NewsNuggets Page 73

05 May

CHALLENGES, HOPES, AND THE FUTURE OF RMC EDUCATION – PART 2

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We continue with our three-part series on RMC education. In this section, we will look at how inflation and the nationwide shortage of teachers are affecting RMC education.  We will also discover how anyone who wishes to enroll their child in an RMC school, can do so regardless of finances. Looking ahead to next week, we will be asking Diane Harris, RMC education director, and Paul Negrete, associate director of education, how RMC’s two academies are faring and about the future of Campion and Mile High Academy.

NN: We know that the economy these days is hard to adjust to, with inflation and the cost of living increases. The cost of Adventist education is continuing to rise every year. Is the Rocky Mountain Conference ensuring Adventist education remains affordable so that any child can attend regardless of finances?

Diane Harris: The beauty of our system is that every one of our school treasurers and principals never want any family to miss attending our schools because of finances. There is the strongest commitment to ensuring that those students are able to come to our school.

Our structure is that our income primarily comes from tuition, either from churches or from parents. There’s a lot of fundraising at our schools to meet the needs of those families who need the extra support.

NN: If there is a family who wishes to send their child to Campion Academy, but they know the finances won’t allow them to send their child, what would be your advice to that family?

Diane Harris: My advice to the family is, do not hesitate to reach out to Campion. There are resources available for any family. Campion works very hard to make sure that finances do not hinder enrollment.

Paul Negrete: This goes for all of our schools. Go take a tour, look at the school and speak to the administration.

They have a variety of ways to help your student get into school. I haven’t heard of any stories at all where a student goes to Campion or any of our schools and, for financial reasons, doesn’t get in.

Diane Harris: Absolutely. Dean Helm at Campion has a passion for working with these families to make sure that they’re able to send their children.

NN: Our school enrollment is increasing, and that brings unique challenges in hiring teachers for the increased number of students.  As of the end of April, RMC has 17 open positions for the next school year. Are you worried?

Diane Harris: At the end of the day, these are God’s schools, and I believe that He has someone for each of these positions. Some of the openings are transitions from teachers within our conference to another school within the conference.

I’m excited about the possibilities. We’re conversing with some strong candidates right now, and this week and next, we’ve got interviews. It’s definitely a time that I’ve never seen before with the number of resumes coming in versus the number of openings that we have.

NN: Other than praying for the fulfillment of these openings, what are some steps RMC members can do concerning these openings?  Can they reach out to teachers they know?

Diane Harris: I think that if they know of someone who is a strong teacher, someone that they are connected to, they could encourage them to explore the option of working in the Rocky Mountain Conference. That’s the best way to recruit.

NN: How about teachers who have recently retired but want to help for a few years.  Would you welcome them to apply?

Diane Harris:  Absolutely, yes!

NN: What happens if these positions don’t get filled?

Diane Harris: Glenwood Springs, for example, would like to reopen, and yet they feel like they would rather stay closed than bring in the wrong candidate. They are trusting in God’s timing. And if now’s not the time to reopen, they will wait until the right candidate comes.

NN: Are there any schools that are in danger of closing because of the teacher shortage?

Paul Negrete: I don’t know that we immediately have any schools in danger of closing. We’ve gone through different scenarios, and maybe at first it looked like that might be an option, but thankfully, I don’t think we’re there yet.

There have been some last-minute people who have come through. The last-minute people are, again, God’s direction, but I think we’re going to be fairly shored up.

We may have to tighten the belt here and there. We may have to combine some classes in some schools and make some adjustments. I don’t think, at least right now, unless something drastically changes, that we’re going to have to close a school.

Diane Harris: Everyone in schools, including our teachers, cares deeply about the families and the students because of their love for Jesus and it’s transmitted into their teaching. I think that’s why we’re growing. And that’s why we’re not without challenges, but I’m really proud of our schools.

–RMCNews; photo supplied

05 May

MILE HIGH ACADEMY ROBOTICS TEAM SCORES BIG IN FLORIDA

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RMCNews with Rebecca Berg – Highlands Ranch, Colorado … RoboStangs, the robotics team from Mile High Academy, won second place at the First Tech Challenge (FTC) Adventist Robotic league competition at Forest Lake Academy in Florida.

Robotics is a year-long elective class where students work together to build a robot to compete in this competition. The task given the robot this year was to move blocks and other objects to a three-tiered tower. The teams could also earn points by spinning a horizontal wheel that could be loaded with rubber duckies, and each rubber ducky they successfully got into the arena earned them points.

Reflecting on the event, MHA junior Seth said, “It was a really fun experience driving the robot, meeting other robotics teams, and talking to them about their designs. Our team did so much better than I could have imagined, and I am proud of the work we did.”

MHA went up against eleven other teams from all over the United States–from California to North Dakota. In the qualification round, MHA came in fourth, and from there, starting with first place, each team chose another team to form an alliance. MHA formed an alliance with the Senjus team from Raleigh, North Carolina, and worked together to place second in the overall competition.

The Robotics tournament was not the only exciting experience students had in Florida. They also spent time at the AdventHealth Celebration, where doctors showed them new robotic technology that is revolutionizing the health industry. A favorite was the Davinci Robot, which allows doctors to do precise surgeries using robotic tools controlled outside the operation room. Students were able to try out the technology by playing a game of Operation using the robot. The Mustangs from Oregon won first place in this competition.

During the Lockheed Martin tour, students learned about the Orion capsule, among other space technology. That was followed by an afternoon at the Space Kennedy Center. Of course, there was a trip to the beach, where students played volleyball, played in the waves, and witnessed the Falcon Nine launch.

Remarking on the Orion capsule, Seth said, “Besides the competition, I really enjoyed seeing the Orion capsule up close and visiting the Kennedy Space Center. I am looking forward to the competition again next year.”

Sponsor of the trip, Rebecca Berg, high school teacher and chaplain said. “As a sponsor of this trip, I am unbelievably proud of the hard work and perseverance these students showed. Their fun spirits and positive attitudes made this trip enjoyable and memorable. As competitors, they were the epitome of our CHERISH core values, helping and cheering for the other teams. I look forward to next year, seeing them take on the next robotic challenge and the different challenges it will bring. Congratulations on your second-place win RoboStangs!”

–RMCNews with Rebecca Berg, MHA high school teacher and chaplain; photos supplied

05 May

CAMPION DRAMA TEAM PERFORMS FOR BRIGHTON CHURCH

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By Brie Bell – Brighton, Colorado … Campion Academy’s drama team was welcomed by Brighton Adventist church as they shared their talents during the April 30 worship service.

The students shared skits, songs, poems, and testimonies providing a unique worship experience for the members.

Reflecting on the special Sabbath service, Campion student Lexi shared, “I really enjoyed performing with the Campion drama team. Everyone’s testimonies were really good, and I felt very blessed. I’m so glad I got to sing with Christine, and I’m very happy that the Brighton church welcomed us to do their church service.”

Seth, a sophomore at Campion, shared a testimony about health issues while he was a baby and how God worked a miracle to heal him. “I was very nervous going up front, but I’m glad I was able to go up and share how I have seen God’s work in my own life,” he said.

The service had an impact on the students performing but also on the Brighton members. “Seeing the drama group take charge, organize, and perform the church service assured me that God is truly working through Campion Academy to impact the students’ lives and those they come in contact with,” reflected Rex Bell, Brighton church elder.

To end the special weekend, the students, enjoyed watching a performance of Singin’ in the Rain at the Candlelight Theater on Sunday.

“I really enjoyed the production of Singin’ in the Rain. The food they served was delicious! The production was impressive with the actors, set designs, and a neat water feature. The whole trip was a fun experience,” commented Kayleigh, Campion junior.

–Brie Bell, guest writes for Campion Academy; photos supplied

05 May

REFLECTION: THE LORD STIRRED CYRUS

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By Lester Bentley … “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing saying, Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah.”  (Ezra 1:1, 2)

“The LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus.” The Lord can stir the hearts of kings. “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: He turns it whithersoever He will.” (Proverbs 21:1)

We may not have access to the king or the ruler of the land, but we may pray as Daniel did, and God can touch the heart and spirit of the king on his throne.

According to the historian Josephus, Daniel had read the prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah to King Cyrus. He pointed out that God had named him a hundred years before he was born. It must have stirred the young king to hear his name read out in the ancient scrolls of the prophets, Isaiah and Jeremiah.

But we may ask, “What caused Daniel to instruct the king? What allowed Daniel to speak with Cyrus?”

Yes, indeed, Daniel was a high official in the Persian government. His close encounters with the king may have allowed him to talk with the king about different situations. The king was undoubtedly impressed with Daniel and the wisdom Daniel possessed from his years in the Babylonian court.

But instead, it was the result of Daniel remaining faithful during one of the most challenging and trying times of his life that opened the door.

In Daniel 1, Daniel spearheads a movement by himself and his three friends to remain faithful to God. Late in his life, Satan directs certain officials in the Persian court to become jealous of Daniel. They trick Darius into passing laws making it illegal for Daniel to worship his God.

Daniel follows through on the commitment made in Daniel 1 by remaining faithful, as we see in Daniel 6. As a result, the situation looks hopeless as Daniel is reported to Darius, the king. The law states that those failing to comply must be thrown to the lions.

As a result, Daniel spends the night talking with lions. The following day, having received protection from God and fulfilling the requirements of the law, Daniel is rescued from the lions. Who could have accounted for his surviving a night with the lions?

What an impact Daniel had through his experience with the lions. Note this passage from the book Prophets and Kings by Ellen G. White.

“The deliverance of Daniel from the den of lions had been used of God to create a favorable impression upon the mind of Cyrus the Great . . . . And now, just at the time God had said He would cause His temple at Jerusalem to be rebuilt, He moved upon Cyrus as His agent to discern the prophecies concerning himself, with which Daniel was so familiar, and to grant the Jewish people their liberty.” (p. 557)

“Thus says the LORD to his anointed, Cyrus, whose right hand I have hold of.” “He shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, says the LORD of hosts.” (Isaiah 45:1, 13)

“That the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled.” Daniel had learned by studying the prophecies of Jeremiah and Isaiah that the time allotted for the exile was to end after seventy years. He believed God’s word and began to pray earnestly to fulfill the prophecy (see Daniel 9). When Daniel began to pray, God began to work. Is God’s “doing” dependent upon our “asking?” Yes.

Often God’s work allows us to be placed in uncomfortable circumstances. A figurative “lion’s den.” These experiences may come from “loss of personal wealth or financial health. It may come as the loss of our health, family, and friends.” Or people that we dearly love suffer the same losses of money, health, or family. These three, money, health, and family, are Satan’s favorite ways to test the people of God.

As with Daniel, people are watching, looking to see how you respond as a Christian. Your response can mean the difference between another seeking Christ or rejecting Christ.

—Lester Bentley is the pastor of Gillette, Wyoming church district; photo by UnSplash

04 May

SEVEN BAPTIZED AT MOUNTAIN VIEW CHURCH

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RMCNews with Tim Jones – Longmont, Colorado … The Mountain View Adventist Church recently concluded a three-week outreach series with seven individuals publicly declaring their commitment to Jesus through baptism on April 23.

The series, sponsored by the Hispanic group at the church, featured Daniel Miranda from Columbia.

The gatherings included several community members, some of whom learned about the meetings by traversing by the church.  Tim Jones, Mountain View Adventist Church pastor, recalls such a visitor.

“We had a gentleman walk by the church a week before the meetings started and he came inside where we were having a prayer meeting. This gentleman said that he felt impressed to stop and come in. He was a practicing Baptist, but had recently had difficulty reconciling the Sabbath with what he had been taught.”

Jones added, “This gentleman came to the meetings, every one of them, and decided to accept the love of God that is demonstrated in His word and become a part of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It was a privilege to baptize him.”

The church is studying with five additional individuals who attended the series in preparation for a future baptism.

The Mountain View members plan to hold several community outreach gatherings and another series of Bible meetings in the fall.

“We are praying for God’s grace to be extended and accepted by the people in our community,” Jones said.

–RMCNews with Tim Jones, pastor of Mountain Views Adventist Church district; photos supplied

28 Apr

CHALLENGES, HOPES, AND THE FUTURE OF RMC EDUCATION – PART 1

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We recently sat down with Diane Harris, RMC director of education, and Paul Negrete, RMC associate director of education, to talk about the challenges and hopes for the future of Adventist education in the Rocky Mountain Conference. That’s part one. Next week we will look at how the economy, inflation, and teacher shortage are affecting RMC schools. And finally, we will ask Harris and Negrete how any family that wishes to enroll their child into Adventist Education can, regardless of finances.

 NewsNuggets: The last two years have been extremely difficult for teachers, and we don’t know what the effects on the mental health of children will be. As we move into post-pandemic time, what are some of the hopes for the future of education in Rocky Mountain Conference schools held by the education department?

Diane Harris: You know, it’s been this dichotomy of post-COVID. This stress has affected our kids because most of them have had someone within their family circle or extended family affected by Covid. They’ve experienced loss to a greater degree than ever before. Our poor teachers are the ones who are dealing with the students who’ve lost grandparents and who have attended funerals and then come to school the next day.

We’ve worked really hard to try to support our teachers. We have made an intentional effort each month to bring all of our headteachers and principals together for a two-hour Zoom session to just connect with them because when we can pour into our leaders, then they’re able to pour into their staff.

And many of our schools are one room. So, for them to be able to connect with other teachers– it’s just been a blessing.

Ironically, our schools have grown, and our enrollment has really grown post-COVID. We have schools wanting to reopen. We have schools wanting to add other teachers. The struggle has been that our access to the number of teachers coming into the education field has not increased at the rate of our growing students. That’s been our biggest challenge.

NewsNuggets: What is the cause of growth, in your opinion?

Diane Harris: I think the cause of the growth has really been that during lockdown, many of the public schools just went purely remote, while we, in the Rocky Mountain Conference, asked all of our churches and schools to follow their local guidelines, so they have been able to meet in person more quickly than the local public schools.

So many of the working families, including many community members, had never heard of Adventists before, but when they heard that we were meeting in person, they enrolled their students. And most of those families have stayed even though the public schools have gone back to in-person learning.

That’s why the schools’ enrollment has really skyrocketed because they’ve been able to meet the needs in a way that was different from the public schools. I think that families are really attracted to our values. Our CHERISH (is an acronym for Christ centered, honor, exploration, responsibility, integrity, service, heroism) core values are something that’s so integrated into our curriculum and into our day-to-day life.  That’s what they’re looking for. That’s what’s keeping them in our system.

NewsNuggets: How are the pastors reaching these community members?

Diane Harris: Our pastors are so incredibly supportive of the schools. I look at Brighton, for instance, and that pastor is at the school several times a week, if not every day, and knows every child by name, and that’s not unique to Brighton, but is also mirrored at other schools.

Our pastors are incredibly supportive of their schools, and much of their church budgets go to support the local school.

–RMCNews; photo supplied

28 Apr

CAMPION SENIORS GO TO TEXAS, MAKE LIFELONG BONDS ON CLASS TRIP

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By Airi Nomura – Loveland, Colorado … Campion seniors enhanced lifelong friendships and memories on their class trip to Texas, enjoying some time away from the classroom in April.

During the week-long senior class trip, they immersed themselves into Texas culture by visiting natural caves, taking in SeaWorld, enjoying the beach, and checking out several restaurants. Arriving in San Antonio, they divided into four groups to navigate the Riverwalk, shop at the mall, and enjoy time together.

“I really loved being with my friends on the Riverwalk. It was fun goofing around, talking with my friends, taking pictures, and skating around with the guys. It was really peaceful and a nice small adventure,” said Jahir.

Visiting SeaWorld on the last day in San Antonio was the highlight of the trip for some. Brianna reflected on the trip saying, “My favorite part of the trip was getting to watch the Orca show at SeaWorld. It was awesome getting to see them do tricks while learning about how they survive in the wild.”

The students relaxed on the beach in Port Aransas before returning to campus. “I really enjoyed the last two days we spent at the beach,” Gabriel commented. “The house we stayed at was really comfortable and I had fun with my friends playing ping pong, watching movies, and swimming in the pool.”

Nicole reflected saying, “My favorite part about the trip would have to be the night stroll at the beach right after we went out for pizza. It was our last night to really get to do anything. Of course, we had a choice to go or not, but I felt encouraged to just enjoy this last night. What made it so fun was that I got to have nice conversations and enjoy the people I was with. We went from running along the beach to collecting shells to screaming at crabs. It was a night I’ll never forget.”

The trip was special according to Noah.“Even though we live in the dorm together, going out on a trip and experiencing life together with our class helped us to bond and create memories.”

–Airi Nomura is a senior at Campion Academy; photos supplied.

28 Apr

ARVADA CHURCH ON THE GROUND IN UKRAINE

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RMCNews with Miloš Tomić – L’viv, Ukraine … Arvada Adventist Church members, concerned about the people of Ukraine, asked their associate pastor Miloš and his wife Jasmina to visit Ukraine. One week ago, they did, aiming to discover how they can help the people of Ukraine during the invasion and war with Russia.

After spending the night in L’viv and returning to Poland on a bus full of refugees, they returned to Denver with many heartbreaking stories.

“Listening to air raid sirens and hearing explosions in the distance was terrifying, but for those people [living there] that is a daily reality. Lack of food, medicines, and homes is nothing compared to their loss of hope. That’s why God called us,” Miloš said.

ADRA sponsored the bus which has been commuting almost daily between Poland and Ukraine since the war started. It is used to transport aid to Ukraine and then return with refugees seeking help and shelter. In Poland, churches have been converted into reception centers and many church members have opened their hearts and their homes for the refugees.

“War knows no victors. Everybody loses,” Miloš reflected, with “millions of people displaced, many of them having nothing left to go back to, their whole life packed in a couple of plastic bags. Being southern European and having witnessed the destruction of war in our past ourselves, we understand what these people are going through. And we understand what they need.”

Arvada Adventist church is aiming to fill up a freight container with food, medications, toiletries, and other necessities and ship it to Poland to assist in the largest refugee crisis since World War II.

“We are of different descent, speaking different languages, but the same God calls us to act, to help those suffering people and ease their pain,” said Miloš.

Jesus and his family were refugees at one point, Milos noted, and if it wasn’t for the three wise men, their life would have held much more suffering.

If you would like to participate by donating items to help the Ukraine refugees, please email [email protected]

— RMCNews with Milos Tomic; photos supplied

Editor’s note:  Several RMC churches have sent funds directly to Poland and Romania to assist with immediate needs.

26 Apr

THE ADVENTHEALTH BRAND IS AN EXPRESSION OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST MEANING

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By AdventHealth — In January 2019, the hospitals of what was known as Adventist Health System unified under a single brand: AdventHealth. Except for the system’s joint ventures, the 51 hospitals and hundreds of clinics and care sites now operate under a single moniker and carry a common brand promise: Feel whole.

AdventHealth’s brand promise is central to its public-facing messaging and is closely connected to the organization’s mission of Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ.

Reminiscent of the discourse in which Jesus said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10), the brand promise suggests that even the healthiest among us can aspire to feel whole.

However, in the same way, that the ministry of Seventh-day Adventist health care is connected to, but distinct from, the ministry of the denomination’s ecclesiastical arm, the corporate messaging of AdventHealth hopes to strike chords of harmony with that of the church, even while hitting different notes.

THE ADVENTIST CHURCH AND MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

The Seventh-day Adventist Church has no doctrinal teaching, statement, or guideline that speaks directly to the need the church and its ministries have for communications, marketing, and brand awareness. However, the importance of the message and teachings of the church has led to the practice of using creative and varied marketing methods from the earliest days of the Advent movement.

Whether it was to sell books and other publications or to bolster attendance at a seminar on Bible prophecy, church leaders, limited only by their creativity and financial resources, have regularly used attention-seeking strategies to raise awareness regarding their efforts.

In 1912, Baltimore journalist Walter L. Burgan attended an evangelistic series by Carlyle B. Haynes and became a convert to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He was then hired to be the head of the Public Relations Bureau of the General Conference, making the Seventh-day Adventist Church the first Protestant denomination with a public relations program. Church leaders recognized the critically important role of combating misinformation, breaking down prejudices, and building bridges of understanding in the community in order to raise public awareness of this young denomination. The Public Relations Bureau became the communications department of the church, and it continues to be tasked with the same charge.

Although the denomination has grown exponentially since those early years, and communications have become an established department at all levels of the organization, the focus of church communications is predominantly internal, with most efforts directed toward members. Beyond the signage placed in front of congregations, schools, and office buildings, very few resources are allocated to public awareness.

Messaging Distinctive Care

There are several scriptural models that support the assertive approach AdventHealth takes in its advertising and public relations efforts, especially those that seek to distinguish the efforts of the faith-based, consumer-focused institution it aspires to become. One vivid example comes from the pages of Exodus.

Moses is standing before God in the Tent of Meeting outside the Israelite encampment. He has just received tablets of stone from God for the second time. Moses is pleading with God that the Divine presence should accompany the chosen people on their journey to the Promised Land rather than the presence of an angel, as God had proposed in response to the insurrection which had just occurred.

“’How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and your people unless you go with us?’ Moses argued. ‘What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?’” Exodus 33:16 NIV

In this discourse, we find an essential goal of AdventHealth’s marketing and communications efforts: to show the distinctive nature of whole-person care that has become the hallmark of Seventh-day Adventist health care.

Whole-person care, which functions as an extension of Christ’s healing ministry, is distinctive from the care other healing organizations provide. While all evidence-based medicine is best rendered with compassion and seeks to be curative, faith-based, whole-person care is meant to be restorative, referencing the image of the Creator found in every living soul and balancing physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

Just as Moses knew the presence of God in the massive company of Israelite migrants would set them apart as a distinct nation, AdventHealth believes in the legacy of whole-person care, which recognizes the image of God in every human being and seeks the presence of God in every patient interaction, will distinguish it from all others who merely desire physical healing.

HONORING THE STORY OF THE HEALED

During His Galilean ministry, Jesus was asked by a ruler of the synagogue to heal his critically ill daughter. While journeying toward the home of Jairus, the crowd noticed Jesus stopping firmly in His tracks. An unanticipated act of healing had just occurred. A woman who sought a miracle in stealth and silence would be cajoled by Christ to speak openly about what God had done.

“When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak because she thought, ‘If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed. Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.’” Mark 5:28, 29 NIV

AdventHealth team members labor daily under the mission of Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ and desire to be the garment that functions as the conduit between the healing power of God and the desire resident in every AdventHealth consumer—namely, to feel whole.

However, the account of the woman who was healed by the faith-filled brush with Christ’s garment does not end with her healing but with her story. Christ would not let this woman leave His presence before giving witness to what had happened in her life in a moment so private that, were it not for His insistence, it would have gone unnoticed.

The marketing materials and brand advertising of AdventHealth also take up this challenge. Ultimately, the fuel giving validity and power to the television commercials, billboard ads, and marketing campaigns are the real stories of healing that happen every day in the skilled and compassionate care of team members.

“Go in peace and be freed from your suffering” were the closing words uttered by Jesus as the woman departed. The peace in her heart, the relief on her face, and the lightened steps of one who had so long carried the burden of her condition are the same sentiments conveyed in AdventHealth’s advertisements. This is what it looks like to feel whole. In AdventHealth’s marketing messages, the heroes of the story are always those who have been healed.

–AdventHealth; photo supplied

This article was originally published on Outlook Magazine’s website

21 Apr

CAMPION Students depict the life of Christ to the community

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By Campion Academy News – Loveland, Colorado … More than 400 church and community members assembled on Campion’s campus on April 16 to experience a student-produced passion play, Journey to the Cross.

The event, a yearly celebration of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, is held on Easter weekend.

Nine walk-through scenes from the life of Christ, beginning with his birth and leading to his death and resurrection, were depicted by more than 100 student actors under the direction of chaplains Nancy and Levi Meszaros and drama teacher Erin Johnson.

Isaac, a senior who performed in multiple scenes as the main Roman Centurion, reflected on the event. “As a Roman soldier, I got to imagine the crucifixion and resurrection from a different perspective.” He added, “I thought about how much of a nuisance this whole ordeal would have been to the soldiers at first, but then everything changes when the centurion looks up at Jesus on the cross and realizes that he has crucified the Lord of Lords. He then knelt before Jesus, which I think is the most humbling scene in the entire story.”

Playing the role of Jesus at the crucifixion was challenging, yet impactful, for senior student Jadon.

“When I got up on that cross during the first show, I was scared,” reflected Jadon. “I was in the modern-day equivalent of a loincloth, and so I felt very vulnerable and exposed. Jesus likely didn’t even have that, but he chose not to focus on that.”

Jadon added, “He [Jesus] focused on all of humanity, which he loved, and chose to care for others despite his vulnerability. It helped make the suffering and embarrassment Jesus went through more real, but even more, it made the love of Jesus real. It was an honor to play the role of Jesus, and I would remind everyone to keep his sacrifice in mind constantly in their lives.”

–Campion Academy News; photos supplied

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