 Campion Academy welcomed home 145 students to kick-off the school year this week. Parents, staff, and church members rallied together to help the students move in to the dormitories throughout the day on Sunday. In the evening, the beginning of a new school year officially commenced at the annual Student Association (S.A.) Handshake event. The 2019-2020 Student Association officers introduced the theme for the school year: No Limits. Erick Maldonado, S.A. Spiritual Vice-President, explained, "Everyone has issues that create limits in their lives, like anger, doubt, fear, and failure. But, with the power of God, we can break free from those chains and live our lives with no limits." After worship, the students enjoyed a few games and class competitions including the classic human knot, hula-hoop circles, and a water-balloon toss. For the main event, the staff and students formed a long line where each student shook hands, gave high fives, or hugs to each member of the staff and student body. Finally, Campion lead pastor, Micheal Goetz, led everyone in a prayer of blessing on the school year. Welcome home to Campion, students. You are loved. 
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 Naomi Boonstra, an incoming senior at Campion, shares her experience of spending the summer on the Literature Evangelism team with Pastor Matt Hasty.
On August 6, I said goodbye to my summer colporteuring Youth Rush team. For ten weeks, we woke up together, had devotions surrounded by each other, ate breakfast together, had worship together, and then went door-to-door distributing Adventist literature for donations for our school scholarships. This was my third summer doing this, and each time I leave in absolute awe of how God has used us to grow each other and to turn cities upside down. When you spend a summer doing ministry, the people who are becoming your family are also falling in love with God every day. When I’m surrounded by my Youth Rush team, no matter how imperfect we've been towards each other, I feel like I’m being held up by God’s perfection, and I’m completely at peace. All the floors we slept on, all the vans we drove, and all the doors we knocked on were absolutely filled with the love of God radiating off of this little group of missionaries. As colporteurs, we talk about how at doors we knock on, we might be the only glimpse of Jesus that someone ever sees. Even if they slam the door on me, my smile might be the only Godly thing someone ever does for them. Going door-to-door, I had to carry myself in such a way that even just a cookbook sale could be a divine experience for someone. Letting God show His love though me has taught me more about its depth than I could’ve imagined when I was first handed an application to give my summer to ministry. Being asked to show God’s character has forced me to completely die to self every morning before I go out, which is something that I now can carry into an everyday ministry. Naomi Boonstra, Senior at Campion Delanie Kamarad, incoming senior, shares her experience of her summer in ministry on the Spark Team. When I became part of the Spark team, I didn’t know how many life-changing experiences I would have. We signed up to help others grow spiritually, but the true growth happened in our own hearts. Students Standing up for God Against Satan Himself: that should’ve been the headline of our job description. Speaking upfront was supposed to be when the movement happened, but making personal connections with strangers on the streets or having people of all ages come to me in tears telling me their story was when I felt closest to God. Through everything, God blessed me with His own form of support. Throughout the summer, I was constantly uplifted by the smiles of the kids. No matter where we were, I had a magnet to find Jesus’ children. By the time we were ending our summer in Grand Junction, I truly understood the meaning of having “child-like faith” from Matthew 19. I had the company of three beautiful, little girls at Chapel Haven, continually encouraging me to be a better woman for God. Angelee, Haddassah, and Everleigh. These three showed me Jesus every day in VBS and our evening meetings. When I was battling doubts spiritually, they were the ones who showed me Jesus. They were my blessing the first few weeks.  Continuing on to Estes Park, I remember one day I was feeling low. I didn’t feel much momentum at the time, and it felt as though the program was not yet being blessed. Then I heard the voice of little Noah, one of Campion’s own. He was giggling and ecstatic to be visiting our team in the mountains. I took him in as my own and even joked he was my son. He showed me Jesus when I was searching.  And lastly, I met three little angels in Grand Junction. When canvassing and asking to pray with strangers at doors, Kendra and I met a mother whose little girl came out to greet us. We asked to pray with her and Juliette piped up, only being nine years old, and said she wanted to pray for her Dad who is atheist. Juliette attended our evening meetings without the presence or push of a parent. She did it simply because, “loving Jesus makes people more happy,” she proclaimed. Juliette brought her little sister Jipsie the second night, and her best friend Kaitlyn the third night she attended. Our last meeting Sabbath morning, I spoke on Heaven and the two older girls came forward for the baptism appeal.  Child-like faith. That’s the lesson I will never forget from this summer. Though our world may fall apart, we often feel lonely and lost, Jesus is with us. Loving Him will make us happier, we simply have to show Him to others like these kids. I envy their faith. They are our next leaders in the church, and one day I will see each of them and their bright smiles in Heaven.
Delanie Kamarad, Senior at Campion  Dean Dubini loves to travel. He is pictured here in Moscow, Russia on one of his trips this summer. Campion Academy welcomes Jordan Dubini to the staff. He will be serving as the Assistant Men’s Dean and will be teaching British Literature and Senior Writing classes. We had a chance to sit down for some Q&A to learn a bit more about him.
Tell us a little bit about your background and schooling: I graduated from Walla Walla University in June of 2018 with a Bachelor’s degree in English, with business and religion minors. While at WWU, I had the privilege of being Resident Dean for two years, which began my interest in residence hall administration. This past year I have been substitute teaching in my hometown of Lincoln, CA. What drew you to Campion Academy? Campion has a great reputation and is located in a very beautiful part of the country. I have only heard good things about the academy, and I was excited to see the job opening. Why are you interested in being a dean? The answer to this is two-part: 1) As a dean, no two days on the job are alike, and that means the job never gets boring. 2) Deans have such an incredible opportunity to enrich the lives of our residents. Creating an inviting and comfortable community in the residence hall allows us to foster the spiritual wellness of the residents, which is a ministry in and of itself. What are some of your goals for this year in the dorm? My first goal for this year is to ensure that the transition of two new deans goes very smoothly with all of our residents. Change can impact individuals in different ways, and I want to make sure everyone has a good experience. My second goal for this year is to connect with the residents and see in what ways they think residence hall life can be improved, and work on making those improvements. My last goal is one that transcends the others, and that is to create a valuable relationship with each of my residents. Since you are also a teacher and will be teaching Senior English, tell us what you are passionate about in teaching English. Regardless of anyone’s educational or career aspirations, the tools they learn in English classes will benefit them for the rest of their lives. My goal is to set my students up for success regardless of which life path they choose, because everyone needs to know how to write well. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Moving to the Denver area coincides with two of my hobbies! I am a bit of a National Parks nerd, so being so close to the Rocky Mountain National Park is very exciting. I have a National Parks Passport that I am able to stamp at each location I visit, so I plan on getting many new stamps. Another hobby of mine is coin collecting (yes, I’m basically a 90-year-old man, haha!). With the Denver mint now within driving distance, I’ll get to experience that hobby in a new way. What is a Bible verse that is particularly important to you and why? Psalm 133:1, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!” This verse is important to me because it sets the tone for my goals with the residence hall and our residents. Creating a welcoming spiritual environment in the residence hall opens the door to so many good things. Jill Harlow, Communication Director |
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Contact UsFor grades 9-12:
300 42nd St. SW Loveland, CO 80537 Phone: 970-667-5592 Fax: 970-667-5104 Email: info@campion.net |
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