Pacific Union Recorder—January 2024

Recorder PA C I F I C U N IO N

JANUARY 2024

Maranatha!

Thoughts for the New Year A Wave of Missionaries

As Time Flies By The Revitalized Church

LEARN WITH PURPOSE. RISE IN FAITH. SERVE WITH LOVE. PUC.EDU | 800 -862-7080

“Jesus provided us with a tremendous model of serving and assisting our fellow brothers and sisters. At PUC, I can express God’s love through teaching, collaborating with colleagues, and actively participating in our community. I have the privilege of co-managing the Angwin Food Pantry, which enables us to be the light to our community and to witness God’s blessings.”

Damaris Perez Chair, Department of Psychology and Social Work

We are about to commence another year, and the increased

What’s inside

light and privileges call

4 Maranatha

upon us to make a new

8 The Preamble to the 28 Fundamentals

and entire consecration to God. One year nearer

12 Adventist Pioneers in the West: A Wave of Missionaries

home, nearer to the

15 As Time Flies By

great white throne.

18 The Revitalized Church

One year nearer the

21 Thoughts for the New Year

mansions Christ is

23 Newsdesk

preparing for us. I long to see Jesus; I long to be with Him, to be changed to

27 Sunset Calendars

His image, and have eternal life where I shall enjoy His

28 Arizona Conference

presence forever. I long to see God’s people coming

30 Central California Conference

up to their high privileges in oneness with Christ. The

34 Hawaii Conference

exceeding great and precious promises on record for

36 Holbrook Indian School

us we are to claim as ours.

38 Adventist Health

—Ellen G. White, Letter from Tramelan, Switzerland,

39 La Sierra University

to John and Julia Corliss, Dec. 25, 1886

40 Loma Linda University Health 41 Pacific Union College 42 Nevada-Utah Conference 44 Northern California Conference 48 Southeastern California Conference 52 Southern California Conference 56 Community & Marketplace

Recorder PA C I F I C U N I O N

The Recorder is a monthly publication reaching approximately 76,000 Seventh-day Adventist homes in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah.

Our mission is to inform, educate, and inspire our readers to action in all areas of ministry.

Publisher Ray Tetz Editor Alberto Valenzuela Assistant Editor Connie Jeffery Design/Layout Stephanie Leal • Alberto Valenzuela Printing Pacific Press Publishing Association www.pacificpress.com

Adventist Health 916-742-0429 Kim Strobel strobeka@ah.org

Holbrook Indian School (928) 524-6845 x143 Kimberly Cruz kcruz@hissda.org

Northern California 916-886-5600 Laurie Trujillo Laurie.Trujillo@nccsda.com

Arizona 480-991-6777 ext 139 Jeff Rogers jrogers@azconference.org

La Sierra University 951-785-2000 Darla Tucker dmartint@lasierra.edu

Pacific Union College 951-809-6777 Gene Edelbach gedelbach@puc.edu

Central California 559-347-3034 Justin Kim jkim@cccsda.org

Loma Linda 909-651-5925 Ansel Oliver anoliver@llu.edu

Southeastern California 951-509-2256 Andrea King communications@seccsda.org

Hawaii 808-595-7591 Caleb Schaber communicationsdept@hawaiisda.com

Nevada-Utah 775-322-6929 Michelle Ward mward@nevadautah.org

Southern California 818-546-8400 Lauren Lacson Llacson@sccsda.org

Editorial Correspondents

Postal Regs: The Pacific Union Recorder (ISSN 0744-6381), Volume 124, Number 1, is the official journal of the Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and is published monthly. Editorial office is at 2686 Townsgate Rd., Westlake Village, CA 91361: 805-497-9457. Periodical postage paid at Thousand Oaks, CA, and additional mailing offices. Subscription rate: No charge to Pacific Union Adventist church members; $16 per year in U.S.; $20 foreign (U.S. funds); single copy, $2. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Circulation Department, Pacific Union Recorder, Box 5005, Westlake Village, CA 91359. Info@adventistfaith.com.

January 2024 3

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Mara

4 Pacific Union Recorder

anatha

By Bradford C. Newton

“

T

he defendant will please rise for the reading of the verdict.” This is the moment of highest drama in the criminal trial. Guilty or not guilty? All permitted evidence has been presented, witnesses

examined, the prosecution and defense lawyers have given their closing statements, and the jury has concluded its private deliberations. The judge silently reviews the jury decision papers and then hands them off to the court clerk who will read the results. But even before the verdict is read, there are 12 people who already know the decision. The members of the jury. One of those jurors was me.

My nine days of sitting in the courtroom during this criminal trial reminded me again that television legal dramas and the real thing are different in many ways. Most important to me were the jury instructions given by the judge. The defendant is innocent throughout the trial and does not need to prove otherwise. The jury instructions for California place the entire burden upon the prosecution to prove guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt,” which “leaves you with an abiding conviction that the charge is true.”

As I pondered the events of this recent criminal trial—the witnesses, the physical evidence (including DNA test results), the lawyers, and the judge—it struck me that this world is seeing, listening, and experiencing another type of trial today. We are living through a planetary-scale trial where

January 2024 5

two opposing forces call upon humanity to examine

have distinct inevitable

evidence and reach a verdict about God Himself

and ultimate conclusions.

and their future with Him. The contest has gone on

What does the evidence

for generations, and Seventh-day Adventists believe

tell us? The enemy thief

that evidence shows a nearing culmination.

will take away the best

“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.

we have while enticing us

See that you are not troubled; for all these things

toward the vain pursuit

must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For

of riches, pleasure, fame,

nation will rise again nation, and kingdom against

and physical perfection. In

kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences,

the end we are reminded

and earthquakes in various places. All these are the

that, “Man is like a breath;

beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:6-8, NKJV).

His days are like a passing

Are the words of Jesus true? What does the

shadow” (Psalm 144:4,

evidence tell us? See the horrific prevalence, rapidity,

NKJV). In stark contrast is

and scale of human violence. Listen to the daily

our Friend Jesus. He offers

suffering from millions from hunger and disease

a different path of meaning

while others enjoy abundance and safety. Evaluate

to life, purpose for each

the large-scale extinction of species along with the

day, and an eternal home

unprecedented environmental degradation of our

with Him. Psalm 16:11

planet into a less habitable place. These data points

assures us that “You will

are witnesses to the ongoing slide of humanity and

show me the path of life; In

our planet toward disaster. The flow of history does

Your presence is fullness of

not lead to a greater utopian global society or life on

joy; At your right hand are pleasures forevermore”

an orbiting craft above an alien planet. I conclude

(NKJV). I conclude from the testimony of millions

beyond a reasonable doubt that we are stuck right

as well as my own life experience that beyond a

here—and things are not going well nor are they

reasonable doubt our God indeed offers to us the

going to improve.

abundant life in Christ.

In our planetary trial, what do the two sides offer

Someone asked me recently, “Are you glad you

for the future? We hear from Jesus again: “The thief

are a Seventh-day Adventist?” Without a pause I

does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to

replied, “Yes.” The obvious follow-up question is

destroy. I have come that they may have life, and

“Why?” What is the evidence for my answer? Every

that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10,

one of us must consider this for themselves, so I

NKJV). Here are two contrasting paths of life that

can only speak for my own life experience. To know

To know that there is a Savior Jesus who paid the price for my sins—past, present, and future— makes me glad I’m a Seventh-day Adventist.

6 Pacific Union Recorder

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With over 20 million other Seventh-day Adventists, I conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that we have something wonderful to share with a hurting world.

that there is a Savior Jesus who paid the price for

with hope. The evidence I offer is that it’s not just

my sins—past, present, and future—makes me

a set of doctrines but a way to live my life with

glad I’m a Seventh-day Adventist. To look at the

purpose and meaning.

world around me with its marred yet persistent

With over 20 million other Seventh-day

beauty, I know that there is a Creator who made

Adventists, I conclude beyond a reasonable doubt

both the earth and me. He gave me the seventh-

that we have something wonderful to share with a

day Sabbath to rest and think of Him. This same

hurting world. The most important thing we must

Creator Father has a plan for my life each day, and

share is that Jesus is coming back to this world

when I place myself in His hands, I can trust Him

again. Like it says in a song I love to listen to every

even when I don’t understand everything in each

day, “We know that He’s coming back!” Perhaps this

moment. I’m glad that I’m a Seventh-day Adventist

is why Paul ends his letter to the Corinthians with

because I know that this earthly toil is not the end

an Aramaic word that is used only one time in the

of the story. Those I love and miss are sleeping

Bible. In 1 Corinthians 16:22 he says, “Maranatha!”

in the Lord until that glorious day when they are

(NASB). Translated it means, “Our Lord, come!” Let

awakened by His voice and I will see them again.

this remain on our lips each day of 2024 as we live

Jesus will also remember every part of me down

faithfully, prayerfully, and in service to others in our

to the very DNA of my cells when He returns to

Lord’s name.

awaken me from the dust. I’m so grateful to be a

_____________________________

Seventh-day Adventist because I embrace a view of

Bradford C. Newton is the president of the

this life that cradles my past, present, and future

Pacific Union Conference.

January 2024 7

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The Preamble

to the

28

8 Pacific Union Recorder

Funda

By Ray Tetz

damentals “Seventh-day Adventists accept the Bible as their only creed….”

T

he Preamble to the 28 Fundamentals is probably the least read portion of the official statement. Yet it is essential in order to understand the Adventist perspective on the

list of doctrines that follow. The quotation above is the first comment in the 28 Fundamentals document.

The insistence that we do not have a creed other than the Bible is a very significant position. Historically Adventists were very much against establishing a creed.

The pioneers1 spoke against having a creed, having themselves experienced persecution in other churches when creeds were used to expel them from their congregations. Their consistent demand was for Christian beliefs and teachings that harmonize with the Bible.

Otherwise, those teachings were to be rejected.

So from the very beginning, Adventist beliefs were firmly grounded in Scripture. There could be no appeal to some other authority, least of all as a test of fellowship.

This was in order to ensure that the church did not use force or compulsion but instead welcomed all who would

January 2024 9

accept the supreme authority of God’s Word.

Not that there weren’t any debates. The pages of the early church magazines were full of discussions as to the meaning of different passages of Scripture.

Even the early leaders needed time to rethink their beliefs and to make sure their understanding was correct.

But what about today?

The same principle applies. Though the 28 Fundamentals are an attempt to codify Adventist understanding of Scripture, they are not to be a means of controlling or inhibiting genuine Christian conversation. In fact, the Preamble allows for “revision of these statements,” indicating that we do not believe we have arrived at a final description of Adventist beliefs. We look to be “led by the Holy Spirit to a fuller understanding of Bible truth.” In addition, we may discover better ways of expressing what we believe, “if better language is found to express the teachings of God’s Holy Word.” It’s not all set in stone!

That said, the 28 Fundamentals do express what we believe today. “These beliefs, as set forth here, constitute the church’s understanding and expression of the teaching of Scripture.” It’s the way we understand God’s Word. To some, this list of beliefs may seem “creedal,” but they are a way of stating what we have generally agreed. In the same way that early Adventists needed to give some formulation of their “fundamental principles”2

the impression that we have all God’s truth

in order to distinguish themselves from others

encapsulated in our statements of belief or that

who might claim to be teaching in the name of the

there is nothing more to discover. Additionally, is

church, we need to highlight those matters that we

it just about being correct, or is it all about a living

find in Scripture to be most important.

relationship with the God we are trying to describe?

Of course, the current document is a product

We must always begin with the Bible. We can refer

of a multitude of committees and General

to our “shortcut summary” in the list of Fundamentals,

Conference Sessions. As such, it is rather formulaic

but maybe we should go straight to Scripture to help

and propositional. It makes statements along with

people understand not only God’s truth but how He

Biblical texts to support them. All well and good. But

wants to relate to each and every one of us.

it is hardly what you want for bedtime reading!

So let’s go to the words of Jesus. When He was

We believe the Preamble is a humble place

confronted with religious leaders who wanted to

to begin. It’s important that we don’t give

10 Pacific Union Recorder

reject Him based on their established beliefs, He

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We must

always

begin

with the Bible.

quoted Isaiah against them, saying that they were

comes from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4, NLT).

“Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men”

He also declared, “Even more blessed are all who

(Mark 7:7, NKJV).

hear the word of God and put it into practice” (Luke

This is what we have to prevent. By developing

11:28, NLT).

creedal formulas, some have ended up with

Like Luther, we say, “Here I stand. I cannot do

statements that are man-made. This is why taking the

otherwise.” On the Bible, and the Bible only.

Bible as our creed is so important. We need to avoid

_____________________________

“making the word of God of no effect through your

Ray Tetz is director of communication & community

tradition,” as Jesus went on to say (Mark 7:13. NKJV).

engagement of the Pacific Union Conference.

Jesus invariably pointed to the Bible as the source of truth. During His temptations, He quoted Deuteronomy, saying “The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that

1 These included Ellen White, James White, J.N. Andrews, Merritt E. Cornell, A.G. Daniells, S.N. Haskell, A.T. Jones, J.N. Loughborough, W.W. Prescott, Uriah Smith, E.J. Waggoner, and J.H. Waggoner.

The first significant attempt to do this was in 1872.

2

January 2024 11

Adventist

By the Recorder editorial staff

A

A Wave

fter the initial emphasis on sending out missionaries directly from the West, the newly formed Pacific Union Conference

championed the program with the result that a wave of missionaries went all around the world. Union president A.T. Jones explained: The camp-meeting and conference at Fresno, September 30 to October 12, proved to be a missionary meeting throughout. From the president's address at the beginning, until the second ordination service at the very close of the meeting, the keynote was “Foreign fields,” “The gospel in all the world as a witness to all nations, that the end may come.”…

Space will be taken here only to state that eighteen of the workers of the California Conference accepted the call to other fields. Five thousand dollars, and at

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The membership in California knew these missionaries and were interested not only in their accomplishments but in them as individuals.

12 Pacific Union Recorder

Pioneers in the West

of Missionaries least thirteen and one-third per cent of the

their salaries as if they were working at home.

income of the conference in the coming

Such a system came from the global awareness

year, and the support of every worker of

of the believers who saw their task as not merely

the conference sent by the conference

working for the people of the West but for all people

to foreign fields, was

everywhere.

unanimously voted by

Jones then listed some

the whole congregation.

of those he knew who were

About a hundred and

going out as missionaries

ninety dollars was freely

from the Pacific Union and

donated by those present

being supported and paid by

from their own pockets to

the conference. Notice the

send a 40x60 tent to Elder

countries mentioned: “The

Andross in England. More

workers who go abroad are:

than a hundred dollars

Brother and Sister J.S. Harmon,

was donated in a Sunday

to Ontario, Canada East;

afternoon collection for

Brother and Sister Schaeffer

the work in the South;

and Brother Douglass, to the

and nearly seven hundred

South; Brother and Sister

dollars was given to the material fund of

McCord, and Brother and Sister Castle, and Brother

“Object Lessons.” In other words, all calls

Walter Halliday, to England; Brother and Sister

and donations were for the general work,

Albrecht, to Germany; Brethren Walter and Frank

none for the local.1

Bond, to England on the way to Spain; Brother A.S. Marchus, to England on the way to Natal, South

The size of the donations that express the

Africa; Brother F. Dewitt Gauterau, to France; Brother D.A. Parsons, to Ireland, and Dr. Keem, to

financial aspects but also the willingness to part with

China.”2

successful pastors and evangelists show the desire

The following month Jones reported on those

that the truth be shared way beyond the borders of

who had actually gone as missionaries, showing that

the union. The workers who went abroad were still

this was no pipe dream, but a solid reality—these

listed as conference employees, and they received

people were going to places they did not know, to

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commitment to mission is significant. Not only the

January 2024 13

work with people they had never met, sometimes

conference has yet set free all workers who will

in languages they could not speak! Yet they were

go to foreign fields, to be paid as such the same

going, and those back home were supporting them.

as if they worked in the home field. Therefore,

Those who had gone or who were about to go

even if this plan were enough when universally

were listed, along with their destinations: England,

employed, it is plain that as yet it can not, in any

Ireland, Italy, Georgia, France, Spain, South Africa,

fair degree, be counted a proper working of the

Germany, Canada, China—it was as if the West was

foreign fields. Therefore all other means must

evangelizing the world! Jones also notes that “Nearly

likewise be employed.”5 Notice the infectious zeal and enthusiasm!

all of those are still California workers, to be paid from the California treasury after they reach their

California did not wait to be asked, or for

foreign fields.”

administrative approval. They went ahead and

3

This was not only a wonderful example of a

sent their workers as needed. Clearly some were

benevolent spirit—just as importantly, it gave a

alarmed that the worker force was being depleted

close connection with the real world of mission

with so many pastors and evangelists going on

work. The membership in California knew these

mission service. Ellen White, who was at that latter

missionaries and were interested not only in their

meeting, replied by saying: “Some of the members

accomplishments but in them as individuals.

of our churches may feel that we are sending away

In this way a strong bond could be formed

too many conference laborers, and that the work

between donors and recipients, without extensive

in the home field can not be done by the few who

bureaucracy. Jones says it very expressively:

remain. But this is not the proper view to take of the matter. Those in the employ of the conference

This gives to the people of the California

are not the only ones who should work for souls.

Conference a personal hold in missionary

Let the church-members go to work.”6

effort upon a goodly part of the world. The

Such a model of mission work is clearly at

California Conference is thus sending its

significant variance to the current centralized

workers to the East in both directions. But

system, yet it was proved at the time to be a very

surely this is the only thing to do. There are

efficient way of operating that linked local workers

in the California Conference only about one

with their local home field. Certainly a considerable

and a quarter millions of people altogether.

amount of foreign mission work was down to

In the British Isles, alone, there are forty-

the commitment, both in personnel and funding,

two millions; and in the other countries

provided by an enthusiastic and committed

many more, as they are larger. In those

membership and worker force in the West.

countries there are very few Sabbath-

_____________________________

keepers, and far fewer active preachers of

1

the message. Should we keep here, where there are so few people, the many workers, when we have also nearly four thousand Sabbath-keepers besides?4 In a later article he concluded: “California is the only conference that has done as it has done.

True, the movement is spreading; but no other

14 Pacific Union Recorder

Alonzo T. Jones, “The California Camp-Meeting,” Pacific Union Recorder, Oct. 23, 1902, p. 4.

Jones, “The California Camp-Meeting,” pp. 4-5.

2

Alonzo T. Jones, “To the People of the California Seventh-Day Adventist Conference,” Pacific Union Recorder, Nov. 20, 1902, p. 2.

3

4 Jones, “To the People of the California Seventh-Day Adventist Conference,” p. 2.

5 Alonzo T. Jones, “Dear Brethren and Sisters of the Sabbath-Schools—",” Pacific Union Recorder, Feb. 12, 1903, p. 8.

6 Ellen G. White, “Sending Missionaries Abroad,” Pacific Union Recorder, Nov. 20, 1902, p. 4.

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As Time Flies By

W

By Mila León herever we turn, we hear people talking about how fast time passes. The psalmist mourns that his days are like a handbreadth and his years are like nothing (Psalm 39:5).

For most of us, 2023 flew by. Did we find the time to do all the

things we thought we should do last year? Did we spend every unforgiving minute of every day running for 60 seconds? Maybe taking a look at how we spend time will help us rearrange our priorities. We are told, "Our time belongs to God. Every moment is His, and we are under the most solemn obligation to improve it to His glory. Of no talent He has given will He require a more strict account than of our time" (Ellen G. White, Christ's Object Lessons, p. 342).

January 2024 15

How did some Adventists spend the majority of 2023?

Here's a brief overview.

4

3/

1 4 months

months

(eight hours a day)

WORKING OR IN SCHOOL

/

1 EATING 2

1 GROOMING 4 OR DRESSING

1

1 /4

/

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SLEEPING

month

(3 meals a day, 20 minutes each)

3

month

WATCHING TV

months instead of four! Most people spend two-thirds

(30 minutes daily)

months

OF SABBATHS

(2 hours a day)

If they slept 10 hours a night, that would be five

month

the time we spend eating to glorify God! How many of you have spent one quarter of a

of the year in sleep and work. For those working

month getting ready to meet with the public? Some of

overtime or holding extra jobs, that’s even longer. But

us spend a lot more time than that. Some of us didn’t

if you’re doing that extra part-time work to get stuff

spend enough time at all. And while it’s OK to spend

you don’t need, it is a waste of time at best. "Life is

time getting ready, shouldn’t you spend just as much

too solemn to be absorbed in temporal and earthly

time looking in the mirror and getting ready to appear

matters, in a treadmill of care and anxiety for the

before God?

things that are but an atom in comparison with the

And now 2023 is gone, and it seems we have done

things of eternal interest” (Ellen G. White, Christ's Object

nothing but sleep, eat, get dressed, and go to work.

Lessons, p. 343).

Now 2024 stretches ahead; even the little moments

It may surprise you to learn that in 2023, you spent

are valuable, for this year will speed by as well. Will

one half of a month eating. If you have a habit of eating

we spend another month watching TV? To save time,

between meals, add another week. It’s time you can’t

some individuals might even eat meals in front of the

do without, but it’s also time that’s gone forever. Some

television or sacrificed sleep to watch TV.

may see these statistics as an additional reason to eat

We are told: "The life of Christ from His earliest

two meals instead of three. What spiritual, physical,

years was a life of earnest activity. He lived not to

and mental blessings we can reap in 2024 if we use

please Himself.… Parents should teach their children

16 Pacific Union Recorder

the value and right use of time” (Ellen G. White, Christ's

Sabbath afternoon, even though a significant portion

Object Lessons, p. 345). Again, "We have no time to

of the sacred time has already been spent sleeping.

waste, no time to devote to selfish pleasure, no time

Consequently, the sacred hours pass by in idleness

for the indulgence of sin. It is now that we are to form

and inactivity. As the sun goes down, there is a sense

characters for the future, immortal life. It is now that

of revival in the spirit. People immediately become

we are to prepare for the searching judgment” (Ellen G.

absorbed once again in the worldly matters of life and

White, Christ's Object Lessons, p. 342).

begin to repeat the same cycle. The Sabbath ought to

So far, I have not included daily devotions and Bible study, nor have I addressed the time needed for

be more than just a period to rest before returning to the same routine.

midweek prayer services. I have intentionally saved

As we take time to reflect on how we spent our

these topics until now to demonstrate that for many

time in 2023, let’s take a moment to create a budget

people caught up in the busyness of modern life, even

for the upcoming year to dwell in the guidance of God

just an hour or two spent on indulgence or idleness

and commit to diligently follow it in 2024. The new year

leaves no time for personal devotions, attending

can be a year of promise if we allow ourselves to not

prayer services, or studying the Bible. We are urged to

only use our time properly for ourselves but also to

prioritize as many good works as possible in this life

serve others. Time spent nurturing relationships with

(Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 488).

family, friends, and fellow believers is invaluable. Taking

Fully committing to Christ is necessary to make room

the time to listen, encourage, and support others

for these good works, or they will be crowded out by

contributes to the building of strong, meaningful

the numerous distractions vying for our attention.

connections. These relationships provide a support

We have limited time to prepare for eternity and

system during difficult times and offer opportunities

help others do the same. Adventists often prioritize

for mutual growth and encouragement. Let’s keep in

tasks like shopping, entertaining friends, gardening,

mind the wisdom that "the value of time is beyond

and home maintenance over spiritual matters. While

computation. Christ regarded every moment as

these tasks are important, it's crucial to prioritize our

precious, and it is thus that we should regard it. Life is

time in a way that aligns with God's will.

too short to be trifled away. We have but a few days

In the new year before us, one and three-fourths months are dedicated to the Sabbaths.

How should the one and three-fourths months

of probation in which to prepare for eternity” (Ellen G. White, Christ's Object Lessons, p. 342). It is essential for our own well-being to prioritize holiness and also to engage in activities that serve God and others.

some of us are so tired and overworked that we end

_____________________________

up collapsing. Often, we need another nap during the

Mila León is a freelance writer from Tucson, Arizona.

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of sacred time be spent? When the Sabbath starts,

January 2024 17

The Revitalized Church We Can Plant the Seed, But Only God Can Grow a Church

H

By VicLouis G. Arreola III

ave you ever visited a church that just exuded life and vitality?

Many of us have experienced this type of church in some form, where—from parking lot to pew, in the prayers and the praise, and throughout the program all the way to the potluck table—the glow

of Jesus and His love shone through in a palpable and contagious way. On the other hand, we have also experienced fellowships where the opposite was true— bodies of believers where the honest adjectives included words like stagnant, stale, or comatose.

Let’s rewind together a couple of millennia to the early church of Acts. The apostles had the voice of Jesus still fresh in their ears, persecution was rampant, and the diaspora of Jesus-followers was underway. Does this sound like a church

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that could be described as stagnant, stale, or comatose? Far the opposite! The

18 Pacific Union Recorder

growing movement was the definition of vitality.

you buy with cash, but one you receive

In those days, the body of Christ was growing

from the Spirit and the Word.… As others

exponentially from the pressures without and the

have said, what you win them with, you win

prayers within. Our early Christian forefathers did not

them to.1

live in a world where they could sit back idly and fall into the role of “maintainer of the fishbowl.” Instead,

When we have recalibrated our focus to rest solely

they were actively charging against the currents and

on Christ, the next step is to help others see the Jesus

braving the storms of the first-century world to fulfill

who lives within. In doing so, we are preparing the

the call of their beloved Jesus—to be fishers of men.

field to accept the falling seed from the Sower’s hand.

In this age of A.I., social media, and express travel, is the call of the Master any different? Although some of our tools have been upgraded, the call remains as timeless as the Savior who made it.

Health, not growth In the world of medicine, there has been renewed emphasis on the maintenance and optimization of health. This is evidenced by the

Planting the seed prayerfully

recent development and recognition of health-

How can we harness the transforming power

focused medical specialties like lifestyle medicine

of the Spirit and allow it to channel through to our

and preventive medicine. In decades past, much of

congregations and breathe life into our churches

the focus lay heavily on treatment and management

today? It starts with the prayerful planting of seed

of existing disease. However, in recent years, with

that we have been entrusted with. These are God’s

the nation experiencing a growing epidemic of

seeds. We did not make them ourselves. We are

avoidable chronic diseases—like coronary artery

merely the stewards of His creation, much like the

disease, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension, along

role of our first parents in the Garden of Genesis. In

with their associated sequelae of heart attacks,

1 Corinthians 3:6, the Apostle Paul writes, “I planted

stroke, and other debilitating impairments—there

the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been

has been renewed interest in what the field calls

making it grow” (NIV). The kernels are waiting, but as

primary prevention. The Centers of Disease Control

Matthew 13 highlights, successful germination of the

and Prevention (CDC) describes this as: “Primary

seed, which is the word of God, depends upon the

prevention—intervening before health effects occur,

condition of the heart upon which it falls. As believers,

through measures such as vaccinations, altering

it is important that we present Jesus to others as the

risky behaviors (poor eating habits, tobacco use), and

attractive option and the one true source of genuine

banning substances known to be associated with a

hope.

disease or health condition.”2

Brian Croft, a professor and church revitalization

These measures are carried out in order to

strategist at the Mathena Center for Church Revitalization, states: Scripture does indeed talk about making the church attractive, but it calls for churches to be attractive with love and good deeds, not with the things that money can buy.… [In Scripture] you’ll find

How can we harness the transforming power of the Spirit and allow it to channel through to our congregations and breathe life into our churches today?

a different kind of “wow” entirely—not one

January 2024 19

optimize the health of communities across the nation.

Our part

How does this concept of maintaining physical well-

What is our part in the process of revitalizing

being relate to the ongoing challenge of sustaining

our churches? We can help cultivate the field and

vitality in our churches? In the same way, the body of

influence the environment so that it is conducive

Christ can surely benefit from honest self-reflection

for growth. The following are qualities that thriving

by its leaders and members regarding church health.

churches have in common with one another, and

This all begins with shifting our collective focus from

these steps are a great place to start: 1) Their

the old growth-centered mindset to a health-driven

foundation is established on Bible truth, 2) Make

approach.

prayer the priority, 3) Develop a culture of loving fellowship and generosity for each other and the

God’s part God provides all that we need, both in our

community, 4) Work to maintain unity, 5) Create Christ-centered congregational worship and

individual lives and in the life of His body, the

nurture with care groups, 6) Welcome new people

Church. He alone makes all things grow. He is the

into the church, and 7) Practice a cycle of active

great Sower, and He provides the seed. Can the

outreach and discipleship.

power that shook the world at Pentecost truly exist

As we do our part, let us pray for God-inspired

today? Surely, the peals of thunder that announce

men and women to accept the sanctified calling

the approaching hurricane of the latter rain echo

of facilitating the health of our churches. The

louder each day, and now more than ever is high

Master said in Matthew 9:37-38, “The harvest is

time to “seek the Lord while He may be found”

plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of

(Isaiah 55:6, NIV). Ellen White writes:

the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (NIV). Paul was blessed to have

The lapse of time has wrought no change

assistance in the person of Apollos, a leader in

in Christ's parting promise to send the Holy

the early church. Today, without a doubt, there

Spirit.… It is not because of any restriction

are modern-day Apolloses that God has prepared

on the part of God that the riches of His

to nurture His crop, and He will supply the right

grace do not flow earthward to men. If

individuals at the right time.

the fulfillment of the promise is not seen as it might be, it is because the promise

A sanctified partnership

is not appreciated as it should be. If all

As we allow God to do His part, and as we

were willing, all would be filled with the

faithfully do ours, we can move forward in a

Spirit.… Whenever minor matters occupy

sanctified partnership with the Divine—and by His

the attention, the divine power which is

Spirit, and in His time, each of our churches can

necessary for the growth and prosperity of

be transformed into a revitalized church!

the church, and which would bring all other

_____________________________

blessings in its train, is lacking, though

VicLouis G. Arreola III serves as vice president

offered in infinite plenitude (The Acts of the

for Asian Pacific Ministries of the Pacific Union

Apostles, p. 50).

Conference.

It is crucial that our focus remain solely on Christ and that we ask for humility and wisdom to discern minor matters from Christ’s primary objective.

20 Pacific Union Recorder

1 Brian Croft, “Life Together,” 9Marks, https://www.9marks.org/review/uturn-church/.

2 “Prevention,” https://www.cdc.gov/pictureofamerica/pdfs/picture_of_ america_prevention.pdf.

By Ellen G. White

Thoughts for the New Year Australasian Union Conference Record, January 5, 1914

A

lthough in one sense the first day of

to set up as had the children of Israel, but we have

the new year is no more to God than

a work of building to do, the importance of which

any other day, yet He often puts into

all need to understand. Let us remember that

the hearts of His children at that time

character is not the result of accident, but day by day

a desire to begin the new year with new resolves—

it is forming for good or for evil. Great importance

perhaps with plans to carry out some worthy

attaches to this work of character building; for it

enterprise,—and with purposes to depart from the

is far-reaching in its results. We are builders for

wrongs of the old year and to live the new year with

time and for eternity. Few realize the power of

new determinations.

habit. Examine your own heart and life in the light

In God's plan for His ancient people, He gave the

of God's Word, and ask yourself, “What has my record been for the year that is just closing? What

thou set up the tabernacle.” We have no tabernacle

advancement have I made in the Christian life?

LEOPATRIZI/E+ VIA GETTY IMAGES

command, “On the first day of the first month shalt

January 2024 21

What victories have I gained? And what have I done

dignity, and sweetness of character that will have a

to help others, and to lead them to Christ?”

transforming influence upon others.

God has not placed you in the world to lead an

We are now entering upon a new year, and may

aimless life. He designs that you should be useful,

it prove a beginning of years to us. If in the old year

and reach a high standard of moral excellence. To

we have made failures, let us commence the new

each one some work is given. During the old year

by rectifying these errors as far as we can. If the old

have you performed your appointed tasks with

year has borne into eternity a spotted record of

cheerfulness and fidelity, having an eye single to the

opportunities neglected and privileges slighted, let

glory of God? Opportunities and privileges have been

us see that that of the new year is free from these

granted you; what use have you made of these gifts

blemishes. Its days are all before us; let us begin now

entrusted to you by our Heavenly Father? Have you

to make the history of each as it passes, such as we

made yourself a blessing to those around you? Have

shall not tremble to meet in the judgment. Let us fill

you done what you could to make them happy and

each one full of loving, helpful work for others. Let us

win them to Christ?

develop all our powers and make of ourselves all that

All this is a part of your appointed work. God also

God designed that we should.

requires each of us to subdue self, not giving the rein

In the keeping of God's commandments there

to self-indulgence or appetite, and to form characters

is great reward. A reward awaits the overcomer in

that will stand the test of the judgment and go with us

the great day, when he shall hear from the lips of

into the future life.

our Lord, “Well done, good and faithful servant”;

Shall the close of the year find you further

and there is also a present reward in the peace and happiness that flow from the conscience at rest, from

habits? Will you be considerate of others, faithful

the sweet assurance that we enjoy the favour of God.

to do the work of a Christian? If you will carry the

“All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto

principles of right-doing into all the affairs of life, you

such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.” To

will find that it will promote health of body, peace of

all who walk in His ways the new year will be crowded

mind, and prosperity of soul. You will have a strength,

with goodness and blessing.

SMILEUS/ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS VIA GETTY IMAGES

advanced than you are today? Will you put away evil

22 Pacific Union Recorder

We are now entering upon a new year, and may it prove a beginning of years to us.

N E W S D E S K

Asian Pacific Workers’ Meeting 2023

One Power, One Purpose, One Mission

O

ne Power, One Purpose, One Mission: This was the theme of the 2023 PUC Asian Pacific workers’ meeting held in Ontario, California, on Sept. 18-20, 2023. When asked how this theme had come into existence, VicLouis Arreola III, vice president for Asian Pacific Ministries at the Pacific Union Conference, said that it was inspired by the writings of Ellen G. White: “If Christians were to act in concert, moving forward as one, under the direction of one Power, for the accomplishment of one purpose, they would move the world” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, p. 221).

Workers’ meetings are normally held biennially, but because of the pandemic, gatherings had been postponed. Asian Pacific ministerial workers hadn’t had any unionwide workers’ meetings since the one held in 2019. It is safe to say that this meeting was long awaited and anticipated. The 185 attendees included pastors, Bible workers, lay pastors, ministerial spouses, and a few children from all over Pacific Union Conference, as well as a few guests from American Samoa and Guam-Micronesia.

The workers’ meeting is an essential event for

pastors and ministerial workers. This is an avenue for them to learn, to be trained and updated, and to gain new perspectives in approaching their ministries. It is intended to furnish them with knowledge to further equip and assist them in their roles in their local churches as they continue to lead and empower their church members in spreading God’s good news of salvation. In these meetings, not only did the pastors benefit from the lectures but the spouses were also blessed in their separate sessions with Heather-Dawn Small, General Conference (GC) women’s ministries director. The children also had their share of activities; while mom and dad were in sessions, they had fun painting pots and recreating Bible story scenes through crafts.

Arreola said that because of the pandemic, “ministries have been shifted online, and many creative ways have emerged to share the final message throughout the world.” With this in mind, various topics were discussed during the sessions, including creative ministry, digital evangelism, mental health, mentorship, evangelism, religious liberty, and publishing. Various speakers from the CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE

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I January 2024 23

N E W S D E S K CONTINUED FROM THE PREVIOUS PAGE

GC, North American Division (NAD), Pacific Union College, Faith for Today, Voice of Prophecy, Pacific Press, and Andrews University were invited to share their wealth of knowledge with the pastors.

Leon Brown Sr., Pacific Union executive vice president and also the multilingual representative of the union for NAD said, “We come to these meetings, and a lot of times we just meet. But really these meetings are intended for a couple of purposes. One is to get you away from work, so that you can actually just spend some time, just relax a little bit and spend time with each other, and give you the chance to do what you all need to do to learn more about the love of God.” Jonathan Park, president of Southeastern California Conference, during his welcoming speech as the host conference, said, “This meeting isn’t just about important people or intellectual people or people with in-depth Bible knowledge sharing their wisdom and experience with you. It is also a time where we all share each other’s experiences—

our highs and lows. Every time I’ve been here, I’m even more inspired by colleagues than with speakers. But I believe that is the speakers’ intention too—whatever they share, they want all of us to be inspired by each other. After all, isn’t that our theme? One Power, one purpose, one mission. That is why we are here. You are all things to all people.

I hope that in the next couple of days, you will become a vessel to inspire somebody because you shared your struggles and they could be comforted by you. I hope you are able to share something positive about your ministries so somebody will be inspired to apply it in their local church, and together, Asian Pacific pastors in NAD will continue to grow because Jesus is with us.”

It is the hope of Asian Pacific Ministries to continue to organize events such as this to bring our Asian Pacific pastors a wealth of resources, encouragement, vision, and inspiration as they keep moving forward to advance the Lord’s work. ____________________

By Mirriam Carlos

The Walter C. Utt Center: A Place to Think, Examine Evidence, and Seek Truth The recently opened center works to carry forward the ideals of a master teacher, embodied by the legacy of its namesake.

W

hen we think of a master teacher, one whose legacy we hold up to emulate, we think of one whose impact goes beyond the four walls of the classroom. We do not think only of a vibrant scholar with a vast depth and breadth of expertise but also of one who takes a personal interest in students and remains a source of support and mentorship beyond graduation.

Walter Utt was that kind of master teacher.

I

24 Pacific Union Recorder Newsdesk

N E W S D E S K

Utt was an extraordinary history professor at Pacific Union College who left an indelible mark on the lives of many. An intellectual, yes, but his wit and humor engaged his students. Students clamored to be in his classes because his lectures were different.

He rarely regaled them with personal stories of his own life. He kept them hooked with riveting narratives about historical figures and causes.

He didn’t stand at his lectern tied to a neatly typed outline. Instead, Utt engaged with the class, referring only to a few errant cards or scraps of paper with quotations and probing discussion questions. He never drove at a specific answer but was genuinely interested in the ideas and opinions of his students.

“He enjoyed laying out a range of possible interpretations and asking students to join the debate,” writes former PUC President Eric Anderson in a forthcoming biography of Utt. “His students needed to create their personal syntheses, he believed, not simply to learn and repeat someone else’s interpretations.”

In a memoir of Utt written for Spectrum Magazine in 1986, retired psychiatrist Bruce Anderson recalled, as a history major, being “entertained and overawed” by the professor and his engaging yet unconventional lecture style.

Yet, Utt disdained the idea of being lionized as a professor. “I don’t want to be singled out as some saintly Mr. Chips or anything of that sort,” he once told Bruce Anderson.

But Utt does deserve recognition, Bruce Anderson said, as the kind of high-caliber, dedicated Christian teacher our Seventh-day Adventist institutions should always be working to cultivate and nurture.

Now, the new Walter C. Utt Center, officially opened this summer, embodies the hallmarks of its namesake. But as opposed to a monument or tribute to one man, the center has a larger goal and an extensive reach into the future. It’s meant to carry on the spirit of a unique kind of education that combines teaching critical thinking and a love of history—whether it be of the college, the Seventhday Adventist church, or the world—to students for years to come.

Karl Wilcox, director of the Utt Center and the Utt Professor of History, said he hopes the facility will preserve and carry forward the late professor’s legacy. “The Utt Center should be a place where students come to think, hear and tell stories, examine evidence, seek truth, interpret the past, and evaluate truth claims,” he said.

The top floor of the Utt Center features the CONTINUED ON Percy and John Christian Conference THE NEXT PAGE

“Like many Seventh-day Adventist teachers, he saw the chance to have an impact on thoughtful young people.”

Bruce Anderson

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I January 2024 25

N E W S D E S K CONTINUED FROM THE PREVIOUS PAGE

Room and seminar room. The PUC Board of Trustees will commence holding its meetings in the conference room this fall.

Milbert Mariano, PUC dean of humanities, arts, and professions, who also serves as director of the honors program, will hold discussion-based courses in the seminar room this year.

In October, Wilcox said, a workshop on the Old Testament narrative, sponsored by the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists, will be held in the Utt Center. Additionally, Wilcox has plans to revive the Rine Lectures. Named after PUC’s first English professor, George Washington Rine, the series was initially established in 1939.

On the lower floor of the Utt Center is a library, archive, and scholars’ study area, along with offices for the director and others. Found here are a wide variety of historical materials, including documents, photographs, and a host of other collections.

Wilcox also plans to teach his upcoming Shakespeare course in the scholars’ study area.

The creation and construction of the Utt Center were made possible by the generous contributions of a group of donors, many of whom were personally touched by Utt during his time as a professor at PUC and beyond. Indeed, Bruce

I

26 Pacific Union Recorder Newsdesk

Anderson—along with others in the group who received them—counts 72 letters from Utt as one of his most prized possessions.

Following Utt’s untimely death in 1985, the group was determined to keep his memory alive and raised several million dollars to help do so— including through the creation of an endowment.

Led by Bruce Anderson, they sponsored regular visiting professors and also found co-authors to complete several books. The endowment provided essential funding toward the building of the Utt Center, along with contributions from PUC and other donors, including the Christian family.

“What kept Walter Utt going was his students,” Bruce Anderson wrote in Spectrum. “Like many Seventh-day Adventist teachers, he saw the chance to have an impact on thoughtful young people.”

Although the Utt Center is a brand new building, it is dedicated to preserving and understanding the past, Wilcox said.

“In the post-modern world we live in, much of our collective past has been suppressed, distorted, discarded, or just plain ignored. We do not live well if we live exclusively in the present— the past is not only revelatory in terms of what is best (and worst) in human experience, it is also vastly interesting, complex and, thus, valuable,” Wilcox said. “History

N E W S D E S K

is story, and PUC students need stories as well as credits and qualifications. As I often tell my students, to be human is to love stories, and the Utt Center Archive is chock-full of stories waiting to be discovered by students and established scholars alike.”

Wilcox sees the Utt Center as “a place that models vital and lively teaching and where Socratic dialogue prevails over didactic content.”

He wants the center to help promote “an intelligent and lively interest” in the humanities, something he said is of vital necessity.

“The Utt Center holds as virtuous the pursuit of truth and wisdom through history, and as a scholarly enterprise, it exists to practice that particular virtue no matter what the surrounding culture might demand or think to prefer in its place,” Wilcox said. “The Utt Center has a radical agenda— to relieve students of the terrible burden of not knowing and thus not caring about their own past.” ____________________

By Laura Gang

January 2024 Sunset Calendar Alturas (Mt. Shasta) Angwin Bakersfield Calexico Chico Death Valley (Furnace Ck) Eureka Four Corners [E] Fresno Grand Canyon (South Rim) Half Dome Hilo Holbrook (Joseph City) Honolulu Joshua Tree Lake Tahoe Las Vegas Lodi-Stockton Loma Linda Los Angeles McDermitt [N] Moab Monterey Mt. Whitney Napa Nogales [S] (Los) Oakland Paradise, CA Phoenix Pu‘uwaiau, Ni’ihau [W] Reno Riverside Sacramento Salt Lake City San Diego San Francisco San Jose Santa Rosa Sunset Beach Thousand Oaks Tucson

JAN 5 4:53 5:02 4:57 4:49 4:56 4:46 5:03 5:13 4:56 5:28 4:53 5:55 5:23 6:03 4:49 4:51 4:40 4:59 4:53 4:57 4:33 5:11 5:05 4:55 5:02 5:32 5:04 4:55 5:34 5:58 4:49 4:54 4:58 5:14 4:56 5:04 5:03 5:04 5:04 4:59 5:32

JAN 12 5:00 5:09 5:03 4:55 5:03 4:52 5:10 5:19 5:03 5:34 4:59 5:59 5:29 6:08 4:55 4:58 4:46 5:05 4:59 5:03 4:40 5:17 5:12 5:01 5:09 5:38 5:10 5:02 5:40 6:03 4:56 5:00 5:05 5:21 5:02 5:11 5:10 5:10 5:11 5:05 5:38

JAN 19 5:08 5:16 5:10 5:02 5:11 4:59 5:17 5:26 5:10 5:41 5:07 6:04 5:36 6:12 5:02 5:05 4:53 5:13 5:06 5:10 4:48 5:25 5:19 5:07 5:16 5:44 5:17 5:10 5:46 6:07 5:03 5:07 5:12 5:28 5:08 5:18 5:17 5:18 5:18 5:12 5:44

JAN 26 5:17 5:24 5:17 5:08 5:19 5:06 5:26 5:34 5:17 5:48 5:14 6:08 5:43 6:17 5:09 5:13 5:00 5:20 5:13 5:17 4:57 5:32 5:26 5:14 5:24 5:51 5:25 5:18 5:53 6:12 5:11 5:13 5:20 5:37 5:15 5:26 5:25 5:25 5:25 5:19 5:51

[N]=Northernmost [S]=Southernmost [E]=Easternmost [W]=Westernmost point in the Pacific Union

“So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.” Hebrews 4:9

City/Location

!

!

City/Location

February 2024 Sunset Calendar Alturas (Mt. Shasta) Angwin Bakersfield Calexico Chico Death Valley (Furnace Ck) Eureka Four Corners [E] Fresno Grand Canyon (South Rim) Half Dome Hilo Holbrook (Joseph City) Honolulu Joshua Tree Lake Tahoe Las Vegas Lodi-Stockton Loma Linda Los Angeles McDermitt [N] Moab Monterey Mt. Whitney Napa Nogales [S] (Los) Oakland Paradise, CA Phoenix Pu‘uwaiau, Ni’ihau [W] Reno Riverside Sacramento Salt Lake City San Diego San Francisco San Jose Santa Rosa Sunset Beach Thousand Oaks Tucson

FEB 2 5:25 5:32 5:24 5:15 5:27 5:14 5:34 5:41 5:25 5:56 5:22 6:13 5:50 6:22 5:16 5:22 5:08 5:28 5:20 5:24 5:06 5:40 5:34 5:21 5:32 5:57 5:33 5:26 6:00 6:16 5:20 5:20 5:28 5:45 5:22 5:34 5:32 5:33 5:33 5:26 5:57

FEB 9 5:34 5:40 5:32 5:21 5:36 5:21 5:43 5:49 5:32 6:03 5:30 6:16 5:57 6:26 5:23 5:30 5:15 5:36 5:26 5:30 5:15 5:49 5:41 5:27 5:40 6:04 5:41 5:35 6:07 6:19 5:28 5:27 5:36 5:54 5:28 5:41 5:40 5:41 5:40 5:33 6:04

FEB 16 5:43 5:48 5:38 5:28 5:44 5:28 5:52 5:56 5:40 6:10 5:37 6:20 6:04 6:29 5:29 5:38 5:22 5:44 5:33 5:37 5:24 5:56 5:48 5:34 5:48 6:10 5:48 5:43 6:13 6:23 5:36 5:34 5:44 6:03 5:34 5:49 5:47 5:49 5:48 5:39 6:10

FEB 23 5:51 5:56 5:45 5:34 5:52 5:35 6:00 6:04 5:47 6:17 5:45 6:23 6:11 6:33 5:36 5:45 5:29 5:51 5:39 5:43 5:33 6:04 5:55 5:40 5:55 6:16 5:56 5:51 6:19 6:26 5:44 5:40 5:52 6:11 5:40 5:56 5:55 5:57 5:55 5:46 6:16

[N]=Northernmost [S]=Southernmost [E]=Easternmost [W]=Westernmost point in the Pacific Union

“So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.” Hebrews 4:9

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I January 2024 27

Adventurers Have a Fun Day

O

n November 5, over 1,000 attendees representing 28 Adventurer clubs from all over Arizona gathered at Paradise Valley Park in Northern Phoenix to participate in the annual Adventurer Fun Day. Organized by the Arizona Conference Club Ministries Department and supported by nearly 150 volunteers, the event is a major undertaking that begins with plans set in place a year in advance.

The theme for this year’s event was “My Friend Jesus,” and 19 booths spread around the park had crafts, learning activities, and games that were centered around that theme. Each booth was managed by one of the clubs in attendance and included a booth from Thunderbird Christian Elementary school. The goal of the event was to provide a fun experience for Adventurers and their families in a safe Christian environment.

“Our team was prepared and organized,” said Youth and Children’s Ministries Director Manny Cruz. “Gaby [Administrative Assistant Gabriela Corella] did an excellent job with communicating information to our team of coordinators.” ____________________

By Jeff Rogers

28 Pacific Union Recorder

Arizona Conference

It’s My Very Own

W

hen Pinal County Department of Child Services personnel step into a home and remove a minor, oftentimes that child is not allowed to bring anything with them.

In cases where illegal drug preparation and distribution has been identified, the children leave with only the clothes on their backs. That is when the ministry of “It’s My Very Own,” based at the Apache Junction church in Apache Junction, Arizona, can provide a unique service.

“Our goal is to provide a bag for every child who is removed from a home,” said ministry leader Betty Baerg. “We have five different age groups that we make bags of love for.”

Bags of Love is the nickname for the ministry comprised mostly of a group of women who meet every Monday morning at the church from 9 to noon.

The bags are filled with hygiene items that are specific to each age group and gender, a flashlight, ageappropriate books and coloring books, a quilt, and a stuffed animal that usually has its head sticking out of the top of the bag. The group always keeps 100 bags on hand: 10 bags for each age group and each gender.

“We have been so blessed,” Baerg reflected. “People give us fabric to help make the quilts and stuffed animals to be placed in the bags.”

Baerg spoke about several instances when someone has passed away in the community and their estate donated all the fabric that the individual had in their possession. “People have seen the articles about us in the local paper and remember us when they are giving away fabric,” she said. “We use the heavy fabric to make the bags, and the lighter fabric is used to make the quilts.”

In another instance, a church member—who resides in Arizona in the winter but spends her summer in Illinois—looks for stuffed animals that are on sale and sends them to the church. If used stuffed animals are donated, the group makes sure to clean them and make them look as if they are new.

But the ministry is more than giving bags to children in need. This ministry also serves as an opportunity for a group of women to come together and minister to each other. Every Monday morning, they spend the first hour sharing testimonies and prayer concerns with each other before they start quilting and assembling the bags.

“This is a really good thing for us,” Baerg said. “Since my husband died, it has been really good to get out and socialize with the other ladies.”

They have welcomed people from other faiths to join in ministry. Other quilting groups have provided materials and quilts for the bags. Recently one of the women has become involved with facilitating with Native American civic leaders to provide bags of love for that community.

Since 2007, when the ministry began at the church, the small group of faithful volunteers has created and assembled approximately 3,500 bags of love.

“We have been truly blessed by so many people that contribute fabric, money, and supplies,” Baerg said. ____________________

By Jeff Rogers

Arizona Conference

January 2024 29

Interview with Dan Serns:

Reflecting on 2023 and Envisioning 2024's Goals How have you seen God guiding you?

I’ve had to pray a lot more, and that's a good thing.

One night last year during prayer time, I asked God what I should focus on, and He gave me three things.

1. I need to remember what the prophet Samuel said to King Saul. When Saul was small in his own eyes, God used him. I always want to be humble and teachable. I want to be a servant.

2. The Lord impressed me that when we work in a team, people notice our strengths. When we work alone, they notice our weaknesses. Build teams, help others build teams, and connect people with each other.

3. Always remember that the reason we do everything is to give the Adventist message to all of the Central California and the world in this generation. We ask ourselves, Will what we're talking about multiply that or will it cripple it?

What are some highlights of 2023?

We had two Fill Every Baptistry Sabbaths where we asked every church to fill their baptistry and pray about who should be baptized. We encouraged churches to have a week of meetings leading up to those Sabbaths. In 2022, we trained 150 men to preach a series in the spring and we trained 50 women to do that in the fall. In 2023, we trained 50 young people to preach in the spring and 50 children to preach in the fall.

Another highlight was that we reopened our Soquel camp meeting, which is about 11 days long.

Thousands of people come in on the weekends. We baptized 51 people at our camp meeting, and there were 52 more who made decisions to be baptized

30 Pacific Union Recorder

Central California Conference

when they got back to their homes.

We also reopened Camp Wawona and had several staff and campers baptized. I believe in baptism. It means people are really making a public testimony of their commitment to the Lord for the rest of their lives, and the church is committing to help mentor them in their spiritual walk and help them lead other people to the Lord.

One more thing is that we launched our digital evangelism project. This is amazing! In the first phase we picked six churches in our conference to be pilot churches, then did advertisements around their churches on social media. We ran prayer ads, and people began to click and ask for prayer. These went immediately to people who began praying with them.

Now we have over 1,746 people receiving online pastoral care at least once a week around those churches. We have yet to officially reach the stage of inviting them to join a service project, but 35 people have already come for in-person worship. And we had our first baptism in August in Silicon Valley.

What are the goals for 2024?

Our mission is to give the Adventist message to all of Central California and the world in this generation. That is why we are here and that is why we do what we do.

The two overriding goals are: 1. Start 1,000 new groups (and when we say groups, it means three or more people on a mission for Jesus in His final movement). These groups could be

Sabbath School groups, Adventurer clubs, Pathfinder clubs, home-based groups, Bible study groups, recreational groups, hobby groups—but with at least three people and a mission for Jesus in His final movement. And we want each group to win at least one person every six months.

2. Baptize 1,000 new Adventists. We had about 640 who were added as new Adventists in 2023, and we think 1,000 is realistic for 2024, especially if we can start the small groups. We believe that discipleship takes place better in groups than in large gatherings or programs—it takes place better in circles than in rows.

How can a reader become involved?

Number one: start with your time with God and your own family. And number two: start a group. All you need to do is find a couple of friends, brainstorm ideas, then go to work for Jesus and find people. Leave it to Him and His final movement and God will give you ideas. Any hobby, any interest, any spiritual thing you’d like to do more of, we will help and your local church will help. I see more spiritual awakening and more willingness and desire to see churches grow and start something in new communities where we haven't been.

Where can a reader learn more?

A great place to learn more about what is happening is at www.cccadventist.org. Our online digital academy is a place where you can learn more about outreach and receive training.

Everyone can also become a neighborhood pastor for the neighborhood where they live.

Scan the QR code to view a brief video and discover more. ____________________

By Brennan Hallock

Central California Conference

January 2024 31

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Los Banos Hispanic Church Shows the Power of Growth

os Banos, a small city located in the countryside about an hour from the Bay Area, has been the site of recent church growth. Los Banos Hispanic church was organized, with a special event that highlighted this accomplishment, on Oct. 14, 2023.

Ricardo J. Viloria, ministerial and church planting director for the Central California Conference, explained, “Los Banos was organized with 90 members.

The number we want to see when we organize a church is 70, so they were above and beyond.” Of the 90 members, 30 were baptized in 2023, and last year an additional 20 were baptized. “This is really good for a new church plant,” added Viloria.

Los Banos is in a strategic location. Because the price of housing has become so high in the Bay Area, people are moving to cities about an hour away where housing is cheaper, but they are continuing to work in

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the Bay Area. Los Banos is growing rapidly because of this. This is a great opportunity for church growth, and the members in the area are taking advantage of this situation by planting more churches.

The church organization event was attended

by President Dan Serns, Executive Secretary Ron Rasmussen, and Treasurer Mayra Thompson. In addition to the conference officers attending, they also helped with the baptisms during the church service.

Eleven people were baptized at the event and became members of the Los Banos Hispanic church.

Led by lay leader Eber Licardi, who is a dedicated volunteer, the Los Banos Hispanic church is a good example of a church’s mission of sharing a message of hope with the community. Licardi drives from the Bay Area to do pastoral visits, Bible studies, and organize the congregation.

“He is doing an amazing job,” added Viloria. The church has been doing small group strategic plans throughout the community, in addition to bringing in an evangelist two or three times per year to do community outreach and baptisms. One recent evangelistic series was completed by Pastor Justin Aguilar, director of pastoral ministries for the Central California Conference. “We organized the church when he was ending his campaign,” explained Viloria, “and it resulted in the 11 people being baptized.”

Originally organized as a company on Sept. 15, 2018, Los Banos Hispanic church grew out of the Los Banos English church. “We are really thankful for the Los Banos English church, which was the sponsoring church for the church plant,” explained Viloria. “We want to say thank you because they have been helping support this church plant.” The Los Banos English church is mission-minded, and they are now sponsoring a Pacific nation group, which is hoping to organize into a church in the near future.

Los Banos Adventist Christian School is located at Los Banos English church, and each new church plant is supporting this school. This support is given in three important ways: financial support, promoting the school and sending members’ children to the school, and being involved with the school. Being involved could mean attending school events or inviting the school to church activities.

The church planting mission does not end when a company becomes a church. The next church plant has already started. “They have begun meeting together at home, inviting people, and developing friendships,” said Viloria. “When they reach 12 members, they are organized as a mission group. Then they keep growing; when they reach 30, they receive company status. Then at 70, they are organized as a church and have another group ready to plant another church.”

One of the challenges given to a new church is that when they are organized, they need to be ready to send at least 10 percent of that church to start another church plant. The conference wants to make sure churches are multiplying themselves. If a church is not thinking about multiplying and planting, sometimes the church can stagnate and plateau. “We want to see healthy churches moving into the growth and multiplication process,” said Viloria.

The Los Banos Hispanic church was ready for this step. “I was surprised because they chose their head elder Juan Jimenez. He was the head elder for the newly organized church, and now he will be sent out to plant another church,” said Viloria.

Scan the QR code to explore the new Los Banos Hispanic church by watching our video. ____________________

By Brennan Hallock

Central California Conference

January 2024 33

A Spiritual Journey:

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Pastor Tim Nelson on Baptism, Understanding, and New Beginnings

ovember 11, 2023, was a day of spiritual transformation for the Kaneohe church. In the presence of over 200 family and friends, five individuals took the plunge in the church’s “Blue Papaya” baptistry. Pastor Tim Nelson, instrumental in guiding these souls, reflected on the significance of the event and the deeper aspects of baptism.

From evangelistic campaign to baptism Four of the five baptisms that took place were the direct result of an evangelistic campaign at Kaneohe. In order to give them time to work through any questions they may have had, Pastor Nelson studied with all five individuals and others in the weeks before the baptism.

Nelson later reflected on the importance of giving people this time between the event and the actual baptism.

“I’m not a huge proponent of rushing a baptism to happen right after a big event because that ends up just being ‘emotional baptism.’ We want people to be baptized because of their walk with Jesus and relationship with Him, not just because of emotions,” shared Nelson. “We never want to rush people to

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get into the water. Sometimes we are so eager to get baptisms that we end up just getting a bunch of wet people instead of people who are truly understanding.

Going through their experience and answering their questions is a very important step to take before we get them in the water.”

The perfect place to be baptized Nestled in the church's garden area, the Blue Papaya has been a place of spiritual rebirths for four decades. “Part of the experience of getting baptized at Kaneohe is getting into the water itself,” said Nelson, “One of the water sources for the Blue Papaya is water directly from the mountain, and it is freezing. Every time you step in the water you gasp from the cold, but you also feel refreshed and alive. I like to think of it as a reminder of the sudden change that happens when you give your life to Jesus Christ.

All of sudden, you feel so alive, and you almost can’t breathe because it feels so overwhelming. It adds a newness to your life. You’re still the same person, but there's this awakening that happens.”

“As long as you understand that Jesus Christ paid the price and you're willing to go where He leads and you accept the price He paid, that is all you need for baptism.”

Final thoughts Pastor Nelson's insights can give us all something to think about. Whether we have been baptized, are going to be baptized, or are going to baptize someone else, we should all take careful consideration of the meaning behind this action.

After all, it is only the first of many big steps we must take in our walk with Jesus. So, although having understanding is important, don’t wait to take that step. As Nelson says, “It is never too early or too late to accept Jesus Christ. You don’t need to have everything figured out before you get in the water. As long as you understand that Jesus Christ paid the price and you're willing to go where He leads and you accept the price He paid, that is all you need for baptism. If you have waited, don’t wait any more. You won’t know how good accepting Christ into your life is until you’ve actually done it.” ____________________

By Caleb Schaber

Hawaii Conference

January 2024 35

A Seventh-day Adventist Boarding Academy Serving Native American Youth Since 1946

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The End of an Era and the Dawn of New One

ontrary to popular belief, it was actually the wise king Solomon, not Pete Seeger or The Byrds, who penned the words, “To everything there is a season.” In Ecclesiastes 3:3, Solomon acknowledges that there is “a time to break down, and a time to build up.”

No truer words could be applied to the horse barn at Holbrook Indian School (HIS).

The school first came to acquire the old structure during the 17-year term of the second principal, Frank Doherty, who was HIS principal from 1949 to 1966. He picked up the building from a WWII military base. Initially, the building was used as a gymnasium, with a basketball hoop at each end. Later on it was utilized as a storage shed for various equipment.

Then, along came Mr. Bruce in 2009. He was hired primarily to teach industrial arts classes at the time.

However, his background and passion for horses quickly led him to envision a horse program that would benefit many of the students. It was through Mr. Bruce that the equine-assisted learning program came to exist.

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Holbrook Indian School

Pam and Fred Bruce, founder of the HIS horsemanship program, with Diana Fish, development director.

He made plans for the building to be moved and cleaned up. Shortly thereafter, a volunteer mission group from his church in Chatsworth, GA, came to help build stalls and transform the building into a barn for our herd of 10 horses.

The building served HIS well for a solid 10 years until the fire marshal came to campus in the fall of 2021 and performed an inspection. During the process, it was discovered that there was a significant support beam missing. The school was told by the fire marshal that the building had to be condemned and it needed to be torn down. It was a bittersweet moment as a lot of wonderful memories had been made within the walls of that old edifice.

However, we knew that the structure had met its end, so we took the news as an opportunity to consider building the barn of our dreams—one that would be a greater benefit to our horses and our students. The old

Holbrook Indian School (HIS) is a first- through twelfthgrade boarding academy operated by the Pacific Union Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. HIS also manages a first- through eighth-grade day school on the Navajo reservation in Chinle, Arizona. Eighty-seven percent of funding comes from individuals who have a desire to support Native American ministries and Christian education.

Your generosity makes a difference in the lives of our students, their families, and the communities they serve.

Thank you for your support.

Left to right: Randy Coffman of Coffman Barns; Allison Newhart, current horsemanship director; Fred and Pam Bruce.

barn was demolished in January of 2022, thanks to the help of another mission group of volunteers.

Plans were set in place to begin thinking about the design of the new barn. Business manager Allison Newhart, who is also the current horsemanship director, worked diligently to find the right contractor who could help bring the vision of the new barn to life.

After the necessary funds were raised through our development department, Coffman Barns was selected for the project.

Groundbreaking for the new barn began on September 22, 2023, and the concrete foundation was poured on September 29. Once the concrete dried, it was time for the barn kit to be delivered. The truck pulled onto campus the morning of October 5, and construction began on October 8. The crew from Coffman Barns worked diligently and had the barn completed within two weeks. Thanks to generous friends of HIS who gave toward this project, the school

DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

P.O. Box 910 • Holbrook, Arizona 86025-0910

(928) 524-6845 (Ext. 109) • Development@hissda.org HolbrookIndianSchool.org

was able to purchase a low-maintenance building with chew-proof and kick-proof material (to prevent hoof and leg injury to horses), panels that can easily be changed out, 30-year heavy wind/snow load safety roof panels, fireproof siding and structure, and easy sanitization.

On November 13, 2023, HIS held a grand opening ceremony for the new Fred L. Bruce Equine-Assisted Learning Center. Special guests included Mr. Bruce, for whom the barn is named; his wife, Pam, who was a great supporter of the equine program; Cindy Tafoya, director of the Chamber of Commerce for the town of Holbrook, AZ; several HIS alumni; and, of course, current HIS students.

We are grateful to God and to our many supporters for helping us bring this vision to life. Our students, and horses, send a hearty thank you! _____________

By Kimberly Cruz

Holbrook Indian School

January 2024 37

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New Year’s Resolutions Can Boost Mind, Body, and Spirit

new year means setting goals for the next 365 days. For many people, the problem with resolutions is that they’re not specific enough. Instead of setting a goal to simply “get healthier,” think about specific actions that will help you achieve your goals.

Give your brain a workout.

Exercising the mind regularly is linked to lowered risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Any activity that challenges your brain will help keep it in shape. Puzzles, crosswords, board games, and learning a new language or to play a new instrument will challenge your brain.

Engage in one of these activities 3 to 5 times per week.

Within a few weeks, brain games will become part of your everyday routine.

Care for your mental health.

Another way to treat your mind well is to care for your emotional well-being. Talking about your feelings with a loved one or therapist is an excellent strategy for improving mental health. A therapist can provide guidance for identifying negative thought patterns, as well as tips for how to change them.

Move your body.

Moving your body consistently is a crucial part of your physical and mental health. The American Heart Association recommends at least 2.5 hours of exercise per week. For many people this looks like five 30-minute exercise sessions each week. If you don’t have an exercise habit, set small, realistic goals such as taking three 20-minute walks each week. Over time, you will build stamina and can increase duration and add more types of activity.

Prioritize rest.

Getting quality sleep is one of the most often overlooked health habits, but sleep is crucial for your health. Chronic sleep deprivation is linked to higher risk of heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke. Your immune system also relies on sleep to keep you healthy. If you have trouble getting enough sleep, focus on incorporating one habit that can improve your sleep. For example, set screen time limits

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Adventist Health

on your phone or tablet to remind you to put down your devices at least an hour or two before bed.

Exercise gratitude.

Practicing gratitude can have a profound impact on your physical and mental well-being. Researchers have found that a spirit of gratitude is linked to better heart health, longer life, and lower rates of depression.

Make a gratitude list every day or express gratefulness by sending thank-you notes for specific kind deeds or simply to let someone know you appreciate them.

Start a prayer practice.

Many people turn to prayer in times of stress, worry, or discouragement. While scientists have found it hard to study the benefits of prayer specifically, research shows that people who pray regularly do not experience as many feelings of anxiety, fear, or isolation. Those who pray with others also have lower rates of depression and a stronger sense of connection to others. Prayer is personal, so look for ways to approach prayer that are meaningful for you. You might choose to pray before bed each night or seek out quiet moments in the mornings to pray. ____________________

By Kim Strobel

To read more, go to lasierra.edu/news

La Sierra Upgrades Athletics With New Fitness Center, Gym Flooring

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other sectors. In addition to its picture windows that ordered on one side with large windows provide peaceful views of towering palms, flowering overlooking its beautiful grounds, La Sierra shrubbery, and other flora and fauna, La Sierra’s fitness University’s new, 5,000-square-foot fitness center features a large screen television monitor where center offers campus and community exercisers can view sports broadcasts as well as a members a fresh, modern, dedicated space in which monitor displaying stock market activity. to exercise.

The center is open for use by community members The facility opened for use during the first week who may purchase passes to the facility. A local of school this fall quarter. On Nov. 30, university, Riverside fire station regularly uses the center as a athletics, and health and exercise science program training site for its firefighters. leaders celebrated the new facility with an official “At the core of our educational philosophy is the grand opening event. The festivities followed an earlier promotion of integral development for our students, ribbon-cutting ceremony for the athletics department’s encompassing physical, mental, social, and spiritual new gym floor in the Alumni Pavilion, a long-awaited facets of growth,” said Krumm. “La Sierra University upgrade that eliminates dead spots on the floor’s Athletics looks forward to the positive impact these surface due to compression of the underlying shockimprovements will have on our campus, contributing absorbing pad. The new floor, which took 11 weeks to to the overall flourishing of our students and the complete, is constructed of top-rated, three-quartersurrounding community." inch, first-grade hardwood maple. ____________________ “The construction of a new fitness center and the

By Darla Martin Tucker replacement of our gym floor are important steps in aligning our athletics department with the overarching goal of fostering student and community development,” said La Sierra University Athletics Director Javier Krumm. “The new facilities will not only help the physical well-being of our students but also provide a conducive environment for mental and social enrichment, reinforcing our dedication to a wellrounded educational experience.”

The fitness center was built by Swinerton and designed by NAC Architecture, a West Coastbased firm that specializes in designing environments for the education and La Sierra University Athletics Director Javier Krumm poses inside the new fitness healthcare industries and center during the Nov. 30 grand opening event.

La Sierra University

January 2024 39

San Bernardino Diaper Distribution Program Marks 1 Millionth Diaper Milestone

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n initiative that distributes diapers twice a month in San Bernardino recently celebrated a milestone of 1 million diapers distributed since the program launched 15 months ago.

Leaders estimate the program has saved local residents $250,000 during a time that for many people has been financially difficult due to surging inflation.

The initiative is coordinated by Loma Linda University Health in partnership with several community groups, including Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County, San Bernardino City Unified School District, and the El Sol Neighborhood Educational Center via the Community Health & Education Worker (CHEW) Program.

Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County identified a need for diapers, which can require up to 20 percent of income for local residents, many of whom work low-wage jobs. The county’s partnership group then approached Loma Linda University Health for assistance with distribution because of its experience coordinating food distribution during the covid pandemic.

The program operates out of an elementary school parking lot and distributes some 80,000 diapers a month, leaders say. The diapers are provided by the state through the county’s community partnership program. Loma Linda University Health warehouse employees work to store and deliver the diapers for each distribution event.

“We want to celebrate the families who are coming in, so we’re out there each time, rain or shine,” said Cristie Granillo, MEd, MS, of Loma Linda University Health’s Institute for Community Partnerships and manager of the CHEW program.

Strong community relationships have developed through this program, allowing the team to work toward closing health equity gaps by sharing essential resources, such as medical and school enrollment, potty training education, and awareness of other programs.

Drivers line up in their cars awaiting assistance and are often given additional items or referrals to other services, such as preschool for their children or family nutrition counseling. Volunteers also distribute 600 food boxes each month.

The event has helped people like Monique Walter, who has nine children and has recently seen her apartment monthly rent increase by approximately 30 percent. “It’s really good to receive these because diapers are so expensive now,” Walter said in line while being served by a volunteer.

Loma Linda University students also participate at the event, either as volunteers or as a practicum requirement for their program of study. Many come from the School of Medicine, School of Public Health, School of Dentistry, and the School of Behavioral Health. ____________________

By Ansel Oliver

See the latest news and Health & Wellness stories from Loma Linda University Health at news.llu.edu.

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Loma Linda University Health

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PUC’s Social Work Program Shines in Recent Accreditation Achievement

acific Union College’s social work program recently received approval from the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) Board of Accreditation, recognizing the program’s commitment to high standards and continuous improvement.

Every eight years, the social work program undergoes a thorough accreditation process involving a comprehensive self-study, strategic planning, and collaboration with various stakeholders.

“The accreditation decision underscores the program's commitment to excellence,” said Damaris Perez, psychology and social work department chair.

“It serves as a testament to the program's commitment to maintaining and enhancing quality standards in education, ensuring that it aligns with the best practices in the field of social work.”

The process to prepare for the assessment is a significant undertaking, Perez said. The rigorous self-study must be prepared two years in advance, forming the foundation for an onsite evaluation by an accreditation site visitor.

In response, CSWE’s Board of Accreditation formulates clarifying questions that guide the visitor during their evaluation. The preparatory work, including strategic planning and meetings with stakeholders, is a collaborative effort that highlights the dedication of the PUC administration, faculty, and involved consultants.

Perez said delivering a high-quality educational experience for students is a priority for the social work program. “Our dedication is evident in the relationships we have cultivated with the community through impactful internship programs,” she said. “These

connections not only underscore our commitment to our students but also highlight our unwavering dedication to the standards of our profession.”

PUC’s social work majors engage in year-long internships, a distinctive program feature. Perez said this year is particularly notable as all the students actively participate in paid internships, demonstrating the college’s commitment to offering valuable experiential learning opportunities.

Lindsay Hayasaka, vice president for academic administration and academic dean, said that the social work department stands out among all the departments at PUC, actively contributing to the community.

“Our students serve our community through their volunteer and internship work in contexts as diverse as rehabilitation for unhoused people, local schools, foster care, child protective services, mobile showers, Adventist health, and more,” she said.

One significant way the social work team serves the local community is through the Angwin Food Pantry, directed by Perez along with Professor of Social Work Tuwan Ussery and two social work interns. Hayasaka, who has helped several times, admires the care, professionalism, and connections made with community members through students and faculty.

“When our social work majors graduate and receive their commissioning at the end of each year, it's a deeply moving experience because we know their commitment is real and their hearts are for the communities they serve,” Hayasaka said. ____________________

By Laura Gang

Pacific Union College

January 2024 41

Rudy Avir gives instructions to those going to Sunset Park to offer to pray with anyone they encounter.

Peter Neri invites young people to join him in front and pray with him.

Adventist Youth Association Las Vegas Prayer Conference

Family and friends pray for each other during the ACTS prayer session led by Peter Neri.

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“

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hat would you do if you were offered $10,000 to dance on live TV for 10 minutes on Sabbath?”

Keynote speaker Sandra Seifert posed an interesting question to the audience of the Prayer Conference that was led by the Adventist Youth Association of Las Vegas from October 27 to 28, 2023. She shared her own experience of turning down lucrative business offers that conflicted with her personal beliefs, highlighting the importance of unwavering adherence to one's convictions. Her testimony resonated with the attendees and imparted valuable lessons on the importance of “knowing whose you are” (identity) and “knowing who you are representing” (purpose).

Sandra, who gained fame as Miss Earth Air 2009, now owns a company called Suravilla, which uses modest fashion as a means to share the gospel. She also tries to use her influence through her personal ministry called “Modesty in Dress.”

During this Prayer Conference, participants also had the opportunity to delve into the practice of intercession and how to offer prayers for one another, making it a truly enriching experience for all in attendance.

Peter Neri, pastor of the Paradise church, led each session with practical prayer segments. It was truly amazing to witness those present engaging in prayer while kneeling, sitting, and even standing. The event culminated with attendees putting their newfound skills into practice by heading to Sunset Park Las Vegas on Sabbath afternoon, where they offered to pray with the people they encountered.

Pastor Rudy Alvir, the NUC Youth and Young Adult director, reassured everyone that similar events would be organized in other areas of the conference in the near future. ____________________

By Neat Randriamialison

TOP LEFT: Sandra Seifert shares her conversion testimony on Sabbath morning at the Adventist Youth Association Prayer Conference.

BELOW: The Mountain View church praise team provides great music at the Prayer Conference.

Some choose to sit and pray, while others choose to stand—but everyone is praying.

LEFT: Isaiah and Dray, two college students, pray for one another.

BELOW: Another young college student during a silent prayer session.

Nevada-Utah Conference

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100 and 150 Years of Impactful Service

he Northern California Conference recently rejoiced in commemorating two significant church anniversaries. The Oakland Market Street church joyfully marked a century of existence, celebrating its 100-year anniversary. Concurrently, the Napa Community church observed its sesquicentennial milestone, proudly reaching 150 years of impactful service. These remarkable milestones collectively embody well over a century of steadfast commitment to faith, service, and the enrichment of the communities they have faithfully served. ____________________

By Communication Staff Oakland Market Street Church On November 4, 2023, the Oakland Market Street church marked a significant milestone—its centennial celebration of spreading the gospel. Jose Marin, NCC Executive Secretary, was honored to be part of this momentous occasion. He acknowledged the church's profound impact on the African American community in Northern California and its broader influence across the Pacific Union throughout the past century.

Since its establishment in November 1923, the church has stood as a pillar of faith in its current location.

Members, guests, and church leaders celebrated under the three-fold theme: Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present, and Preparing for the Kingdom.

Rudy Peters, NCC African American Ministries coordinator, highlighted the enduring legacy of Market Street, stating, "The Market Street church has been

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connecting people to an abundant life in Jesus Christ for generations, with several families now serving in this same community."

The festivities commenced on November 1 with a Wednesday night celebration featuring the Precious Memory Choir performing a specially crafted 100thanniversary theme song by Derrick Hall, Joyce Johnson, and Sanara Fulmore.

G. Alexander Bryant, president of the North American Division, delivered the keynote address, making the occasion even more memorable. Senior pastor Edwin Frederick Brown described the celebration as a glorious day filled with gratitude and praise to God. Kai Simone Hodges, church youth pastor, said the event felt like a grand family reunion, brimming with memories and love.

NCC President Marc Woodson said, "It was a joy and an honor to celebrate 100 years of ministry with the

Market Street church. Market Street is a historic church and the oldest African American congregation in our conference. It was an inspirational weekend and a great time of reunion! I was so glad I could participate in the festivities."

Napa Community Church On November 4, the Napa Community church celebrated its 150th anniversary. Members and guests of the church crowded in for a celebration marked with jubilant singing and speakers. Diane Bennett, church secretary, exclaimed, "It was a great Sabbath! We had over 230 congregation members, and 180 watched online. We have a great heritage here."

Marc Woodson, NCC President, stated, "I want to congratulate the Napa Community church for its ministry to the greater Napa community for an amazing 150 years! It was a blessing to participate in the worship service and bring greetings on behalf of the Northern California Conference. I enjoyed the slide presentation from Ted Calkins that showed the church's history in pictures."

At the celebration, Mayor Scott Sedgley of Napa expressed his appreciation toward the church, praising the age diversity of the congregation. He acknowledged the importance of having more kids in the community and commended the church for providing a nurturing environment for children. Sedgley thanked the church members for their

positive impact on the community.

Jose Marin, NCC executive secretary, said, "What a blessing it was to be a part of the 150th Napa Community church celebration, where the church commemorated its origins and its profound impact through pastoral ministry and Adventist education. This impact continues to shape past and future generations, preparing them for a life of service here on earth and for the eternal ages to come."

Northern California Conference

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You Just Never Know How God Will Answer Your Prayers

uring the pandemic, attendance at West Sacramento church significantly dropped.

Around the same time, many of our youth graduated from high school and went to college. The church looked desolate. Only about 25 people were attending on Sabbath, one-third of normal.

The congregation began earnestly praying that God would fill their church, especially with young people.

From these prayers, extraordinary things started to happen! Immediately, a student from UC Davis and her boyfriend joined us. She had learned about the Sabbath over the internet. Then two more young adults arrived at our church, having seen our web page.

The new guests started attending Bible studies, eager to know more about Jesus. Church members worked diligently to include these new friends in activities, drawing them into the church family. We were happy to see things happening and the Spirit moving, but that was just the beginning!

In time, the church had its first baptism—a rebaptism. This man’s decision seemed to encourage others. As a district pastor, I come to this church every two weeks. When I officiate at a baptism, I always appeal to the congregation, asking if others

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wish to make that commitment. After this rebaptism, I found that a new hand would go up in the church every week I was there!

After one of the baptismal Sabbaths, I half-jokingly told the congregation that we needed to continue the tradition, asking, “Who will be baptized next?” I couldn't have dreamed what happened next.

The entire back row of people stood up, joyfully waving their hands. I was stunned! It was a group of people I hadn't even met yet! While searching the seven new faces in the back row, all eagerly raising their hands for baptism, a multitude of questions stirred in my mind: Did God guide them to us? Is this genuinely happening?

After the service, I approached them and discovered that they had recently relocated from Nepal and had been raised in Hinduism. Their journey to Christianity began in 2010 when the compassionate acts of local Nepalese Christians moved them. Engaging in community service and medical missionary projects, they gradually embraced the message of salvation in Jesus.

Despite their limited understanding of Biblical theology, they remained faithful, praying daily for

guidance. Baptized in Nepal under the belief of purification, they continued reading the Bible, seeking the truth. As they studied and prayed, they felt that God was warning them that the end is near and they must be ready for it. Not fully grasping the Biblical meaning of “the end,” it became a real threat in their lives. They started experiencing persecution from gangs in their local community.

They were bullied constantly and even beaten with sticks. One of them was stabbed. Another was pushed to the ground and run over by a motorcycle.

Astonishingly, the faithful band was still willing to risk their lives for Christ, somebody they admittedly did not wholly comprehend yet. What they did come to understand was that God is real and loving and that He was collecting them to Himself.

As time passed, they were able to flee to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where a hired “travel consultant” took their passports and consigned them to a debtor sweatshop. They had to work for a year, “earning” their documents back. But their faith didn't waver. Eventually, with the help of some missionaries, they traveled to Guatemala and then to Mexico. From

there, they could enter the United States with refugee status, later settling in Sacramento.

So how did they end up standing in our church, all at once, in joyful hand-waving after my baptism call? They met Linda Quillen, a Granite Bay Hilltop church member. She encouraged them to attend one of our churches, and through that introduction, they eventually stumbled upon one of my sermons online.

The precious people in this faithful group are like the wise men and heroes of the Bible. They lived their lives knowing that there was much they did not know, but they followed God the best they knew, and God brought them to this destination. God can use whatever little faith we have if we are willing to follow Him. A mustard seed of faith is enough if we act on it!

You just never know how God will answer your prayers! We often ask for blessings and then try to predict how He will work. But I must tell you, this experience left me in awe of how His way does not always go the way we expect, but the experience is always wonderful! ____________________

By Sasa Andelkovic

Northern California Conference

January 2024 47

Eppie Manalo leads the LLFC String Ensemble.

“Fortified@45”: Loma Linda Filipino Church Celebrates 45 Years

O

n September 16, 1978, Loma Linda Filipino Church (LLFC) became an organized church with 151 members. Forty-five years later, on September 16, 2023, LLFC celebrated having over 1,000 members and welcomed back the founding pastor and his wife, Claudio and Flor La Vila. The church also celebrated three new leaders from the past year: Mark Sigue, youth pastor, Sandra Fermin, young adult and community pastor, and Gisella Montana, children’s ministries pastor. As the church moves forward, it is excited to see how God will work through them.

LLFC was blessed to have the Asidor family sing praises Friday evening with their harmonious voices.

Sabbath morning echoed that opening with the LLFC String Ensemble continuing the musical praise. Robert Quintana, a pastor from Oklahoma, was the speaker for the weekend, touching on the church’s theme “Fortified@45.” He spoke on “The Great Adventure” that God has led this church through. While LLFC has seen many changes over the years, its commitment to serving God and its community has remained constant.

On Sunday, the church gathered once more to celebrate its history and heritage with “Pista sa Nayon.”

The celebration was packed full of games, folk dances and songs, and laughter for all. There were booths set up for delicious Filipino food, massages, and even Mario Kart. Member Michelle Santos said she loves “embracing Filipino culture and celebrating how far our church has come. It feels great to call it home.”

Finally, we praise God for the faithful members who ministered over the years and helped build the

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The LLFC pastoral team gathers for a photo with Robert Quintana (seated second from right).

foundation of this church— from the Pathfinder and Adventurer leaders and Sabbath School teachers who patiently hold the hands of our youngest members as they learn to walk with Christ to our wise elders who show the love of God through their kind words and gentle hugs. Lastly, the church is forever indebted to the late Dr. Lloyd A. Dayes, whose generosity allowed the church to be on the campus where it is now.

Truly, Loma Linda Filipino has been fortified over the last 45 years. And it will continue to grow stronger as it remains faithful to its mission to “Love God, Love Others, and Make Disciples.” ____________________

By Brian Lee

LLA and SECC leaders gather for the ribbon cutting.

Loma Linda Academy Junior High Unveils Renovated STEM and Humanities Wings

L

ast October, Loma Linda Academy Junior High (LLAJH) unveiled its newly renovated STEM and humanities wings, marking a momentous step forward in the school's commitment to providing a cutting-edge learning environment for its students.

The renovations, completed in the summer of 2023, transformed the second floor of the junior high gymnasium into the new STEM wing, while the humanities wing received its facelift the previous summer. The new spaces incorporated modern design elements, including carefully selected colors, furniture, and classroom layouts. These upgrades were a longawaited necessity, as the old classrooms, dating back to the 1950s, were no longer equipped to support the evolving curriculum and the needs of modern-day learners.

The renovations also catered to the needs of the school's staff, providing a dedicated lounge for teachers, as well as an improved office space.

"This is the culmination of countless prayers, planning, and generous support from donors for this project," said Amy Sovory, LLAJH principal. "We wanted to celebrate and reflect on the blessing of both of these new spaces for our junior high campus."

The program commenced with a warm welcome from Paul Herrmann, Loma Linda Academy (LLA) board chair,

followed by an opening prayer from Angela Lalas, vice board chair. Datha Tickner, superintendent of schools of Southeastern California Conference (SECC), provided a brief history of the project, while Iveth Valenzuela, LLA head of schools, elaborated on how these renovations align with the school's TK-12 vision.

Sovory delved into the intricacies of the renovation process, highlighting the challenges and triumphs along the way. The program concluded with acknowledgments from Valenzuela and a prayer of dedication by Verlon Strauss, SECC treasurer. After a ceremonious countdown, the ribbon was cut, marking the official opening of the new wings.

Guests were then invited to embark on group tours of the updated facilities. Leading these tours were junior high students handpicked for their leadership and character, part of the school's Student Ambassador program.

The projects were funded through a loan from the Pacific Union Conference, contributions from SECC, and other donations. Naming opportunities are being offered for the new wings and classrooms to help raise additional funding to reduce the loan. For more information, visit www.lla.org/jh-stem. ____________________

By Scott Guptill

LLAJH student ambassadors prepare to give tours of the new classrooms.

Guests are given the grand tour of the new classrooms.

Southeastern California Conference

January 2024 49

LEFT: The winners proudly hold their trophies together. RIGHT: Andrea King congratulates Ben Amoah as an honorable mention.

Celebrating Creativity: Thousands of Dollars Awarded to Conference Creatives

O

n November 12, 2023, the Southeastern California Conference (SECC) Communications and Media Department celebrated and honored the winners of the Media Mob Awards at an awards ceremony at La Sierra Alumni Center. It was a momentous occasion, praising God for the creativity that courses through our conference.

The Media Mob Awards contest was an opportunity to recognize the creative work that our pastors and media teams have accomplished this year. Participants submitted their art within six categories: social media, website design, graphic design, photography, videography for individuals, and videography for churches. Separate panels of at least three judges— consisting of various communication leaders and specialists across the North American Division— determined the winners of each category. At the awards ceremony, the audience voted for Audience Choice favorites in the graphic design and photography categories.

The awards ceremony pulled out all the stops for a night to remember. The alumni center was dressed to the nines (just like the attendees!) with a red carpet, balloons, and sparkle. “It was a gala that I continue to liken to the Grammys on an Adventist scale,” reflected Althea Jasper from 31st Street church. Creatives, pastors, and friends came together to eat, connect, and even play games!

“What I enjoyed most about the event was

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Social Media: Crosswalk Church Website Design: Crosswalk Church Graphic Design: Cindy Rivas Photography: Lisa Santos Videography (Individual): Will James Videography (Church): Azure Hills Church Audience Choice (Graphic Design): Benjamin Opoku Audience Choice (Photography): James Marin Honorable Mentions: Althea Jasper, Ben Amoah the opportunity to connect and learn from other communicators within our conference,” said Keturah Reed from Azure Hills church. “I was also inspired as I saw the content produced by others.”

The anticipation was tangible as Andrea King, director of SECC Communications and Media, announced the winners. Over $3,000 in prize money was awarded to our category winners, audience choice winners, and honorable mentions.

SECC is profoundly grateful for the participants of the Media Mob Awards, and we wish them all heartfelt congratulations! It is inspiring to see God continue to work through our churches through their media ministries. To view the winning submissions, please visit www.seccadventist.org/mediamobawards. ____________________

By Megan Jacobs

I

Crosswalk Church Celebrates 20 Years and Over 1600% Growth Since 2014

n October, thousands celebrated the 20th anniversary of Crosswalk church in Redlands, CA. The weekend-long festivities included Friday worship, Saturday services, and a block party. Since 2014, Tim Gillespie, lead teaching pastor, and the team have hosted anniversary celebrations.

The weekend began with 600 worshippers at the Friday night service. Gillespie led a conversation with church founder Michael Knecht. The two spoke about the church's three core values: belonging, momentum, and experience.

On Saturday, almost 2,000 people attended the three daytime church services. Thousands more joined online.

And that evening, Crosswalk shut down the parking lot for the annual block party. The block party boasted dozens of food truck options and music from a live DJ. Over 2,300 community and church members attended.

“God has blessed us beyond measure since I joined in October 2014," said Gillespie. “We’ve grown the church ministry from 85 to over 1,500 in-person attendees. We now have thousands more online worshippers and seven campuses worldwide."

Gillespie credits the church's growth to the grace of Jesus and the church's three core values.

“Our ministry transformed over the last decade,” said Gillespie. “The Holy Spirit and our values guide us. We foster belonging by loving and welcoming people without exception. We generate momentum by expressing love

Church members worship together.

Michael Knecht (right) and Tim Gillespie discuss Crosswalk's three core values.

through actions. And we also create a full-body sensory experience at church.”

Crosswalk aims to center Jesus while learning to love well together.

“It’s been a privilege and an honor to serve the Redlands community,” said Gillespie. “We will continue to seek ways to lift people toward equity and show them what belonging is.”

For Gillespie, the 20th anniversary is significant.

“We had the chance to either do bigger buildings or a bigger mission,” said Gillespie. “God called us to a bigger mission. For the next 20 years, we'll keep sharing God's love and Jesus Christ's grace. We can serve people in any union, conference, or division.” ____________________

By Danni Thaw

A block party attendee enjoys some food truck goodies.

Southeastern California Conference

January 2024 51

PHOTOS: JOHN CRESS

Salazar, Diaz, Hoenes, Cress, Stoltz, and Froemming (left to right) pose in front of the mobile shower, which has seven shower stalls.

When guests check in, they are given a towel, washcloth, and shampoo.

Love in Action: Hollywood Church’s Compassion Connection Celebrates a Decade of Service

C

ompassion Connection, a ministry from Hollywood church that provides shower and personal care services to unhoused individuals in Los Angeles, started in 2013 in response to a simple question: “What resource do you need the most?” Today, Compassion Connection provides mobile shower services, hygiene products, and clothing—all at no cost.

Last fall, Compassion Connection celebrated a decade of service and the milestone of having provided more than 50,000 showers.

Southern California Conference executive officers Velino A. Salazar, president; John H. Cress, executive secretary; and Kathleen Diaz, treasurer/CFO, and West Region Director Greg Hoenes shared messages of encouragement and gratitude and gave financial support for the ministry with an evangelism gift of $2,500.

“This ministry is deeply rooted in the values of compassion, dignity, and service,” said Cress.

“Compassion has legs. It’s not just an idea; it takes action, and you’ve taken that action in your commitment to this shower ministry.”

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During the service, two former guests impacted by Compassion Connection shared their testimonies.

Princess, who started coming to Hollywood church and became a guest of the Compassion Connection program in 2019, noted how the program has grown since then. “If it weren’t for Compassion Connection, I probably wouldn’t have come here and would have missed out on so much,” Princess shared. “Now it’s my turn to give back.” Princess donated six boxes and two bags full of shoes and clothes for the boutique, with plans to also donate hygiene products in the future.

“Compassion Connection was a great part of my life because it gave me a purpose,” said Eric, who first learned about Compassion Connection when unexpected circumstances forced him to live on the street. “One of the biggest things is I now attend the church as a member. I’ve been able to move forward in my life from being on the streets, going to a shelter, and now being in my housing. God has been working and dealing very well with The Compassion Connection resource board provides guests with additional services in Hollywood.

me.” Eric now volunteers at the boutique or checks guests in for showers when he’s available.

“Serving the less fortunate is a fundamental aspect of the gospel that embodies the teachings of compassion, selflessness, and love for one’s neighbor,” Andrew Froemming, Compassion Connection director, said. “Throughout the Scriptures, we find numerous instances where Jesus encouraged His disciples to reach out to the marginalized, the poor, and the oppressed, showing that those who humbly serve others are fulfilling God’s will.”

Reflecting on Compassion Connection’s history, Froemming shared how he initially didn’t intend to start a full-fledged shower program; he just wanted to help with the resources he had available.

“Our purpose is to love on individuals,” Froemming said in his message, “to tell people they have value, they’re seen, and there’s a safe space for them.”

Toward the end of the service, Froemming and Branden Stoltz, Hollywood church pastor, thanked all the volunteers—church members, Cal State LA social work students, and other partner organizations—for their contributions to Compassion Connection over the past decade.

“The past 10 years of serving our unsheltered neighbors through the shower ministry has had its own chapters with various modes of operating and a constantly developing understanding of how to meet the needs of the people in front of us,” Stoltz later shared. “The significance of our ministry, however, comes from our presence and participation in our wider community, no matter the complication or cost we’ve come up against. I’m looking forward to the next 10 years of seeing where God will lead!” ____________________

By Araya Moss

PHOTO: BARBARA HART

PHOTO: HOMER HART

LEFT: Four young people are baptized in November. RIGHT: Jana and Steve are baptized in September 2023.

Bethel Church Celebrates Six Baptisms

I

n 2023, Bethel church celebrated six baptisms. In the fall, Jana Steele and Stephen Stapleton—after studying with Homer Hart, Bethel church pastor, as well as Marsha Browne, Bethel church member— celebrated their baptisms.

Jana and Steve are involved in the church in a variety of ways already, from Steve joining the deacon board and helping with men’s ministries to Jana helping with the food distribution ministry.

In November, Trinity Ridgeway and siblings Jordan, Jayda, and Jayden Kyte were baptized. These precious young people had grown up in the church and, after studying with the church’s youth leaders, made a

commitment to give their lives to Christ.

Hart has now shared Bible study lesson packets with each church member, encouraging them often to study the lessons with friends and family members. “Periodically I remind them,” Hart said, “‘How are you doing with your Bible studies? Any names you want to give me?’”

“It’s only by the power of the Holy Spirit—human effort and divine power working together, being about our mission, knowing what our mission is as a church family and as individuals—that’s the motivation power behind what’s going on,” Hart said. ____________________

By Lauren Lacson

Southern California Conference

January 2024 53

PHOTOS: KENDRA WARNER

RIGHT: Vanessa Quintana, DMFT, presented on emotional neglect in the morning and emotional language that heals in the afternoon.

FAR RIGHT: Johanna Dominguez, assistant in pastoral care at Kalēo, presents the mental health honor for Pathfinders.

Kalēo’s HeartDeep Summit Centers on Mental and Relational Health

T

he second annual HeartDeep Summit at Kalēo church last fall was the culmination of a four-week sermon series centering on mental and relational health. During the sermon series, four mental health experts presented on the ways topics such as intergenerational cyclebreaking, resilience, well-being for the youth, and understanding emotional neglect intersect with faith.

The summit consisted of afternoon workshops available for all ages. While events surrounding mental health are typically reserved for adults, Kalēo felt the need to include even the littlest in the congregation, knowing that they are also impacted by mental health challenges. Teens and children from as young as two years attended four workshops specially designed for them. Simultaneously, adults were offered five breakout sessions with the choice of topics such as lifestyle that promotes mental health, parenting, marriage, anxiety and depression, and learning the language of emotions.

According to Manny Arteaga, Kalēo senior pastor, the goals for this event were twofold. “First, to keep the mental/relational health conversation front and center in our community, viewing it as a crucial piece in our spirituality,” he said. “Second, to destigmatize these topics within our community—a community of color—while collectively moving toward a place of wholeness. We see this as one of our most important

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and efficient evangelistic tools.”

This is the second HeartDeep Summit Kalēo has held; the first time was summer 2022. “This event emerged in the hearts of a number of our leaders,” Arteaga shared. “They have the passion, they saw the need, they saw the opportunity. It was an easy choice.

We needed to do HeartDeep.” The summit was also personally meaningful for Arteaga, who has been open about his own mental health journey and the work he’s accomplished through therapy.

HeartDeep was much more than a day of presentations. When asked about the highlight of the event, Arteaga said, “Numerous people having breakthroughs, taking steps to go into therapy, and a collective sense of gratitude that these topics were being talked about in church. Church feels like even more of a safe space, suddenly.”

This won’t be the last summit. “We’re just getting started with this,” Arteaga shared. “The dream is for this to go beyond just a sermon series a year that ends with a summit. Our idea is to turn this into a fulltime ministry and hopefully a resource that can serve other churches around our conference and our local community.”

Learn more online at kaleosda.church or on social @kaleosda. ____________________

By Araya Moss

One House Plants Seeds of Something New PHOTOS: ERIC OH

A

s the sun dipped below the horizon on a cold November evening, a steady stream of people flowed in and out of With Love and Market Café in downtown Los Angeles. Newcomers were greeted by a vibrant atmosphere filled with welcoming smiles and the sound of lively conversations.

One House, the Senior Youth and Young Adult Ministries Department of the Southern California Conference (SCC), had set up shop for the evening to cultivate a space for young adults to convene, worship, socialize, and enjoy good food in each other’s company.

“The primary premise of the event was to have a space where you can just feel safe to hang out,” said Geoff Sewell, SCC senior youth and young adult ministries director.

The event began just before sunset with a worship time. Praise and music were brought by the Crosswalk L.A. team. The energetic “One House bingo” icebreaker brought people together as they mingled to find people who matched the descriptions on their bingo card. An inspiring message was given by Justino Jorge, associate/ youth pastor at Tamarind Avenue church, taken from the book of Jonah with a focus on the importance of mental health.

Tirza’s taco truck showed up shortly after sunset, and once everyone had a chance to get some tacos, the games began. From trivia to board games and video games, attendees were sure to find something they could enjoy. Trivia games focused on the theme of the early 2000s (2000-2010)—from famous people and movies to a “name that thing” game with pictures of notorious early 2000s things like Tamagotchis and a Razor scooter.

“Through this endeavor, we sought to cultivate connections among young adults across the Southern

The praise team led a meaningful worship time.

California Conference,” Sewell shared, “particularly those not typically present in our churches, serving as a reminder that they have a welcoming space within our conference.”

In December, One House hosted a Christmas gala, and a day of service was planned for January. As the 2024 calendar comes together, One House continues creating events with a purpose. Sewell said, “Our upcoming young adult events are inspired by stories like this one shared at our recent hangout: A college student expressed the loneliness experienced on a secular campus with few Christians and the joy of connecting with other Christian young adults at the One House hangout.”

The downtown L.A. hangout kicked off future events created just for young adults in SCC. “If we were successful for any reason,” Sewell said, “it was that no matter who you were and what your interests were, you could find a place where you could feel comfortable there.”

Learn more at onehousesocal.com or on social @onehousesocal. ____________________

By Lauren Lacson

LEFT: Sarah Grover (left), associate pastor at Camarillo church, and Isaac Nevarez (right), pastor at Canoga Park Community church, hosted the trivia games. RIGHT: Eden Seo, ministry director from Upper Room Fellowship church, facilitated the icebreaker: One House bingo. Participants mingled to meet people corresponding to each box on the bingo card.

Southern California Conference

January 2024 55

Calendar La Sierra University

The La Sierra University Orchestra will perform on Thursday, Feb. 1, and Thursday, March 14. Concerts

Advertising Advertising is accepted as a service to Seventh-day Adventist church members in the Pacific Union. The Recorder management reserves the right to refuse any advertisement, especially ads not related to the needs and practices of the church membership. Acceptance of any advertising shall be considered a matter of accommodation and not a matter of right, nor shall it be construed to constitute approval of the product or service advertised.

Payment in advance must accompany all classified advertisements or they will not be published. Display ads for known advertisers will be billed. To pay by credit card, please go to recorder@adventistfaith.com.

How to Submit Advertising Classified ads must be sent with payment to the Recorder office. Display ads should be arranged with the editor (recorder@adventistfaith.com).

Classified Rates $70 for 50 words; 75 cents each additional word. Display rates (full color only): back cover, $4,200; full page, $3,800; 1/2-pg., $2,200; 1/4-pg., $1,200; 1/8-pg., $700; $160 per column inch.

Information The Pacific Union Recorder is published 12 times per year with a circulation of approximately 75,000. For more information about advertising, please email to recorder@ adventistfaith.com.

Upcoming Deadlines These are the advertising deadlines for the Recorder. Your local conference news deadlines will be earlier.

February: January 4 • March: February 6 Contributions The Recorder pages are assigned to the local conferences, colleges, and healthcare institutions, and all content comes through the communication departments in those organizations. If you have a news story/idea, calendar announcement, etc., please contact your local communication department. See the masthead for contact information. Want tips for writing for us? See www.dailywritingtips.com/the-art-of-writing-news.

Recorder Membership The Pacific Union Recorder is provided as a free service to members of the conferences that are part of the Pacific Union Conference (Arizona, Hawaii, Northern California, Central California, Southern California, Southeastern California, and Nevada-Utah). Each conference maintains the list of members, based on the reports from their churches. If you would like to make a change to your subscription (name, address, cancellation), please contact your local conference. The staff of the Recorder does not have access to the circulation lists, other than the paid subscriptions.

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begin at 7:30 p.m. and are held at Hole Memorial Auditorium. Admission is free. For further information, call 951-785-2036 or email music@lasierra.edu.

The La Sierra University Wind Ensemble will perform Saturday, March 9, at 7 p.m. at Hole Memorial Auditorium. For further information, call 951-785-2036 or email music@lasierra.edu.

Pacific Union College

PUC College Days (Feb. 23-26). PUC’s winter College Days primarily hosts out-of-state academies and promotes a smaller, more intimate setting. Students will experience the social, spiritual, and academic side of PUC during an entire weekend, which helps them narrow down which college they would like to attend in the future.

Paulin Center for the Arts “Think Spring” Recital (Feb. 25). Students of all ages and levels present pieces they’ve been working on in private lessons. Instruments include piano, guitar, voice, violin, cello, drums, trumpet, and horn. Admission is free and all are welcome to attend and cheer on the developing musicians.

PacificQuest (June 23-28). PUC will host a weeklong summer early college program held on the campus for students who are interested in STEM, aviation, film, and music. These four camps give students the opportunity to explore college and careers early. Students who complete the program earn one unit of college credit.

PQ Rise (June 30-July 5). A weeklong summer early college program held on the PUC campus for students who want to explore marine science and art while experiencing college and exploring careers early. Students will participate in daily academic programming, recreational opportunities, and evening activities. Students who complete the program earn one unit of college credit.

Subscribe to PUC Now Newsletter. Stay up to date with Pacific Union College by subscribing to their monthly newsletter at puc.edu/subscribe. From campus stories and alumni features to student interviews, you’ll be in the know with PUC Now.

Southeastern California Conference

Choral Festival. SECC Office of Education is proud to sponsor the Junior High Choral Festival, hosted by Murrietta Springs church. William Chunestudy is the clinician. The festival will be held on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, at 7:00 pm, 32477 Starbuck Circle, Murrieta, CA 92562.

Handbells Festival. SECC Office of Education is proud to sponsor the Intermediate Handbell Festival, hosted

by Redlands Adventist Academy. Michèle Sharik is the clinician. The festival will be held on Thursday, Feb. 29,

2024, at 7:00 pm, 130 Tennessee Street, Redlands, CA 92373.

American children, please see or share our jobs page at HolbrookIndianSchool.org/jobs.

100th Anniversary. El Cajon SDA Christian School will be celebrating their 100th anniversary on Sabbath, April 6, 2024. All alumni, staff, and students are invited to attend this special event. There will be a very special church service starting at 11 a.m., with a catered lunch following the church service. The church address is 1640 E. Madison Ave., El Cajon, CA 92019. Then the school will be open for alumni to look at old annuals and visit with old friends and make new ones. For more information, please call Wilma Standley at the school at 619-4426544 or email Carol Benton, school board chair, at Carol.Benton42@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you there!

Pacific Union College is seeking faculty positions for the 2023-2024 academic year in the area of History.

Major duties include the responsibilities of assessment, planning, development, and implementation of classroom experiences and course objectives. We desire those who will be committed to a collaborative working environment, as well as those who possess dedication in furthering the goals of excellence in student success and critical thinking skills. Most importantly, we desire those interested in bringing students closer to Christ by nurturing the whole person and embracing concepts for lifelong learning. If you are interested, please contact Human Resources at HR@puc.edu or call 707-965-6231.

Located in the Napa Valley, Pacific Union College is one of the most beautiful campuses in the United States, with views of mountains, vast forests, sunshine, and temperate summers and winters. The college's mission is to learn with purpose, rise in faith, and serve with love. Employees work in a tight-knit and faithcentered community that supports and encourages one another. If you enjoy working in a collaborative and caring atmosphere, you belong at PUC. We offer generous employee benefits, including tuition subsidies, housing assistance, medical, dental, vision, moving expenses, and retirement contributions.

Classified Employment

Holbrook Indian School is currently in need of a Maintenance Associate and a Horsemanship/Farm Assistant. These are paid positions. In addition, there is an opening for a volunteer married couple to fill the role of House Deans in an off-campus housing capacity at the Eagle's Nest. If you or someone you know are mission-minded and would like to serve Native

Community & Marketplace

I January 2024 57

Room/Work Exchange offer in SoCal for female.

Busy professional needs your help with 15 hours of housekeeping/week in exchange for rent. Located 2 hrs drive from LLU. Must be able-bodied, English speaking, SDA, and not allergic to my cat. Background check and interview. More info: www.room. theexceptionalprofessionalyou.com Evangelism Projects Coordinator needed at Quiet Hour Ministries to assist in developing and implementing and reporting for various mission projects. This is a full-time (32 hours per week) in-office position located in Redlands, CA, with potential for international travel. For more info or to apply, visit: qhministries.org/jobs Marketing Director needed at Quiet Hour Ministries to plan and direct successful fundraising and marketing through a variety of methods. This is a full-time (38 hours per week) in-office position located in Redlands, CA., and includes some national and international travel. For more info or to apply, visit: qhministries.org/jobs Andrews University seeks candidates for a full-time, tenure-track Ph.D. biochemistry faculty position for our ACS-approved program, starting July 2024. Duties: mentor undergraduate students to excellence in faithreflective professionalism; teach biochemistry and chemistry courses and labs; champion undergraduate research; promote an all-inclusive, equitable learning environment. For more information, email: chemistry@ andrews.edu

Real Estate

PUC Commercial Space for Rent. Pacific Union College has commercial real estate space available for lease.

The spaces are in various sizes and functionality and are available for inquiries. For additional information, please email Sam Heier at sheier@puc.edu.

For Sale

Retiring SDA optometrist in NW CA selling a very profitable practice. There are no other optometry, ophthalmology, or optician practices in this city or county. Local Adventist church and K-8 school. The office is 5 blocks from an amazing coastline with surrounding beautiful forests, beaches, and rivers. 1250 sq. ft. office with a wonderful staff. If interested, please contact sinouye7@gmail.com.

Outpatient Physical Therapy and Aquatic Therapy in the foothills above Sacramento, CA. Turn-key practice, in business for over 30 years. Great referral base and solid practice. Lots of potential for growth.

Great opportunity for someone wanting to establish a medical mission outpost or wellness center as well.

5400-sq-ft facility. $450,000. Flexible options to the right party. Contact levi2000@sbcglobal.net or leave message at 209-304-7455.

Dental practice for sale in Siskiyou County, CA. Profitable practice, 4 ops, practice refers out ortho, endo, and some oral surgery. Great study club and specialists to refer to. Get out of the city and come to God's country, a 4-season area filled with hiking, mt. biking, skiing, and water sports. If interested, please contact blaster42@hotmail.com.

Vacation Opportunities

Travel on a faith-based tour to Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Rome, or Vietnam on a special cultural discovery tour with Dr. Carl Cosaert, New Testament Professor at Walla Walla University. To learn more about these inspirational tours that renew your faith, visit www. adventtours.org or email info@adventtours.org.

Sunriver, Central Oregon. Four-bedroom vacation home on the North Woodlands golf course. Two master king suites, two queens, one bunk set, hot tub, loft, Jacuzzi bath, gas log fireplace, BBQ, W/D, bikes, all resort amenities, sleeps 10, no smoking, no pets. For rates, photos, and reservations, call: 541- 279-9553, or email: schultz@crestviewcable.com Angwin home. Five-bedroom, three-bathroom vacation home 2 miles from PUC. Fully furnished, large kitchen, dining room, living room, family room, piano, highspeed internet, vineyard views, WiFi, washer and dryer, BBQ, sleeps 10. Call for rates, photos, and reservations: 415 539 7980 or email nroger1955@gmail.com.

Bulletin Board

Help the Lord’s ministry of healing in Micronesia by donating your car, boat, bike, RV, or truck. All proceeds help provide free medical services to the island peoples of Micronesia. Canvasback Missions, a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization, has been serving since 1986.

For more info: www.canvasback.org 707-746-7828.

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I Community & Marketplace

San Fernando Valley Academy (preschool12th grade), located in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Northridge in the San Fernando Valley, is still accepting students for the 2023-2024 school year. The over 100 students and their teachers are a large family who care about each other and want each other to succeed.

In the high school, teachers have also been professionals in their credentialed teaching fields. The elementary teachers are highly experienced with years of childhood development training, so you know that you are getting qualified instruction from top to bottom. Please visit our website: www.sfvahuskies.org or give us a call at 818-349-1373 to schedule a visit. We look forward to meeting you.

Partner with ASAP Ministries in serving the marginalized and reaching the unreached in Southeast Asia with the wholistic gospel. What you do today can change a life for eternity! To learn more visit asapministries.org. Subscribe to our weekly Mission Matters videos. Facebook: asapministries; Instagram: asapministries; YouTube: asapministries.

Shop for new/used Adventist books. TEACH Services offers used Adventist books at www.LNFBOOKS. com or new book releases at your local ABC or www.

TEACHServices.com. Authors, let us help publish your book with editing, design, marketing, and worldwide distribution. Call 800-367-1844 for a free evaluation.

Free app. Discover faith-building, Bible-based, and Christ-centered radio programs for all ages. LifeTalk Radio streams all music at LifeTalkMusic.net and awesome kids’ programs at LifeTalkKids.net, or listen to talk radio at LifeTalk.net. Download our app at LifeTalk.net

At Rest Bennett, Lawrence Dwight – b. Nov. 12, 1949, Kauai, HI; d. Oct. 16, 2023, Napa, CA. Survivors: wife, Diane; sons, Jason, Jonathan; daughters, Lisa Page, Tiffany Mendez; brother, Lyle Bennett; sister, Lynette Kinsey; nine grandchildren.

Canavan, Lorraine – b. Nov. 14, 1945, Afthel, MA; d. April 4, 2023, Watsonville, CA. Survivors: husband, David; sons, Ty, Dean; daughters, Serafin, Sandra; nine grandchildren.

Frost, Larry Wayne – b. Dec. 3, 1958, Monroe, LA; d.

Nov. 22, 2023. Survivors: brothers, Emanuel Henderson, Bobby Ray Henderson, Earl Frost; sisters, Joyce Moore, Jean Clay, Ermadeen Frost; six nieces; many grandnieces and grandnephews.

Gallagher, Ann Farrar – b. Sept. 14, 1946; d. Nov. 24, 2023, Los Angeles, CA. Survivors: daughters, Rochelle, Catherine. Her family was the first to convert to the Adventist church through Faith for Today. In addition to denominational employment, she worked in the Communication office of the White House during Gerald Ford's administration.

Hamren, Helen Juanita – b. Sept. 1927, Wagoner County, OK; d. Nov. 2, 2023, Redlands, CA. Survivors: daughter J. Annette Hamren Martinson; one grandson; sister, Shirley Jones; nine nieces; seven nephews. Helen worked for the denomination as an accountant for 24 years.

Isaeff, Dale M. – b. March 18, 1940, Turlock, CA; d. Nov. 7, 2023, Loma Linda, CA. Survivors: wife, Isa WenzelIsaeff; sons, Randall Isaeff, Shawn Isaeff; sibling, Wayne Isaeff; three grandchildren.

McDaniel, F. Charles – b. Nov. 24, 1930; d. Nov. 10, 2023.

Survivors: wife, Sheila; eight children; 12 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren. Charles was a longtime deacon at the Paradise church.

Steiner, Ernest David – b. Dec. 23, 1943, Battle Creek, MI; d. Nov. 12, 2023, Corona, CA. Survivors: wife, Barbara; daughters, Julie, Jaime.

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