Rio Rancho - (N.Mex.) Our church concluded evangelistic meetings given by Amazing Facts speaker Eric Flickinger and Pastor Eric Redic with a total of 13 precious souls being added to the church. Pastor Redic also has been regularly baptizing new members as a result of Bible study work. Devon and Denzel are two brothers that had responded to an appeal the pastor gave a few months ago. They wanted to be baptized, so they started Bible studies. The boys were so excited, that they could hardly contain themselves. Denzel is the happy-go-lucky type, and Devon is very serious, but they both were excited to join their lives to Jesus. Pastor Redic also baptized three teenagers, Christopher Cruz, Michael Roybal, and Alexes Roybal.

Texico Conference - On December 1st Rita and I celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. What a blessing it has been to be married to such a wonderful person for all these years. Our love affair has not diminished over the years but has grown in depth and character. We still like being together just as much as when we were dating. We've only been separated for one extended period of time when I did my combat tour in Vietnam in 1972. Even now when I travel she goes with me most of the time. When she does not go with me I am often asked, "Where is your better half?"

Texico Conference - (Glorieta, N.Mex.) The Texico Women's Retreat held in September at the LifeWay Glorieta Conference Center was a huge success, with a record-breaking attendance of approximately 500! The Micheff Sisters were the featured guest speakers for the English-speaking women. They were inspiring, fun, and they mingled and spent time with the ladies. They skipped many meals just to minister to those in need. What a heart for Jesus they have!

Texico Conference - On the weekend of October 17-19, the conference held its annual Lay Leadership Retreat. The theme of the retreat was "Growing the church through the training of its members." The meetings were well attended, with approximately 225 people registered for the weekend. Lay leaders from across our conference came to seminars in the following areas: elders, treasurers, clerks, stewardship, children's ministries, prayer ministries, Pathfinders/Adventurers, and risk management. The guest speakers for the general sessions were Mack Rucker and Mike Wood from Adventist Health System. It was great to see some new members come and attend the sessions. Participants returned to their home churches excited to put into practice what they had learned and to get busy working for the Lord. Thank you to all the speakers and staff who made the weekend a blessing for all!

Southwestern Adventist University - Ashley Gonzales, Sean Amos, and Thomas Moosey don't claim to have chosen Christian education. What they do claim, however, is that the Christian education they're receiving at Southwestern Adventist University is fulfilling, inspirational, challenging, and above all, led by God.

Southwestern Adventist University - Art Chadwick has always had a penchant for missions. When he was in high school, he talked to his guidance counselor, telling her he wanted to be a preacher in the mission field. "The mission field doesn't need preachers; it needs physicians," she told him.

First ever union-wide pastors' wives retreat is a success: Southwestern Union - "There is only one word that describes this weekend: WOW!" said a pastor's wife who attended the first-ever union-wide pastors' wives retreat in the Southwestern Union. Another pastor's wife said, "This weekend has been such a spiritual feast, an encouragement and an island in the busy river of life. Thank you for your vision."

Austin Alpha - Gabriel George is an extraordinary 10-year-old who was born with Sickle Cell Disease and has been a "crusader" for the disease since he was two years old. Sickle Cell Disease affects the red blood cells' ability to get oxygen to the different parts of the body. This results in excruciating pain and can even lead to death.