Ask what drew our three teachers to V. Lindsay Seventh-day Adventist School in Kansas City, Kansas, and you will get the same answer in three different voices: God brought them here. What they found when they arrived was a school in the middle of something remarkable. Over the past two years, V. Lindsay has been reimagining what teaching looks like in a small, multi-grade Adventist school through a strength-based subject specialization model, where each teacher focuses on the subjects they are most gifted in across all grade levels. The story of that transformation is best told through the people who live it every day. Janel Fields: Coming home to something better Janel Fields taught at V. Lindsay more than a decade ago. She left, faced serious health challenges, and felt the Holy Spirit impress upon her heart that this was where she was needed. So she came back, and returned to a school she barely recognized. Where teachers once managed every subject in self-contained classrooms, she now teaches art, Bible, science, and social studies across Pre-K through 7th grade. Her defining moment this year came during the science fair, watching middle school students confidently present concepts she had once been nervous to teach. About 90 percent of her students showed MAP growth by year’s end. She said that felt like a personal victory for her too. What has never changed, she says, is the heart of the school. Every child matters here. That was true before. It is still true now. Jazmyne Damon: Trusting the process when you cannot see the whole plan Jazmyne Damon was here when the transition began and lived through every difficult adjustment. She specializes in literacy and language arts, and her classroom runs on one conviction: every child is a capable learner whose gifts may simply look different from the child beside them. She tells her students there is no such thing as a dumb question, and that getting something wrong does not mean starting all the way over. When the specialization model launched, she anchored herself in Scripture, thinking often about how Moses and Joshua had to keep moving step by step without seeing the full plan. Schoolwide reading scores reflected the effort, climbing more than 30 percent during the pilot year. But she knew the change was worth it when she saw something the data could not fully capture: students who once disliked school were waking their parents up in the morning because they wanted to come. Dr. Reginald Dixon: When the model is all you know Dr. Dixon did not transition into this model. He walked straight into it as a first-year elementary teacher with no prior classroom experience and no frame of reference for the old way. When asked what drew him to V. Lindsay, his answer was four words: it was literally God. He specializes in math, teaches with structured discipline, and gives students three core laws to apply in whatever way works best for them. He was candid about what surprised him: the processes were not as established as he expected. So he observed, adjusted and kept going. What he loves most about teaching this way is simple—watching the children grow and develop. When schoolwide MAP scores climbed more than 30 percent in math during the pilot, he had all the evidence he needed. Three teachers. Three completely different journeys to the same building. Together they are building what one of them calls a kingdom-shaped workplace, where love, grace, excellence and joy are not words on a wall but the daily experience of everyone who walks through the door. If you are a family looking for that kind of environment for your child, or an educator looking for that kind of mission for your gifts, V. Lindsay has a place for you. Come see what God is doing here. At the time of this writing Schari Fontus, Ed.D. candidate, was superintendent of education for the Central States Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

Read more...

What if Jesus comes tomorrow? Are we ready? Are our neighbors ready? Do the people around us know that Jesus loves them deeply and wants to be part of their lives? And if sharing that hope is our responsibility … when does that begin? At five years old? 10? 20? 50? At HMS Richards Adventist School in Loveland, Colorado, we believe the answer is yes—to every age. During the 2025-2026 school year, Pentecost 2025 became more than a sermon series. It became a living reminder that every student, from the youngest to the oldest, can be used by God to share His love in meaningful ways. We believe our community should know that Jesus loves them, and that we can be His hands and feet right now. Over the course of many months, our students immersed themselves in Scripture, researching deeply, asking meaningful questions, writing thoughtfully, and preparing to share God’s truth with courage and conviction. Through our “GOD IS” evangelistic series, our seventh- and eighth-grade students preached full Bible-based sermons centered on who God is—our Salvation, our Hope, our Rest, our Victory, and our Coming King. At the same time, our fifth- and sixth-grade students developed and produced the accompanying “GOD IS” podcast series, learning how to communicate biblical truth through writing, recording, editing and production. Together, students discovered that God can use every gift—speaking, writing, music, technology, encouragement, organization and service—for His work. But perhaps the most beautiful part of this journey happened outside the classroom walls. Students spent intentional time connecting with the 110 homes surrounding our campus, not simply inviting neighbors to a program, but building real relationships through listening, kindness, prayer and service. Through post-storm restoration, hospital visits, yard clean-up projects, encouragement,and practical help, our students learned that evangelism is not only something spoken from a stage—it is something lived. And something remarkable happened in return. Our neighbors began to understand that HMS is not just a school nearby. They now know they can reach out to us when they need prayer, support, encouragement or help—and that we will be there. What made Pentecost 2025 truly special was watching students realize that they do not have to wait until adulthood to serve Jesus in meaningful ways. God is already working through them now. This initiative reflects the mission of HMS: to develop young people who love Jesus deeply, think critically, serve compassionately, and boldly share the gospel with the world. We invite you to experience the series for yourself and to share it widely with others so that the message of God’s love and the truth of Scripture may continue reaching hearts far beyond our own community. Watch the “GOD IS” Sermon Series (Grades 7–8): https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWc13wBzJTR1DroKJU6h2UY_hCzUJNFys&si=4Tdfm_vxWvXPFIIH The sermon series is also easily accessible by searching: HMS “GOD IS” on YouTube Listen to the “GOD IS” Podcast Series (Grades 5–6): https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWc13wBzJTR2KvNAsjJioa_TzBkNa8CWP&si=HY6Z1O2Nod3NJTYx The podcasts are also available on major podcast platforms. Simply search: HMS Richards Adventist School Podcasts and look for the “GOD IS” series with the Bible image. We invite you to watch these messages, listen to the podcasts, and then share them with others. Our prayer and goal are that these student-led sermons and podcasts will spread far beyond our school and community—reaching hearts across the country and around the world with the love of Jesus and the truth of His Word. Every time you share a sermon, podcast or link, you become part of this mission. Together, we can help others know that God loves them deeply and is calling them to Him. Carey Jordan is the principal of HMS Richards Adventist School.

Read more...

In September 2019, a Category 5 hurricane slammed into the Bahamas. With winds exceeding 185 miles per hour and storm surges reaching up to 23 feet, Hurricane Dorian was one of the most powerful storms ever to make landfall in the Atlantic and the worst natural disaster in the history of the island nation. As a career marine in the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF), Jamie Rahming was part of his government’s humanitarian response in the wake of the storm. Working alongside teams from the U.S., U.K. and other nations, he felt a calling: a new way he could serve his country. “Hurricane Dorian devastated our two northernmost islands,” Rahming said. “We did pretty well with what we had, but we needed so much help from other countries. After that, I started looking at how I could enhance our ability to respond to disasters.” He had seen firsthand that the Bahamas needed professional search-and-rescue teams on the same level as those coming from other countries. He and his wife began searching for a program that would train him to lead such a team, and they found Union Adventist University’s International Rescue and Relief Program listed on the FEMA website. “It just so happens that at the time Union had the only hands-on program dealing with disaster management,” he said. “I thought, This is going to work for me because I prefer hands-on learning instead of just book work. So that’s how I ended up choosing Union out of all the schools on the list.” He wrote a proposal to develop a search-and-rescue team. It was sent up the chain of command, and in 2022, Rahming was granted study leave from the military. The full support of the RBDF gave him the financial freedom to bring his family to the U.S. while he earned his bachelor’s degree at Union. “My proposal is to start an urban search-and-rescue team with an emphasis on rope rescue, floodwater rescue, confined spaces, wildland firefighting, missing persons … all the things that we need back home,” Rahming said. “We would have that base of skills within that department, and from there we can build teams that not only assist in the Bahamas but also help other Caribbean countries when disasters strike.” Fortitude and support yields multiple certifications and opportunities When Rahming arrived in Nebraska, it was the farthest he had ever been from home—and the farthest north. “To come all the way to Nebraska, I thought, This is going to take some mental fortitude,” he said. “Even though I didn’t know anyone here, I knew I could do it. And then the winter came. The weather changes 20 degrees one day, and then the next day there’s another 20-degree difference. This is like nothing at home.” Despite the cold weather, he found a warm welcome at Union Adventist University. “I love this place,” he said. “It’s a close-knit community, so the professors are more involved in helping you succeed. It’s been very beneficial in helping me work toward my goals.” When asked what advice he would give a new student considering Union’s IRR Program, Rahming said, “Come prepared. Prepared for what? The weather. Long nights of studying. Time management. It’s not going to be easy, but because of the way Union is set up, you always have a community that will help you. Come prepared to ask for help.” In addition to earning his baccalaureate degree at Union, his four years in the IRR Program mean he is now certified in emergency medicine, search and rescue, swiftwater rescue and flood management, technical rope rescue, wilderness medicine … and more. In fact, he has not only earned the certifications but has also worked as a teaching assistant training others. As part of the university’s disaster response team, he deployed to Arkansas, Florida and North Carolina following natural disasters, putting his training into practice in situations very similar to the hurricane response that started him on this journey. Rahming reached out to Nebraska Task Force One for guidance on how to set up a similar response unit back in the Bahamas, and he has been grateful for the opportunity to learn from one of the top urban search-and-rescue teams in the United States right here in Lincoln. Having graduated from Union in May, Rahming is now heading home. He says his next step is either officer training or a master’s degree in disaster management. “If one doesn’t work out, I’ll do the other. Hopefully they both work out, and hopefully there’s no hurricane soon. Let me get the team together first.”

Read more...

Materials: Borax powder Boiling water Glass jar Pipe cleaner String Pencil Food coloring (optional) Instructions: Form your pipe cleaner into the shape of your choice. You can also use a natural object such as a pinecone or bird feather. Tie one end of the string to your shape and the other end to the middle of the pencil. The pencil will rest across the top of the jar, suspending your shape in the solution. Place the pencil across the top of the jar so your shape hangs freely inside the empty jar. Make sure it does not touch the sides or bottom. Adjust the string length if needed. With adult assistance, measure how much water is needed to fill your jar, then bring that water to a boil. Carefully pour the hot water into the jar. Add borax powder, one tablespoon at a time, stirring until it dissolves. You will add about 3 tablespoons of borax per 1 cup of water. Continue adding borax until a small amount remains undissolved at the bottom. This means you have created a saturated solution. Add a few drops of food coloring and stir well. Slowly lower your pipe cleaner shape into the solution and rest the pencil across the top of the jar. Make sure the shape remains fully suspended and does not touch the jar. Set the jar in a safe location, clean up your space, and then read Acts 9:1-22. As the solution cools, crystals will begin to form. For best results, wait at least 24 hours before removing your creation. What’s Happening? In this experiment, we are exploring solubility – how much of a substance (the solute, borax) can dissolve in a liquid (the solvent, water). When the water molecules are heated, they begin to dance with energy, moving faster and spreading farther apart. This allows more borax to dissolve than would be possible in cooler water. As you stir in borax, it breaks apart into tiny particles that mix evenly throughout the hot water. Eventually, you reach a point where no more borax will dissolve. This is called a saturated solution. As the water cools, the molecules slow down and move closer together. Cooler water cannot hold as much dissolved borax, so the extra borax begins to come out of the solution. These particles attach to rough surfaces, like our pipe cleaner, and arrange themselves into beautiful patterns. This process is called crystallization. Because the solution held more borax at a higher temperature than it can at a lower temperature, it becomes supersaturated as it cools down. This is what allows the crystals to grow. What does Acts 9:1-22 have to do with this experiment? In this passage, Saul has a powerful encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. His life is completely transformed! The Bible is full of stories of ordinary people who meet God and are changed forever. When we spend time with Jesus, we are filled with the Holy Spirit and the Spirit works to supersaturate us with the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Just like the crystals formed and became visible on the pipe cleaner, the work of the Spirit becomes visible in our lives and others begin to notice something different about us. One might even say that we shine like beautiful crystals full of God’s love! Kelly Wasemiller is a former Adventist educator who now stays at home with her twins Thomas and Hazel. She and her husband, Stephen, live in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Read more...