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Newsdesk
ALCANCE ALCANCE Scholarships Assist Aspiring Latino Students
By Faith Hoyt
Ascholarship program for Latino students in the Pacific Union Conference that launched in 2015 is continuing to provide mentorship and financial assistance to young people pursing Adventist Education. ALCANCE, a non-profit organization of Adventist educators and church leaders, helps give Latino Adventist students access to Adventist Education through various means, including scholarships and a mentoring program. “For Latinos, acquiring a Christian education is often perceived as out of their reach due to the prohibitive costs involved,” said Martha Havens, associate director for elementary education in the Pacific Union Conference. “It is this perception that closes the door to lowOne recent ALCANCE scholarship recipient is Ana Chujutali, who graduated last school year from Redlands Adventist Academy (RAA). During her two and a half years at RAA, Chujutali demonstrated a passion for both academics and helping her community. income families. Scholarships encourage students to believe that the door to Christian education is still open to them. The ALCANCE scholarship program includes educating parents about government financial resources available to them in addition to program scholarships.”
ALCANCE, which stands for Adventist Latino Council Advancing & Nurturing Christian Education, is co-sponsored by the Pacific Union Conference, the Center for Research on Adventist Education (CRAE) at La Sierra University, conferences, individual donors, local churches, and mentors. The scholarship organization looks for highly motivated and service-oriented high school students who aim to attend an Adventist college. One of the students who fit that
Three of this year’s ALCANCE scholarship recipients who attend Mountain View Academy are Alihia Barroso (left), Ashly Barroso (left), and Haisley Maceda Ponce (middle).
description is Ana Chujutali, who graduated last school year from Redlands Adventist Academy (RAA). “Ana was on my campus ministries team and had a great passion for helping the community from a school’s perspective,” says Lemar Sandiford, campus chaplain at RAA. Sandiford says that during Chujutali’s two and a half years at the academy, she demonstrated a passion for both academics and helping her community near and far. “Ana exhibits a selfless, Christlike character and cares passionately for her circle and the wider community,” Sandiford said. “We support students like her especially because they give back. Any scholarship is important, and this one in particular, because skilled students who might not otherwise have this opportunity are able to pursue priceless education.”
This year, six students are currently receiving scholarships. Since 2015, ALCANCE has helped 25 students total. Out of the 25 students, 10 have graduated from Loma Linda Academy, La Sierra Academy, Thunderbird Adventist Academy, Redlands Adventist Academy, and Mountain View Academy.
Church members interested in mentoring young people or starting an ALCANCE program in their local church are encouraged to talk to their local pastor. Requirements for scholarship applicants include meeting a minimum GPA of 2.0 and submitting a letter of recommendation from a pastor and/or teacher. For more information or to apply for aid, visit alcancelatinos.org.
Hispanic Congregations Host Virtual Evangelistic Outreach
In the second half of September, the Hispanic Ministries Department of the Pacific Union By Faith Hoyt, Conference, together with 160 congregations across the union territory, launched a virtual with Abigail evangelistic outreach series titled “An Encounter with Jesus.” Marenco During the virtual series, Alberto Ingleton, director of Hispanic Ministries for the Pacific Union
Conference, presented helpful topics for those experiencing difficult times, including biblical stories and effective methods for changing one’s destiny through an encounter with Jesus. Continued on page 50
“Despite the Continued from page 49 national and global crisis that we are going through under the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, 160 Hispanic congregations in the Pacific Union have come together to proclaim in our communities that Christ is not quarantined,” said Ingleton. “On the contrary, He is eager to meet men, women, and youth—to free them, to heal them, to break their chains, to return their smiles and fill their hearts with hope.” While it is not safe to present in-person evangelistic programs, these congregations are moving forward in sharing the hope a relationship with Jesus can bring to those around them. In addition to the 160 Pacific Union congregations, churches from El Salvador and Honduras also tuned in.
The series launched September 19-26, and all were invited to tune in to recover their faith and learn how Jesus brings significance to our lives amid difficult times—which can take the form of a troubled marriage, depression, or chaotic finances.
“An encounter with Jesus brings hope to everyone,” Ingleton said. “It reignites community, strengthens faith, and provides encouragement. Our series introduced a Jesus who brings hope and salvation to all.”
The programs, hosted in Spanish, were aired on the Pacific Union Conference Hispanic Ministries Department on Facebook, @HispanicMinistriesPUC. Videos are posted to Facebook and also the Pacific Union Conference YouTube channel, @PacificUnionSDA.
PUC Church Welcomes Lead Pastor Chanda Nunes
By Ashley Eisele
The Pacific Union College Church welcomed new Lead Pastor Chanda Nunes in late summer, after more than a yearlong search to find the right candidate.
“Pastoring a campus church is an exciting and unique experience!” said Pastor Nunes. “You have great resources at hand, the opportunity to meet people from all over the world, energy and insight from all age ranges, and the desire to come together to learn and to lift up Jesus!”
Pastor Nunes was born and raised in Toronto, Canada, and is a graduate of Burman University, formerly Canadian University College, (B.A. in Religious Studies, with a minor in Biblical Languages) and Andrews University (Master of Divinity). She also holds associate degrees in Private Investigation and Paralegal Studies and is a certified life coach practitioner.
She began her pastoral ministry in August 2003, serving the Alberta Conference at the College Heights church on the campus of Burman. From 2008 to 2015, Pastor Nunes served the Kansas-Nebraska Conference at the New Haven church and was the first Black
pastor ever to serve in the conference, as well as the first Black woman pastor to serve in the MidAmerican Union. During her time there, in 2011, she was commissioned.
Pastor Nunes has served in the Northern California Conference since 2015, most recently at the Capitol City church in Sacramento. She is the first Black woman pastor to serve within the conference. In June 2018, she was ordained.
“My biggest hope for right now,” Nunes said, “is that this pandemic will cease and that we have an opportunity to come back together as a church family to experience the love and fellowship that we have been missing all these months.”
Association of Adventist Women To Host Virtual Conference
The Association of Adventist Women (AAW), in partnership with the Loma Linda By Nerida Bates, University church, has put together a series of six Sabbath vespers programs with Faith Hoyt addressing leadership called “Finding Purpose in Uncertain Times.” Women speakers from Africa, Australia, Europe, and the United States will gather virtually to share their combined expertise. The series begins Oct. 10, with lead speaker Linda Becker from Union College defining leadership as finding our purpose. A discussion facilitated by Ella Simmons, vice president of the General Conference, will follow, with panelists Andrea Luxton, president of Andrews University; Helen Staples Evans, senior vice president for patient care services at Loma Linda University Health; and Olive J. Hemmings, professor of religion at Washington Adventist University.
“Because the gospel commission calls everyone to share Christ, we believe all Christians will glean strategies of courage and persistence necessary in these uncertain times from this vespers series,” said Nerida Taylor Bates, president of AAW.
Subsequent vespers topics will highlight how self-care is essential for leading (Oct. 17), ministering to church communities (Oct. 24), how Jesus defines leadership as serving (Oct. 31), health promotion as a uniquely Adventist leadership role (Nov. 7), and how to create community (Nov. 14). The speakers are well placed to address the issues—from Gwendolyn Winston Foster’s fight against obesity as Philadelphia’s fitness czar to Jody Rogers story of how her quilting group pivoted to sew hundreds of face masks for local nursing homes.
The series focuses on advice for people leading during uncertain times, but the definition of crisis varies widely. Southeastern California Conference President Sandra Roberts will address moving church services online due to the pandemic. Ana Thompson Costescu will talk about how The Sabbath Sofa Project addresses evangelizing atheists. Joy-Marie Butler, founder of ADRA’s Keeping Girls Safe, Continued on page 52 will address the lack of adequate bathroom facilities in schools in Papua New
Guinea, which puts girls at a disadvantage. Psychologist Rita Mercer will discuss Continued from page 51 the increased need for self-care for those witnessing racial injustice. Lori Barker, multicultural psychologist from Cal Poly Pomona, will address creating community, not just within groups but between diverse groups. The international lineup of speakers includes representatives from Adventist Female Pastors of Africa and Pam Townend’s presentation on the South Pacific Division’s public health initiative “10,000 Toes.” AAW takes full advantage of their online format’s global access. Though this did present an issue of how to be viewed in so many time zones, it was solved by using an on-demand format. The videos will be posted on the AAW website associationofadventistwomen.com, for Sabbath vespers viewing in all time zones. It will also be broadcast live at the Loma Linda University church at 5 p.m. The event is free. To partner with AAW in supporting Adventist women globally, donate and become a member on their website, or call 951-837-1450.
Adventist Christian Fellowship Distributes Playbook; Gears Up for Virtual Bible Studies
By Faith Hoyt
Adventist Christian Fellowship (ACF) teams across the Pacific Southwest are gearing up for another year of ministry—and with the help of a team outside the Union, new tools to navigate the changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic are available.
This year, an ACF Playbook, which was developed by the Georgia Cumberland Conference (GCC), is being distributed online to students on public campuses. This playbook is a starting point for reimagining ministry on campus during a pandemic that has brought on the need for social distancing. “If you think COVID-19 is preventing sharing good news on campuses, think again!” shares Ron Pickell, ACF volunteer coordinator for the Pacific Union and North American Division. “The gospel has no walls, and this very helpful resource will guide you to ways that God can still work through your ACF Chapter and use you to bring good news to campus.” The ACF Playbook maps out ways to continue ministry inperson, online, and even during a hybrid campus experience. “We created this little guide to help our students do ministry this year,” said Don Keele, Young Adult Ministry and Adventist Christian Fellowship director at the Georgia-Cumberland Conference. “Many may find themselves jumping from one
scenario to another as the virus does its thing and their university makes changes on the fly. Hopefully, with their great leadership team and this guide in hand, they will be able to shift with those changes and not miss a beat in ministering to their fellow students.”
Thanks to the GCC ACF team, a free PDF download is available on the resources page of the ACF website, acflink.org. Students are encouraged to check out this resource and get started with some creative ideas for ministry on or off campus.
In addition to new planning resources, students also have access to a new Journey Series Small Group Bible Study and accompanying participant’s guide, authored by Pickell. Journey was created for college students to use in larger, weekly meetings either on or off campus in a teaching and small group discussion setting. This latest study, titled “Before All Things,” focuses on Paul’s experience in ministering to the house church in Colossae—an experience from which college students can draw relevant lessons. ACF members will study through the latest Journey Series with their teams on Zoom every Wednesday night at 8 p.m., starting September 16 and ending October 28. The registration form for this virtual study is also available on the resources page of acflink.org.
Begins Third “Season” for Storytelling
Atwice-weekly portal for storytelling has recently begun its third “season.” Since January of 2019, Adventist academies, elementary schools, and churches across the Pacific Union Conference have contributed to a project called Pacific Sunrise. This twiceweekly email features short, inspiring stories—often showcasing what Adventist Education is all about. Now entering its third academic school year, the e-newsletter has curated over 350 stories.
“These stories sum up the inspiring things happening in our union in about 120 words or less,” said Faith Hoyt, editor of Pacific Sunrise and communication specialist for the Department of Communication and Community Engagement at the Pacific Union. “Boiled down, each story highlights the ways our schools and churches are loving, serving, or leading their communities.” Hoyt attributes the success of Pacific Sunrise to close collaboration with the Pacific Union Office of Education. Now past the “beta testing” phase, the Union communication team is developing an established online presence where past stories are archived and current stories are showcased. “What amazes me are all the unique, creative, but simple ways people are staying connected and encouraging each other during the pandemic,” Hoyt shared. “There are a lot of people going the extra mile during this time, and we can learn from these stories.” This year, every school in the Pacific Union is scheduled to be featured in Pacific Sunrise. While no schedule exists for churches, church members are invited to share stories via email to News.Desk@adventistfaith.com. Pacific Sunrise is sent out on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 a.m. To subscribe to this e-newsletter, visit adventistfaith.com/subscribe/.
By Connie Vandeman Jeffery
New Ways to Access and Study
THE WRITINGS OF ELLEN G. WHITE
The writings of Ellen G. White have been a great source of direction and encouragement to Seventh-day Adventists across the entire history of our church. Her inspired insights into the Scriptures and daily life have helped shape the way Adventists live out their Christian faith. Generations of Adventists have been blessed and guided into lives of devotion and service through Mrs. White’s faithful witness and the Spirit of Prophecy.
The writings of Ellen White are available in book form through the Adventist Book Center, and they may also be purchased online.
The Ellen G. White Estate has developed a powerful and effective set of tools for Bible students and readers. They offer online databases of the writings of Ellen G. White and apps for reading on all the major computing platforms and in dozens of languages. This includes digital versions of many of her books, formatted for use on e-readers.
The 2021 Adult Devotional Book of the year is Jesus, Name Above All Names. Ellen White used an amazing variety of names when she referred to Jesus—840, in fact. This new devotional book gathers together 365 readings from her writings that focus on this rich diversity.
WHITEESTATE.ORG
EGWWRITINGS.ORG
HTTPS://ADVENTISTBOOKCENTER.COM
Central California Conference Many events and outreaches are now being virtually
presented or streamed online. As new information is available, updates will be noted on the Events page of the website. Just click on Events above the yellow banner. Visit us online at www.CentralCaliforniaAdventist.com for all the updates.
La Sierra University
Archaeology weekend goes virtual. The Center for Near Eastern Archaeology is offering a fascinating virtual tour of its ancient artifacts collection, archaeological excavation presentations with Q&A and more. “A Passion for Preserving the Past: Showcasing Archaeology at La Sierra University” will be held Nov. 14, 3-6 p.m. PST. For information: www.lasierra.edu/archaeology; archaeology@lasierra.edu; 951-785-2632.
Virtual music performances. To view Zoom video musical productions by vocal group United, student recitals, and other productions, visit La Sierra University Music on YouTube. On Instagram, follow @kenaiso1 to watch live home mini concerts weekly by La Sierra adjunct violin/viola instructor and concert artist Ken Aiso.
The La Sierra Report. Stay in the know and sign up to receive The La Sierra Report, a monthly e-newsletter of interesting news and events. To subscribe, send your email address and subscription request to pr@lasierra.edu.
Financial Aid Webinars.
La Sierra University is offering financial aid webinars on Wed., Oct. 28 from 7-8 p.m. (in English) and Wed., Nov. 11 from 7-8 p.m. (en Español). To reserve your spot and learn about other informational webinars
Northern California Conference
Youth Rally (Oct. 24). Conference-wide online event. Info: eddie.heinrich@nccsda.com.
Instituto Laico Adventista de California (ILAC) (Oct. 25-26). Online training in leadership and church administration for Spanish-speaking laypeople. “Leadership in the Bible and Ellen White’s Writings.” Info: nccsda.com/ilac, 916-886-5614.
“We Still Believe” (Nov. 4-7). Conference-wide online event. Prayer and Praise: Wed. through Fri., 7-8 p.m. Midterm Report: Sabbath, 4:30-6 p.m. Info: info@nccsda.com.
Instituto Laico Adventista de California (ILAC) (Nov. 22-23). Online training in leadership and church
Advertising
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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.
2020 Deadlines
These are the advertising deadlines for the Recorder. Your local conference news deadlines will be earlier. November: October 5 • December: November 5
Contributions
The Recorder pages are assigned to the local conferences, colleges, and health care 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.
administration for Spanish-speaking laypeople. “Models and Styles of Leadership.” Info: nccsda.com/ilac, 916-886- 5614.
Get the News! Engage with the Northern California Conference by subscribing to the NCC’s weekly emailed news source, “Northern Lights.” Sign up: nccsda.com.
Classified
At Your Service
SDA Immigration Attorney. We handle family and employment-based immigration cases for clients throughout the United States and around the globe. We also provide free immigration law seminars for churches and other groups. Please contact Jason Mustard at 831- 249-9330 or Jason@surowitz.com.
Employment Adventist Media Ministries treasury department is
seeking a full-time staff accountant. A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in accounting is required, and two years of experience is preferred. Our offices are in the Riverside area of Calif. Please contact the Human Resources department at 805-955-7715 or hr@sdamedia. com, or you may visit the following link for more information about the “Staff Accountant” position and to apply: https://www.adventistmediaministries.com/ available-positions/.
Diez palabras que dan vida Octubre 17-24, 2020
Será transmitido por YouTube y Facebook.
WEBSITE: LA SIERRA SPANISH SDA lasierraspanishchurch.org
Sábados 17 y 24
de 11:00-12:00 am
Sábado 17-Viernes 23
de 7-8 pm
Habrá música especial
Obsequio del libro: Diez palabras que dan vida
Pastor Jorge Soria
Vice Presidente de la Unión del Pacífico
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At Rest
Barnes, Leonard Allen – b. Nov. 15, 1938, Molus River, New Brunswick, Canada; d. Aug. 8, 2020, Cloverdale, Calif.
Batch, Delmar Donald – b. July 30, 1934, Acampo, Calif.; d. Aug. 18, 2020, Lodi, Calif. Survivors: wife, Doris; son, John; daughters, Laura Richards, Lisa Mack, Linda Sanchez; sister, Viola Wilbur; 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren.
Bobst, Robert Ellison – b. Sept. 20, 1925, Melrose, Mass.; d. May 4, 2020, Loma Linda, Calif. Survivors: wife, Margaret; daughter, DeeDee Bobst-Gregory.
Dalton, H. Mark – b. Aug. 25, 1952, Dayton, Ohio; d. May 22, 2020, Roseville, Calif. Survivors: wife, Marilee Serns Dalton; daughters, Emily Lannuzel, Julie; brothers, Stanley, John; sisters, Dorilee Neufeld; Karyn Stagg; five grandchildren. Served as a pastor/youth pastor/family pastor in the Carolina Conference, Madison Campus in Tennessee, The Bridge in Kentucky, Blue Mountain Academy and Youth Camp in Pennsylvania, Azure Hills church in California; associate ministerial director in Pennsylvania; set up financial and construction processes for Maranatha Volunteers International in India; junior high teacher in the Central and Northern California conferences.
Diede, Rodney – b. Sept. 25, 1939, Lehr, N.D.; d. July 24, 2020, Modesto, Calif. Survivors: wife, Ilene; son, Glenn; daughter, Jolene Wolff; two grandchildren. Rodney served the denomination for 44 years, including ABC management and as the business manager for three
Greene, Clora (Jordan) – b. Sept. 12, 1930, Bivins, Texas; d. July 21, 2020, Stockton, Calif. Survivors: son, Michael; daughters, Barbara, Vickie Davis; daughter-inlaw, Monica; sister, Janice Gregory; 11 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren.
Hansen, William E. – b. July 9, 1930, Blair, Neb.; d. Aug. 14, 2020, Walla Walla, Wash. Survivors: son, Terry; daughter, Debbie Bullock; three grandchildren; two greatgrandchildren. He served 31 years as head of Custodial Dept. at Pacific Union College.
Herber, Raymond – b. March 1, 1932, Shattuck, Okla.; d. Aug. 21, 2020, Loma Linda, Calif. Survivors: wife, Marilyn; son, Steve; daughters, Susan Mace, Sandra Fisher; five grandchildren.
Hibbard, June – b. Feb. 10, 1935, St. Cloud, Minn.; d. Aug. 13, 2020, Loma Linda, Calif. Survivors: husband, Tom; daughter, Dawn; three grandchildren.
Johanson, Lorraine – b. Nov. 20, 1932, El Paso, Texas; d. Aug. 29, 2020, Loma Linda, Calif. Survivors: husband, Edgar; daughters, Dana LaBard, Leslie Bedros; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild.
Johnson, Marianne (Lori) – b. Nov. 27, 1938, Los Angeles, Calif.; d. July 27, 2020, Auburn, Wash. Survivors: daughters, Gayle Lasher and Caryn Fujikawa; son, Gary Myers; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Meyer, Naomi Alma – b. Dec. 31, 1932, Utila, Honduras;
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