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Idaho
IDAHO CONFERENCE NEWS
CHURCH
Idaho Women Enjoy COVID-Conscious Retreat 2020 Vision Women’s Retreat attendees met in person, complete with glasses and many masks. “WE NEED TO DO THIS.” THAT’S WHAT THE IDAHO CONFERENCE WOMEN’S MINISTRIES TEAM DECIDED WHEN PLANNING THE 2020
WOMEN’S RETREAT AT CAMP IDA-HAVEN IN MCCALL.
Cheri Gatton, Idaho Conference women’s ministries leader, was one of the weekend’s speakers.
After six months of semi-quarantine and not-quite-the-same church activities, the conference ladies were restless. But how do you plan in the midst of such tentative circumstances?
Thankfully, state and local conference administrations were willing to let the conference planning team try if they limited the numbers to about 75% of the normal crowd and followed masking, distancing and cleaning protocols.
Almost every spot was filled a month before the retreat. Attendees came from all over Idaho, as well as from California, Utah, Washington and as far away as North Carolina. Unfortunately, some were not able to attend due to sickness or being exposed to others who had been COVIDpositive. They were missed, and their carefulness was appreciated.
Why are retreats imporant? Well, it’s certainly for fellowship and spiritual enrichment for church members. It is also an important opportunity for neighbors to bring friends. One non-Adventist lady came with her neighbor to check out what these Adventists believed. She heard how much Jesus loves her, and she asked for Bible studies right after the event.
The conference speakers had not talked with each other about their topics. Yet each one built on the others and shared the same message, that God loves each of us and wants to have a relationship with each of us. The Holy Spirit was working.
More online at NWADVENT.ST/115-6-ID-1
The retreat team worked to make it fun in spite of the requirement for face coverings. Sometimes one needs to deal with a serious situation with humor. On Saturday night, there was a PPE (personal protective equipment) fashion show. Perhaps the most covered of all was the retreat leader, Cheri Gatton, in a polar bear onesie with a motorcycle helmet and gloves.
Of course, there is always something to contend with when God’s people are moving in faith, and the Oregon, Washington and Idaho fires provided plenty of smoke for the weekend. The attendees praise God that the retreat was a success and know God protected His girls through pandemic and fires to make it happen.
Retreat attendees learned that God sees and adores His girls … beautiful and precious … every day and in every place. Keep looking up because Jesus is coming soon.
CHERI GATTON
Idaho Conference women’s ministries director
PAYETTE CELEBRATES SIX BAPTISMS
Two of the local elders from the Payette Hispanic Church performed six baptisms on Sept. 12.
MORE ONLINE AT NWADVENT.ST/115-6-ID-2 EDUCATION
A large-scale panorama of the seven days of creation welcomes students and visitors of Gem State Adventist Academy, in Nampa, to the amazing world of God’s natural sciences. The mural is located on the second floor of GSAA near the science department and depicts the epic theme in a smooth, gradual movement. It invites viewers to witness creation, explore each day and feel the magnificence and the NEW MURAL CELEBRATES glory of God’s work. Day One has the light of God CREATION AT GEM STATE shining from above. It shines over deep space and over all the planets ADVENTIST ACADEMY of the solar system, depicting the mightiness and greatness of the
TATYANA WAHLMAN GSAA correspondent first days of creation. One ray of the light, the hand of God, gently touches the earth. Then the viewer’s eyes “travel” to the world of plants, animals and the first human couple. The conclusion of the mural is the light of God, only this time this is the light of His presence and His holy rest that He established for all people on the seventh day of creation — His Sabbath. The mural was accomplished by a team of enthusiastic and talented people. Glen Wahlman, project leader and GSAA science teacher, explains, “This mural was a joint work of all my family. The design was made by my wife, Tatyana, who is an artist and designer with many years of experience. The large-scale painting was done by myself and our sons, Dennis and Vadeem. ... We want to dedicate this mural to all the students of GSAA. We want to put our praise voices together and lift them up to our Lord Jesus.” Wahlman isn’t new to mural painting. He is the author of several nature murals in places like Leoni Meadows Camp in California, Great Plains Academy in Kansas, Roseburg Junior Academy in Oregon, Bakersfield Adventist Academy in California and now GSAA in Idaho. Wahlman is a teacher with more than 25 years of teaching experience at Adventist schools. “The center of all sciences is God, and praise to His creation is fundamental for my teaching, “ he says. “I like to include art and design in my classroom because it helps students to be engaged and helps to support their curiosity in the exploration of God’s wonderful world. It is very beneficial for the learning process.” The mural can be viewed by anyone visiting GSAA. Call the office, schedule your time and be blessed.
