Northern California Conference

Gym Night Engages East Bay Young People

Every Saturday night, about 80 teens and young adults from around the East Bay gather at Pleasant Hill Adventist Academy for gym night. After organizer Wayne Ogata offers an opening prayer, they play volleyball and socialize until midnight.

Ninety percent of those who attend are not connected to the Adventist church. They have heard about the gym night through friends and social media. Many play volleyball, but others come just to watch, chat, and play games such as ping pong and checkers.

A Pleasant Hill church member, Ogata works hard to ensure that everyone gets the opportunity to play in a positive environment. He began organizing gym nights because he loves volleyball, but he now realizes they make it easy to engage with young people on a consistent basis. “We want to make a place for them to hang out and enjoy each other’s company,” he said. Ben Saechao, a young adult from Oakland, has been coming to the gym nights for years. “You go to a lot of other gyms, and it’s kind of intimidating for new players,” he said. “Wayne makes it clear that it’s all just for fun—a way to socialize and meet new friends and have a good time.”

Ogata realizes that friendship is the best way to reach these young people. “One of them told me, ‘You don’t have to talk about church; the kids are going to ask you,’” he said. “We have kids showing up who haven’t been to church in years. You never know where it’s going to lead.”

Wayne Ogata

Online Convocations Provide Inspiration

Wesley Knight E“ ngaging the Vision, Living the Dream,” the African American Ministries Virtual Convocation, took place during a weekend in October. Wesley Knight, pastor of Revision church in Atlanta, served as the featured speaker. “Dr. Knight’s messages were awesome,” said Willie Johnson, then

African American ministries coordinator/urban ministries director. “On Friday night, he spoke about our struggle to believe that Jesus can do the impossible in our lives. On Sabbath morning, he talked about the need for the church to focus on love. His sermons were timely and needed.”

A Tribute to Yuli

Yuliana Pandjaitan, K-12 math coordinator and high school math teacher at Napa Christian Campus of Education, passed away on Dec. 30, 2021. Pandjaitan earned a bachelor’s degree from Walla Walla University in 2009 and a Master of Education from Pacific Union College in 2015. Before coming to Napa, she taught at Puget Sound Adventist Academy and Newbury Park Adventist Academy.

As Christian educators, we strive to instill wisdom, faith, and love—not only for God, but for all those around us. Few people, educators or otherwise, have had as significant an impact on those around them as Yuliana Pandjaitan, our dearly departed math teacher here at Napa Christian.

A walking, talking ball of luminosity, Yuli could improve your day just by being present, just by laughing or smiling or giving you one of her famous hugs. But in her short 34 years on this Earth, she did so much more than that. She was purposeful with her care, intentional with her love, and she went out of her way to make sure that all those around her, especially her students, were successful in every aspect of their lives.

There will never be another Yuli, but that’s OK. She did what she was put on this Earth to do. We here at Napa Christian were lucky enough to know her personally, but rest assured, you will feel the ripples of her influence for they are far reaching and eternal.

Rest easy, Yuli. We love you and will see you soon.

____________________ By Justine Leonie, Principal Napa Christian Campus of Education

NCC pastors, musical groups, and church members—as well as several special guests— contributed to a variety of relevant programs for adults, youth, and children. (Watch on YouTube: African American Ministries Virtual Convocation.)

“Thrive in the New Normal with Christ,” the ninth annual Asian/Pacific Convocation, took place on a Sabbath afternoon in November. Church members joined the event via Zoom or watched on YouTube.

The guest speaker was North American Division Executive Secretary Kyoshin Ahn. As with previous convocations, many church groups provided inspiring music. The program also featured messages from Asian/Pacific pastors, as well as reports from congregations.

“We received reports from the churches about how they have engaged their ministries and communities,” said Lim. “God has blessed the Asian/Pacific churches with increased tithes (45.5 percent) and numerous Kyoshin Ahn

baptisms in spite of the pandemic. We thanked God for these reports.” (Watch on YouTube: Asian Pacific Convocation Live Stream.)

____________________ By Julie Lorenz