Nathan Cranson – Montrose, Colorado … Faith, Fellowship, Fitness, Fortitude, and Fun—these are the core values of the F-5 Challenge* group. Every year, this group gathers from all around the United States and beyond to enjoy adventure, worship, and friendship. This year’s event was held in the Telluride, Colorado, September 11-16.

For the last couple years, the extra enthusiastic F-5ers gather a few days early to participate in a Service Event. This year’s service event on September 11 was held near Montrose, Colorado, about an hour and a half drive from Telluride.

After lots of planning and coordinating with the Montrose Seventh-day Adventist Church in Montrose, Colorado, 22 energetic people showed up ready for action. “The first day is a workday and boy did they work! They helped a nearby Youth With A Mission (YWAM) Outpost in Cimarron, Colorado, with their wildfire mitigation, which meant several hours of chainsaws, hauling logs, and splitting firewood,” recalled Nathan Cranson, head pastor at the Montrose Church.

“Curt Edmonson, the director of this YWAM Outpost, said that they had accomplished in one day what it would have taken them months to accomplish,” continued Cranson. “The YWAM staff were great hosts, providing two meals and four different entrees so that all forms of dietary requirements were met.”

The second day, September 12, the F-5 Challenge group set up a health fair at the River Bottom Park in Montrose, teaching the community about the eight laws of health.

Cranson helped at the “Faith” booth and commented, “What a blessing it was to work with such healthy and enthusiastic group. They were full of smiles and didn’t hesitate in inviting the people passing by to join in. I was able to have several spiritual conversations with community members who never would have walked into a church but were happy to talk and ask questions and receive prayer.”

“I am grateful for the F-5 team who demonstrated another way that we can be reaching our community,” he continued. “Their fitness and energy spoke volumes about their commitment to their values as well. How much better we can serve our community when we are taking care of ourselves as well. A special thanks to Shawndra McComb and her amazing team for all the time they spent organizing and executing this event. It made a difference!”

* The F-5 Challenge group is not affiliated with the Rocky Mountain Conference of Seventh-day Adventists or the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

—Nathan Cranson is the lead pastor for the Montrose, Gunnison, and Paonia Seventh-day Adventist Churches. Photos supplied.