Table of Contents Mid-America Union September 2009 Editorial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Defending Adventist Fundamental Beliefs . . . . . . . . . . 4 "Radical Retirees" of the MidAmerica Union. . . . . . . . . . 6 "Shining Star in St. Louis". . . . . 6 "Riches in Retirement Building God's Kingdom". . . . . . . . . . 7 "Retiree Volunteers in District Churches". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 "Uplifting Their Neighbors" . . . 8 "Littleton Retirees Make Big Impact". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 "More Than She'll Ever Know". . . 9 Central States News . . . . . . . . . . 10 Dakota News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Iowa-Missouri News. . . . . . . . . . 14 Kansas-Nebraska News. . . . . . 16 Minnesota News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Rocky Mountain News . . . . . . . 20 Union College News . . . . . . . . . . 22 Adventist Health System. . . . . . 24 Mid-America Blog Update. . . . . 26 Letters to the Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Farewell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Sunset Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Find individual conference reports on the following pages...
OUTLOOK, (ISSN 0887-977X) September 2009, Volume 30, Number 9. Outlook is published monthly by the Mid-America Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, 8307 Pine Lake Road, Lincoln, NE 68516; Telephone: 402.484.3000; Fax: 402.483.4453; E-mail: info@maucsda.org. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Outlook, PO Box 6128, Lincoln, NE 68506. E-mail: outlook@maucsda.org. When possible clip name and address from a previous issue. Printed at Pacific Press Publishing Association, Standard postage paid at Nampa, ID. Free for Mid-America church members and $10 per year for non-Mid-America subscribers. ©2009 Mid-America Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. All Rights Reserved. Adventist® and Seventh-day Adventist® are the registered trademarks of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
Unless otherwise noted, all photos are stock photography. 2
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Iowa-Missouri Conference
14 Central States 10 Conference
Rocky Mountain Conference
Note: Central States is an ethnically diverse regional conference encompassing the entire Mid-America Union territory.
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Union College 22 Kansas-Nebraska 16 Conference
In This Issue... Did you know you can mingle witnessing with having fun? And that's not just for kids! Perhaps we can get so serious that it paralyzes our outreach for Christ and generates toxic anxiety in our churches. See our president’s editorial across the page. Jesus was a man in touch with sorrow, yet He generated joy. He understood about parties for a purpose. Not everyone approved:“This man fellowships with sinners!” was the critique of Christ’s outreach strategy.Yet he kept socializing with poor as well as rich, famous and infamous,
On the Cover: Cover photographer Norman Bolejack loves to head to the mountains and shoot wildlife—with a camera! He put his new Nikon D90 to good use in capturing the joy of these two women you can read about on page 9.
Minnesota Conference
Dakota Conference
troublesome men and even scandalized women. This month you’ll read about retirees who are fruitful and fulfilled in selfless service for the Savior. Some of them are having quite a bit of joy about it. Their stories start on page 6. Nevertheless, some fellow Christians consider Adventists a joy-deficient, legalistic, unbiblical cult. Recently I attended a public seminar where SDAs got blasted with such allegations. To counter these attacks against Adventism around the world, several of us have started a new website. See page 4, and check out www.sdaforme.com.
Martin Weber, editor
Outlook Staff Editor: Martin Weber Managing Editor/Ad Manager: Amy Prindle Layout Designer: Amy Prindle Classifieds/Subscriptions: Chris Smith Copy Editor: Chris Smith News Editors Central States: Kymone Hinds Dakota: Heidi Shoemaker Iowa-Missouri: Michelle Miracle Kansas-Nebraska: John Treolo Minnesota: Claudio Consuegra Rocky Mountain: Karen Cress Union College: Jacque L. Smith
Mid-America Union Conference President: Roscoe J. Howard III VP for Administration: Thomas L. Lemon VP for Finance: Elaine Hagele Associate VP for Finance: Walt Sparks
Local Conferences CENTRAL STATES: 3301 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66104; 913.371.1071 www.central-states.org DAKOTA: P.O. Box 520, 217 North Grand Ave., Pierre, SD 57501; 605.224.8868 www.dakotaadventist.org IOWA-MISSOURI: P.O. Box 65665, 1005 Grand Ave., West Des Moines, IA 50265; 515.223.1197 www.imsda.org KANSAS-NEBRASKA: 3440 Urish Road, Topeka, KS 66614-4601; 785.478.4726 www.ks-ne.org MINNESOTA: 7384 Kirkwood Court, Maple Grove, MN 55369; 763.424.8923 www.mnsda.com ROCKY MOUNTAIN: 2520 S. Downing St., Denver, CO 80210; 303.733.3771 www.rmcsda.org
Editorial Dispelling Toxic Anxiety in Your Church by Roscoe J. Howard III
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ost men live lives of quiet desperation,” observed Henry David Thoreau, American poet and philosopher. Organizations, being comprised of people, typically reflect this common human anxiety. This includes church congregations and committees, schools and conference offices. Reducing organizational anxiety is one of the most important, yet least understood, tasks of spiritual leadership.
Anxiety is counterproductive even in the animal world, as farmers are aware. Researchers at Oregon State University report: “When a hen experiences stress, even so minimal as to go unnoticed, she may respond by ceasing egg production.”1 Fear of the fox harms the hens and frustrates their mission even before the enemy invades their shelter to destroy the flock. A wise farmer takes whatever measures are needed to foster an atmosphere of security and peace. Anxiety within the flock of God’s saints is also damaging and devastating to our fruitfulness. Bold and creative outreach gets paralyzed. Board members become reactive rather than proactive. Dedicated members descend into “fight or flight mode.” But when church leaders embrace the peace of God in the unity of the Spirit, morale is restored. People trust each other and become collaborative. This generates the synergy in the Spirit needed to transform our churches into fulfilling God’s purpose. So much for the need to dispel the anxiety among us. How can this happen? Our non-anxious presence is none other than our Lord Jesus Christ, the “Prince of peace” (Isaiah 9:6). “He Himself is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14). Consider how Jesus calmed the troubled sea. Like many of our churches, the boatload of disciples overflowed with toxic anxiety on the storm-tossed sea. Failing in their attempts to bail themselves out of trouble, the disciples cried out in not-so-quiet desperation. Along came Jesus, who spoke peace into their situation: “Be of good cheer! It is I; be not afraid” (Matthew 14:27). When the disciples welcomed Him as leader of their boat, Christ calmed their stormy spirits and reorganized their situation so they could proceed with His purposes for His church. Sometimes we cling to our concerns, as if anxiety were a virtue. Let’s not confuse being upright with being “uptight.” Edwin H. Friedman, respected Jewish author and systems therapist, reports that even just having a serious spirit can be destructive, being more the cause of problems than the effect of them.2 He sees seriousness as embedded in a constant and chronic anxiety, which makes an organization inflexible and incapable of proper perspective. We can be so deadly earnest that it kills our ministry. We can be so worried whether the community will come to an outreach event that we don’t even schedule it. We can get so stressed about not having enough baptisms that we won’t even engage in evangelism. Church life itself becomes a suffocating burden instead of an exciting adventure. To our churches filled with anxiety, Jesus says with a gracious smile: “Come unto Me, and I will give you rest. . . . My yoke is easy, and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). The fruit of the Spirit is “love, joy, peace…” (Galatians 5:22). Did you notice that joy comes right after love? It’s even listed higher than longsuffering and temperance—as important as those virtues are to Christian living. Happiness in the Lord is one of the most important—and overlooked—Christian qualities. “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10)! Friedman suggests even having playfulness during meetings—not gratuitous silliness, but strategic humor that defuses anxiety. Then everyone relaxes and enjoys getting things done together. “Wait a minute,” somebody might warn. “Jesus was a man of sorrows—He didn’t have a sense of humor.” I believe He did. How else would playful children be attracted to Him? Surely He shared our grief and anxiety—and turned them into joy! He even used humor as a tool to defuse anxiety. Where’s that in the Bible? Mark 3:17. Two of Christ’s top leaders, brothers James and John, had a problem with turbulent anxiety. Jesus not only prayed for them, He playfully nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder.” Christ’s deft touch of humor diffused the toxic anxiety among His disciples, raising morale and helping them bond as a ministry unit.
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We may experience the same blessing in our congregations, schools and conference offices when we learn to be happy together. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy and peace!
Roscoe J. Howard III, DMin (can), is president of the Mid-America Union. 1http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/html/pnw/pnw565. Accessed 2Edwin
via Google, July 24, 2009.
H. Friedman, Generation to Generation: Family Process in Church and Synagogue (New York: Guilford Press), p. 50.
All Scriptures are from the New King James Version.
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A New Website to Defend Adventist Truth: www.sdaforme.com by Martin Weber
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ocky Mountain pastor Michael Campbell, one of my good friends, believes in connecting with his community. He’s enjoyed good success in forming bonds with local civic and Christian leaders in Montrose, Colorado—until he interviewed to be a volunteer board member for a respected Christian agency. To his surprise, Dr. Campbell met intense opposition to his participation from a lady who just one week previously said she had not known anything about Seventh-day Adventists. To learn who we are and what we believe, she did what everybody does these days and “Googled” the name of our denomination. Instantly she got connected with a host of hostile websites that slander the Adventist message, mission and our founders—particularly Ellen White. Michael told a camp meeting audience in Minnesota that he has never experienced anything quite like it before— instant rejection through Internet slander. Seventh-day Adventists around the world are beginning to encounter similar organized opposition over the Internet. Every time an evangelistic brochure gets mailed to your neighbors, we are at the mercy of getting Googled into rejection before people even have a chance to meet us and know who we really are. The same is true when you invite a coworker to join you for Sabbath worship. Our good name is getting massacred by an assortment of anti-Adventist websites, usually run by outof-touch former members. People who dislike or even despise Adventists are defining us to our neighbors. It’s
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a huge problem, getting worse all the time. We have to do something about it. Several of us here in Lincoln, Nebraska have just set up a website—www.sdaforme.com—responding to anti-Adventist opposition with a positive presentation of God’s mercy and truth in our message and mission. This new website was born the night of June 26, when a former Adventist pastor came to town to do a weekend seminar at a local community church. That Friday evening I heard my Seventh-day Adventist faith defamed hour after hour. The attacks focused on our beliefs regarding 1) the Sabbath, 2) the pre-Advent Judgment and 3) the role of Ellen G. White. The main speaker declared: “You can’t be an Adventist without being tainted” by legalism and other unbiblical errors. One of his leading assistants declared to the audience: “God removed from me the Adventist spirit and gave me His Holy Spirit.” As if we Adventists are possessed or at least hounded by evil spirits! The anti-Adventist presenters advertised their own websites, along with half a dozen others, similar to the ones that had poisoned the mind of the woman Pastor Campbell tried to connect with in his community. Frustrated and heartbroken to see many among the 350 people in the audience confused and led astray, I retreated after the meeting to the Mid-America Union headquarters office. In the basement, our communication department has storage closet with a private prayer location. With nobody else in the building past 10 p.m. Friday night, I cried out to God to do something to defend His truth. Just then my cell phone rang. It was my friends Chris and Candice
McConnell (who had redesigned our Union website). Although I’m three decades older than they are, the three of us share a common bond of confidence and appreciation for God’s grace and truth reflected in the fundamental beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists. Chris and Candice also had attended the meeting that night. They felt impressed to propose a plan—why not start our own website on which we could address all those misunderstandings and misrepresentations against Seventh-day Adventists? I perceived their proposal as God’s answer to the problem I was praying about. The result is the website, www.sdaforme.com. Although we have set up this online resource with the blessing of the Mid-America Union president, Roscoe Howard, all its content is our own, not supplied by an official church committee. The website name (also accessible as www.sda4me.com, if that’s easier for you to remember) tells you what it is: simply our personal expression of conviction and appreciation for the privilege of belonging to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Chris and Candice contributed their technical professional expertise, and I contributed the doctrinal content, based on chapters, articles, graduate papers, scripts and sermons that I’ve written over the past three decades on the points of Adventist truth under attack. Our goal is not to counterattack the enemies of Adventism, but rather to counter their attack in the spirit of God’s grace and truth. We don’t pretend that the Adventist Church is everything it ought to be. In fact, we are quite candid in confessing ongoing issues with legalism, inconsistency and intolerance that have disheartened thousands of formerly faithful and fervent Adventists, influencing them to leave our denomination. We hope to reconnect with their minds through authenticity and credibility while winning their hearts with love. That’s our goal, anyway. My lead blog post is titled: “Please forgive us!—and don’t forsake us.”
Chris, Candice and I extend our welcome for you to visit www.sdaforme.com, and to invite your friends there too. There is something else you can help us with, and this is really important: When people Google the controversial issues being agitated against our church, we want our new website to show up among all the opposition websites. For this to happen, we need to get www.sdaforme.com linked to as many Adventist websites around the world as possible. Please have your local church website list us as a link. Also, if you have a personal Facebook page or similar social networking account, we have a “widget” you can use to create an automatic link. Click on the "tell a friend" tab on the new website and you will get connected. One more request: please pray that this website will minister to members among us who are quietly agonizing over questions raised about the Sabbath, the pre-Advent judgment and the ministry of Ellen White. We don’t want to scold them for suffering conscientious doubts after somebody challenged their faith. Nor will we offer superficial platitudes—denominational “happy talk”— intended to brush aside their questions. These precious brothers and sisters have honest questions that deserve honest answers. Chris, Candice and I want our new website to be a safe place where they can get the information they need to remain faithful Seventh-day Adventists, happy again in the grace and truth that God has entrusted to our church. Pray also that we can reconnect with former Seventh-day Adventists, precious sheep now scattered from our flock. May God help us engage them in a conversation that will eventually guide them home with us again.
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Martin Weber, DMin, is editor of Outlook magazine.
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Shining Star
in St. Louis
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illie Fultz-Hopkins is one of God’s brightest shining stars in the Central States Conference and the entire Mid-America Union. She is loved by neighbors, honored by her church family and anointed by God for ministry. Ms. Lillie, as she is affectionately known, belongs to Agape SDA Church in University City, near St. Louis. Upon becoming Adventist in 1982, her deep love for God and people immediately immersed her in community service. She launched "Meals on Wheels" to help the Photo courtesy of the Central States Conference homeless. Soon after, she became president of the regional Community Service Federation as well community service leader for her local congregation. She also planned and led the first health fair for her church, which is still thriving today. Ms. Lillie’s compassion is not confined locally. She has ministered to suffering people in South Dakota and each year participates in a weeklong mission to Mexico, distributing clothing, food and medication.
by Lydie Theodor
She has even crossed the ocean to serve in Uganda. Born and raised with 14 siblings in Glendora, Mississippi, Lillie Fultz-Hopkins came to St. Louis at age 22. She recalls simply, “The Lord blessed me.” Following the heritage of her mother and grandmother, Ms. Lillie never let her own background of poverty keep her from being rich in faith and works. Anyone needing help is blessed to be near her. She testifies that her mother and grandmother taught her to share what the Lord gives her, “because that’s what we’re on earth to do—help people.” As Ms. Lillie’s years of dedication add up, so do the recognitions and awards. Her own Agape Church family has officially recognized her service, along with various St. Louis nonprofit organizations and the state of Missouri. She received the governor’s HEROES award and medal. So much has she inspired everyone around her that nine years ago the Central States Conference launched the Lillie Fultz Humanitarian Award, naming her as the first recipient. Pastor James White, Central States Conference community services leader, says of Ms. Lillie: “She is a modern day Dorcas of the SDA Church.” Pastor Cryston Josiah of Agape Church adds, “She is motivated by the Spirit of God to help others and feels that God has given her this calling to fulfill the ministry of Matthew 25.” Most telling perhaps is Ms. Lillie’s own testimony: “Helping people was what Jesus did, and it’s the work He left us to do. That is why I enjoy doing what I do at the age of 73. I trust that soon the Lord will bring an interested person to be trained. But as long as I am able to move, I will continue to work for the Lord.”
"...because that's what we're on earth to do— help people."
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"Ms. Lillie" Fultz-Hopkins of Agape Church near St. Louis, Missouri
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Riches in Retirement Building God’s Kingdom
by Michael Campbell
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Michael Campbell, PhD, is pastor of the Montrose district in Colorado.
Photo courtesy of Michael Campbell
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verybody I meet in our community seems to know Robin and Lamorna Riches, and I’m hearing much appreciation for these dedicated Adventist retirees. Often I bump into Lamorna as she volunteers at the hospital and visits hospice patients. Lamorna also organizes our church to participate in ShareFest, a multi-denominational effort that spans a range of community activities from yard work and house repairs to cleaning the local animal shelter. Robin works with abused and neglected children through Court Appointed Special Advocates, for which he recently received a community award. An avid golfer, he is also teaching his pastor how to golf! I never know for sure with whom we may be golfing—recently a community leader and retired mayor. Or it may even be someone estranged from our church, getting reconnected because of the Riches. Robin and Lamorna’s involvement in our community is broad and deep—and they have a good time in the process. They frequently bring people to Sabbath worship, sitting with them and introducing them around the church. As their pastor, I’m so thankful for the Riches and how they are using retirement years to daily plant seeds for Christ’s kingdom.
Retirees Robin and Lamorna Riches enjoy church and community activities.
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Photo courtesy of tGordon Anic
Dale and Dena Olson
Uplifting Their Neighbors R e t i r e d
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S e r v i n g
by John H. Cress
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ale and Dena Olsen are two retirees who serve from the core of their being as Christ-followers. Dale is head deacon at LifeSource Adventist Fellowship; Dena is the facilitating teacher of a Sabbath school class. And they also serve nonmember neighbors through Denver’s Adventist Community Services (ACS). Dale Olsen manages the ACS food bank—third largest in Colorado. Last year his team served 48,500 people and distributed 200 tons of food. That food has to be picked up at various locations, sometimes purchased at a reduced cost. Then it is sorted and placed on shelves. Clients choose their own food and get it bagged at a checking stand, just like at a grocery store. One of the perks for Dale is volunteering with fellow retirees. Connecting with each other, while feeling like they are doing something worthwhile for those in need, keeps them all coming back. Dena manages the ACS thrift store. She receives and processes donations every day, providing low cost goods
to customers. Those devastated by financial circumstances need not pay for what they get; just last year ACS gave away $38,000 in free items. But it also had a sales profit of $50,000, which was put back into ACS family services to buy food, bus tokens, hotel rooms and meet other needs. Dena acknowledges that serving is not always enjoyable. Many clients have a sense of entitlement and are difficult to work with. Often only one in 10 even seems grateful— like the lepers Jesus healed. But Dena keeps coming back, she says, because she “can’t say no to God.” He has blessed her and Dale, and He has called them to serve those regarded as least and love those who are lost. Dale and Dena have learned both the joy and the cost of being servant volunteers, and they continue that uplifting ministry because that is who they are.
Often only one in 10 even seems grateful—like the lepers Jesus healed. But Dena keeps coming back, she says, because she “can’t say no to God.”
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John H. Cress is pastor of LifeSource Adventist Fellowship (formerly Denver First Church).
BigImpact by Bruce Aalborg
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Photo courtesy of Bruce Aalborg
ne particular retiree in Christian service at Littleton Church is John Hammond, serving each week at Colorado’s Ridge View youth detention center, where he leads a small group and assists the chaplain in worship services. His John Hammond heart yearns for these troubled teens, and they respond when he shares Christ with them.
Photo courtesy of Bruce Aalborg
Littleton Retirees Make "Hometown Hero" Elise (right) with Brownie, at the bowling alley where they met
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lise McGrew-Hall of Littleton Church has a true spirit of joy and service. She regularly takes sandwiches to a hospital oncology unit where cancer patients, their families and the nursing staff all love her. Elise makes friends for God in having fun, too. She invited Brownie Hamilton, a friend she met while bowling, to church. Brownie then became a baptized Seventh-day Adventist—along with her husband, Bob. Now Brownie serves together with Elise in hospital ministry. Recently, Elise was featured as one of Denver’s Hometown Heroes on local ABC channel 7.
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Bruce Aalborg is pastor of Littleton Church in Colorado.
More Than She'll Ever Know by Gordon Anic
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Photo courtesy of Gordon Anic
he 200 residents of Marcella Manor have been blessed many years by the talented love of 96-yearold Stella McNeil. God gifted her with sewing, and she has used it to connect with neighbors and share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Since Stella lives in a secular community, she can’t do much verbal evangelism, but God shines His love through her to everyone she meets. Nearly all residents know that Stella is a Seventh-day Adventist. And not only do they see her faithfully go to church each Sabbath, but all week long they also experience Jesus’ love in a deeper way because of Stella. She is one of the veteran prayer warriors for Arvada Church in suburban Denver. Whenever a special request comes in, Stella prays until God answers! About a year ago, gout and arthritis crippled her hands so badly she had to give up sewing. But she still volunteers in the gift shop every Monday morning. She also ministers to other homebound members of Arvada Church through regular phone calls and greeting cards. Even though writing is difficult for her, she says, “It’s all I can do now.” Actually, Stella does more than she’ll ever know.
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Stella McNeil, active in Arvada at 96
Gordon Anic is pastor of Arvada Church.
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Mid-America Union News Central States News Pathfinder Day in Des Moines The Simba Pathfinders of Philadelphia Church in Des Moines sponsored worship one Sabbath in May. Led by Master Guide Milton King and assistant director Roberta Mays, the Simbas in their decorated uniforms served as ushers, marched with the flag to the front of the sanc-
tuary and recited the Pathfinder Law and Pledge. The theme of the day was Esther, the Jewish girl chosen by King Xerxes as his new queen. The Pathfinders put on a skit portraying her life story, which seemed much appreciated by the congregation.
Photo courtesy of the Central States Conference
by Sharon Tate
Portraying the story of Esther
Photo courtesy of the Central States Conference
Following the skit, Pastor Marlon T. Perkins presented the message of the day, drawing out lessons from the ancient story of Esther and Xerxes for contemporary young people. That afternoon, Pathfinders visited elderly church members, distributing gifts. Their evening service featured an induction and investiture ceremony. A social event crowned the day’s activities.
Cleansed in God’s Sea of Forgetfulness by Janice McKinney
Photo courtesy of the Central States Conference
One Sunday morning in June, 52 women walked through “The Gate Called Beautiful” to “The Sea of Forgetfulness.” It happened at Linwood Boulevard Temple in Kansas City, Missouri. Shirley Fordham and her women’s ministries staff welcomed women
Event organizers Vilya Jackson and Kyrinda Richardson
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of all ages, races and creeds. Vilya Jackson and Kyrinda Richardson both orchestrated the event and decorated the church facility. Speaker Heather Koffler answered the question: “Can I forgive that person?” She explained from the Gospel of Matthew how offenses come to all, since we live in an imperfect world. A failure to forgive leaves victims in emotional and spiritual bondage. But then we realize our own need for God’s forgiveness through the blood of Jesus. This liberates us from guilt, anger, resentment and bitterness. Then we are equipped as born-again ambassadors of Jesus Christ to set others free. Solos by Pat Green and LaVerne Berkel confirmed God’s forgiveness and
Photo courtesy of the Central States Conference
Sharon Tate is communications secretary for Philadelphia Church in Des Moines.
The Simba Pathfinder club
grace. Laughter and tears abounded as the women reflected on what it meant for them personally to forgive and be forgiven. They jotted down any issues Heather Koffler, they needed to release guest speaker and brought them forward to a beautiful large bowl symbolizing God’s “Sea of Forgetfulness.” The folded papers they dropped into the blue water dissolved, representing God’s forgiving grace and empowering Spirit. Finally, the women gathered hand in hand at “The Gate Called Beautiful” as Bobby Rice prayed that their new awareness and freedom would last until Jesus comes.
Mid-America Union News Central States News Northside’s Food Bank: #1 in St. Louis by Brenda Jackson
Photo courtesy of the Central States Conference
Volunteers at Northside's Food Pantry
Bread Company and Straub’s Gourmet Foods. About 50 donations per month are collected from these generous suppliers and distributed every Sunday and Wednesday through Northside’s food bank. More than 1,300 clients per month are Clients receive both food and prayers. served, each selecting their own preferred groceries. Real- try has the use of one well-worn van izing the need for souls to be fed as well for pickups. Refrigerators and freezas bodies, Northside offers brief talks ers, mostly donated by members of about God’s love and invites guests to the church, need replacing. Morgan submit requests for the prayer circle and her staff trust the Lord to sustain that precedes each food distribution. A the needs of Northside’s ministry in community Bible class started in June. serving the needs of the community. Between 12 and 15 volunteers assist Morgan, each serving from two to 20 Brenda Jackson is communication secretary hours each week. At present the pan- for Northside Church. Photo courtesy of the Central States Conference
The neighborhood food pantry of Northside Adventist Church has been ranked as the number one food bank in their St. Louis region. Northside provides frozen foods, fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy products and freshly baked bread. Led by Laura Morgan, the community services staff has partnered with local businesses such as Whole Foods, Dierbergs, Schnucks Grocers, St. Louis
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Mid-America Union News Dakota News Dakota Adventists Respond to Dickinson Tornado
Adventist distribution center. The local North Dakota Citizen Corps coordinator worked with Alexander and Temple to get the Adventist relief center open Sabbath morning. Additional support poured in from Dakota Adventist churches. According to Alexander, $1,600 in direct donations ($1,000 from Grassy Butte Church) helped resupply such necessities as infant food and clothing. Working 12-hour shifts, the Adventist distribution center served more than 250 tornado victims. Alexander remarked, “I’m so proud of everyone!” One FEMA representative de-
Photo courtesy of Sarah Werner
An EF3 tornado with winds reaching 150 mph struck Dickinson, North Dakota the evening of Wednesday, July 8. The twister damaged 450 homes and businesses, knocking out power and uprooting 70-foot trees. The next day, Pastor Michael Temple phoned Phyllis Alexander, Dakota Adventist Community Services/ Disaster Response (ACS/DR) coordinator, to discuss how his church and community center could help. Several conference calls later, head elder Gary Messer was on the road. He took a specially discounted U-Haul to Dakota Adventist Academy and picked up emergency supplies left over from last spring’s Red River flooding. Elder Myron and Corky Gorden stockpiled supplies at the KPAR Community Event Center, located in Dickinson Mall. Kmart donated $10,000 in new clothing and $3,000 in personal care items. Coleman donated 100 sleeping bags, 50 coolers, 25 camping stoves and 25 lanterns. Dickinson Church members crafted signs for ACS/DR identifying KPAR as the local Adventist Disaster Response center. The regional FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) office is five doors down from KPAR. Employees there referred clients to the
Photo courtesy of Sarah Werner
by Heidi Shoemaker
Volunteers serving at the Community Center
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clared, “You Adventists really have it together. You’re doing a wonderful job, and you did it very quickly!” Several non-members in the community expressed interest in learning more about the community center and the local Adventist church. The Dickinson tornado is the second significant natural disaster to strike the Dakotas to date in 2009. According to Alexander, the conference’s ACS/DR financial reserves need replenishing. Dakota Adventists can mark their tithe envelopes “Dakota Disaster Relief” or send donations directly to the conference office.
Dakota News Never Too Old to Witness Some imagine that it takes a youngster or a pastor to bring a friend into the church. Not true, according to the example of Hattie McNeil, longtime member of Pierre Church, who died last fall one month short of her 100th birthday. For years the faithful South Dakotan brought longtime friend Marge Zibell to church. When McNeil moved to a nursing home and could no longer drive her beloved car, Zibell took over and transported them both to Sabbath services. After McNeil passed away, Zibell continued coming to church on her own. After an extended family visit interrupted her attendance, Pierre pastor Fred Shoemaker met Zibell at the local Wal-Mart. Zibell expressed interest in baptism, and Shoemaker arranged Bible studies. One fair Sabbath afternoon
Photo by Heidi Shoemaker
by Heidi Shoemaker
Marge Zibell and Pastor Fred Shoemaker in the Missouri River
in July, he baptized her in her chosen location, the Missouri River. The occasion provided additional
celebration for the life and witness of Marge Zibell, whose legacy proves that one is never too old to witness for Christ.
Conference Calendar Sept. 18–20 Dakota Women’s Retreat Bismarck, North Dakota Oct. 2-3 SRA/DAA Alumni Weekend Oct. 4 K-12 Board of Education
Photo by Heidi Shoemaker
Oct. 17 Youth Rally Bismarck, North Dakota
For more information on any of these events, or for up-to-the-minute conference news, visit www.dakotaadventist.org.
Marge Zibell (second from left) with church family and daughter after her baptism in the Missouri River
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Mid-America Union News Iowa-Missouri News Oak Grove Church Thanks Community Volunteers by Connie Thomas Many Adventist volunteers return from making home deliveries, commenting on how blessed they feel to be helping. One remarked: “When you set out to change the world, the experience is sure to change you.” Oak Grove Church also gave Davis Memorial Center a plaque for display. City Administrator Steven Craig was so impressed that he showed it off at an aldermen’s meeting. Following Sabbath worship at
the June celebration, Oak Grove members invited visiting staff and volunteers from Davis Center to enjoy an Italian lunch with them. Longtime acquaintances caught up on each other’s lives and new friendships were formed. Oak Grove Adventists invites Outlook readers who may be visiting their city to join them any Sabbath for a spiritual feast and a vegetarian hospitality meal.
Photo courtesy of Connie Thomas
Last June the “little stone church on the corner,” as Missouri’s Oak Grove Church is locally known, included a time of gratitude with Sabbath worship. Sixteen staff members and volunteers of Davis Memorial Center received certificates of appreciation from the Adventist congregation for helping seniors in their community. Davis hosts the local Meals on Wheels program. Oak Grove is one of several area churches helping with the ministry for seniors.
Joyce Eck, Davis Center director, (front center right) receiving a “Thank You” plaque from Oak Grove Church
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Iowa-Missouri News Shepherdess Spa Retreat “No matter where or when you have the next retreat, I will come!” So declared a pastor’s wife after experiencing “Spa Guné,” an event for pastoral wives held in March in Branson, Missouri. The retreat began in 2007 as an event for women, and is held at The Lodge of Four Seasons at Lake of the Ozarks. Planned by Nancy Littrell of Mountain Grove Church and her daughter, Jennifer Davis of Columbia, the spa-themed weekend offered relaxation treatments, stress-free stations and spiritual applications of the weekend’s presentations. “When I attended that original Spa Guné, I was so blessed and inspired that I knew it had to be offered to our pastor’s wives,” said Becki Knobloch. Planning the retreat took more than a year before its fruition, with a big as-
Photo courtesy of Becki Knobloch
by Becki Knobloch
Pastor’s wife Angela Van Schaik receives a manicure from retreat organizer Jennifer Davis.
that each church is invited to sponsor its pastor’s wife for the event. The majority who attended did receive this gift of appreciation from their congregations.
sist from Gail Coridan, Iowa-Missouri women’s ministries coordinator. The retreat was everything Littrell and Davis hoped for, and more. One unique feature of the retreat is
Nixa Expansion Project by Peggy Hunter
Iowa-Missouri's
7th Annual Christian Men's Retreat Nov. 6–8 at Camp Heritage The registration brochure is available at www.imsda. org. Click on “Men’s Retreat Registration” on the left side of the home page to download the PDF document. Featured Speaker: Elder Van Hurst, church ministries director for the Mid-America Union
Members of Nixa Church broke ground on a building expansion project on July 14. The new square footage will double the seating capacity of the sanctuary, increase the basement level by several feet and provide extra space for existing Sabbath school rooms and the fellowship hall. The project is scheduled for completion in late October.
Van Hurst will inspire men with the theme “Growing Together.” Great things await all who attend. Make plans to come, and bring a friend.
Photo courtesy of the Hurst family
Photo courtesy of Peggy Hunter
You are invited to share a weekend of spiritual encouragement, growth and fellowship at this year’s men’s retreat.
Van Hurst
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Mid-America Union News Kansas-Nebraska News Art Center Comes to GPA by Darcy Force
Photo courtesy of Great Plains Academy
Staff and students at Great Plains Academy (GPA) are ecstatic about a new art center on campus this summer. Geiger Arts Center is named in honor of Joe Geiger. It is the creation of his family, who raised $11,000 to remodel an existing building. Construction began in June. Born in Ohio, Geiger and his family lived in Florida, Colorado and New Zealand, although home to
him was Collegedale, Tennessee. As a young man, he took up a career interest in architecture. Geiger founded Adventist Building Services, which constructed many churches worldwide. These church facilities were known for beautiful details, such as custom stained glass, chandeliers and wood finishes. Also a talented artist, Geiger worked with paint and charcoal. In retirement, he devoted more time to his pottery wheel and lathe. Friends and family were often the happy recipients of his southwestern pottery and lathe-turned wood bowls. Beyond building churches, Geiger loved Adventist Christian education. He believed that young people The late Joe Geiger with his pottery wheel need teachers who tru-
ly believe in Jesus. He also thought it was important to teach them to work in a real world environment. Geiger’s daughter, Debi Chambers, explains, “The Arts Center will not only give young people a sense of purpose, but will also encourage them to develop their talents into a potential source of income.” The Arts Center is a family affair. GPA Principal Stephen Bralley is Geiger’s grandson-in-law; Stephen’s wife, Tina, is Geiger’s granddaughter and the project manager. Rocky Chambers, another grandson, is the architect. Debi Chambers is the general contractor and her husband, Gary, prepared the building for remodeling. The family, along with several friends, volunteered their time in June to accomplish the project. Anyone interested in volunteering or donating to the project may contact Tina Bralley at 785.263.8234.
Good Neighbors in Hay Springs Hay Springs, Nebraska no longer has an Adventist church. But that doesn’t keep local Adventists from still having a presence in the community—thanks to the Good Neighbor Community Center directed by Marilyn Kutschara, a member of Chadron Church. Open every Wednesday, the center provides clothing, food and referral services. Three other denominations in the community—Methodists, Nazarenes and Lutherans—also offer volunteer help and financial assistance.
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“This is a tremendous community outreach. We serve not only local residents in need but many Native Americans in the area as well,” Kutschara says. Hay Springs, with a population of 660, is located on Highway 20 between Gordon and Chadron, Nebraska. It’s one of five such centers operated by the Kansas-Nebraska Conference. Kutschara is thankful for the annual subsidy from the conference, which comes from Ingathering reversion monies.
Photo by John Treolo
by John Treolo
Marilyn Kutschara, director of the Hay Springs Good Neighbor Community Center, helps a client select food.
Kansas-Nebraska News New Conference Youth Director Travis Sager, an alumnus of Union College, is the new youth ministries/health ministries director for Kansas-Nebraska Conference. He replaces Michael Paradise, now pursuing his master’s of divinity degree at Andrews University Seminary. After graduating from Union, Sager began pastoral ministry in Texas. Having completed his MDiv from Andrews, he is taking PhD studies in pulpit communication from Trinity Seminary. While in Texas, Sager ministered to Adventist churches in the cities
of Richwood, Bryan and Austin. He also served as senior pastor of Houston West Church. Sager has come with a purpose to KansasNebraska: "Leading the church into choosing and passionately pursuing a ministry for both their own members and their community.” Sager is married to the former Renee Wickizer, a native Kansan and alumna of Union College, who is an elementary teacher by profession. They have one son, Brady.
Photo courtesy of the Kansas-Nebraska Conference
by John Treolo
The Sager Family: Travis, Renee and Brady
Conference Calendar Sept. 11-13 – Life 101 at Broken Arrow Ranch Speaker: Chanda Nunes Contact: scarlson@ks-ne.org Sept. 18-20 – Wichita Jr. Academy 50th Anniversary Contact: bballmom_21@yahoo.com Sept. 28-Oct. 1 – Environmental School Contact: gkruger@ks-ne.org Oct. 9-11 – Women’s Retreat in Grand Island Speaker: Elizabeth Talbot Contact: scarlson@ks-ne.org Oct. 9-11 – College View Academy Alumni Weekend Contact: dbranum@collegeviewacademy.org Oct. 16-17 – Panhandle Camp Meeting in Scottsbluff Speaker: Dennis Smith / Contact: ptrken@yahoo.com For more information: 785.478.4762 or e-mail SCarlson@ks-ne.org.
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Mid-America Union News Minnesota News by Vickie Martin
Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Conference
Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Conference
Students of Maranatha Adventist Christian School in Dodge Center can’t go around the world building churches, but they can build churches that go around the world. On the last day of the school year, Maranatha students got an opportunity to help construct steel parts that make up the “One Day Church”—a simple, Maranatha students with a One Day Church structure durable, inexpensive, prefabricated walls. Every student had opportubuilding shell that can be shipped nity to work the machine. They even across the ocean and assembled in loaded the pieces onto containers one day on location. that would transport them overseas Garwin McNeilus, designer and to members anxiously awaiting the manufacturer of One Day Church, church’s arrival. invited students for a hands-on exThe One Day Church phenomperience. They put sheet metal into enon has made it possible to build a machine that molds the pieces churches quickly and easily around into steel studs that make up the the world. Even the steeple is included in the prefab package. Local builders finish the walls and interior with materials that represent their own culture. McNeilus showed the students piles of signs already printed with names for congregations awaiting their church building. One Day Schools also have been designed and are meeting the educational and mission training needs of the Seventh-day Adventist world church. Maranatha students were delighted to have a small part in building churches for our Adventist friends around the world.
Maranatha students help construct the prefabricated parts of a One Day Church shell.
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Vickie Martin teaches at Maranatha Adventist Christian School.
Minnesota Welcomes New Education Team Member by Pamela Consuegra The Minnesota Conference is pleased to welcome a new member to its educational team—Rebeca Suarez, now principal of Northwoods Elementary School in Hutchinson. Born in Montemorelos, Mexico and raised in New York, Suarez is fluent in both Spanish and Eng- Rebeca Suarez lish and has seven years teaching experience. Suarez recently completed her master’s degree in reading curriculum from Southwestern Adventist University. Adventist education has enriched her own life, and now Suarez is focused on making a lasting difference in the lives of her students. Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Conference
Churches that Go Around the World
Pamela Consuegra is Minnesota Conference education director.
2009 Minnestota Women’s Retreat Camp meeting attendees who appreciated the messages of Jerry and Janet Page may feel doubly blessed to hear that Janet will speak at Minnesota’s fall women’s retreat. Her theme will address how to experience a daily relationship with God in such a time as ours. The retreat will be at Cragun’s, Oct. 30–Nov. 1. To register early and reserve a room for yourself and your friends, visit www.mnsda.com/article.php?id=73, which links to the women’s ministries page; click “download the reservation form” to print and send in. For more details, see ad on the next page.
Minnesota News The Blackberry Church Vacation Bible School (VBS) offered 16 children “FLIGHT” training in June. FLIGHT— meaning “Faithfully Living in God’s Holy Truth”—instructed children how to fly high with God. Lessons included activities such as crafts, games and music to go along with Bible instruction. Drama team members, playing roles of a head flight instructor and two teenage flight students, taught basic Bible truths while sustaining the kids’ attention through humor. The mission goal of VBS was to collect food for the local food shelf. Donations totaled 49 pounds of food. Attendees, ranging from 3 to 12 years old, all received their own “pilot’s license,” complete with photo, certifying them to “fly high with Jesus.”
Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Conference
Flight Training at Blackberry VBS by Lisa Jokela
FLIGHT training students at Blackberry Church VBS
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Mid-America Union News Rocky Mountain News Just Now Beginning to Live by Blake Jones tate career, while maintaining a basic connection with God and faithfully attending church. Busying herself in long hours of work, she never developed a deep devotional life. After her retirement, though, Shirley discovered more time to devote to spiritual pursuits. She read books about God’s limitless love and how righteousness was graciously given to those who have faith in Jesus. Shirley began to experience God’s love not just as a theory, but something real. Shirley finally fully grasped the truth
that God loved her! And if He loved her, then He loved other people too. Excited about this, she began buying books by the dozens and sharing them with friends. She started a weekly home prayer meeting. When I, her pastor, became overloaded with Bible studies, Shirley jumped at the chance to help me. She took over one of my Bible studies for a lady named Janet DeYapp. Shirley and Janet hit it off immediately. Within weeks Shirley was leading the Bible study by herself while I worked at starting other studies and getting more lay people involved. When Janet became sick, Shirley brought her flowers. They have gone shopping together, shared gifts and formed a close friendship. With that kind of love and friendship, no one seemed surprised when Janet was recently baptized. This year, Shirley was nominated to be a deaconess for the first time. At a recent baptism, Shirley smiled at me and said, “Pastor, I’ve been a member of this church all these years and this is the first time I’m helping with a baptism. But you know… I’m just now really beginning to live!”
Photo courtesy of Blake Jones
Shirley Stewart is one of many disciples of Jesus in New Mexico's Piñon Hills Church. But it wasn’t always that way—even though she has been a lifelong Adventist with a commitment to God and her church. For many years, Shirley sensed something missing. She tried hard to be a good Christian, but often became discouraged. She felt that no matter how hard she tried, she still wasn’t good enough for God. Sometimes she even questioned her salvation. Shirley buried herself in a real es-
Blake Jones is pastor of Piñon Hills Church in New Mexico.
Shirley Stewart (right) with recently baptized Janet DeYapp
Constructing Habitation for the Needy Ted Torrez, member of Colorado’s Campion Academy Church, offers his time to Habitat for Humanity every Tuesday and Thursday. That is, unless he is out of town with Maranatha Volunteers International. Upon retiring from the Department of Energy in 1996, Torrez had no construction skills or experience. But he quickly acquired them in service for the Savior. 20 September 2009
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Loveland’s Habitat for Humanity chapter has built 75 houses in the last 21 years for families in need. Torrez savors the joy of seeing delighted responses from those who otherwise couldn’t have a home of their own.
Barry Taylor is pastor of Campion Academy's church.
Photo courtesy of the Rocky Mountain Conference
by Barry Taylor
Ted Torrez (gray sweatshirt, kneeling) joins fellow volunteers in celebrating the completion of another home for the needy.
Rocky Mountain News Intermountain StudentsWin Essay Contest Retirees Serving at by Ed Harlan School by Luana Harlan more, won the high school contest, “Lincoln’s Legacy.” The two winners read their essays for the Memorial Day Program at Veteran’s Cemetery. Both received $100 and a medal.
At Intermountain Adventist Academy (IAA), students and teachers are not the only ones who show up at school each day. Retiree volunteers come as well. Every day they provide vital services at the Grand Junction, Colorado educational center—and also connect with the kids. Former school board chairman Bob Nicolay and his wife, Sherri, volunteer several days a week. Students affectionately call them “Mr. Bob and Ms. Sherri.” Among everything else he does, Bob takes responsibility for coordinating other volunteers to meet numerous needs: performing office secretarial work, preparing and serving hot lunches, helping in the library and maintenance and repair work. IAA is greatly indebted to its senior volunteers and lauds their dedication.
Ed Harlan is principal of Intermountain Adventist Academy.
Photo courtesy of the Rocky Mountain Conference
Two Intermountain Adventist Academy students are winners of the Lincoln Bicentenial Contest sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution of Grand Junction. Fifthgrader Zeeda Nkana won the elementary competition, “Who was President Lincoln?” Kathrin Klemm, a sopho-
Essay winners Zeeda Nkana and Kathrin Klemm (left and right) with Bruce Hill, mayor
Luana Harlan teaches at IAA.
Loving the Aurora Community by Erica Archuleta
Photo courtesy of the Rocky Mountain Conference
Love Ministry began last November in Aurora, Colorado. Members meet every third Sunday of the month to prepare 100 sack lunches, distribute clothes and—most importantly to them—share God's love to those in need. Plans are underway for increasing this service, so that every Sunday, Aurora First Church will embody the love of Jesus with neighbors in need.
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Mid-America Union News Union College
Photo by Steve Nazario
Greg Vargas works with conduit piping to bring electricity to the site of the Class of 2009’s gift, a new gazebo on campus.
Maranatha Volunteers Give Back to Union College by Carolyn Scott
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ects is long and usually impossible to fully complete before students tumble back in August. The helping hands lent by the Maranatha volunteers made the registration deadline more attainable. One of the goals completed in Prescott Hall, replacing all outlets, was begun earlier in the year by two Plant Services workers but was finished ahead of schedule by the volunteers. “The work the volunteers did in Prescott saved us a month and a half’s worth of work,” said Wilson Hardy, Plant Services electrician. The new outlets are safer for use with electronic equipment and may prevent future computer problems. Coils of electrical cords, paint buckets and brushes throughout the dormitory illustrated how seriously the Maranatha group felt about service. For many, dedication to the job at hand came from a love they developed for Union College as students. A 1966 Union College graduate and veteran of Maranatha trips, Sharon Schwartz’s eyes grew bright while de-
scribing working in the Dominican Republic and the reactions of people who benefitted from their visit. She shared how when she went back to see how they were doing, they remembered her name. But as she arranged furniture in a common room in Prescott Hall, her eyes became even more animated when she started talking about Union. “I wanted to give back to Union Col-
Photo by Steve Nazario
When Union College students and employees talk about service and missions, they usually mean leaving campus to help others—a legacy exemplified by annual events such as the hanging of the Golden Cords and Project Impact. Sixteen volunteers organized through Maranatha Volunteers International once again challenged that notion by choosing Union College as their worksite and mission field. Once the Maranatha volunteers arrived—some from down the street, others from a thousand miles away— Prescott Hall became the priority. The volunteers painted doorframes and walls, scrubbed scuff marks, re-glued baseboards, replaced all the electrical outlets in the rooms and hallways, and provided general maintenance in the men’s residence hall. With few students occupying dormitories and classrooms, summer is the best time for Union’s Plant Services to make repairs and renew the campus for the next academic cycle. The list of proj-
Lincoln residents Marlyn ('58) and Sharon ('66) Schwartz combined their passion for Maranatha as well as Union College.
lege,” she said. “I thought, ‘I’ve got to do something for the school.’” Brushing dust from her hands, she told how she got fired up to help improve Union’s campus, and the progress the volunteers had made cleaning and fixing up Prescott Hall. Her husband, Marlyn, a 1958 Union graduate, sat on a couch and joined the conversation, teasing Sharon about vacuuming on her hands and knees. “Every single person was enthused and willing to do anything,” Marlyn Schwartz said. “And that makes it worthwhile, knowing that the goal is to provide a good habitation for the returning students.” Outside, Greg Vargas, a retired pastor from the Lincoln area, worked on a side project, running electricity to a new gazebo donated by the class of 2009 for the front of campus. Working colorful cords through 30 feet of conduit piping in a newly-dug trench for the gazebo, Vargas said, “It will be a nicer ambiance for the students, and I hope they like it.”
Back in Prescott, Richard Enos, who graduated in 1969, was busy removing paint from doorframes so they could be repainted. “I hope the boys will be inspired to take care of the rooms,” Enos said. Across the hall, Charlie Henkelmann, a 1956 graduate, worked with towel racks to ensure they were securely fastened. He explained that he had gone to Union College “years ago,” and how he enjoyed working on projects for his alma mater. A Maranatha veteran, Henkelmann stared up at the ceiling and recalled other Maranatha projects at Union College and in Lincoln, starting with the first project in 1992. “It gives Union a boost,” Henkelmann said. “We help them get ready for the students.” Doug Tallman, Union’s new dean of men, agreed with Henkelmann, saying that returning students have an advantage because of Maranatha’s contributions. “It’s hard to put into words our gratitude for the group of volunteers who worked so tirelessly in Prescott Hall this
Photo by Steve Nazario
Union College
Arlie Fandrich ('63), professor emeritus and one of the group's local volunteers, works on replacing an electrical outlet in Prescott Hall. The new outlets are safer for computers.
summer,” Tallman said. “The work they were able to accomplish in the two short weeks they were here was amazing.” By the end of the two weeks, the volunteers knew how much the College of the Golden Cords was grateful for their help. “Dr. Smith, Gary Bollinger and Linda Becker have showed so much appreciation,” Marlyn Schwartz said. “I didn’t realize it was such a big deal.”
Campus Calendar Sept. 7 Labor Day – No School Sept. 18–20 Parents' Weekend Sept. 22 Greg Mortenson Lecture (see box for more info) Oct. 1–3 Preview Days Oct. 9 FFH (Far From Home) Christian Concert For more news, visit Union's website: w w w.ucollege.edu
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Mid-America Union News
Beyond the Demilitarized Zone A P o r t e r H o sp i t a l P h y s i c i a n M a r k s S e v e r a l “ F i rs t s ” i n N o r t h K o r e a
F
Photo courtesy of CMBell Company
or Dr. Raymond Kim, operating in have been selected for the proceNorth Korea couldn’t be more difdure—were “extremely debilitated.” ferent than it is in Denver, where Although Dr. Kim found it challenghe practices orthopedic surgery at Porter ing to be allowed so little time with his Adventist Hospital. patients, he made a positive impact on While more than 700,000 hip and knee them and the physicians he trained. replacements are performed in America “It’s not the style of medicine I prefer yearly, the North Koreans lack the necesto practice,” he said. “But within the sary tools and implants to perform total constraints of the environment we joint replacements—even though their were operating in, you do the best you doctors are well educated. can in terms of educating the physiSeeing this need and wanting to help cians in follow up and enabling them improve medical care in North Korea, Dr. to care for the patients.” Kim volunteered to join 17 other profes- Dr. Raymond Kim, orthopedic surgeon During his trip, Dr. Kim was struck at Porter Adventist Hospital, has sionals on a mission trip sponsored by by how the patients lived with the seperformed the first hip replacement Wheat Mission Association, a non-profit and knee replacement surgeries in verity of their arthritis, requiring the humanitarian organization. North Korea while on mission trips to aid of crutches or a walker. For most It was familiar territory for Dr. Kim. On improve the quality of healthcare there. of these people, access to the type of a previous mission trip to North Korea, joint-replacement surgery common in he had performed the country’s first-ever hip replace- America would have significantly improved their well bement. This time he would add another first to his contri- ing. “We are very privileged in this country to have access butions: the successful completion of the country’s first to advanced healthcare,” Kim said. total knee replacement surgery. Now, with three mission trips behind him, Dr. Kim Operating in the capital city of Pyongyang at the Red remains passionate about helping the North Koreans Cross Hospital, the physician team was carefully moni- continue to improve their medical care. He is currently tored by government guides who escorted them through- planning another trip this September to help their phyout their travels. Yet despite this carefully controlled en- sicians gain access to the essential technologies needed vironment, they were able to teach physicians advanced to continue expanding their joint replacement program. surgical techniques and to offer training on joint replaceDr. Kim’s desire to improve lives transcends cultural ment follow-up care—including rehabilitation, physical and geographic barriers. His firm commitment to his patherapy and dealing with medical complications. tients’ health and well-being is clear by the new spring in “It was a rewarding experience to have an operating room their step—whether in Colorado or Korea. team that consisted of a North Korean surgeon, a South Korean surgeon, and me—a ‘West’ Korean surgeon, all work- This article was submitted by Stephen King, senior vice president for mission and ministry for Colorado’s Adventist hospitals, and written ing together to help someone who needed it,” he stated. His patients—three individuals fortunate enough to by CMBell Company.
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Helping Those Who Grieve Shawnee
W
is
on
a
M i ss i o n
hen a loved one is lost, there is a vast range of difference in how people grieve. Some isolate themselves from friends and family while others become too dependent. Some individuals eat compulsively, others not at all. While some make frequent impulsive changes to stay occupied, other grievers seem to wander aimlessly. At Shawnee Mission Medical Center (SMMC), the Spiritual Wellness department is equipped to help all individuals who have lost a loved one. The grief support system is not only for patients, but associates and volunteers as well. Vice president of spiritual wellness Peter Bath explained, “Shawnee Mission Medical Center doesn’t stop with medicine. Life after loss goes on. It’s a continued journey of healing.” When a life is lost, the grief process begins with the loved ones left behind. Hospital president and CEO Samuel H. Turner Sr. sends a personal letter of condolence to the family. In addition, nurses who cared for and became acquainted with the deceased follow-up with supportive notes and phone calls to check in on how the family is coping. The Spiritual Wellness department also makes sure to show compassion at the start of the holiday season in November by sending a letter of support, as this is a melancholy time for those who have lost a loved one. Every May, those who have lost a family member are invited to a memorial service at SMMC for prayer
of
C o mp a ss i o n
and reflection. “For many, this memorial service is the first time they come back to visit the site at which they lost someone close to them. It is very difficult but important to relive and reflect on the experience with the help of our chaplains,” said Bath. Grieving families are also invited to the Grief Recovery Program, a five-week class taught by Chaplain Mike Jacob. “I like to call it Grief Healing rather than recovery,” he said. Jacob has found that the acute grief period after a loss lasts anywhere from three to six months. “Only after someone has been through the grieving process can they begin to heal. Grievers know that they lost a loved one but they have to believe it and be willing to experience the pain,” said Jacob. Other tasks accomplished through the program include adjusting to the environment in which the lost person lived and reinvesting emotional energy into other relationships. The hard work and support of the chaplains goes above and beyond to prove that SMMC is indeed much more than medicine. Many Grief Recovery Program attendees have said the Spiritual Wellness department showed more compassion and guidance than even their place of worship did after their loss. SMMC’s Spiritual Wellness department not only helps the family members who are left to deal with loss, but also those patients struggling through life’s last moments. SMMC recently started the No One Dies Alone (NODA) program to ensure just that. While many patients have family by their bedside when they pass, those who don’t are comforted by a NODA Friend. Adopted from Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene, Oregon, NODA Friends at SMMC consist of associates and active hospital volunteers. “There is at least one Friend on call 24 hours a day,” said Chaplain David Ross, who spearheaded the program. “There was overwhelmingly positive feedback when I initially asked associates if this was a program they would be interested in.” When NODA launched at the beginning of this year, 33 associates signed up. The program continues to grow. For more information about the Spiritual Wellness department at SMMC or any of its programs, call 913.676.2305.
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Nancy Buxton
Walt Brown
Stephanie Halvorsen (guest blogging for Buffy Halvorsen)
What Our Bloggers are Saying read more at www.midamericaadventist.org
Claudio Consuegra
Seth Pierce
Jeff Wines Jim Moon
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Information Correspondence
Letters to the
Editor
I truly appreciate your willingness to explore certain topics, some that we all don’t agree on. The whole debate over worship music styles is interesting to me because when I first became an Adventist, I just didn’t see the harm in celebration-style worship music. Then I learned that rock and roll is still rock and roll. Music is extremely powerful. I don’t think it’s necessary to detail the many examples that rock incites carnal and even aggressive behavior. The music itself is degraded, so the lyrics become inconsequential. Know them by their fruits. Another interesting and telling aspect is that often the ones who were formerly musicians of objectionable music, and now have the most to say against it, are pastors. There are some beautiful conservative, contemporary pieces that really are very worshipful and lovely. I love hymns, but I don’t think they are the only appropriate music for worship. For me personally, I just want to do what is pleasing to God, because I love Him. We should feel good worshipping God! But when it becomes more about my gratification than about truly worshipping God, that’s a problem. - Diane Watson, via e-mail Editor’s response: Diane, I value your refreshing Christian spirit. How wonderful to discuss music without denigrating those with different convictions. I respect your eagerness for God’s will, and how you believe He has led you. You do acknowledge that contemporary music can be worshipful—but only when toned down, perhaps purged of all energy and rhythm. Now, what music do we find in God’s inspired hymnal? Some Psalms express quietness, while others are exuberant. Read Psalm 92, composed specifically for Sabbath worship. Lots of energy there. I happened to be in Jerusalem for the 3,000th anniversary of David’s ascension. Jews everywhere celebrated their victorious royal hero. I saw conservative old rabbis with beards and black hats encircling children, everybody dancing in delight to extremely energetic music. Nothing sexual there—yet those whose music is celibate of rhythm might have felt offended. We all view and evaluate worship through the lens of our own culture and experiences. You mention people who once performed worldly rock music, now denouncing contemporary Christian praise because it all sounds the same. I understand if ex-prodigals suffer flashbacks from sowing wild oats. But some of us don’t have those memories and thus don’t get those flashbacks.
I confess my own flashbacks when singing some hymns that others find inspiring. Many traditional favorites remind me of my stern and somber childhood church. I’m glad you don’t have those sad church memories, Diane. But please remember, all of us bestow meaning upon music based (in part, at least) upon our own differing experiences and how we interpret them. Regarding emotion. There’s a drastic difference between emotion, and emotionalism—or its equally lamentable opposite extreme: being emotionless, as in a coma. Given that, let’s assess whether Adventists lose more young people because our services are too exciting, or too lifeless. You don’t need to conduct a doctoral study, as I did, to know the answer to that. Let's just be warned that the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace. My mother grew up in Nazi Germany. Every week her Hitler Youth coven fervently sang: “We Gather Together To Ask The Lord’s Blessing.” (That’s #8 in the SDA Church Hymnal.) Even Hitler's national anthem resounded to the stirring strains of hymn #423, "Glorious Things Of Thee Are Spoken." Talk about music inciting carnal and aggressive behavior! How about World War II? Afterward, some retired SS soldiers might have heard those beloved hymns in church and felt some feisty flashbacks. (And from their own cultural experience, our Jews for Jesus friends might also miss the blessing in those particular hymns.) Thinking about Nazis . . . they marched to the same 4/4 cadence as Pathfinder kids do—but for different purposes. “Onward Christian Soldiers Marching Off To War!” Amen? That would depend upon whether Nazis or Pathfinders are marching. Yes indeed, music stirs emotions. It can make us want to march, or even dance. And that may be bad or good depending upon whether we are drunken revelers in a nightclub, or delighted worshippers in God’s Spirit. The same musical sounds, the same instruments, the same energy and rhythm—but not the same experience. God knows the difference, and I hope we Adventists will all learn to discern that difference as well. One final thought: If conservative Jews can still get excited about what happened long ago in old Jerusalem, perhaps Adventists anticipating a glorious eternity in the New Jerusalem should also experience genuine joy in our worship. Or at least have the freedom to do so. We invite your written reflections, both positive and negative. E-mail: martin@midamericaoutlook.org, or write to: Editor of Outlook, c/o Mid-America Union Office, P.O. Box 6128, Lincoln, NE 68506
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Information Farewell July 7, 2009, in Lincoln, NE. Member of College View Church. Alumni of Union College. Ordained as SDA pastor and served as a former educator. Survived by wife, Mavis; daughter, Judy; sons, Franz, Wayne and Garth; sister, Inez Henderson; and two grandchildren.
of Arvada Church. Preceded in death by parents Henry & Susan (Friesen) Niedens. Survived by wife of 63 years, Shirley (Sheriff); daughters, Shirlayne Kinser, Diana Norris, Cindy Snyder and Tammy Smith; seven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
Flickinger, Leah L., b. Aug. 16,
Olson, Aletha (Evans), b. Feb.
1908, in Tolstoy, SD, d. July 8, in Bowdle, SD. Member of Bowdle Church. Survived by wife, Della; sons, Jim and Rodney; brother, Bill; five grandchildren; and six greatgrandchildren.
1921, in Idaho Falls, ID, d. July 6, 2009, in Topeka, KS. Member of the Wanamaker Church. Survived by step-daughters, Charlotte Berdahl and Cynthia Butler; a sister, Esther John; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Davis, George Vroom, b. Dec. 12,
Henderson, Theodore V., b. June
23, 1909, in Monroe, IA, d. July 24, 2008, in Detroit Lakes, MN. Eldest member of Detroit Lakes Church. Preceded in death by husband, Harold Anton Olson; and brother, Dr. Harrison Silas Evans. Survived by daughters, Sue Olson, Ellen Jane Olson Gilbert; and Sally Aletha Olson Tuck; nine grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Obituaries may be submitted via your conference communication director. To submit directly to Outlook, e-mail outlook@ maucsda.org or send to Outlook, PO Box 6128, Lincoln, NE 68506. All obituary submissions must be typewritten to ensure clarity and accuracy.
Bieber, George H., b. Jan. 20,
1912, in Philadelphia, PA, d. Jan. 19, 2009, at his home. Member of Delta Church. Preceded in death by parents, Captain Roscoe and Gettine. Survived by wife, Shawna Reigh; son, Tim; daughter, Elizabeth; three grandchildren; and nine step-children.
De Herrera, Kathy Jo., b. Oct. 17, 1970, in Judith Gap, MT, d. June 21, 2009, in Topeka, KS. Member of Wanamaker Church. Survived by: husband, Roger; daughters, Tiffany, Jordan, Elizabeth and Brittany De Herrera; a son, Daniel; brothers, Vernon and Robbie Ulrich; and father, Robert Ulrich. Eisele, Dorothy Norma, b. Jan. 22, 1921, d. April 9, 2009, in Bowling Green, FL. Pianist of the Williams and Warroad churches for last 60 years. Preceded in death by parents; two brothers; one sister; husbands, Byron Eisele and George Johnson; oldest son, Robert; one daughter-in-law; one grandson, and one great granddaughter. Survived by sons, Edwin, Melvin, Reginald and Allen; daughter, Alice Anderson; daughter-in-laws, Rita Tasche and Miriam Govatsky; “other daughter,” Gwen Sorenson; “other son,” Bill Hamilton; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and one great-greatgranddaughter.
Fletcher, Joe Emmanuel, b. 1918, in Mt. Horeb, St. James, Jamaica, d.
30, 1955, in Hastings, NE, d. June 25, 2009, in Superior, NE. Member of Community Church in Glenvil, NE. Survived by sons, Eric and Daniel Engelkes; and a sister, Donna Troudt.
House, Winifred Davison, b. Aug. 9, 1921, in Lamar, CO, d. Jan. 20, 2009. Member of North Platte Church. Survived by daughters, Carolyn Kelly, Karen House, Kathleen Duval and Kristi Jorcyk; son, Wesley House; brother, Robert Harley Davison; and six grandchildren.
Jaynes, Leon E “Lonnie”, b. Dec. 26, 1930, in Grand Junction, CO, d. June 13, 2009, in Grand Junction, CO. Member of Grand Junction Church. Survived by wife, Audre Jaynes; daughter, Valerie Speight; Son, Dave Jaynes; sister, Avis Carlson; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Moon, Kenneth, b. Aug. 2, 1924, in Muskegon, MI, d. June 13, 2009, in Downs, KS. Member of Solomon Valley Church. Survived by wife, Dorothy; daughters, Peggy Schmidt, Pamela Lott and Phyllis Klein; sons, Bruce, Kenneth and Milo Moon; a brother, Donovan Moon; 30 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.
Niedens, Wayne L, b. Nov. 15, 1924, in Herington, KS, d. July 13, 2009, in Broomfield, CO. Member
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Peckham, Donabell Pierson, b. Mar. 26, 1926, in JayEm, WY, d. Feb. 20, 2008, in Gothenburg, NE. Member of Gothenburg Church. Survived by daughters, Deea Kaufmann, Carolyn Nelson, Jacque Shotkoski, Marilyn Hayes and Barbara Devine; sons, David and Douglas Peckham; sisters, Ruby Scheller, Maysie Helms, and Eunice Horn; and brother, Donald Pierson; two grandchildren; and 13 step-grandchildren.
Sanford, Dorothy, b. Feb. 19, 1916, d. Feb. 5, 2009, in Callaway, NE. Member of Gothenburg Church. Survived by daughters, Marlene Cote, Myrna Newmyer, Mallory and Muriel Sanford; sons, Monte and Maurice Sanford; 20 grandchildren; and 40 greatgrandchildren.
Schmidt, Ruby Jean (Burgeson), b. March 6, 1926, in Mineral Center, MN, d. March 13, 2009, in Detroit Lakes, MN. Member of Detroit Lakes Church. Preceded in death by parents; and brothers, Kenneth and Clifford Burgeson. Survived by husband, Lyle; sons, Jerry and Barry; daughter, Anne Campbell; brothers, Lawrence, Donald and Ted Burgeson; sister, Mary Kessler; sisterin-law, Mary Lou Burgeson; four grandchildren; and one greatgrandson.
Schwarck, James D., d. July 3, 2009, in Lincoln, NE. Member of Piedmont Park Church. Survived by wife, Lucille; daughters, Kay Leaf and Linda Salzman; sons, Jim and Terry Schwarck; a sister, Rose Meier; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Somers, Jennie C., d. Feb. 22, 2009, in Minneapolis, KS. Member of Solomon Valley Church. Survived by husband, Carroll; and brother, Charles Whitley.
Stutzman, Edwin, b. June 5, 1941, in Corvallis, OR, d. June 6, 2009, in Sioux Falls, SD. Member of Sioux Falls Church. Survived by mother, Alice; wife, Valena; son, Chad; daughter, Kerry; sister, Cindy Whitmore; brother Gary; five grandchildren; and three greatgrandchildren.
Uptegrove, Marguerite S.M., b. April 29, 1931, in Cole Camp, MO; d. July 7, 2009, near Warsaw, MO. Member of Sedalia, Church. Survived by daughters, Louise Love, Ila Keele, Eva Wilson, Linda David and Glenda Byrd; sons, James, Raymond, Donald and Ronald Uptegrove; brothers, Richard and Robert Haase; 21 grandchildren, 36 greatgrandchildren and 15 great-great grandchildren.
Information Information Classifieds Advertising Policy Classified ads must be submitted with approval from your local conference or pastor. Ads may be e-mailed, faxed or typewritten. Outlook does not accept responsibility for categorical or typographical errors. Display ad information available at www. midamericaadventist.org or 402.484.3028. Pricing: Inside Mid-America $25 for first 50 words, 35¢ each additional word. Outside Mid-America
$35 for first 50 words, 85¢ each additional word. A box can be added around an ad for $5. Notices or Announcements Notices of events, alumni weekends, camp meetings, etc., can be printed at no charge if no product or service is involved and no price is listed. Placement is not guaranteed, however, unless the notice is purchased.
SERVICES Adventist Coin Dealer: Silver .900 fine American coins (“Constitutional Currency”) by the roll in denominations from Barber dimes through Morgan Dollars and all 90% silver in between. Pre-1933 American gold coins. Choice world coins, medals and tokens. Free appraisal of individual coin or entire collection. Phone, write or email. Dr. Lawrence J. Lee, World Coins & Medals. 402.488.2646, P.O. Box 6194, Lincoln, NE 68506. lee@numuserv.com.
Move With an Award-winning Agency. Apex Moving & Storage partners with the General Conference to provide quality moves at a discounted rate. Call us for all your relocation needs! Adventist beliefs uncompromised. Contact Marcy Dante’ at 800.766.1902 for a free estimate. Visit us at www.apexmoving. com/Adventist/.
Need Help? Try Griffin Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. SDA family owned and operated, w/SDA Chaplain. Opening for male, female, or couple. Rates from $110. Skilled care facility w/95 beds. Quality 24-hour nursing care. Odor-free environment. Physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Medicare and Medicaid approved. 641.842.2187—Knoxville, Iowa. Online at: www.griffinnrc.com.
Now Online: Nedley Depression Recovery Program and Training the Trainer, (Director and Facilitator training). 1.6 units of CEU available, register at drnedley.com, or call 1.888.778.4445.
AdventistSingles.org Free 14-day Trial! Join thousands of Adventist singles online. Free chat, search, profiles, match notifications! Adventist owners since 1993. Visit www. elliotdylan.com for the Undercover Angels series of novels for Christian teens that build on Biblical principles and reinforce integrity. Great for Sabbath reading, church and home schools, and gifts!
Melvin McRoy Helps College-bound Students Pay for College. Circle of Neighbors national community service director, Dr. R.L. Eaton, has recently appointed Melvin McRoy as one of their interview consultants to assist area college bound students with their college funding. All high school or older candidates are eligible. Melvin, who provides education-oriented services through his financial service firm, specializes in strategies for solving the college dilemma. For applications information send an email to: www. melvinmcroy.collegeconsultants.org or call 877.550.1456 or 913.206.6141.
Purchase Online at www.internationalbibles.com, a secure, fully functioning online Christian book-
Our Mission: To share God’s love by providing physical, mental and spiritual healing. 18 hospitals in: California Hawaii Oregon Washington Live the Dream The journey begins with us. For job opportunities, visit www.adventisthealth.org
store available 24/7 for your convenience; providing church supplies, Bible reference books and foreign language Bibles.We also offer SDA publications, SS quarterlies, study guides, the latest in Gospel music and much more. You may also order by phone 1.402.502.0883.
impaired risks. www.mwmcroy. hbwinfo.com, www.wellnessplansusa. com, 913.206.6141
Single and Over 40? The only interracial group for Adventist singles over 40. Stay home and meet new friends in the USA with a Pen Pal monthly newsletter of members and album. For information, send large, self-addressed, stamped envelope to ASO 40; 2747 Nonpareil; Sutherlin, OR 97479. You Don't Need a Group to have a affordable health plan; just an agent and companies with expertise, strength and commitment—together they mean staying power. Even for
Sunset Calendar Colorado Aug. 28 Sept. 4 Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Denver 7:37 7:26 7:15 7:03 Grand Junction 7:50 7:40 7:29 7:17 Pueblo 7:34 7:23 7:12 7:01 Iowa Davenport 7:42 7:30 7:18 7:06 Des Moines 7:54 7:42 7;30 7:18 Sioux City 8:06 7:54 7:42 7:30 Kansas Dodge City 8:15 8:04 7:54 7:43 Goodland 7:23 7;13 7:01 6;50 Topeka 7:59 7:48 7:37 7:26 Wichita 8:04 7:54 7:43 7:32 Minnesota Duluth 7:55 7:41 7:28 7:14 International Falls 8:03 7:49 7:34 7:19 Minneapolis 7:57 7:44 7:31 7:18 Missouri Columbia 7:45 7:34 7:23 7:12 Kansas City 7:54 7:44 7:33 7:21 Springfield 7:47 7:37 7:27 7:16 St. Louis 7:37 7:26 7:15 7:04 Nebraska Grand Island 8:12 8:00 7:49 7:37 Lincoln 8:05 7:54 7:42 7:30 North Platte 8:22 8:10 7:59 7;47 Scottsbluff 7:34 7:23 7:11 6:58 North Dakota Bismarck 8:30 8:16 8:02 7:48 Fargo 8:14 8:00 7:46 7:32 Williston 8:43 8:29 8:15 7:31 South Dakota Pierre 8:24 8:12 7:59 7:46 Rapid City 7:35 7:32 7:10 6:57 Sioux Falls 8:09 7:56 7:44 7:31 Wyoming Casper 7:46 7:34 7:22 7:09 Cheyenne 7:38 7:26 7:15 7:03 Sheridan 7:51 7:39 7:26 7:12
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Information EMPLOYMENT
TRAVEL/RENTALS
Invitation to Teach in Thailand:
Retire in Western Colorado. Located above Cedaredge, CO, on Old Grand Mesa Road. Gorgeous views. 2,028 sq ft home on 3.69 acres w/stream and waterfall running through property, 3 bed/2 bath, large room w/windows galore! 2 car garage, laundry, office and den area. Possible Owner financing. $269,000.00. Call 310.422.1738.
Missionary teachers needed to serve God in the wonderful country of Thailand. Please answer God’s call! Matthew 9: 37-38. For more information on this exciting opportunity, please contact: kpergerson@ yahoo.com.
Wanted: Around the Clock Personal Caregiver for elderly gentleman. Peaceful, beautiful country setting—90 minutes from Minneapolis! This position requires an individual with high ethics, morals and energy. Must be motivated, experienced, or able to learn quickly. Position requires a valid drivers’ license to assist in appointments, church and travel between homes in MN. Duties include: dispersing of meds, daily devotions, light domestic, food preparation and personal needs. Living quarters possible for the right couple or high energy individual. Person must be a nonsmoker, no alcohol, and no pets. Please call if interested/questions: 507.215.1027.
Steamboat Springs, CO: Exhilarating year-round vacation spot. Worldclass skiing, summer fishing, hiking, mountain biking, backpacking, rafting. Kids under 12 ski free. Large condo, sleeps 9-11. Two bedroom loft/ two bath. Fully furnished, fireplace, hot tubs, pool. Call 763.506.0436. Email: rdleach@aol.com. Vacations! Looking for the best value and places for your vacation? Specializing in cruises, beach vacations, wedding destinations and honeymoons. Also knowledgeable in Europe, domestic and mission trips. Let a travel professional take the worry out of your vacation. Call
Mary at 800.393.4040 or e-mail mhedger@travelleaders.com.
For Sale Threat to Religious Liberty? CD: "Islam, Catholicism, and Religious Freedom", $23, (English or Spanish); DVD’s: "Comparaciones de Libertad Religiosa en los E.E.U.U., Espana, y Mexico", $35; "Exodus of Revelation", Rev. 12-16 from Church-State perspective, 22 hours material, $45; prepared by ordained SDA pastor with Ph.D. in ChurchState Studies. 256.454.3840.
EVENTS Adventists and Islam: What message do SDAs have for Islam? Find out at a special weekend dedicated to teaching what we have to share with Muslims. Sept. 24–26, LaSierra University, CA. Register at www.plusline. org/events.php. For more information, contact NADAdventistMuslimRelations@gmail.com, or 423.368.2343.
30 September 2009 | Mid-America Outlook
College View Academy Alumni and Friends: Join us Oct. 9-11 for our annual Alumni Weekend. Friday Golf tournament and evening buffet. Saturday Church and Sunday pancake breakfast and silent art auction. Go to www.Ubelonghere.org for more info or call us at 402.483.1181 Ext. 15.
Sunnydale Academy Alumni Weekend—Oct. 1–4. Honor Classes are: ’49, ’54, ‘59 ’64, ’69, ’79, ’84, ’89, and ’99. Activities begin Thursday evening with the Silver Showcase banquet, continues on Friday with a career day. The Sabbath speaker is Elder Fred Riffle, class of '79. Sunday is Alumni Golf Tournament. For more information, call 573.682.2164, or visit www.sunnydale.org.
Wellness Secrets in NW Arkansas, 5 Day Live-in Health Program, $395 special. A power-packed program that will change your life physically, mentally and spiritually. Also health seminars at your church. Call 479.752.8555; wellness.secrets@yahoo.com; www.anewstartnow.com
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