RMCNews with Ted Williams – Rocky Ford, Colorado … “I’ve always loved the Lord, and he’s always been in my life. I’ve seen miracle after miracle happen through prayer. I pray for everyone, and they call me. I have a list that I pray for, and I’ve seen things happen that are just awesome,” commented Glenna Walter in a recent conversation with RMCNews.
Glenna Walter has been a life-long member of the local community in southeastern Colorado near Rocky Ford. Raised in an Adventist family, she also attended Adventist schools all the way through college where she received a bachelor’s degree in education and communication.
Reflecting on her upbringing in these faith communities, Glenna remarked, “My mother was a beautiful Seventh-day Adventist and taught us from the time we were young. And our [Adventist] schools that we went to were incredible. They weren’t jam-packed and it was a nice place to go because of the gentleness. You become a friend of Christ, and that is the thing that has kept me going—I am pushing on 100 years old now.”
“I love school,” she continued. “I did teach at a school for a while, but I decided I would be a foster parent. My husband and I took in 22 babies.”
Glenna and her husband were married 65 years before he passed away. Along with being foster parents, they raised five children of their own on their farm and cattle ranch. “I’m a cattle person, and we’ve always had cattle and the farm. So, your whole life is wrapped around horses and cattle and ground and gardens. It’s a ‘get up early in the morning and feed the animals and then you eat’ lifestyle.”
But Glenna and her husband made time to be actively involved and serve in their local church, the Arkansas Valley Seventh-day Adventist Church in Rocky Ford, Colorado. In 1985, Glenna was ordained by Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) officials as an elder of the church:
“After I got out of college, they made me an elder. I have a special feeling for people, I love people, and I would love to see every church just lined up with cars. It would be such a wonderful thing for them to get acquainted with Christ. He is so important and keeps you safe and keeps you well. [Knowing Christ] enhances your life to the point that every little thing you are going through doesn’t bother you.”
“And our church is always so sweet,” praised Glenna. “Our church is kind and gentle; it’s working in the community and trying to get things done with people that need help.”
The Arkansas Valley Church regularly participates in community outreach as members of the local Chamber of Commerce, hosting a prayer and literature booth at the community festival, a 60-second radio prayer every morning, and involvement with a ministerial alliance.
“Covid kind of hurt us—so many family members were lost. I looked through town and saw these beautiful churches that are around, and, for a while, there were no cars anywhere. I really had a deep feeling that, ‘oh my, you’ve got to find the Lord.’ You’ve got to go to church and talk to Christ, because he’s the thing that really inspires your life here and is your hope and keeps you healthy,” she reflected.
When asked if she could remember a particular time when she saw God moving powerfully through the congregation, Glenna remarked, “You see it every Sabbath day when you go to church. There’s a special feeling of love among all the members and you get it. The love grows.”
“You get to where you know people from the time they are young. You watch them growing older and watch their love for Christ getting stronger and stronger. It’s a loving community that is a true love. And we do love this community. We have lived here all our lives, and it has been everything that we needed.”
Of special note, Glenna still serves as organist at the church for Sabbath services. Ted Williams, lead regional pastor at the Arkansas Valley Church, commented that her musical contributions to the worship service were greatly missed while she recovered from a recent fall.
“I am surrounded by stars, and Glenna Walter is a star!” remarked Williams. “She is a confidant and friend to everyone and tries to bring peace to those who have left the Church for one reason or another. She is constantly and consistently lifting up Jesus.”
“My whole life has been with Christ. I’ve never been alone without him. I’m so pleased because miracle after miracle has happened to my family, and the lives that have been saved through prayer are just amazing. He’s here. He’s in your life. He really is.”
—Ted Williams is lead pastor at the Arkansas Valley, Lamar, and Trinidad Seventh-day Adventist Churches. Photo by Ted Williams.
