On the last weekend in August, All Nations church held a special education Sabbath to celebrate the start of a new school year, recognize years of service, and acknowledge community partnership.
For many years, All Nations has celebrated the back-to-school season in various ways. Throughout this summer, members collected supplies such as notebooks and paper, pens, pencils, crayons, glue sticks, and more, which were later donated to the Monrovia Unified School District. This is the third year the church has held this school supply drive.
Blessing of the Backpacks is a long-standing program at the end of the summer for students and educators to be recognized and prayed for as they begin the new school year.
Stephanie Baker, All Nations education director, shared the children’s story, which transitioned to the blessing of the backpacks. Children brought their backpacks with them to hear her message on how to survive back-to-school nerves by taking one step at a time. She encouraged the kids with signs that said, “go slow,” “watch out for bumps,” and “when in doubt, yield,” going along with the story of a school bus named yellow.
After the children’s story, all students—with backpacks or not—received prayer from the elders from the church. Educators were next invited up, and the congregation joined together in a litany.
Special guests that day included Wayne Dunbar, Southern California Conference Vice President for Education, who offered intercessory prayer, and James P. Willis II, Vice President for Education for the Pacific Union Conference and former member of All Nations, who was the main speaker.
Willis’s message reminded the congregation that “God is still merciful, compassionate, and faithful.” He uses those attributes to answer questions regarding personal failure, being tested by God, and feeling abandoned.
The special education Sabbath continued with honoring longtime member Donald Shelton, who retired this year after 45 years of service in Adventist education, the last nine of which he served as teaching principal at West Covina Hills Adventist School. Former students and colleagues, family, and friends shared remarks during the service and at the potluck that followed.
“Your legacy of faithfulness and godly influence continues through the many lives that you have touched,” Eustace Laurie, All Nations pastor, read from the plaque that was presented to Shelton.
“We celebrate your lasting impact and thank God for your service. Well done, good and faithful servant.”