RMCNews – Highlands Ranch, Colorado … The Mile High Academy (MHA) principal Andrew Carpenter, Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) Department of Education leadership team Diane Harris and Paul Negrete, and pastors from the churches that support MHA, came together to see how they could collaborate to support the combined mission and support growth in churches and schools. From this collaboration manifested a two-day event entitled Mission Summit held February 21-22 at MHA in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, that brought together over 350 attendees.
“The first gathering was here at Mile High Academy, and we began to chat about how we could better interact with the school. I asked the question of what we have done collectively as churches together in the past and no one could remember, so then the ball really began to roll,” remarked Mark Weir, lead pastor Denver South Seventh-day Adventist Church. “I just want to say how thankful I am for the area pastors who stepped up in all areas of responsibility. What we really want is not just an event, but a beginning of a catalyst that says we are intentional on the mission of Jesus.”
The event was sponsored by RMC, MHA, Denver South, Denver West, Littleton Seventh-day Adventist churches, and LifeSource Adventist Fellowship (LAF) in the southern Denver suburbs. The event began Friday evening with a praise service, mission spotlight, and an evening message from Tim Madding, director of the North American Division Evangelism Institute.
Madding remarked on current statistics showing a decline or plateau in church membership throughout North America attributing common reasons to include “mission drift,” resistance to change, inward focus, church conflict, management issues, aging congregations, spiritual lukewarmness, and some churches attributing their lack of growth to external factors.
Madding did however stress that he believes churches are not too far gone and that the mission of the church is still possible, that mission being making disciples of Jesus. He highlighted that the new generation of church leaders are more open to change and mission fulfillment and that the transformation of people is the work of the Holy Spirit, not human effort alone. He called for a full surrender to Jesus to lead the revival and for the church to shift from complacency to actively loving and reaching people as Jesus did.
The second day of the event, February 22, began with Sabbath school for the youth and a praise and worship service for the adult attendees. Madden provided the message for the worship service by discussing the mission and purpose of the church, defining it as bringing people to Jesus and helping them grow as “mature disciples.” He provided steps to make mature disciples and encouraged church leaders to focus more on the mission than “running programs.”
Steven Harris, an attendee and LAF member, commented, “I have been wondering how to broach a conversation that I deemed would be difficult, but now I see it’s going to be actually kind of easy after listening to today’s Sabbath school and sermon. I will stop hesitating to bring that conversation up with a new friend of mine and see how I can be helpful in furthering their walk with Jesus, because that’s what we’re all here for.”
A potluck was held directly after the worship service that was attended by most present, and afternoon breakout sessions were held on evangelism led by Madding and Weir. Serve and share opportunities were made available in the afternoon. These opportunities included creating cards of encouragement for nursing home residents, care packages for the unhoused, gratitude goodie bags for local healthcare workers, creating prayer journals, and an afternoon walk to take prayer requests from the surrounding community.
“At the creative station, we’re making cards for nursing home residents to encourage them and remind them that God loves them,” commented Deborah Gandia, creation station volunteer and Littleton Church member. “We are also providing little prayer journals and bookmarks that you can take home with you just so you can continuously carry God around with you and be praying for people who you might meet.”
Heidi Carpenter, LAF associate pastor, led the closing Sabbath Vespers program and opened with a question: “Do you remember a time when you had a ministry with someone—reaching out to someone—and it did something to your heart starting a flame? That flame is what I call mission spirit. It starts in the heart of a follower of Jesus when they have one of those experiences and other experiences fan that flame,” she continued.
Heidi spoke of the parable in Mark 4 commenting, “I love the fact that this verse says that God is the one who does the growing. One of my biggest worries with ministry was, ‘what if I don’t do it right?’ The main point is God is asking you to do something, do anything. And He’s the one that can take it and make it what it should be.”
The event wrapped up with a simple meal and game night, including basketball, volleyball, and board games for participants to enjoy fellowship in fun after two very full days of worship and activity.
“Two things that I’ve appreciated this weekend is, one, feeling like one big family and not separated, isolated groups who don’t really know each other. And I hope that that happens more,” commented Sonia Huenergardt, an attendee and member of Newday Seventh-day Adventist Church.
She continued, “The other thing I’ve really appreciated is hearing an emphasis on discipleship. It’s been something I’ve longed for and something I’ve felt other people were longing for too. Not just the instruction to go read your Bible and grow as a Christian, but some really practical helps for how to do that. I’m really happy to hear we are talking about leading people to Jesus and helping people grow in Jesus. And I hope we continue to do that.”
“Mission Summit was about more than just powerful messages, excellent music, inspiring testimonies, and delicious food,” remarked Godfrey Miranda, lead pastor at the Little Church. “It was about collectively recalibrating our focus on God’s mission and practically demonstrating that we are truly in this together.”
The leadership committee for Mission Summit and the Rocky Mountain Conference would like to acknowledge and thank everyone who put in their time and support for the event. Portions of the event were recorded. CLICK HERE to see the full library of recordings or watch them below.
—RMCNews
