Walking into any of our Minnesota Conference Adventist schools, you’ll immediately notice something special: a sense of family. Students of different ages work together, teachers know each student by name, and a warmth goes beyond typical classroom interactions. This nurturing environment isn’t just a happy accident—it’s the intentional result of our Christ-centered approach to education.  One of the distinctive features of our schools is our approach to discipline and character development. Rather than following the common “spare the rod, spoil the child” mentality emphasizing control and punishment, our teachers embrace redemptive discipline. This approach, grounded in the shepherd’s model from Psalm 23, focuses on guiding students with care and understanding. When challenges arise, our educators work to help students recognize their missteps and grow from them, fostering self-governance and internal transformation rather than merely enforcing rules.  The quality of our teachers sets our schools apart. Our educators don’t just bring their expertise to the classroom—they bring a calling. Each teacher is carefully chosen for their knowledge and capabilities, commitment to Adventist education, and ability to mentor young people in their spiritual journey. Our teachers regularly participate in professional development opportunities that blend the latest educational research with our distinctive Adventist philosophy of education. This dedication shows in their innovative teaching methods and ability to integrate faith and learning seamlessly across the curriculum.  Our schools have a low student-teacher ratio, so these committed educators can truly know each child’s unique needs and learning style. This personal attention allows for customized learning experiences that help students thrive academically while developing their God-given talents.  Our schools also benefit from strong connections with local pastors who regularly visit classrooms, mentor students, and provide spiritual guidance. This partnership between church and school creates a support system that naturally nurtures students’ faith journey throughout the week. Whether it’s through morning worship, prayer groups, or Bible study, students experience spiritual growth as a natural part of their educational journey.  The academic excellence in our schools is enhanced by our ability to adapt classroom instruction to recognize each student’s unique pace and potential. Teachers can challenge high-achieving students while providing extra support where needed, ensuring every child reaches their full potential.  Beyond academics, our schools emphasize practical life skills and service. Students participate in community outreach projects, learn about healthy living, and develop leadership skills through mixed-age group activities. These experiences prepare them not just for the next academic level, but for life.  Transforming characters through a holistic approach   Throughout our conference, we see countless examples of how this educational approach transforms young lives. Shy students discover their leadership potential through supportive classroom environments, often starting by helping younger children with reading or leading small group projects. We see students who once struggled academically gain confidence through patient, one-on-one instruction, eventually becoming peer tutors themselves. The close-knit atmosphere allows students to try new things without fear—whether it’s presenting at chapel or organizing a community service project. Most importantly, we watch as students develop a deeper understanding of their faith and how it applies to their daily lives, learning to make decisions based on biblical principles rather than peer pressure.  The integration of faith, learning and service truly sets our schools apart. Every subject—from science to social studies—is taught from a biblical perspective, helping students see God’s hand in all aspects of life. This holistic approach to education nurtures not just students’ minds but also their hearts and characters.  Whether you’re a parent seeking the best education for your child or a person feeling called to make a more profound impact with a career in teaching, I invite you to explore what Adventist education in Minnesota (and across the Mid-America Union) offers. Parents can contact one of our schools to see firsthand how our caring teachers, Christ-centered curriculum, and supportive community prepare students for success in this world and for eternity. For those considering a teaching career, we’re always seeking dedicated individuals who view teaching as more than a profession—but as a ministry to shape young lives for God’s kingdom.   After all, providing an education that transforms hearts and minds isn’t just our mission—it’s our calling.  James Davis is education superintendent for the Minnesota Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

 I was quite young, not even in school yet, but some memories stay with you forever. We were at the airport, traveling to visit family, when something unusual caught my attention. An older man was speaking with a security guard and he looked really upset. This man was blind, holding a special white cane in one hand and his wallet in the other. He kept gesturing to his wallet and talking to the security guard, and soon tears were streaming down his face.  I asked my mom what was wrong, and she sadly explained that the man had been robbed. She explained that his wallet had special pockets where he organized different dollar bills, so he could easily find a $5 or $10. But someone had tricked him. Instead of handing him $20 bills, they had given him $1 bills and stolen the difference. His wallet, which should have had enough money for his trip, was now nearly empty with just a few $1 bills in it. I remember feeling sick to my stomach. How could someone do something so cruel — cheating and stealing from a blind man?  It made me so sad to see this gentleman hurting. It wasn’t fair! My mom assured me that the security guard was helping him and we continued on to board our flight. But for the remainder of the day, I couldn’t stop thinking about that man. “What do you want me to do for you?” Have you ever had an experience like that? A moment when seeing someone else’s pain made you hurt too? That’s empathy. Empathy is feeling with others, and it often compels us to help. Throughout his life and ministry, Jesus set the ultimate example of empathy. Again and again in the gospels, we read that “He had compassion.” Jesus saw people who were sick, hurting, hungry or lost, and he felt their pain. Then he responded with compassion. In Matthew 20:29-34, there’s a story about two blind men who cried out to Jesus, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” The crowd grew annoyed and told them to be quiet, but the men kept calling out to Jesus. Jesus stopped and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” They asked for their sight, and in verse 34 it says, “Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately, they received their sight and followed him.” When people are hurting, it can be easier for us to ignore them or move on. Sometimes, we even tell them to be quiet because their pain makes us uncomfortable. But next time you see someone struggling, listen to the still, small voice of Jesus within you and ask, “What do you want me to do for you?” I still think about that blind man at the airport and wonder what happened to him. In the future, I don’t want to be left wondering—I want to respond with compassion. Let’s be the hands and feet of Jesus to those around us. It is sure to be a blessing!  

Jesus did, the disciples watched. Jesus did a lot, the disciples did a little. Jesus did a little, the disciples did a lot. Jesus watched, the disciples did. Discipleship is a spiritual journey of learning, growing and following Jesus Christ. It’s a process of becoming more like Jesus through faith and action, with Jesus as mentor. A disciple’s opportunity is to be able to bring heaven to those on earth. We are like the sample-servers at Costco. People walk around, checking out the samples to see what’s good, tasty. The disciple of Christ shares Jesus so people can taste and see what they are missing, creating a hunger and thirst for God— a hunger and thirst that only God can satisfy. This is what my wife Debbie and I are about every day, starting at sunrise out behind our home on Holmes Lake in Lincoln, Nebraska. After my stroke, a life-changing event all its own, we decided to fight back and reclaim our health. I focused on physical health while Debbie focused on what I’ve come to call spatial health: the air, light and environment we live in. She also made it part of her mission to help me recover good health. Back in 2022, I (Debbie) started to hear and read a lot about circadian rhythm and how sunrise was important to getting your body off to the right start for the day. For months, I pondered over the information I was learning. One Sunday morning at 5 am in May of 2022, I woke up and decided I would try going out at sunrise. It changed my life in more ways than I can count! I was hooked and have barely missed a sunrise since.  After a few weeks of doing this, I began to meet different people walking around the lake most days and became friends with them. When Marty retired, he began to walk with me and soon we got to know dozens of people. I (Marty) walked mostly to see if I could build up vascular strength and keep up with Debbie. And it was extra special to spend the morning time with her since the previous 40 years left us little time together at the start of each day. For close to three years now, we have walked at sunrise around Holmes Lake on a trail that is almost three miles long. It has changed us in the following ways: improving our physical health, spiritual health, relational health and emotional health all at the same time. Underneath all this health recovery was a feeling of purpose, of realizing what we are here for, at this time in our lives and in this place. As we met and talked with more and more people around the lake, we started thinking about setting up a group on Facebook for them. Once we got going, we invited all the regular walkers to join our group. We have mental health professionals, journalists, communication specialists, college professors, students, physical health specialists and more — quite a mix of people. There are nearly 85 members in our group now and about 15 post regularly. We have no formal rules for the group. There are simply two things that seem to bind us together: the peace of a place we call Holmes Lake and how walking there affects our mood and health; and the pleasure we take in getting to know such diverse people. On the Facebook page we encourage pictures more than words and that seems to be fine. We add a few quotes or thoughts about nature, life and sometimes God, but mostly it’s a pictorial group.   Perhaps there is an unidentified area of health here called “sharing God.” Our Holmes Lake Walkabout group affords us another way to care for our new friends out behind our house. We carry the smile of God and the song of Jesus everywhere we go. And that’s not easy these days. There is a lot of ugliness out there in the world. This makes it all the more important that we start off each day with a word from God and take Him along as we walkabout and walk among His people, the sheep of another pasture. That sounds pretty healthy and wise and fun to me. If it does to you as well, perhaps you will enjoy some walkabout discipling. Marty Thurber is a retired pastor and chaplain who says, “After 40 years of ministry I only have one thing to say: You can never go wrong by following Jesus.” continues to write for OUTLOOK magazine.  Read the full story at outlookmag.org/walkabout-discipleship  

Last January I had the privilege of interviewing Cortney Buchholz, a dedicated psychiatric nurse practitioner from Duluth, Minnesota. Courtney’s journey is a story of God’s goodness and grace. As you read, may Jesus awaken the sunrise of your smile. —Jim Moon Standing in the gap Jim: Cortney, how did you find your way into the field of mental health? Cortney:  My journey started in nursing school at age 24, with an initial interest in psychiatry. However, it was filled with a series of twists and turns—I began with pediatrics at Loma Linda, then ran an assisted living center for a decade. During that period, I pursued a master’s degree, took a career break, and transitioned into mental health as a psychiatric nurse practitioner. Jim: What is it about working in mental health that gives you meaning and purpose? Cortney: As you can tell by my history —pediatrics, then geriatrics, and now psychiatry — I like working with vulnerable populations. When I worked with the geriatric population, a lot of people ignored or overlooked their elderly family members. Being able to step in during those vulnerable end of life seasons was really important to me. With psychiatry, there is a lot of stigma around depression, mental health, anxiety and substance use.  I value standing in the gap and lifting people’s spirits through compassionate listening. It is also important to provide community education, especially in our churches. I am passionate about church goers learning to alleviate shame through loving kindness. The gospel of presence Jim: It is important for the church to become a safer place for hurting people. In Acts 18, the apostle Paul shared the gospel with Aquila and Priscilla while working beside them as a tent maker. This Jewish couple had moved to Corinth after Emperor Claudias deported all Jews from Rome. Because of Paul’s influence, they journeyed with him to Ephesus and helped establish the church. Based upon the example of Paul, Minnesota Tent Makers believe Jesus has called us to help the people we live and work with to embrace their belonging in Christ. How has your work as a mental health tent maker allowed you to do this? Cortney: Working in psychiatry often means navigating ethical boundaries—I’m employed by a non-profit that isn’t religiously affiliated. While I can’t impose my beliefs, I aim to understand each person’s spiritual context to better support their mental health. I strive to live out Christ’s love and compassion. I’m not perfect at this, but Jesus shows up as I silently pray during my encounters with clients and colleagues. Offering full presence and praying for them in advance creates a space where they feel seen and heard. Experiencing transformation Jim: Your thoughts about presence remind me of Matt. 10:40: “Whoever welcomes you, welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me.” This promise describes what I like to call a gospel of presence. In your work, what changes have you noticed when you practice the gospel of presence? Cortney: In crisis stabilization, we often see individuals experiencing intense emotions, such as anger or suicidal thoughts. Initially, there’s a lot of distress—pacing, agitation, tears. By listening fully and being present, we create a safe space for them to express themselves. Often, just knowing someone cares can bring a noticeable relief, and they leave feeling understood. Clients frequently comment on feeling heard, which is incredibly affirming. Jim: It is important to feel heard. I am convinced that witnessing begins with listening. How can someone grow in their listening capacity? Cortney: We need to pray for patience and peace, because sitting silently with someone who is in pain can be uncomfortable. It is natural to want to fix things. But instead of rushing to solutions, I silently pray and allow God to shape my responses. In many cases, holding space for their pain and trusting God to work in the silence makes the biggest difference. Growing in empathy Jim: What about your own experience? Have you seen an intersect between your story, God’s story, and the stories of those you serve? Cortney: Absolutely. Toward the end of my assisted living business, I began struggling with personal issues. Thankfully my family and church offered incredible love, compassion and grace and support to help me through it. As a result, my past struggles have profoundly shaped my ability to empathize with clients facing similar challenges. Sharing my journey, without delving into specifics, helps establish a therapeutic connection. My clients see someone who’s been through darkness and emerged stronger. God transformed my pain into a ministry of empathy and compassion. Christlike connections Jim: As we thought about how to meet people at the intersect, our Tent Maker Leadership Team identified four core values: pursuing Christ-like connections, working with excellence, choosing presence and helping others. Which are you most passionate about? Cortney: Pursuing Christ-like connections resonates deeply. In my role, direct evangelism isn’t possible, but embodying Jesus’ love and presence is powerful. It’s about allowing Him to live through us, infusing His spirit into everyday interactions, and witnessing the impact on those around us. Jim: How do you stay energized and connected to Christ amid the day to day demands of your work? Cortney:  It varies—sometimes I reach out to friends, other times I find solace in silence or prayer. Engaging with God’s presence helps me process the emotional weight of my work. The Holy Spirit transforms my unspoken prayers, turning exhaustion into renewed strength. God also taught me He is working, even when I’m resting. Some time ago, I had client who was very aggressive. Staff were backing away from him. It was quite the thing. I went toward this aggressive client with my hands down… speaking in slow and soft tones… doing all the things we use to deescalate. This guy looked like he just walked out of the tombs. His hair was wild. He was bedraggled. But when we made eye contact, he had the most beautiful blue eyes. He seemed The Sunrise In Your Smile Pursuing Christlike connections“>Read more…