As the Earth Rotates: A Summer of Faith and Service

By Joelis Colmenarez

As the earth turns and another 365 days pass, we bid farewell to summer and the Youth Rush program, welcoming the crisp air of fall and the season of Thanksgiving. My heart overflows with gratitude to God as I look back on the countless answered prayers, miracles, and the incredible summer we experienced in the Nevada-Utah Conference. 

This year, we had the privilege of working with 15 dedicated young people who committed eight weeks of their afternoons and evenings—from Sunday to Thursday—to share God’s Word through literature ministry. Traveling across the conference territory created unforgettable memories as we journeyed from Reno through Carson City, Lake Tahoe, Silver Springs, Fernley, Fallon, and Winnemucca. These youth, ages 15 to 25, not only led and served but also connected deeply with church members and the community. Having 15 young people engaged in ministry for two full months is truly an answer to many prayers. 

Testimonies of Transformation 

One participant, Naomi Castillo, shared her inspiring story: 

“I came to Youth Rush because I wanted to serve God. Before joining, I doubted my ability to accomplish this task—I didn’t think I had the strength or the right qualifications. I also feared I wouldn’t fit in because of my antisocial tendencies. Youth Rush taught me how good God is. I learned that my strength comes from Him, and that He doesn’t call the qualified—He qualifies the called. Through trials, my faith has grown immensely. I’ve discovered the power of prayer and formed not just friendships but a heavenly family. God has shown me that in my weakness, His strength is perfected. Today, I want to serve Him for the rest of my life because of His great love and the experiences I’ve had in Youth Rush.” 

Her words remind us that hardship and real-life challenges forge character and reveal God’s power. 

Another leader, Jericho Bondoc, reflected on his growth: 

“Since joining Youth Rush, I’ve become more confident and sociable—not just with fellow students but with those we meet at the doors. I’m bolder in engaging with others, and this program has given me the experience to share my faith confidently.” 

Impact Beyond the Team 

The program’s influence extended beyond the participants. One neighbor shared her appreciation after meeting a Youth Rush student: 

“Denise, the student who knocked at my door, is a sweetheart.” 

In a world where technology often replaces human interaction, a face-to-face conversation and a prayer can be priceless. 

Another powerful moment came when Adam Gordon met a woman who identified as an atheist. Initially uninterested, she opened up after a thoughtful conversation about her belief in a punishing God. Adam shared the truth about a loving, forgiving Savior. They prayed together, and she joyfully afford six books—devotionals, prophecy, and children’s literature—for herself and her family. Truly, a divine appointment. 

A Call to Action 

“With such an army of workers as our youth, rightly trained, how soon the message of a crucified, risen, and soon-coming Savior might be carried to the whole world!” — Messages to Young People, p. 7.3 

As we close this chapter, we thank God for the opportunity to serve, for the youth ablaze with passion for the gospel, and for the resources that make programs like Youth Rush possible. 

Somehow, She Fell in Love with Jesus

By Neat Randriamialison

Qiong smiles moments after her baptism

About four years ago, Qiong Messier, a woman from China, and her son walked into Glen Bentjen’s office (Affectionately known as Mr B.), who was the Riverview Christian Academy principal at that time, hoping for a fresh start.

Quinton chatting with friends after church service

Mr B. remembers the moment clearly. “They came in, just the two of them. The father had passed away. It was hard not to feel the weight they were carrying.” That year, Quinton, the son, began his Adventist education journey as a fifth grader.

Quinton was doing really well in his studies, but more importantly, he began learning about Jesus. And when he comes home, he cannot wait to share with his mom what he learned in School. He shared about Jesus and these new beliefs he had just learned from the Bible.

Qiong, seeing the excitement of her son, started asking questions and had a conversation with Mr B. “What do Adventists believe? Why do you all seem... different?” That’s when Mr B. invited her to come and attend church with them. Glenn’s wife connected with her instantly, and the church community welcomed her.

Qiong with Pastor Deirdre Solomon in the baptistry. The Bentjens stand nearby to support.

Qiong’s curiosity grew into a desire to study the Bible, and over the course of a year, despite the challenges of biblical vocabulary, cultural differences, and language barriers, they slowly worked through 28 Bible study lessons. Mr B. downloaded a Mandarin version of the Bible app on her phone. And his wife gifted her a Chinese-English Bible from their time working in Taiwan.

After the Bible studies, Qiong made her decision to be baptized. “I like this,” she said. “I can see from the Bible that Adventists follow the Bible, and I want to keep learning more.” On October 25, 2025, Qiong was baptized.

“It’s pretty amazing,” Mr B. reflected. “You would think someone coming from her background might be more resistant to Christianity, but somehow… she fell in love with Jesus.”

“We’re just doing our day-to-day jobs, teaching, showing up, but we never know who’s walking through the door. Maybe God sent them to us. Sometimes we lose sight of that. We need to keep our eyes in line with His will.”

It’s amazing how God brings all the pieces together to give someone a chance to get to know Him and fall in love with Jesus.

Leading in Love: Club Ministries Leadership Summit Empowers Youth Leaders

By Neat Randriamialison

From October 24 to 26, 2025, youth leaders from across the Nevada-Utah Conference gathered at the West Jordan Seventh-day Adventist Church for the Club Ministries Leadership Summit. This annual meeting is designed to equip, empower, and encourage those leading in Pathfinder, Adventurer, and Master Guide ministries, as well as teenagers in the Teen Leadership Training program.

A spiritual high point came during Sabbath morning, as Youth Director Dr. Michael Jenkins Jr. was officially inducted as a Master Guide, with pastor Randy Hill from the Pacific Union presiding over the ceremony. Master Guide is the highest level of leadership training within the church’s Adventurer and Pathfinder Club Ministries. However, it’s more than a uniform or a pin; it’s about modeling Christlike leadership to the next generation and helping shape a culture of service and excellence in the church, while also helping them grow as loving followers of Jesus.

With this year’s summit having the theme “Leading in Love,” keynote speaker Travis Sandefur challenged attendees to lead with humility, clarity, and compassion. He reminded leaders that Christ’s love for young people must be both the goal and the motivation behind every act of leadership. This is the kind of love that fosters a healthy culture within the church. The secret, according to Travis, is to have a healthy leadership team.

“If you want to build a healthy culture,” he said, “start by building a healthy leadership team.”

In this model, leaders prioritize the mission above personal ego, support one another, and align around a shared vision. When leadership is healthy, the entire ministry thrives.

The leadership summit was truly more than a weekend of training; it pointed back to the sacred responsibility entrusted to leaders in shaping the faith and character of young people.

Honoring a Faithful Servant

By Neat Randriamialison,

On October 25, 2025, members, leaders, and colleagues gathered at Paradise Seventh-day Adventist Church in Las Vegas to celebrate the ministry of Pastor Peter Neri, who retired after decades of dedicated service, including 18 years within the Nevada-Utah Conference.

Music, tributes, and heartfelt stories reflected the impact Pastor Neri has had on the church and the Las Vegas area community. Colleagues from across the Nevada-Utah Conference, including President Carlos Camacho and Executive Secretary Chanda Nunes-Henry, attended the celebration in person to honor his ministry.

Members and guests fill the sanctuary to celebrate Pastor Neri’s retirement.

“Pastor Neri’s ministry has been marked by faithfulness and humility. He never sought recognition; he simply served with a full heart. His example reminds us that leadership is about consistency, compassion, and finishing well.”
President Carlos Camacho, Nevada-Utah Conference

Pastor Neri expresses heartfelt gratitude to the congregation, giving glory to God for a lifetime of ministry

Members also shared moving testimonies about his pastoral care and compassion through every season of church life.

“Pastor Neri, you’ve been more than a pastor—you’ve been family. When my husband was in the hospital, you showed up every single day to pray with us. You didn’t just preach love, you lived it.”
A member of Paradise SDA Church

To close the special celebration, Pastor Neri thanked everyone who played a part in his ministry, but of course, he acknowledged the One who had placed him on this journey in the first place:

“First of all, I just want to thank God for His faithfulness. When I look back, it’s really been Him all along. Every sermon, every baptism, every prayer visit, it’s been His grace carrying me through.”

“As I step into this new season, I’m not retiring from serving the Lord; I’m just changing assignments. God still has work for us to do. Keep pressing forward, stay united, and remember: it’s all about Jesus.”

“I’ll close with this: if I’ve done anything well, to God be the glory. If I’ve made mistakes, thank you for forgiving me. And if I’ve blessed you in any way, it’s because God has been so good to me.”

It was clear that while Pastor Neri’s time in full-time ministry may be coming to a close, his legacy continues in the lives of the people he served.

From left to right: President Carlos Camacho, Pastor Peter Neri, his wife Jenny Neri, and Executive Secretary Chanda Nunes-Henry pose together after the Neris were presented with a plaque and special gift from the Nevada-Utah Conference in honor of Pastor Neri’s retirement.

Education Cable October 2025

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An Ark in the Desert

By Anne Crosby

            What if the story of Noah’s ark didn’t just live on in Sabbath school lessons, but came to life in a kid-sized, climbable wonder? That’s exactly what Kayenta Seventh-day Adventist Church set out to do. Pastor James Crosby and his wife, Nancy, have long dreamed of bringing the Bible story to life by creating a modern-day adventure through the construction of a Noah’s Ark playground.

            “In our area, the effects of the flood are evident all around us. We needed a safe place for kids to play at church, but we wanted something that would be special and a reminder of God’s word,” explained Pastor Crosby. When Katie Chitwood contacted the Crosbys to organize a mission trip, the ark became more than an idea.

            A group of 25 volunteers from across the United States, including Montana, Tennessee, Michigan, and Florida, came together during the last week of May. They arrived on site in Kayenta, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation, and immediately began to work. Three volunteers worked with Pastor Crosby to build a two-story ark, 10 feet wide and 35 feet long, complete with a ramp, a roof, and windows. The volunteers came with their families, and while the ark took shape, the rest of the volunteers, including the youngest, who was only 6 years old, worked in the church’s community garden and organized an engaging 4-day space-flight-themed vacation Bible school. On the first night, 25 children attended!

After the mission trip came to an end, work continued on the ark. Pastor Crosby finished staining the wood and added a slide, climbing wall, and upper deck.

Once the ark was finished, the kindergarten and primary Sabbath school class sat in the completed project for the first time and listened to the story of Noah’s ark and its significance to their lives. Now, after church and during community events, children can enjoy the ark playground.

The ark has become a talking point in the community as children walk by on their way home from school and express their curiosity at the big boat. One child noted, “I read about a man named Noah in a book, and that looks like his ark!” A mother said that her children have been begging to play on the ark every time they pass by. Pastor and Nancy Crosby are always ready to welcome visitors and retell the story behind this boat in the desert.

Mission Rekindled

By Karen Schneider

There’s nothing quite like the joy of burning a mortgage.

On Sabbath, October 18, 2025, the Logan Seventh-day Adventist Church celebrated the complete repayment of its church building loan.

The celebration was a heartfelt tribute to God’s provision and the congregation’s commitment to spreading the gospel in the Logan community.

The bilingual service was translated into Spanish by Ivan Porras, allowing all attendees to fully participate in the joyous occasion. Longtime member Terry Griswold, who has been with the church since its founding, shared the church’s history. He recounted the challenges faced when their previous building was claimed through eminent domain, and how the congregation found hope in Philippians 1:6: “He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

"A church is not defined by its walls, but by the people within them," I shared during the celebration. The Logan SDA Church family has always created a Christ-like and welcoming atmosphere. I'm excited to see how the resources once used for mortgage payments will now be redirected to sharing Christ even more intentionally in the Logan community.

Elder William “Bill” Werner delivered a powerful sermon centered on the Great Commission. He emphasized the urgency of discipleship with a memorable phrase: “The most important thing is to keep the most important thing the most important thing.” He invited each attendee to personalize the call to action from Matthew 28:19 by inserting their own name into the verse: “Therefore, go and make disciples, baptizing and teaching.”

The service included a symbolic burning of the promissory note, signifying the end of a financial chapter and the beginning of a renewed spiritual mission. Nicholas Streifling stood by with a fire extinguisher, ready just in case. His mother, Debbie Streifling, shared that Nicholas had been especially excited to attend church that morning. Many expressed their hope that the congregation would continue to be energized in its outreach efforts, praying that God would bless their mission to reach every corner of the Logan community.

Education Cable September 2025

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When Science Points to God

By Neat Randriamialison

“If science was the thing that ran the world, it wouldn’t break down so much.”

Allison Ogbonna doesn’t say this casually. She says it as a medical scientist who has worked in labs and seen the rules of biology break under pressure. It wasn’t a sermon that shifted her beliefs; it was a slow-burning, question-driven journey through evidence, pain, and the surprising alignment of science with faith.

Allison outside of the West Jordan SDA church

She wasn’t always a believer.

“I was a full believer in science. I thought science was the antithesis of religion.”

But when her mother showed her The Days of Noah, a documentary exploring the connection between scientific evidence and biblical events, something changed.

“My mind was just blown,” she said.

What followed was late-night research, Bible study sessions with her mom, and a total mental shift.

“We would microscopically read the Bible, break it down, look at root words, and connect verses. That’s how I began to see it differently. The science started pointing to a Designer.”

The more she studied, the more she discovered God, the one who created the universe. The one who holds the universe together.

Now, she’s a member of West Jordan Seventh-day Adventist Church, the church her mom attends. And she’s not on the sidelines.

“I didn’t want to just be ‘Tina’s daughter.’ I wanted this to be my church, too.”

So she helped launch the church’s Evangelism Committee.

“I want us all to be brought together as God’s children, the way He wants us to be.”

She still works in science every day, but now she sees more.

“We say in the lab, ‘The bugs don’t read the book.’ That’s because things don’t always follow the rules. But God can flip things. He can move mountains. And science can’t do that.”

Faith didn’t replace her logic.

It reframed her world.

Education Cable Augus 2025

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From Wandering to Worship: Sandy’s Journey Home to Jesus

By Neat Randriamialison

Meet Sandy!

Sandy, after a Sabbath potluck in the summer of 2025, right outside of the Winnemucca SDA Church.

For Sandra Davis, faith wasn’t new, but knowing Jesus personally was. A fifth-generation Seventh-day Adventist born in the 1950s, Sandra grew up in a faithful, rule-following home where church was part of life, but her connection with Christ felt distant.

“Sabbath School and church were weekly habits,” she shares. “But at home, living a Christ-filled life wasn’t something we really did.”

Like many others in her generation, she was baptized as a child and completed 12 years of Christian education. Still, despite all the knowledge and structure, Sandra says, “I did not know Jesus from everything I had learned.”

As a young adult, she married within the denomination and started a family. They went to church regularly, but their marriage struggled. Without Christ at the center, the relationship fell apart.

“It is hard to talk about,” Sandra reflects. “I ended up living a worldly life, full of sin and pain.”

She returned to church years later, seeking a fresh start and a second baptism. Though her heart was ready, she didn’t yet know how to live a Christ-centered life.

Unfortunately, her experience with church members led to more hurt. Feeling rejected, she walked away again.

For forty years, Sandra wandered. But God wasn’t done with her story.

One day, she prayed over something as simple as her appetite, an issue she’d wrestled with for years. To her surprise, God answered.

“In disbelief, I kept praying. I thought, this cannot last. But He kept answering me. My doubts began to disappear.”

That one answered prayer reignited her desire for truth. She bought a Bible and Steps to Christ. She started listening to sermons online. Her faith deepened.

“I began to read Steps to Christ with tears streaming down my cheek. No longer could I turn away. It was Jesus whom I would seek.”

She soon felt the need to worship in person with others. Through a divine connection with a church member named James, Sandra found her way to Winnemucca Seventh-day Adventist Church.

“Many months I’ve been attending. I’ve been blessed being here. I have no doubt that God has led me to this church. It’s very clear.”

Sandra recommitted her life to Christ, not just in belief, but in fellowship, community, and transformation.

“I need fellowship with this church as I walk and grow in His love. Your prayers and acceptance of me strengthen my walk as I look above.”

“I love the Lord and marvel that He loves a sinner like me.”

Note: This article is based on a conversation I personally had with Sandy and a poem she wrote.
Click here to get the full poem

Riverview Christian Academy Students Put King David on Trial

What happens when biblical history enters a modern courtroom?

Students at Riverview Christian Academy explored that question on May 20, 2025, by staging a mock trial of King David, reimagining the story of David and Bathsheba through the lens of justice and consequence.

A classroom was transformed into a courtroom, where classmates, teachers, and parents observed as students stepped into the roles of attorneys, witnesses, and jurors. Drawing from 2 Samuel 11–12, the prosecution and defense examined David’s actions—his misuse of power, the cover-up, and ultimately, his repentance.

“We wanted students to wrestle with real moral questions,” said one teacher. “David was a man after God’s heart, but he also failed. How do we hold that in tension?”

Under the guidance of Judge James (Jim) Spoo, students presented a full case. The prosecution highlighted abuse of authority and moral failure. The defense emphasized the lack of reliable witnesses and later shared David’s confession, God’s mercy, and his transformation as a leade

More than just a dramatization, the exercise challenged students to engage critically with scripture, see the different ways this story is still relevant today, while also developing skills like public speaking, critical thinking, and teamwork. It pushed them to ask tough questions about justice, grace, and leadership in a broken world.

This interesting blend of faith, education, creativity, and real-world application showed that Bible stories aren’t just ancient texts; they’re real human experiences that we can still learn from to this day.

How One VBS Invitation Changed Everything

By Neat Randriamialison

Last year, a little girl named Francesca Irina Lopez attended Vacation Bible School at the Reno-Sparks Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist Church for the very first time. Her mother had heard about the event through a coworker who is a member of the church. That simple invitation became the start of something much bigger.

Francesca loved VBS so much that she joined the Adventurers Club that same year. Her family, though attending a different church on Sundays, began bringing her faithfully to Sabbath programs. This summer, one year later, Francesca stood proudly as she was invested as a Builder during the church’s investiture ceremony on July 19, 2025.

“It’s amazing to see how God worked through that one connection,” said Elder Hector Vasquez, who leads the church’s youth ministries. “Francesca stayed with us the whole year. Now her family attends our small groups and is part of the church community.”

And there is more. She started to invite her friends.

Pastor Benjamin Carballo, along with a team of dedicated volunteers, decided 2 years ago to bring back VBS and support the youth programs. And through the church’s second year of VBS, nearly 40 kids participated, and over 70% of them were from the community. Other families have since joined the Adventurers and Pathfinders Clubs, some even attending church more regularly because their children were invited by friends.

“We’re tired,” Vasquez said with a smile, “but there’s a mission here. And God is moving through it.”

What started as a simple VBS invite became a doorway to a new church family for Francesca and many others.

Serving, Worshiping, Growing: Students Step Into Mission in Kayenta

By Heidi Jorgenson

Ten students from grades 7 and 8, along with their chaperones, spent several days serving at the Navajo Mission in Kayenta, Arizona, an experience that combined hands-on ministry, community impact, and spiritual growth.

Students from Vegas Valley Adventist Academy and Riverview Christian Academy worked side by side on service projects that supported the mission’s ongoing work. Their tasks included spreading mulch, preparing soil for blueberry planting, repainting signs, and participating in campus cleanup.

“It felt good to work hard and know it was helping someone else,” said Ruben, a student.

The group also led out in Friday night vespers and Sabbath morning worship, engaging the local church through music, prayer, and personal testimonies.

In between projects, the group explored the beauty of the surrounding area, connecting with God’s creation and each other.

From worship to work, this trip gave students a chance to live out their faith and experience the joy of service in a new setting, proving once again that mission is for anyone willing to go, grow, and give.

For His Name Sake: Faith, Film, and the Power of Creative Ministry

By Neat Randriamialison

On Saturday, June 7, 2025, Riverview Seventh-day Adventist Church in Reno, Nevada, hosted a special screening of For His Name Sake, a feature film by director Kevin Cameron. The event, sponsored by the Nevada-Utah Conference in collaboration with the Regional Ministries Department, brought together church members who were in town for this year’s Regional Convocation.

The film is an intense family drama that follows a young couple in a desperate struggle to save their newborn's life. The father must confront his own past and seek out his estranged father, the only person who might be able to help. Inspired by Psalm 23:3, For His Name Sake explores themes of faith, courage, and the power of reconciliation.

“He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:3)

The story goes beyond surface drama. It reflects the emotional reality of healing from family trauma, navigating broken relationships, and rediscovering faith in God. Drawing inspiration from films like John Q and The Shack, the director aimed to portray raw human vulnerability without sensationalism. Just real people, deep emotion, and redemptive hope.

“We want to tell stories that reflect the life of the average person,” Kevin said. “Stories that speak to faith, family, and the resilience of the human spirit.”

During the Q&A after the screening, Kevin described one of the production’s biggest challenges. During a key shoot in a motel, the team was suddenly asked to leave with just one hour to wrap up.

“We had to beg for that extra hour,” Kevin recalled. “I told Romaine, our lead actor, ‘You’ve got to shoot this scene by yourself.’ Then I ran to the car, called motels, and tried to book a new location. That scene was actually filmed across two different motels. But that’s the power of filmmaking.”

Despite obstacles, the film was completed with excellence. More importantly, it was created with purpose and mission in mind.

Kevin also shared a glimpse into his next project, centered on generational differences around mental health, specifically anxiety and depression. The goal is to bridge understanding between parents and their children in today’s emotionally complex world.

“God gave me this story,” he said. “Young people are dealing with real anxiety, and sometimes their parents don’t understand why. This film is about listening, healing, and creating space for empathy.”

Creative storytelling like For His Name’s Sake is not a side ministry. It’s a powerful, yet less talked about, way to connect, convict, and call people to Christ. This film, and others like it, point to the vital role creatives play in building the Kingdom. It reminds us that the gospel belongs not only in pulpits, but in every medium God has gifted us to use, especially the ones that meet people where they are.

NUC Celebrates June Ordinations

By Neat Randriamialison

Ordination is a sacred ceremony in which a person is officially recognized, affirmed, and set apart for ministry by the church. It is not simply a promotion or reward; it is a public acknowledgment that the individual has been called by God, confirmed by the church, and equipped by the Holy Spirit to serve in spiritual leadership.

Kevin Solomon Ordained in Reno — June 7

On June 7, the Sparks Seventh-day Adventist Church hosted Pastor Kevin Solomon’s ordination service.

Solomon’s ministry has been a journey marked by perseverance, humility, and deep spiritual conviction about his calling.

Elder Carlos Camacho, NUC President, issued the official charge:

“Pastor Solomon, this moment is not a destination; it’s a confirmation. You’ve been walking with God. Today, we lay hands not to begin something, but to bless what He has already started.”

Kevin, with visible gratitude, thanked those who walked with him through seminary, church leadership, and seasons of personal growth.

“Ministry isn’t something I chose.” He shared, “It’s something that wouldn’t let go of me. And now, I just want to pour myself out for the sake of the gospel.”

Loren Yutuc Ordained in Elko — June 14

One week later, on June 14, a similar spirit filled the sanctuary at the Elko Seventh-day Adventist Church as Pastor Loren Yutuc was ordained in front of his district churches, family, and conference leaders.

Pastor Ron Torkelsen delivered the ordination message, focusing on Peter’s restoration story in John 21. He urged Pastor Yutuc to remain rooted in personal devotion:

“Don’t quit. Don’t compare. Don’t worry. Stay faithful, and feed His sheep.”

In a deeply moving testimony, Pastor Yutuc reflected on God’s timing and the unconventional path that led him into ministry.

“I didn’t take the straight line,” he said. “But I took the one God kept lighting up.”

Elder Camacho closed with a reminder:

“We are not ordaining a personality, we are confirming a servant. God has called you, and He will sustain you.”

Though Kevin and Loren’s stories are different, their calling is the same: the service of Christ and His people. Their respective ministry reflect the diversity across the Nevada-Utah Conference and the unity of purpose that ties it all together.

Education Cable June 2025

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Journey to Glory: How a Group of Rwandese Young Adults Live Their Faith

By Neat Randriamialison

I haven’t seen this kind of fire for Jesus in a long time.

From May 30 to June 1 in Salt Lake City, I witnessed something remarkable. A group of Rwandese young adults who have created what many churches are still praying for: a spiritual community that’s alive, consistent, and mission-driven. They call it Journey to Glory.

This group, made up of young adults ages 18 to 30 from across the United States, started meeting online just a few years ago. Twice a week, they gather on Zoom to study the Bible. And at the end of each month, they serve the homeless in their local cities. And once a year, they meet in person to reconnect, meet newcomers, but most importantly, worship together.

What impressed me most was their intentionality. They’re not just participants, they’re leaders. They’ve formed a board. They assign roles. They plan and execute their retreats with purpose. No one is a spectator. Some prepared food. Others handled logistics. A few coordinated community outreach. Others booked speakers and managed the weekend flow.

It’s simple. They are a church. A movement focused on growing in Christ together while finding ways to make an impact in their community.

One of the young leaders, Robin, flew in from Tennessee. He’s 25, turning 26 in July, and his passion is impossible to ignore.

“We started this group to grow in Christ together,” he shared. “We don’t want to just talk about faith, we want to live it.”

Robin attended the first retreat just two months after arriving in the United States. That experience stayed with him. So when the second one came around, he made up his mind to attend, even if it meant risking his job.

“This year, I asked for Friday and Monday off,” he said. “They didn’t approve it. But if my job doesn’t value my spiritual life, that’s a problem. I’m not a money lover. If Jesus left heaven—Heaven!—just to be nailed to a cross for me, then I can give Him a weekend.”

Robin served as a worship leader throughout the retreat and believes his talents are gifts from God to be used for ministry.

“God wants the best of me. My energy. My voice. My time. My resources,” he said. “There are people who want to dance but don’t have legs. People who want to sing but are on oxygen. I still have all of that, so I use it for Him.”

He doesn’t see worship as performance. For him, it’s a form of prayer and intercession.

“When I sing, I’m preaching. When I dance, I’m praying. I’m thanking God for my salvation, and I’m praying for others to experience it too. This is the only way to God, and I want everyone to have it.”

Journey to Glory is more than a Bible study. It’s a spiritual movement led by young people who aren’t waiting to be given a platform; they’re building one. And they’re doing it with humility, vision, and an unshakable passion for Jesus.

I pray that every church community can be inspired by what I saw that weekend. When young people are given space, responsibility, and the freedom to lead, this is what it can look like.

Education Cable May 2025

News From the Education Department

By Heidi Jorgenson

Non-SDA Leader Guides Pathfinder Team to 1st Place NAD Level of PBE

Interview conducted by Neat Randriamialison

Meet Patsy Jenkins. Patsy is not a Seventh-day Adventist, but you wouldn’t know it by the way she leads, teaches, and disciples the Pathfinder Bible Experience (PBE) team at Mountain View SDA Church in Las Vegas. For the past three years, she’s coached a group of young people called the Sin City Saints, and in 2025, they took first place at the North American Division PBE Finals, a national-level achievement.

But this story is about more than a trophy. It’s about what happens when a local church opens the door wide enough for someone outside the denomination to walk in, serve with purpose, and change lives, including their own.

Patsy’s passion isn’t complicated. She saw what kids were missing and she decided to do something about it.

“With everything that’s going on and the kids always out and about,” she said, “most kids are not growing up in the church, or they’re not studying. So I figured if we do PBE, it gives the kids the opportunity to dig into the Bible, dig into God’s Word. And that’s something they keep with them.”

She’s seen how the Word of God becomes part of their lives. “It comes to you whether you think you forgot it or not… something happens, and it’s there. It’s in your heart. The Word is there, and you’re able to cling to that.”

A Culture of the Bible, Not Just a Club

Her approach is spiritual and structured. Every day begins with the same priorities: “Bible first, pray first, praise first.”

Their team studies together at 8:00 a.m. daily. Each member is responsible for specific chapters, but they all come together to review, discuss, and truly understand the Word. “Before they study on their own, I break the chapters down. What is this chapter about? What is it talking about? We have to understand it first. Once you understand it, then you can study it.”

Patsy insists on physical Bibles, no screens. “You can have all the electronics you want, but you’re going to pick up a physical Bible. Hold God’s Word in your hands. It’s different than reading on the phone. You feel the weight of it.”

A group picture of the Mountain View SDA Pathfinders Club.

Building Disciples, Not Just Winners

What stands out most is how deeply Patsy is shaping the spiritual lives of her team within the structure of the Pathfinders Club.

“They’re able to carry [the Word] with them. When they’re going through something, they remember… In Kings, it said this. In James, it said this. That’s what it’s about.”

That’s discipleship. That’s leadership. And that’s why the Sin City Saints are already preparing for next year with chapters assigned and hearts set on going all the way again.