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November 11, 2026 Think Big. Start Small. Go Deep. Gavin Anthony shares a new approach to disciple making—one life at a time
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November 11, 2026 From Ironed Linens to Leadership Ariel Patterson brings heart to administration
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November 11, 2026 Students Experience Learning, Worship and Adventure at Outdoor School
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Adventist News
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Students Experience Learning, Worship and Adventure at Outdoor School
– November 11, 2026Students enjoyed a full week of learning, fellowship, worship and outdoor adventure during Outdoor School at Camp Heritage. Throughout the week, students spent their mornings engaged in hands-on classes designed to help them explore the world around them. Classes included Raptors, Weather and Watercolor, giving students opportunities to learn about nature, science and creativity in a fun outdoor setting. After working hard in their classes, students had the chance to play hard as well. Time at the waterfront was a highlight, giving everyone an opportunity to relax, have fun and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Camp Heritage. The activities continued with a lively game of dodgeball led by Iowa-Missouri Conference president Pastor Lee Rochholz. Students then came together for worship with Pastor Anthony Rudalf, providing an opportunity to pause from the day’s activities and focus on their relationship with God. As the final full day at Camp Heritage came to a close, education superintendent Jovannah Poor Bear Adams reflected on the joy of spending the week with the students and the friendships built during their time together. While everyone was tired after several busy days, there was also excitement about the opportunities ahead. Teachers, students and education leaders will continue connecting and creating memories throughout the school year, with many looking forward to gathering together again at Music Fest.
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Union Adventist University Reports Highest Graduate Student Enrollment Ever High retention yields enrollment growth
– November 5, 2026Union’s headcount for the fall semester of 2026 is a strong 758 students — 10 more than last year! That’s 53 more than in 2022. This number is the result of exceptionally strong retention and growing graduate programs. This year has Union’s highest enrollment of master’s students ever. Graduate programs have shown steady growth with the numbers increasing every year for the last seven years. This year, 121 master’s students have chosen Union compared to 110 last year and 87 in 2020. That includes four public health students, seven leadership students, 14 occupational therapy students and 96 PA students. This year’s freshmen class is comparatively small, with 92 first-year students choosing Union. Some facts about Union’s new Class of 2030 include: They represent six countries. Nebraska and Minnesota are tied for the top two states with 13 students each. The gender ratio is 65% female to 35% male. 35% are first-generation college students. 79% attended Adventist academies and 5% were homeschooled. “I am rejoicing for every one of the 758 students God has sent us to mentor and guide this year,” said Yami Bazan, university president. “Our high retention and high student engagement tell a story: Union is not only the sort of place students want to come to, but a place they want to stay. I am thankful for all of our faculty and staff who work with such dedication to create our campus culture—the spirit of service, the joy of inquiry, the heart and soul they pour into this campus is seen and deeply appreciated. Our retention is strong because our students feel the love our employees have for them, for each other and for Jesus.” Scott Cushman is director of public relations at Union Adventist University.
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From Business to Ministry, Daniel Silva Is Ordained
– November 4, 2026Daniel Silva’s move from a business career in Brazil to pastoral ministry was recognized Sept. 12, 2026, when he was ordained at College View Church in Lincoln, Nebraska. He has served as the church’s administrative pastor since 2023. Before entering ministry, Silva managed projects for large companies and later oversaw an investment portfolio. Leaving the security of that work was a difficult decision. As he sensed God calling him to become a pastor, Phil. 4:13 took on new meaning: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” His preparation began in the local church, where he served as a youth leader and volunteer Bible worker before becoming an evangelist. Silva and his wife, Carol, later moved to Berrien Springs, Michigan. There he earned a Master of Divinity at Andrews University, and the couple helped plant a Brazilian church. Silva joined the Kansas-Nebraska Conference in 2019, pastoring the Wichita Southeast, Wichita West Hispanic and Arkansas City Hispanic churches before moving to College View. Family also had a place in his ordination service. Carol and Nicole Silva provided special music, singing “Era a Mão de Deus.” Silva’s biography credits Carol, whom he married in 2010, with steady support as he followed his call. Nilton Garcia presented “A Ministry that Leaves Lasting Footprints,” and Simon Liversidge spoke on “A Man of God.” Conference president Ron Carlson offered the ordination prayer.
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Smerdis Fuentes Ordained at Piedmont Park
– November 4, 2026Smerdis Fuentes, whose ministry focuses on helping young people find faith and belonging, was ordained Aug. 15, 2026, at Piedmont Park Church in Lincoln, Nebraska. He serves there as associate pastor for youth and young adults. For Fuentes, listening is an important part of being a pastor. His ordination biography describes a desire to walk alongside people through every season of life, especially young people wrestling with questions of identity, faith and purpose. He knows what it means to drift from God. Raised in Miami by his Cuban mother, Fuentes grew up with her example of faith and sacrifice. As a young adult, he stepped away from that faith. An encounter with Jesus at age 21 changed the direction of his life and led him toward pastoral ministry. At his ordination, Pastor Michael Halfhill delivered a message titled “What God Sees.” Virgil Covel’s charge called Fuentes to care tenderly for those entrusted to him and to teach plainly enough for children to understand. Fuentes earned a bachelor’s degree in biblical pastoral theology from Antillean Adventist University in 2017 and a Master of Divinity from Andrews University in 2021. His graduate studies included chaplaincy and youth and young adult ministry. Fuentes began ministry in Grand Island in August 2021, one month after marrying his wife, Ilka Judit. Together they share a commitment to creating welcoming spaces where people can grow spiritually. The couple are expecting their first child in December 2026.
Blogs
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The Teacher’s Notes–Interpreting Prophetic Writings, Lesson 8 Adult Bible Study Guide, 2026 4Q, "The Gift of Prophecy"
– November 14, 2026Sabbath School Lesson for November 14-20, 2026 Introduction of Lesson 8, Interpreting Prophetic Writings Memory Text: “Then beginning with Moses and with all the Prophets, He explained to them the things written about Himself in all the Scriptures.” Luke 24:27 NASB After the resurrection, Jesus soon appeared and taught two very discouraged travelers from Jerusalem, opening their eyes to the broader, correct interpretation of the Messiah that had escaped them all their lives. With joy, they continued their journey, anxious to share their newfound awareness and appreciation for what the Son of God had done for them. What a tremendous relief it was to the followers of Jesus when they discovered that their interpretation of Scripture was wrong. It wasn’t the purpose of the Messiah to deliver them from the Romans, as they had been taught. But rather to suffer and die for their sins, just as He had done on the cross. How important it is for all of us to interpret correctly the things we find in the Bible, and not let biases cloud our understanding. Satan is constantly seeking to obscure God’s truths, but Jesus patiently reminds us that with humility, when we are guided by the Holy Spirit, it’s possible to interpret correctly what we need to know to be saved. This week, we’ll explore: Sunday: The Bible, Its Own Interpreter Monday: The Historical-Cultural Context Tuesday: The Literary Context Wednesday: The Meaning of the Text Thursday: Biblical Exposition Friday: Reading Ellen G. White Sunday: The Bible, Its Own Interpreter As far as possible, we should allow the Bible to interpret itself without regard to our long-held opinions. Often, this task is not difficult. For example, Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of an image and its interpretation is found within the same chapter, Daniel 2. Just as with the parable of the sower in Matthew 13. Other times, the meaning can be found in later chapters, or by a later prophet. Jesus recognized the many misinterpretations of the Ten Commandment Law. Therefore, He devoted much of His Sermon on the Mount to broadening our understanding of it, helping us soak deep into our hearts the love found there, which can fully change our outlook and behavior. Many symbols and figures found in the Old Testament are interpreted in the New. Broadly then, the New Testament becomes the inspired interpreter of the Old. The Old Testament is the gospel in figures and symbols, and the New is the substance of what the gospel is all about. Thankfully, Jesus opened our eyes to see many aspects of our salvation that had been misinterpreted or forgotten over the years. Verses for reflection and discussion: Matthew 5:17-22 and Jeremiah 31:31-33 Why was so much of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount about how we should be keeping the Ten Commandments? 2 Timothy 3:16 Why are all Scripture (both the Old and New Testaments) important? Monday: The Historical-Cultural Context Isaiah 65 talks about the new heavens and the new earth, but in verse 20 we find that “the child shall die one hundred years old”. If death will be no more in the new earth, it doesn’t make sense that a child would die there, even at such an old age. But, Isaiah 65 also speaks of another time in history when there would be blessings for the nation Israel if they were faithful to God. The description of this child could, therefore, apply to the Israel Isaiah longed to see. Surely, no infant mortality and longevity for everyone would be the norm in Israel if they followed God’s counsel. In consideration of the historical context, we also find in Matthew 24, Jesus talking about the future destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., which was a very troubling prospect for the disciples and why they had asked Him about it. Jesus used the opportunity, however, to also describe the destruction of our earth in the last days. Knowing this helps us to better interpret and understand the prophecy. Also, it’s important to recognize the cultural customs of the time. Several verses in the New Testament talk about greeting those in our church family with a “holy kiss”. Is this meant to be literal? In some cultures, a kiss would be highly inappropriate as a greeting. Instead, a handshake, hug, or bow would be more in keeping with the intent of God for fellow believers. Verses for reflection and discussion: Isaiah 65:17-20 Will children die in the new earth as stated here in verse 20? How would you then explain the meaning of this verse? 1 Corinthians 16:20, 2 Corinthians 13:12, and 1 Thessalonians 5:26 Why would cultural norms need to be applied to these verses? Tuesday: The Literary Context Satan is an expert when it comes to taking verses out of context and causing misinterpretation and confusion over their meaning. He did it masterfully in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve, and also in his attempts to get Jesus to sin right after His baptism. Each wilderness temptation began with a quote from Scriptures which Satan had lifted out of context and misapplied to the situation before them. But, Jesus saw through his deceptive ploys and countered his arguments with verses that exposed their evil intent. Unfortunately, many of us have learned from Satan how to generalize, misquote, and misapply the truths in God’s word. Taking His words out of context, we may either, intentionally or unintentionally, distort their original meaning. Verses for reflection and discussion: Genesis 3:1-5 and Matthew 4:1-11 What pattern do we see here for how Satan operates to achieve his goals, and what are his goals? What can we do to protect ourselves from these manipulative tactics, no matter who is using them? Wednesday: The Meaning of the Text As we interpret what we read in the Scriptures, we must first consider the verses and chapter surrounding it–its literary context. This helps us identify its historical and cultural context as well. But, often the meaning may still be obscure. <a class="cat-post-excerpt-more" href="https://outlookmag.org/the-teachers-notes-interpreting-prophetic-writings-lesson-8/" title="Continue reading The Teacher’s Notes–Interpreting Prophetic Writings, Lesson 8 Adult Bible Study Guide, 2026 4Q, “The Gift of Prophecy”“>Read more…
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The Words Already Existed Glass Children — Part 12
– November 12, 2026The playground gave me a few things which were life-changing. My classes gave me more. I was a social work major by then, sitting in lectures that were not about me and recognizing myself in them anyway. Three times that year a concept came up, and I understood somewhere around the second sentence that it was describing my own life — and that it had been describing my own life for seventeen years while I had no word for it at all. Grief with no funeral I did not expect grief to apply to me. Nobody had died. But I had lost a brother — the one I imagined before he came home, and never met. The one I had hoped for years he would become if I just tried hard enough. We were not going to play the way other siblings play. We were not going to move through a life side by side: school, leaving home, marrying, raising children, growing old as two people who had started out together. I had been carrying this sadness since not long after he was born. When there is a death, the grief has a rough trajectory it usually takes, learning to live with the loss a little more year by year. Ambiguous grief does not. It arrives new again at every stage of life I reach and he does not, and it is not finished. It is not going to be finished. This is a type of grief often recognized in parents of a child with high needs, but typically not given much thought in their siblings. It should have been me Survivor’s guilt arrived in my vocabulary during a class. This type of guilt happens in many situations, such as an accident where some died or were hurt much worse than others. The thought running through my mind since early childhood was, It should have been me. I was not a perfect person. I deserved his fate. Why did I get the working body? Why am I the one who grew up and left home and married and raised children? Why was I able to have a career? Why am I the one who is okay? And I was acutely aware of something that never stopped seeming unfair. My own birth was the dangerous one. It was so difficult that the doctor was afraid my mother and I would both die. Rick’s delivery went more smoothly than mine — and he was the one who came out with damage. Since survivor’s guilt is often reopened at every stage, it never entirely resolves. But having a name for it is helpful. You cannot examine what you have no word for. With therapy and time, it is not as strong. Enmeshment, but how does that fit? The third concept I discovered was enmeshment. It was presented the way it usually is: as a marker of a dysfunctional family. Usually that family is one where one or more members are making bad choices — drinking too much, say — which affect the others negatively and cause the whole family to adopt unhealthy ways of coping in order to survive. Ours was not exactly the dysfunction the book was teaching. Yet I recognized my household, and had to work out for myself what the textbook did not say. The clearest look I ever got at how enmeshment affected me came when my family moved across the country and I stayed behind for school. They were a long way off and there was nothing for me to do. His appointments, his crises, whatever went wrong — all of it was going to be handled by two people without me. That should have been a relief. I was twenty years old and free. What I felt instead was that I could not put the responsibility down. Not missing them, not worrying in the ordinary way a person worries about family far away. A job I had held since I was three was still running inside me, and now there was no way to do it and no easy way to set it down either. You cannot see a system like that while you are in it, doing your part. You find out how fused you were when you are taken out of it — torn out of it, more like. He names and He heals He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. (Psalm 147:3-4) Healing in one breath, naming in the next. Naming is part of the binding up. Nothing in my life changed on the days I learned those three concepts. My brother was still disabled, the grief still arrived at every milestone, and I still could not fix any of it. What changed is that I could look at what I was carrying, because it finally had a definition. If you have carried something for years with no words for it, it very likely has words. Somebody has likely studied it, written about it and given it a name. You are not the first, and you are not strange. Go and find out what it is called. Lord, You name the stars and You bind up the brokenhearted, and we have only just worked out that those are the same mercy. Give us words for what we carry, and someone to say them to. Amen. Next time: what I would tell parents now. Click HERE for the first article in this series.
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A Tale of Two Epistles Which Letter Do You Write First?
– November 12, 2026Paul had a problem in Colossae: teachings that made Christ smaller. Now for the complication. When we hear “house church,” we picture a living room. Three bedrooms, two baths, folding chairs. A Roman household was something else. A wealthy man’s home was often a villa — several buildings around a courtyard, family, clients, servants, and slaves all under one roof and one master. The church at Colossae met in such a household. It belonged to a man named Philemon. Paul had never been to Colossae. But he knew Philemon. Wealthy men traveled the empire, and Paul had covered much of Asia Minor on foot. Somewhere their roads crossed, and Philemon came to faith through Paul. Paul says so, gently but plainly: “you owe me even your own self” (Philemon 19). So far, simple. Paul writes to the church in his friend’s house. Except for Onesimus. Onesimus, the runaway slave, stood next to Paul in Rome. And Onesimus was Philemon’s slave. He had run from the very household that was the destination of the two letters. It may be he stole something on the way out — Paul hints at that. He made for Rome, as many runaways did. The busy roads on the way and a city of a million people provided easy cover for a fugitive. Somewhere in that crowd, God brought Onesimus and Paul together. The runaway became a believer and then a constant companion, bringing food, running errands, seeing to the needs of a man in chains. A prisoner under guard paid his own way, and depended on friends to care for him. Now put yourself in Paul’s place. You must write to a church that meets in Philemon’s house. That letter will be read aloud in Philemon’s courtyard, with Philemon—and everyone else—listening. And the man who ran away from that courtyard stands next to you, holding your cup. You cannot write that letter and say nothing about Onesimus. And this involved more than just social awkwardness. Rome’s economy ran on slaves, so Rome took runaways seriously. A runaway might be beaten, branded, or even crucified. Roman law left the choice to the master. Philemon, and he alone, would settle what happened to Onesimus. So Paul has two letters to write. One to save a church from error. One to save a man’s life. Which do you write first? We can’t prove the order. Neither letter hints at which Paul wrote first. We do know that both letters went out together, and both name the same people around Paul. Weighing theology with long-term effects versus a fellow-believer under imminent threat, I’d write the one about Onesimus. I’d want to do everything I could to see that Philemon received him gently. Whatever the order, Paul wrote to Philemon. It is one of the most personal, one of the most vulnerable of all Paul’s letters we have. In that letter he had done something the modern reader passes over, but the Roman world could not miss. When Paul finished the letter, he handed it to Onesimus.
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Dare To Be A Daniel Faith & Discipline
– November 9, 2026https://youtube.com/shorts/JlDlVhIWYWs?si=BCxxZByLeJkNaX32
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Think Big. Start Small. Go Deep. Gavin Anthony shares a new approach to disciple making—one life at a time
– November 11, 2026I had recently the pleasure of sitting down with Gavin Anthony to discuss his disciple making course. Gavin currently serves in the Minnesota Conference as assistant to the president and director for Strategic Initiatives. Since he started working with Minnesota in March 2025, Gavin has been building a course for disciple making that has profoundly impacted multiple lives, including mine. Savannah: You have been working for the last year on developing a disciple making… program? Module? Way of life? How would you describe it? Gavin: A course. We are creating a number of online courses. The first part is a boot camp, which is called The Disciple maker’s Journey. It’s like a 10-week introduction, big picture to what Jesus’s method of disciple making is about. Then, we’ll follow that up with a six-month individual coaching time, where we will help people apply what they’ve been learning, discipling people where they are. What led to this journey? Why build this resource? Ever since I was a teenager, I have just had a real longing to share how to have personal intimacy with God. Right at the beginning of my ministry, I started teaching people how to have a prayer life and how to study the Bible through different methods, because personal intimacy with God is just the heart of everything. As I spent time trying to create different disciple making, discipling, discipleship resources, I realized that I was not multiplying what I was doing. Just over 10 years ago I had this overwhelming urge to explore and absorb as much as I could on what disciple making was. I immersed myself in everything I could possibly find–books, podcasts, everything—to try and understand how we can create a multiplying culture and what needs to be in the DNA for that kind of thing. It eventually became obvious to put the curriculum online, which allows us to provide the resources to anyone everywhere. Since I came to Minnesota, it’s been exciting to work alongside a small team of people who are really excited about that same thing. What is the focus of the course? It’s called “The disciple makers journey” and the tagline is “courses to help you build communities of image bearers, one life at a time.” The real focus is this idea of image bearing, because that’s what the purpose of disciple making is—creating communities devoted to restoring people into the image of God. You’ve used a few different terminologies. You said discipling, discipleship, disciple, disciple makers, image bearers. Do those terms differ, or are they interchangeable? First of all, I don’t like the word discipleship at all. I do use it every now and again, but lots of countries don’t have the word discipleship in their language. It didn’t exist in Icelandic, for example, where I was from. That’s a word that we have created. But what’s in the Bible is disciple making. Jesus says, “Go and make disciples.” So, I think it’s most helpful to keep with the biblical terminology just to make sure we’re clear. Disciple making, or making disciples, is the most important thing. When Jesus calls people to follow Him, He says, “Come, follow me, and I will teach you how to fish for people” (Matt. 4:19). So, the call to follow Him, the call to come into a disciple-making relationship, is a call to come and be trained for mission. That’s right at the beginning of Matthew’s Gospel. In Matt. 4:19, you’ve got the calling, then in Matt. 28:18-20, you’ve got the commissioning of the disciples. Everything in the middle is kind of a disciple making workbook or document. That’s one way of looking at the Gospel of Matthew. So, disciple making for me is the most important thing. Everyone is called to be a disciple maker. I believe, in the Bible, a disciple is the same thing as a disciple maker. Disciple making isn’t an elite sport, where only certain or special people do that. Every disciple is called to be a disciple maker. A disciple, then, is someone who follows Jesus, and a disciple maker is someone who follows Jesus and helps other people follow Jesus. So, what is an image bearer? We bear fruit in two ways. We’re bearing fruit in terms of being like Jesus—our characters becoming Christlike—and the fruit of multiplying people into His kingdom who reflect that character. Particularly when we look at our prophetic calling in Revelation 13 and 14, the heart of the three angels’ messages and what’s at stake, it’s fundamentally about, Who do we look like? Disciple making is therefore core to our prophetic calling as Seventh-day Adventists: walking alongside people and showing people how to be like Jesus. An image bearer is just looking at that from a different point of view. In Genesis, you’ve got creation, and the pinnacle of creation is the creation of human beings, and they are made in the image of God. That’s how they were designed. That’s at the core of what we are and what we’re called to be. We’re called to be like God and reflect that. What happens in Genesis 3 undermines that whole thing, and that image is distorted or corrupted. Then the whole redemption plan—what we talk about as salvation—is not simply about escaping this bad place. It’s about being saved back into the purpose that God had for us, which is to be in His image. When we walk on the earth looking like Jesus, it refutes everything that Satan is claiming about God. That’s what we’re trying to help people understand and implement where they are—how to be image bearers. Someone—I don’t know who it was—summarized Jesus’ disciple-making method as, “Think big, start small, go deep,” which I love. His mission was to reach the whole world. That’s think big. Start small: He started with these 12. And then He went deep with them. It was life on life. After a couple of years or so, He was able to <a class="cat-post-excerpt-more" href="https://outlookmag.org/think-big-start-small-go-deep/" title="Continue reading Think Big. Start Small. Go Deep. Gavin Anthony shares a new approach to disciple making—one life at a time“>Read more…
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From Ironed Linens to Leadership Ariel Patterson brings heart to administration
– November 11, 2026When Ariel Patterson, a junior elementary education major from Boulder, Colorado, first started as a student worker, she pictured the usual office routine — drafting presentations, tracking spreadsheets, and running campus errands. Then came ironing black tablecloths for a board meeting. “It was a lot harder than I thought,” laughed Patterson. “But it felt good to do something simple that gives our school that extra touch to stand out, to look nice. There’s a lot that goes into the meetings and it sets the tone for all who participate.” Patterson started her work on campus in the President’s Office as a freshman in 2024. When her supervisor, Grace Chilson, transitioned into Academic Administration in 2026, Patterson was invited to follow. “I enjoy working with Grace,” said Patterson. “She sees me as a person and cares.” Under Chilson’s mentorship, and her understanding of college pressures, Patterson found the office to be a launchpad rather than a burden. Even on difficult days, Chilson noticed Patterson came in with a positive attitude. “She is always willing to take on new tasks and eager to learn, approaching each opportunity with enthusiasm and a desire to do her best,” said Chilson. “Her willingness to learn, dependable nature, and joyful presence make her a valued member of our office.” This initiative was shown one spring when Chilson needed end-of-the-year gift concepts on short notice. Patterson didn’t just suggest an idea — she problem-solved with a presentation featuring distinct gift concepts, accompanying taglines and varying price points. “I was able to take the information to my boss and finalize a decision,” Chilson said. “It was such a time saver.” On larger campuses, student workers easily become names lost on payroll. At a close-knit school like Union, every contribution carries personal weight. And while ironed linens and gift presentations might seem far from a future elementary classroom, Patterson sees every opportunity in student work as career preparation. “I’ve learned how to take control of tasks,” said Patterson. “That has equipped me to be a leader in my own life because it’s helped me learn that sometimes you just need to start, then it’s okay to ask questions and build from there.” More importantly, Patterson found being a student worker mirrors the realities of running a classroom. Over the last two years Patterson reflected how she’s built confidence in her professionalism, learned to work with people who think differently, handle sensitive information with confidentiality and pivot with the unexpected. “I know these skills will be beneficial as I move into teaching,” she said, noting she’ll deal with parents, principals, fellow teachers and diverse students in the future. “I’ve learned how to approach responsibility with respect.” Beyond keeping operations running smoothly, student workers like Patterson directly impact Union’s culture. Whether delivering documents across campus, or welcoming high-level university stakeholders, Patterson is personal and mission-driven. She brings joy into all her interactions and embodies the spirit of Union. “Ariel is an exceptional student worker, not only because of her creativity, timeliness and cheerful spirit, but also because of the way she demonstrates her love for Jesus in the way she interacts with others,” said Chilson. Patterson noted that all her interactions while working have been positive. “Staff and students—they all just reciprocate that love for Jesus back at you,” she said. With supervisors like Chilson who take time to mentor, and students like Patterson willing to dive in, working on campus becomes much more than just a job. It’s how Union prepares students to step out into the world, ready to serve and lead. Emy Roque-Cisneros is a freelance writer in Grand Junction, Colorado.
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Work that Matters, Skills that Last
– November 11, 2026A lot has changed at Union Adventist University over the last 135 years, including our name. But some things have remained remarkably consistent: rigorous academics, a commitment to service and students who aren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves and work. One difference? In 1891, students were expected to do chores for at least an hour every day for free. Nowadays, we pay them. But the value of the experience goes far beyond a paycheck. Again and again, alumni tell us not all the lessons they use in their careers were learned in a classroom. Their mentors in on-campus employment taught them punctuality, diligence, leadership, professionalism, attention to detail, communication, problem solving and so many other skills. That experience matters. Union students don’t just graduate with a degree; they leave with real-world skills and the confidence to put them to work. It’s one reason our graduates are sought after by employers. Student employment also makes a Union education more affordable. Students earn money they can put toward college expenses while doing essential work that would otherwise require additional full-time employees. Their contributions help us hold down costs and keep tuition lower for everyone. For this special Union Adventist University issue of OUTLOOK, we asked our colleagues across campus to nominate superlative workers. The students featured here were far from the only ones— they were simply the first four. That says something about the students who chose Union. Across our campus, students are learning and earning every day. They are creating a better campus while gaining the experience that will make them valuable employees and leaders ready to make a difference wherever God leads. Dr. Yami Bazan is president of Union Adventist University.
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Out of the Fire and onto the Prairie Johnny McDonald makes dorm life better in his home-away-from-home
– November 10, 2026Johnny McDonald left Paradise to attend Union Adventist University. Seriously, that is the name of his hometown in California. Maybe you remember the news showing the flames consuming the area in 2018. Nine out of 10 buildings burned down in Paradise, including Johnny’s home. There’s a new home, but Johnny isn’t there. He left the Sierra Nevada Foothills and traveled to the Midwest. His tightly-knit family would have preferred that he stay closer to home for college. But he heard some nice words about Union from Linda Becker, former VP of Student Life, when she came to serve as interim principal of his school. “She talked to me about the International Rescue and Relief Program, about Union, and how I’d love it,” remembers Johnny. “I thought she’s just doing her spiel. But ever since I came here, the students are great, and I love the staff.” The staff love him right back. “Johnny has been our super summer worker,” says men’s dean Santi Fernandez. “He single- handedly shaved off projects I’ve had on my list for two years. He put together more than 50 beds for camp meeting on his own.” Johnny’s ability to take on work is legendary. At his old school, Paradise Adventist Academy, he would volunteer to vacuum or take out the trash. He helped the science teacher grade papers. The school decided it would introduce a student worker award and make Johnny the first recipient. He also won it the next year. “I know I got it twice,” he said as he searched his memory. “I don’t know if I got it a third time or not.” He hasn’t gotten a trophy at Union, but he was promoted from residential maintenance to a residential assistant (RA) without ever applying. He says his jobs on campus have helped build his confidence and added to his professionalism in talking to people on the phone. Johnny says he got his work ethic from his mother. “My mom is absolutely the hardest working person I know. And, I guess that’s her love language. She loves us extremely and very strongly.” She takes care of three boys by herself. Johnny lost his father to cancer this spring. The tragedy interrupted finals so he had to make up assignments and tests. It’s a good thing he is as ready for academic work as for physical labor. This fall he is taking on a heavy class load so he can enter Union’s Nursing Program in January. Why does Johnny work so hard while some of the rest of us coast downhill? “The rewards, in my view, are what people think of me,” he said. “That’s important because it guides your relationships and it reflects on your character. Obviously, money is also a reward. But the thing that I keep going back to is the relationships. I built a better relationship with Santi and with all the people that I’ve worked around.” Johnny mentions one more reason for his productive life. “I can’t just sit around,” he said. “I’d get bored.” Kim Peckhan is director of digital communication at Union Adventist University.