5 minute read
Central California Conference
Onward…Forward… Always Upward! CCC Evangelism never stops!
By Deloris Trujillo
Now is the time when the loyal and true are to arise and shine; for the glory of Lord is risen upon them. It is no time now to hide our colors....Watchmen on the walls of Zion must be wide awake” (Ellen G. White, Selected Messages Book 2, p. 373).
Many evangelistic projects were presented at Soquel Camp Meeting last summer. Giving from their hearts, attendees contributed a little over $655,000 in offerings and pledges. But what has happened to these plans during this pandemic? This small glimpse of some current evangelistic and community service projects is a testimony of the faithfulness of God’s people.
Bay Area and along the coast
San Francisco Central church.
When the coronavirus hit, Pastors Mark Ferrell and Roldan Abello quickly adapted schedules and plans to virtual meetings and Bible studies. With some amazing testimonies, there will be a baptism in the future.
San Francisco Latin American
church. Pastor Pablo Maldonado found his ministry expanded. Ten or more new believers will be baptized as soon as restrictions are lifted, and new potential contacts are now studying the Bible.
Milpitas, Wellspring, Sunnyvale, Mountain View Central, Campbell
churches. 1,000 community families received free groceries on April 30. At an earlier event, a councilmember from the city of Milpitas came to thank Orson Chung, the head elder of Milpitas church, for the food giveaway.
Arroyo Grande church. Feeling compelled to minister to her community, 12-year-old Charlotte Oh used her free time to sew masks for those in need. She included a hope-filled GLOW tract with her gift. View this story in the May 1 All God’s People, the Pacific Union weekly video series.
Mountain View Japanese and San Francisco Japanese churches.
Initiating Operation Sozo, “wellness callers” contact members weekly to
(Above left) Volunteers get bags ready for a food giveaway at Milpitas/Sunnyvale churches. (Above right) 12-year-old Charlotte Oh sewed facemasks and put in a hopefilled GLOW tract with her gift.
check on physical, social, and spiritual needs. Pastor Filipe Ferreira said the churches, along with Fight the Hate young adult ministries and non-profits such as Hope’s Corner, addressed community needs. “While we provided food, it was as if we were the ones receiving the blessing,” explained volunteer Sonomi Rhder. “I felt God’s presence.”
San Jose Vietnamese church.
Making masks and sending them to local hospitals and even to New York became one of their ministries. Pastor Toan Quach also stated they have a food pantry five days a week in partnership with a non-profit organization in Santa Clara County.
Good food brings happiness for a child at Living Waters church.
Bakersfield area
Bakersfield/Lamont/Oildale
churches. Pastor Ricardo Wainz made some sudden changes in planned evangelistic meetings, but nothing slowed down when transitioning to media platforms. Additionally, church members daily unite on digital “Flight 7-1-7.” They sing, pray, and study together at “7 a.m., 1 p.m., 7 p.m.” because they are “7(th)-day Adventists, 1 church, 7 days a week.”
Bakersfield Hillcrest church.
Pastor Timothy Baze reported that members sew facemasks for essential employees. (See the video at https:// bit.ly/3ctck5S.)
Asian American and Living
Waters Oildale churches. “The pandemic changed how we do ministry,” Pastor Joshua Mura explained. “Our church members help with food and necessary supplies. The community service garnered greater interest, and Bible studies have increased using digital platforms. It is gratifying when prayer and support service can comfort hurting people.”
Bakersfield Hispanic and Arvin
Bilingual churches. In partnership with CityServe, which distributes returned items from retail stores, the churches helped almost 60 people on March 25 with a wide range of items. Pastor Francisco Yepez reported, “One lady was so grateful to finally find baby formula!”
The Valley
Modesto Parkwood church. Plans had to change for the April followup series to the January Voice of Prophecy evangelistic series entitled “Final Empire.” Instead, “God provided the virtual prophecy seminar by It Is Written entitled ‘Hope Awakens’ that started on the very same day our original meetings were to begin!” exclaimed Pastor Jon Tillay. “Now trained, seven church members are virtual Bible workers. We pray that God will do great things through this unique outreach opportunity.”
Ceres church. Pastor Ted Baze reported that over 1,000 facemasks were donated through a ministry started by one of the church members.
Visalia church. Using their YouTube channel, “Visalia Adventist,” Pastor Stephanie Elick posts sermons, updates, and prerecorded Family Bible School classes. Future plans include a July Vacation Bible School, either live at the church or through recorded interaction.
Central Valley church in Fresno.
Buddyboy Endok Ignacio and his wife, Dalia, decided to deliver some home cooking with the help of Joe Esposo to some of their older members. “The look on their faces was just priceless,” commented Ignacio. The “meals on wheels” now continues twice a week with the help of donations.
Fresno Sunnyside church started a community service project that now involves six other area churches. Also sponsored by Clawson Honda, the “U Matter to God, Grocery DriveThru Giveaway” began with an event on April 22 that served 128 families in 90 minutes. Another one held on April 25 resulted in 1,000 families receiving free food. Ninety volunteers participated, with 500 cars served in the first hour. “Some of the volunteers had their mission trip canceled,” Pastor Nicholas Lozito noted, “but they are now serving as missionaries at home instead!”
There is much more. Not only do these stories have more to tell, there are many others that reveal how God has blessed. Your support of evangelistic projects may mean that someone will come up to you in heaven to say, “Thank you for your faithfulness. I am here because of you.”
As President Ramiro Cano pointed out in a recent message, “God will see us through. Let’s plan, study, and devise new methods so that the anointing power of the Holy Spirit can touch every soul in our communities with the salvific message for this time.”
