4 minute read
Northern California Conference
What do yacht racing and church communication have in common? “Well, nothing comes to mind,” said Ken Miller, the new assistant to the director of communication and development in the Northern California Conference. Miller disarmingly continued, “However, I do have 25 years of experience working with avid sailing customers like America’s Cup as a private business owner, and during that time I have been honing my communication skills in this very secular sport.” When asked why he is making the switch to church work, Miller stated, “I was personally missing that key element that all good businesses have—a mission and a purpose. I started praying for a place where I could serve God more effectively with my talents. This opportunity at the NCC came out of nowhere, surprising me to the point of knowing this was His answer.” Ken enjoys working for the church. He served on the board at his home church, Discover Life in Sonora, California. He currently teaches Youth Sabbath School, and every Friday he teaches a woodshop class for seventh- to tenth-grade students at Mother Lode Adventist Jr. Academy (MLAJA). As a graduate of Pacific Union College, he still maintains strong ties to what he terms “his school.” During the pandemic, he started a Facebook page catering to his era at the college. “It exploded to 850 members in a couple of days,” Miller exclaimed. “I think COVID opened a hunger to connect! It’s like a moving yearbook of pictures and memories.” His wife of 22 years, Amy Chinnock-Miller, is the viceprincipal and ninth- and tenth-grade teacher at MLAJA, and they have two lovely daughters, Kaia and Darci. Kaia will be attending Rio Lindo Academy next year as a junior. “I am very excited to have Ken in the department,” said Laurie Trujillo, director of communication and development.” He brings a unique perspective and voice that will enhance the work of telling the story of how our churches, schools, and other ministries connect people to Christ. He also is a passionate, hard worker, is contagiously kind, and has a servant's heart—three character values that successful NCC employees share in common.”
____________________ By Communication and Development Department
NCC Members and Employees Team with Maranatha International
Leoni Meadows Camp and Retreat Center is closer to its goal of rebuilding the camp. From April 7-21, Maranatha Volunteers International and 141 of its volunteers, many from the Northern
California Conference, helped with the cleanup and reconstruction efforts. Of the volunteers, there were several from other states as far away as Tennessee.
Groups from the NCC included the Grass Valley,
Redding, and Capitol City churches. Monterey Bay
Academy also brought 54 students and staff to work during the project Craig Heinrich, executive director of Leoni Meadows reported, “It’s nuts. I made a list of 4,000 things for
Maranatha volunteers to do.” The list included railroad track repair, amphitheater and deck reconstruction, lodge clean-up, gardening work, laundry, and other necessary projects. Heinrich continued, “Maranatha got here and in about one day, they wanted to know if there were more jobs to do—because they had completed the ones, I had given them.” Carol Herbert, the ministry coordinator at Capital
City church, organized her church group. She explained, "God told us to go in Matthew 28:18-20. After the fire, it was heartbreaking to see the condition of the camp, but it was a joy to be a part of the project to rebuild." In the main lodge, which suffered smoke damage, all the rooms were repainted, and linens were washed—an estimated 130 loads. Yolanda Frazier, the administrative assistant of African American ministries, said, “I was inspired by the dedication and compassion of the workers I met at Leoni Meadows! Each of the six rooms my group finished was scrubbed from the ceiling to the floor before we painted. I felt muscles I didn’t know I had!” For volunteer Ron Gaudrealt, from the Grass Valley church, the work was personal. “My grandkids went to camp here. One of my daughters went to camp here.… I’ve come to men’s retreats. It holds a very special place in my heart. When I heard that this project was happening, we signed up.” Raven Frazier, a human resource specialist at the conference office, joined the others over a weekend during the project. Giving up her traditional birthday celebration to attend, Raven said, “I went unsure of what to expect. But after the experience, I came home wanting to spend every birthday serving God like this."
____________________ By Ken Miller
