with a luncheon put on by the Conference where we met and took time to fellowship together, break bread, and remember Pastor Tom Tupito, who sadly passed in his hotel near the beginning of the convention.

Both Pastor Shayne and Gabriela are grateful for those who made this possible. It is encouraging to see such Christ-centered leadership at the North American Division that prioritizes not only the holistic needs of pastors, but also the needs of their spouses and children, Shane and Gabriela expressed.

RMCNews with Shayne and Gabriela Vincent. Photo supplied.

07 Jul

ADVENTURES OF A LIFETIME

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By Samantha Nelson – Cody, Wyoming …What happens when two Pathfinder Teen Leaders in Training (TLT) team up with their pastor and his wife? The adventure of a lifetime!

From June 12-28, Pastor Steve Nelson and wife Samantha took Dean and Cedar Jeffers, two teens from the Cody Seventh-day Adventist Church on an incredible adventure they likely will never forget!

As part of achieving their Pathfinder advanced honors, Cedar and Dean were to learn more about church history and how the church operates. They drove to the top of Pike’s Peak before sitting in on the Rocky Mountain Conference Executive Committee meeting in Denver the following morning. Committee members were very welcoming as the teens experienced the Conference-wide “church board meeting,” as it was described to them.

Traveling from Denver, the teens were able to see several historic sights—the Buffalo Bill Cody Scout’s Rest Ranch in Nebraska, St. Louis Gateway Arch in Missouri, Churchill Downs and the Louisville Slugger Museum in Kentucky, Stone’s River Battlefield, and the burial location of Beautiful Jim Key, the world’s smartest horse in Tennessee—all along the route to Lexington, Kentucky where they would be part of the North American Division pastor’s meetings at the Called Convention.

This was the first time the youth had been in such a large group of Adventists, and pastors at that! It was a little overwhelming, but they did enjoy seeing the exhibits and learning about the various ministries within the church. They also were very grateful for their PK gifts—a nice backpack, hoodie, T-shirt, and more. It was an entirely new experience for them to worship with hundreds, if not thousands, of other young people, as well as pastors.

The next stop was the Ark Encounter, where Cedar and Dean were able to ride a camel for the first time. This was followed by the Creation Museum in Kentucky.

“The Ark was my favorite experience of the trip!” said Cedar.

“The Creation Museum was really interesting and seeing the Ark helped me to picture how big Noah’s Ark would have been,” Dean commented.

Sounds like a full trip, doesn’t it? Well, it was far from over! From Kentucky, the field trip carried on to a visit to Andrews University in Berrien Springs and the Historic Adventist Village in Battle Creek, Michigan where they saw firsthand what living conditions were like for the founders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and heard stories about these incredible pioneers in ministry.

The last major stop before heading back to Cody was the Oriental Institute of Chicago. This museum claims to house “10,000 years of human history under one roof.” Many of the museum’s artifacts can be tied to people, places, or events mentioned in the Bible.

Pastor Steve commented, “Our goal for this trip was to deepen the love for God the young people already have, show them a broader perspective of the church and its operations and help them grow in their leadership skills as TLTs for the Cody Cowboys Pathfinder Club.”

He added, “God helped us achieve those goals and blessed us all with safe travels and health throughout the trip. Naturally, we were all grateful to be back home in Wyoming, although they have already started talking about what the next adventure might be.”

Lord willing, there will be more adventures coming up as this trip proved very beneficial for the spiritual growth and nurture of the youth.

—Samantha Nelson, text, and photos

07 Jul

COMMENTARY: IN HIS IMAGE

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By Doug Inglish … “So, God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27, NIV)

I am sure we have all contemplated what it means to be made in the image of God. Mostly, I think we consider it in terms of having been formed to physically resemble the Creator, in that we walk upright, have opposable thumbs, etc. So far, so good, because there are indications in Scripture of our physical resemblance.

But it goes well beyond that. Compared to the rest of earthly creation, we have higher cognitive abilities, more complex speech, and so many other advantages that can only come from being made in the image of God. Even in our fallen condition, that image is unmistakable.

Have you ever considered that part of His image He passed on to us are those certain qualities that go beyond physical or mental characteristics? Things like mercy, forgiveness, or compassion. Yes, there are scattered examples of what at least appear to be some of these qualities within the animal kingdom, and I too enjoy stories of an elephant showing gratitude, an act of kindness, or a dog facing danger to protect its family.

But even if we admit that human-like (or even God-like) qualities can occasionally be displayed in animals, there is no doubt that God gave us the ability to possess and expand these qualities on a scale that is incomparable to any other created beings on earth. Truly, the psalmist was right when he declared,

“You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor.” (Psalm 8:5, NIV)

I am certain that one of the ways in which we carry the image of God is in our capacity to be generous. Bees may indicate to the rest of the hive where flowers are located, and wolves bring food back to the den for their pups, but these are actions of instinct. We creationists understand this in terms of God granting to His creation a means of perpetuating their kind, but even evolutionists have an explanation that amounts to survival of the species. True generosity only exists within the human species, and there is no adequate explanation for this apart from God having made us in His image.

We bring glory to God when we develop the qualities of His character, He placed within us at our creation. Along with improving our exercise of mercy, forgiveness, kindness, grace, compassion, and so many other of these wonderful qualities, He has given us the privilege of experiencing generosity. It can be practiced in the home, on the playground, and at work. It comes in charitable acts of giving to our church and to causes that are worthy of our generosity. It can be of our time, of our abilities, or of our wealth. But whatever form we use to express our generosity, it is always a declaration that we are created in His image.

–Doug Inglish is RMC vice president for administration and stewardship director; photo by Nathan Dumlao/Unsplash.

30 Jun

MIGUEL “MIKEY” ARCHIBEQUE ORDAINED AT DENVER SOUTH CHURCH

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RMCNews with Mickey Mallory – Denver, Colorado … In his response following the ordination to the gospel ministry on June 25, Mikey Archibeque, associate pastor at Denver South Church, said that “from the beginning of following Jesus into ministry, it has been my dream to know him in a way like Moses. Exodus mentions that he entered the tent of meeting and spoke to God as to a friend. And it is my dream that others come to know the intimacy of knowing who God is in the same way. And today, the Adventist Church is recognizing the ministry that Christ began in me.”

Pastor Mikey shared that his ordination ceremony was a perfect day because he got to be with the people he loved. Everyone who showed up has been a teacher, friend, and sister or brother in Christ and has helped me in my ministry, he remarked. His candidacy was presented by two colleagues in ministry, Pastors Brooke and Ricky Melendez from The Adventure Church in Greeley.

Referring to his colleagues and mentors, he commented, “they have all been ordained for ministry. And all these people–friends, family, church members–have all come because they have been changed by what Jesus has continued to work in my life. I am excited to see how Christ continues to lead as I head to seminary in August,” he said in his ordination response.

Since his arrival four years ago, the Denver South Church has provided Pastor Mikey with many opportunities to put his spiritual gifts into action. His lead pastor, Evgeni Kovachev, and head elder, Pat Bernal, have especially been supportive.

The ordination address was given by Pastor Pedro Perez, who happens to be Pastor Mikey’s uncle and the Pathfinder and Adventurer director for the Florida Conference. Because Pastor Mikey resonates most with the Bible character of Moses, Pastor Perez chose to share a message based on leadership lessons from the life of Moses.”

“When a pastor is ordained at his local church, it gives the church members a chance to celebrate with the pastor all the things that God has done to bring the pastor to this point in ministry,” said Mickey Mallory, RMC ministerial director.

“As Moses was in the mountain with God, it has been Pastor Mikey’s desire throughout his life and ministry to stay close to God.”

“It has been good to share this journey, to walk with you, talk with you, hopefully to make you laugh, hopefully to bring you joy, and to see the face of God,” Pastor Mikey commented.

Pastor Mikey’s first experiences with Jesus happened at Broken Arrow Ranch Summer Camp in Kansas. Jesus became real as I worshiped, performed skits, rode on go-carts, and shot bows and arrows. I found lifelong friends, ministry partners and, most importantly, mentors that continue to help in my ministry journey. My camp experience opened me up to a life of service in ministry.

He attended Union College where he was approached by a friend from camp to serve as the men’s dorm pastor for Campus Ministries. In the following years, he served in many roles in Campus Ministries eventually becoming the student chaplain. At Union College, he found joy in serving, raising leaders, building relationships, and caring for people. What began at summer camp continued to blossom into year-round ministry.

In his Life Sketch, he wrote about falling in love with service and eventually switching his major to theology to become a pastor. After graduating, with no youth or associate pastor positions offered, he took a job as an associate dean and assistant to the chaplain at Blue Mountain Academy. He felt like a failure, he wrote, because he wasn’t where he thought he was supposed to be; not a pastor, single, didn’t love my job, and far away from everyone I knew. These feelings persisted into his next position as an intern youth pastor in Hawaii. And what was supposed to be a 6-month stint turned into a 2-year transformation.

Serving in Hawaii changed his attitude, he shared. The weight of proving himself to others and God fell away. He could finally practice and enjoy ministry. After accepting the call to the Rocky Mountain Conference, he was ready to minister in confidence.

“I have been at Denver South over four years and God continues to reveal his power, love, and courage to me. No matter where I serve, I know I am rooted and established in His love,” Pastor Mikey stated.

The ordination ceremony included Rocky Mountain Conference leaders, among whom was Pastor Mic Thurber who offered the ordination prayer.

RMCNews with Mickey Mallory. Photos by Susan Inglish.

30 Jun

FRANKTOWN CHURCH MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN BOULDER SUNRISE TRIATHLON EVENTS

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Matt Moreland with Rajmund Dabrowski – Boulder, Colorado … “Oh, my word, I loved it. Next time I want to do the whole thing,” said Kelli Carlson, a member of a Franktown Adventist Church group that participated in the Boulder Sunrise Triathlon.

It all started in January 2022 when church member, Derek Watson, began talking to a few others about wanting to do a triathlon. After that, it gained interest from many members. Some wanted to join a team, and some wanted to go solo.

By race day, Franktown church had 12 athletes ready to race.

“I was so proud we all finished. We all worked so hard training together and pushing each other. We had a great time cheering for each other. I can’t wait to do it again!” said Matt Moreland.

The ladies teamed up to tackle the Relay Sprint Triathlon. In the 1st team was Keli Carlson, Jen Larossi, and Katie Watson; and the 2nd team included Erin Houghton, Jamie Ragsdale, and Sharise Moreland.  A Sprint triathlon includes a 1/2-mile swim, 17.3-mile bike ride, and 3.2-mile run. Grant Moreland, David Thiel and Jonathan Carlson participated in and came in first in the Duathlon, which included a 17.3-mile bike ride and two 3.2-mile runs. Hernan Block, Derek Watson and Matthew Moreland, each competed solo in the Olympic Triathlon which included a 1-mile swim, 26.4-mile bike ride, and a 6.2-mile run.
When asked if they would do it again, several of them did not mince their excitement. “The race pushed me to maintain an exercise program and I would do the race again in a heartbeat!” said David Thiel. “People were nice, swim was long, bike was fun, and run was painful. It was an overall great experience, would do it again,” commented Derek Watson

Thirteen-year-old Grant Moreland, Matt’s son, was excited to participate this year. He said, “I had a lot of fun. I was really surprised we won! I want to make a team again next year.”

Matt Moreland added that it would be exciting to see “other churches participate in such a great community event.”

— Matt Moreland with Rajmund Dabrowski. Photos supplied.

20 Jun

PASTOR TOM TUPITO FROM AURORA FIRST CHURCH PASSES AT NAD CONFERENCE

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RMCNews with Joanne Smith – Denver, Colorado … Tom Tupito, senior pastor of Aurora First Adventist Church passed away June 19 after suffering a heart attack while attending the North American Division ministerial CALLED conference.

“This is a huge loss for Tom’s family, the Aurora First Seventh-day Adventist Church, and all of the workers in the Rocky Mountain Conference who loved and appreciated Tom,” said Mickey Mallory, RMC ministerial director.

“We are eternally grateful for the wonderful impact Tom made on his family and church. He will be missed greatly. His friendly demeanor always made interacting with him enjoyable.”

Born in Taputimu, American Samoa, Tom has been with Aurora First since January 1, 2017.

Commenting on this tragic news, Aurora church head elder, Boima Sonii said, “Our hearts are broken by the sudden passing of our dear pastor. Words alone can’t express how much we are going to miss him. Our prayers and thoughts are with his sons, Esmond and Evron, and the entire Tupito family.”

Addressing the church, Sonii said, “My beloved Aurora First family, let’s keep the faith. Our God will certainly get us through these difficult times.”

Tom endured the loss of his wife, Fuiono Gingerlei, in August of 2019, and just last month, lost his sister in California.

“Our sincere gratitude to all who have reached out to express their love and condolences,” said Tom’s son, Esmond. He added, “In lieu of having visitors at our house, we’ve decided to meet at the church gymnasium on Wednesday and Thursday, June 22-23, from 6 to 9:30 p.m., for anyone who would like to come and share their sentiments and condolences.” The Aurora First address is 11400 E Mississippi Avenue, Aurora, CO 80012.

Information about the memorial service will be announced.

RMCNews with Joanne Smith; photo of Tom and Fuiono Gingerlei supplied.

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