QUINQUENNIAL REPORT2024
REPORTING ON THE YEARS 2019–2023 35TH CONSTITUENCY SESSION
CREDITS
Executive Publishers
Daniel Serns
Ronald Rasmussen
Editor in Chief
Justin Kim
Copy Editor
Brennan Hallock
Design and Layout
Valerie Thomas
President’s
Executive
Conference Officers and
Executive
Department Directors
Associate and Assistant Directors
Mission
Core Values
Strategic Goals
Central by the Numbers
Area Map
Secretariat
Treasury
Adventist Book Center
African American Ministries
Asian Pacific Ministries
Capital Campaign
Children’s Ministries
Church Ministries
Communication
Digital Evangelism
Education
Evangelism
Gift Planning Ministries
Hispanic Ministries
Human Resources
Junior Youth Ministries
Literature Ministries
Ministerial
Property Management
Religious Liberty
Risk Management
Senior Youth and Young Adult Ministries
Sonora Community Estates
Soquel Conference Center
Youth Evangelism
PRESIDENT’S LETTER
Welcome to the 35th Constituency Session of the Central California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, when delegates from throughout the Conference gather to praise the Lord for what He has done over the past five years, and surrender themselves to Him once again to see what He has for the future, including the selection of leadership.
These past five years have been challenging, but incredibly blessed. We’ve seen the signs Jesus predicted before His return - wars, diseases, earthquakes, political strife, financial distress - increasing in intensity and frequency. At the same time, we have seen more and more believers responding to the call to Arise and Go to their neighbors, co-workers, classmates and family with the message that Jesus loves them, He’s coming again soon, He has a good plan for their lives, and now is the time to take Him seriously. They are using every means available, including personal conversations, digital evangelism, literature distribution, Bible study groups, health evangelism, public evangelism and intercessory prayer.
As a result, many new believers are uniting with the Adventist movement, church planting groups are starting Adventist work in new communities, groups of all kinds are providing discipleship and mentoring, schools and club ministries are developing young missionaries, and mission teams are going to many countries of the world with the Adventist message, including the Least Reached Regions.
Ellen White saw this day when she wrote “Churches are to be organized and plans laid for work to be done by the members of the newly organized churches. This gospel missionary work is to keep reaching out and annexing new territory, enlarging the cultivated portions of the vineyard. The circle is to extend until it belts the world.”
Evangelism p. 19
As we look to the future, we must be even more focused on Jesus, His Word and His mission. We must prioritize daily personal time with Jesus through Bible study and prayer, and family worship with our own families and others. We must empower all our members, especially our young people, to carry out the mission in a way that matches their spiritual gifts. We must see all our facilities as launching pads for mission to people of all ethnic and language groups. We must continue to be financially responsible with the resources the Lord has entrusted to our families, church families and conference family.
As we press together, united in mission, this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations. And then we will see a cloud on the eastern horizon.
Maranatha,
Dan Serns
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
President Dan Serns
Vice President for Education
Ken Bullington
Executive Secretary
Ron Rasmussen
Associate Executive
Secretary
Mark Howard
Treasurer Mayra Thompson
Assistant to the President
George Johnson
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Will Abbey
Justino Aguilar
Robinson Anderson
Marc Andres
Jose Batiste Mueses
Frank Baughman
Kenneth Bullington
Orson Chung
Shane Cox
David Dean
Terrel French
Daniel Gouveia
Ralph Greenup
Roberto Hernandez
Mark Howard
Antonio Huerta
Jesse Leal
Daniel Lin
Manuao Maui'a
Djo Mwamba
Gerson Raul Perla
Ron Rasmussen
Tony Robles Jr.
Deisy Ruiz
Vice President for Ministries
Dan Serns
Lisa Spalitta
Mayra Thompson
Tara Vang
Alonzo Wagner III
Diahann Webb
Antonio Huerta
DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS
Justino Aguilar
Hispanic Ministries/Religious Liberty
John Featherstone Sonora Community Estates
Todd Gallemore Soquel Conference Center
Antonio Huerta Evangelism
Anil Kanda
Health Evangelism/Senior Youth and Young Adult Ministries
Justin Kim
Communication/Creative Arts/ Digital Evangelism
Manuao Maui'a Asian Pacific Ministries
John Miller II Literature Ministries
Jose Pagán Youth Evangelism
Todd Paige
Property and Risk Management/ Gift Planning Ministries
Jackie Phillips Capital Campaign
Lisa Plasencia Children's Ministries
Lois Serns Ministerial Spouse Association (Volunteer)
Norma Villarreal Junior Youth Ministries
Ricardo Viloria Ministerial
Alonzo Wagner III African American Ministries
ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS
Donna Baerg Entze
Associate Superintendent of Education
Linda Barron Human Resources
Erik Borges
Associate Superintendent of Education
Sulianne Gouveia Human Resources
Sandra Green
Associate Superintendent of Education
Karlonne Lewis Associate Treasurer
Oleg Lotca Literature Ministries Field Manager
Samuel Osei Tutu Associate Treasurer
Tara Vang Risk Management
ASSISTANT DIRECTORS
Bryan Bong Digital Marketing (Part-time)
Josue Hernandez Media (Part-time)
Reiss Ramirez Video Production
OUR MISSION
The Adventist message to all Central California and the World in this generation.
CORE VALUES
Biblical Authority
Committing to understand, embrace, and apply the will of God as found in Scripture.
Service
Serving and meeting the tangible needs of all people within the communities to which we belong.
Dependence
Leaning on the wisdom and the grace of God for every aspect of life and leaning on each other along our spiritual journey.
Diversity
Embracing, celebrating, and empowering the multifaceted family of God by recognizing and respecting the value of every individual, created and called by God for a unique purpose.
Integrity
Conducting every aspect of life and ministry with honesty, transparency, and a spirit of excellence.
Prayer
Bathing every individual, leader, process, goal, and decision in transformational and intimate prayer.
Soul-Winning
Connecting all people to the gospel message of Jesus Christ and to His personal invitation.
Innovation
Using our resources in the most effective and creative ways for enlarging the Kingdom of Heaven.
Growth
Calling all people into a deeper relationship with God through vibrant churches, excellent schools, and healthy relationships.
Alignment
Remaining unified and united in our Godgiven purpose and aligned with the needs of the communities and the world around us.
STRATEGIC GOALS
Integrated Discipleship
To connect ministries in building up individuals, families, churches, schools, and communities in relationship with Christ.
Transformational Education
To connect Christ-centered schools with homes, churches, and communities— preparing students for the joy of service in this world and the world-to-come.
Organic Growth
To build up and expand the community of disciple-making believers.
Streamlined Structures
To build increasingly integrated and efficient organizational structures to maximize assets, cooperation, and accountability.
Holistic Stewardship
To build an enthusiastic community of faithful managers of God-given life resources.
Genuine Outreach
To connect our faith community with the life and needs of our greater communities.
Practical Spirituality
To connect and equip a community of individuals who experience and share an active and personal relationship with Jesus.
Area 2
South Bay Ukrainian
Ukrainian Area 3
Morgan Hill Bilingual
Spanish and English
CENTRAL BY
Area 5
Maranatha
Spanish and English
Area 6
Tulare Hispanic
Spanish Area 7
Fresno El Shaddai Hispanic
Spanish
Fresno Ghanaian
Ghanaian
Hope Madera
English
ETHNICITY
Anglo: 16,843
Hispanic: 10,580
Asian Pacific: 3,391
African American: 2,495
33,309 Members
MEMBERSHIP
THE NUMBERS
SCHOOLS
Schools: 22 Students: 1,332
$30,676,489
2023 Tithe Allocation
Funds allocated from the Pacific Union Conference Evangelism Endowment 5-Year Total Evangelism Offering 5-Year Total $1M $1,020,770 $2.3M $2,377,078
AREA 3
Soquel Bilingual
Watsonville
Watsonville Hispanic
AREA 4
58. Arroyo Grande
Lompoc
Morro Bay
San Luis Obispo
Santa Maria
Santa Maria Korean
Santa Maria Valley Hispanic
Templeton Hills
66. Templeton Hills Hispanic Co.
AREA 5
67. Arvin Bilingual 68. Asian-American 69. Bakersfield Central 70. Bakersfield Central Hispanic 71. Bakersfield Hillcrest 72. Bakersfield Hispanic 73. Bakersfield Korean 74. Bakersfield Southside
75. Delano Bilingual 76. Kern River Valley 77. Lamont Spanish 78. Living Waters Oildale
Maranatha Co. 80. Shafter 81. Taft 82. Wasco Bilingual
AREA 6
83. Armona 84. Coalinga 85. Corcoran
86. Cutler Spanish
Dinuba 88. Dinuba Hispanic Co.
Exeter 90. Hanford Bilingual
Hanford English 92. Hanford House of Hope
Lemoore
Lindsay 95. Lindsay Hispanic 96. Orosi 97. Porterville
Porterville Spanish
Reedley
The Ark Community
Tulare
Tulare Hispanic Co.
Visalia
Visalia Central
Visalia Hispanic
Visalia Hmong Co.
Woodlake Hispanic
AREA 7
108. All Nations
Auberry
Caruthers 111. Central Valley
Chowchilla
113. Clovis
Conference Church 115. Fresno Asian
Fresno Central 117. Fresno El Shaddai Hispanic Co. 118. Fresno Hmong Co. 119. Fresno Remnant 120. Fresno Sequoia Hispanic 121. Fresno Spanish
Fresno Sunnyside 123. Fresno Westside
Hope Madera Co.
Kerman
Madera
Madera Hispanic
North Fork
Oakhurst 130. Sanger Bilingual
Selma Bilingual
AREA 8
Ceres
Patterson Hispanic Co.
Turlock
Waterford
SCHOOLS
Armona Union Academy
Bakersfield Adventist Academy
Central Valley Christian Academy
Chowchilla Adventist School
CVCA Helping Hands Preschool
Dinuba Junior Academy
Foothill Adventist Elementary
Fresno Adventist Academy
Hollister Adventist Christian School 163. Los Banos Adventist Christian School 164. Milpitas Discoveryland 165. Miramonte Christian School 166. Monterey Bay Academy 167. Mother Lode Adventist Junior
168. Mountain View Academy 169. Peninsula Adventist School
San Francisco Adventist School 171. Saniku Gakuin Japanese Heritage School*
172. Sierra View Junior Academy 173. Templeton Hills Adventist School 174. Valley View Adventist School 175. Valley View Children’s Center 176. VHM Christian School
DEPARTMENT PROFILE
• The Office of the Secretariat actively oversees various organizational aspects of 132 Seventh-day Adventist churches, 16 companies, and six groups—comprising 33,309 members. (Statistics are as of the end of the fourth quarter 2023. At the end of the first quarter 2024, there were 132 churches, 20 companies, 10 groups, and 33,356 members.)
• Accumulates statistics and generates regular membership reports for the Pacific Union Conference, the North American Division, and the General Conference.
• Furnishes local church clerks with resource materials and supplies, and assists clerks by training in record keeping for individual congregations.
• Updates and maintains continuous service records for all conference employees, in cooperation with the Human Resources Department.
• Processes calls for incoming pastors, conference departmental directors, and conference officers.
• Processes denominational credentials and licenses for conference employees.
• Facilitates scholarship applications (in cooperation with the Pacific Union Conference and the North American Division) for conference ministerial interns to attend the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary.
• Coordinates the various installations of pastors new to a congregation.
MILESTONES & MIRACLES
• The Office of the Secretariat reported a total of 2,710 baptisms and professions of faith during 20192023.
• Launched strategic church plants including Fresno El Shaddai Hispanic, Fresno Ghanaian, Hope Madera, Maranatha, Morgan Hill Bilingual, South Bay Ukrainian, and Tulare Hispanic. (The following were approved to be launched in 2024: Clovis Latin-American, Los Banos Samoan, and Orion Hispanic.)
• Organized several groups into congregations with company status: Ceres Hispanic, Dinuba Hispanic, and San Francisco New Covenant. (The following groups were approved to be organized into congregations with company status in 2024: Fresno El Shaddai Hispanic, Hope Madera, Maranatha, Morgan Hill Bilingual, and Tulare Hispanic.)
• Organized the following congregations with company status into a church: Los Banos Hispanic, and The Ark Community.
• United two congregations (Visalia Central Bilingual Seventh-day Adventist Church and Visalia Latin-American Seventh-day Adventist Church) into one congregation: Visalia Central Seventh-day Adventist Church.
• Processed the ordinations of 20 pastors to the gospel ministry: Lauli’ifou Anapu, Yat Ang, David Dean, Kevin Hart, Stephen Hicks, Mark Howard, Arturo Lopez, Constantin Cristian Mardarie, Edwin Mendoza, Nicholas Moore, Joshua Mura, Toan Quach, Hananiah Ruff, Jonathan Sanchez, Jon Tillay, Edward Urbina, Dnieper Vegavillalobos, Robert Wilcox, Francisco Javier Yepez, and Yi Re Yi. The following pastors were approved to be ordained in 2024: George Marlon Lamand, Joel Miller, and Kurt Oseña.
• Processed the commissionings of three pastors to the gospel ministry: Sandra Colón, Stephanie Elick, and Victor Salazar.
• Discussed and processed 668 actions of the Executive Committee during 2019-2023.
TREASURY
DEPARTMENT PROFILE
The Office of the Treasury actively manages all fiscal and financial aspects of the Central California Conference, which include:
• Receipting, accounting, disbursing funds, and processing payroll as required by denominational policies and the law;
• Preparing and managing the annual budget;
• Providing support in the area of facilities management;
• Overseeing the sale and purchase of school and church properties;
• Ensuring compliance with local, state and federal tax reporting;
• Securing insurance coverage as required by NAD policy, local, state and federal laws;
• Undergoing annual financial audits by General Conference Auditing Services (GCAS);
• Performing financial audits of our churches and schools;
• Providing training to members in the treasury ministry at our churches and schools;
• Providing gift planning tools (wills, trusts, etc.);
• Arranging to move new employees to our Conference territory;
• Providing regular financial reporting to various committees and the governing body;
• Maintaining relationships with banking and investment institutions.
MILESTONES & MIRACLES
• The overall Conference expenses were reduced, using technology.
º A paperless system was implemented, eliminating the need to buy paper and filing cabinets, and pay employees to file documents. The system was a blessing during the COVID shutdown.
º Funds were received, processed and disbursed as required, and payroll was processed without interruption.
º Data entry and reporting processes were automated and streamlined.
º Our first online audit by GCAS resulted in a clean audit opinion.
º Most churches were added to AdventistGiving.org. It increased the giving for many churches.
º All employees now use an electronic time tracking system.
º Our GCAS Trust Audit resulted in a three-year renewal of our Trust Department Certification.
º The practice of charging late fees on A/R accounts was discontinued.
º Our Camp Wawona, Soquel Conference Center and Sonora Community Estates are actively working on increasing third party year-round income to become self-supporting.
• By God’s grace …
º Central California Conference employees no longer make 11 percent less than the NAD remuneration rate.
º We did not have to pass all payroll increases onto our schools.
º Long-term debt from the schools to the Conference was paid off.
º Long-term debt from the Conference to others was paid off.
º A clean audit opinion was received every year in this quinquennium, despite being short-staffed in all treasury departments.
º We have been able to provide tech support to our church treasurers.
º Our Adventist Book Center (ABC) is open when other ABCs and Christian bookstores are closing.
º Despite economic challenges, our faithful members remitted their tithes and offerings to keep ministry going in our Conference.
º Despite limited financial resources, our faithful department leaders worked hard to provide and support ministry in the Conference.
ADVENTIST BOOK CENTER
DEPARTMENT PROFILE
• The Central California Conference’s Adventist Book Center (ABC) is a ministry focused on building and strengthening the church by providing a wide range of literature designed to assist in evangelistic outreach, as well as materials for strengthening the Conference’s members and the general public. The ABC provides many categories of books, Bibles, health foods, children’s materials, and other products to enhance the lifestyle of all individuals.
• The ABC team members work closely with the Office of the Treasury to keep the ministry going in our Conference.
• Over $5.6 million in books, food, periodicals, and other products were distributed to Central California Conference church members and the general public.
• Books and food products were delivered to over 10 different locations throughout the Conference.
• Ministry materials were made available for purchase by attendees at women’s retreats (English and Spanish), men’s retreats, prayer retreats, and Soquel Camp Meeting.
• Online purchase of food products and books was available through ClovisABC.com and AdventistBookCenter.com.
• We praise the Lord that in times when other ABCs have closed their doors and Christian bookstores are closing, He kept us open to continue to provide this valuable ministry. We pray a special blessing on every one of our customers!
AFRICAN AMERICAN MINISTRIES
DEPARTMENT PROFILE
• The African American Ministries Department assists and promotes the whole body of Christ within the Central California Conference, giving special emphasis and support to the unique needs of people of African descent that have been historically misunderstood, neglected, victimized, and overlooked by the dominant culture.
• It seeks to challenge, create, and maintain the harmonious development of human relationships between cultures within the sisterhood of churches and the community, while nurturing and equipping members for Spirit-authored and anointed ministry.
• It functions as an active and effective voice for Adventist education and to represent the broader interests of constituent membership and the unique interests of the African American work on various Conference and Pacific Union Conference committees.
• It spiritually and intentionally equips and educates the local conference African American congregations to preach the everlasting gospel—and be committed and mission driven—with an emphasis on strengthening our families and developing creative ministries tailored to meet the needs of each local church and their surrounding communities.
• It empowers the African American pastors within the Conference to be spiritually transformational leaders who turn barriers into bridges, and challenges into opportunities for cultural, socioeconomic, gender, and age inclusivity.
• It encourages the biblical model of the priesthood of all believers by promoting whoever is willing to persist in prayer, depend on the Holy Spirit, love, disciple, and minister. A culture of change is created as our churches become vibrant centers of influence in our communities and provide resources that promote personal growth and development.
MILESTONES & MIRACLES
• Hosted the BIG (Bible Instructors Guild) Convocation where members around the North American Division came for training in the art of sharing the gospel.
• Provided training by Dr. Pat Vincent in non-traditional and culturally relevant evangelism that reaches the “nones” and the “dones.”
• Advanced Adventist education to increase enrollment in our Adventist schools and universities by providing financial aid to students in local academies and at Oakwood University.
• Partnered with the Pacific Union and the Northern Pacific Union to promote and organize the West Coast Youth Congress.
• Sponsored teens and youth to attend the annual Teen Retreat and West Coast Youth Congress.
• Sponsored and supported the birth of the Fresno Ghanaian SDA Group.
• Trained and supported African American pastors and local leaders in evangelism, preaching, urban ministry, needs-based community ministry, grief counseling, pastoral counseling, and vision casting through PELC (Pastors Evangelism and Leadership Conference at Oakwood University) and the North American Division “CALLED” Convention.
• Facilitated pastoral development and mentoring for ordination to the gospel ministry.
• Participated in the annual Pacific Union Conference African American Ministerial Family Retreat and directors meetings.
• Added to the ministry team Pastor Neil and Catherine Thomas at the Fresno Westside and Hanford House of Hope churches, and Dr. Shelton and Yvonne Kilby at the San Francisco Philadelphian and San Francisco Rainbow churches.
ASIAN
DEPARTMENT PROFILE
• The Asian Pacific Ministries Department coordinates and provides leadership to the ministries of local Asian Pacific Seventh-day Adventist congregations.
• This department serves the following cultural and language groups: Chinese, Filipino, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Samoan, and Vietnamese. These groups make up 26 congregations within the Central California Conference.
• Assists in processing pastoral transitions in Asian Pacific congregations.
• Creates and facilitates events that foster community for all language groups.
MILESTONES & MIRACLES
• The Lord has truly been faithful to the Asian Pacific Ministries work in the Central California Conference. Our theme for the last three years has been “Arise and Go,” centering in the gospel of Jesus.
• The department equips Asian Pacific pastors and leaders to Arise and Go by providing training resources focused on church growth, leadership, theological studies, health, and evangelism.
• Established an annual Asian Pacific Convocation to provide community and to train pastors and lay members in discipleship and evangelism.
• As a result of these efforts, and because of the faithfulness of God to the Asian Pacific Ministries churches in the Central California Conference, we have seen growth, established new churches, and celebrated church anniversaries.
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
DEPARTMENT PROFILE
• The Capital Campaign Department raises financial gifts to improve buildings and property at Camp Wawona and the Soquel Conference Center while building the Education Endowment Fund to assist families with scholarships for their children’s education within Central California Conference schools.
• The department also facilitates gifts to other entities and Conference ministries as needed or requested.
• During the 2019-2023 quinquennium, the Conference has continued in Phase II of the Capital Campaign strategy, which consists of:
º Total goal: $14 million
º Camp Wawona: $13 million (includes dining hall, chapel, medical building and administration, new road, and new cabins)
º Soquel Conference Center: $1 million (includes Central City upgrades)
º Education Endowment: $3 million
MILESTONES & MIRACLES
• The department raised $2,147,662 for Camp Wawona, the Soquel Conference Center, and the Education Endowment Fund.
• Student scholarships distributed from the Education Endowment Fund from 2019 through 2023 were $516,894.
• Total scholarships awarded since the beginning of the Capital Campaign Department are $1,224,809.
• The department is building an endowment for future building maintenance for all new buildings at Camp Wawona.
• Over $280,174 additional funding has been raised for other entities, special projects, and irrevocable trusts.
• The new road and all new infrastructure were completed in August of 2024.
• Total monies raised from January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2023 were $2,427,836.
DEPARTMENT PROFILE
• The Children’s Ministry Department at the Central California Conference is deeply committed to nurturing and fostering spiritual growth among children and young families throughout our constituency.
• Our primary goal is to offer engaging, educational, and spiritually enriching programs that bring children closer to God and instill in them values of leadership, community service, and personal development.
• A significant aspect of our work involves developing workshops and training programs for Sabbath School, Vacation Bible School, and children’s ministry leaders from local churches. Through these efforts, we aim to empower the younger generation to be active in sharing the Adventist message, and to be compassionate members of their church and community, thereby shaping a brighter, faith-led future.
MILESTONES & MIRACLES
2019
• Held the inaugural Connect C3 Retreat for young families and children's leaders, focusing on reaching children for God and developing small groups for family ministries.
• Collaborated on new curriculum developments for the North American Division, enriching the diversity and depth of our educational resources.
2020
• Transitioned to virtual platforms for children’s ministry during the pandemic, successfully maintaining community engagement and spiritual education.
• Produced original music and video content for our virtual camp meeting, adapting creatively to the challenging circumstances.
2021
• Collaborated with and sponsored the Family Worship Prayer Conference, emphasizing the importance of prayer in children's lives and offering specialized workshops for parents and children.
• Developed and distributed family worship materials and workshops in Spanish and English (later adopted by the North American Division) to support spiritual growth at home. 2022
• Created workshops on small group dynamics and interpersonal communication strategies. 2023
• Hosted a full 10-day Soquel Camp Meeting with record numbers of baptism requests and Bible study enrollments in the Primary and Junior departments, showcasing a profound impact on spiritual engagement and growth.
• Created and launched (in partnership with Pathfinders) the Kids Speak Jesus initiative, including the Creative Communicators Boot Camp and the Kids Speak Jesus Festival, aimed at empowering children with public speaking skills to voice their faith in Christ.
• Developed Kid’s Fest: Heroes of Faith, an inspiring event for children in the community to learn about making a positive change for God in their own lives.
• Brought back VBS training, attended by 34 leaders, with $10,000 given to the attending churches in the form of conference supplies and VBS kit reimbursement.
CHURCH MINISTRIES
DEPARTMENT PROFILE
• The Church Ministries Department works to address the needs of each component of the family by providing worship and retreats to strengthen and rebuild families within the Central California Conference.
• Marriage retreats provide the opportunity for the Conference to model a balanced blend of instruction, fellowship, romance, and worship as the bonds of marriage are strengthened.
• Men's retreats strengthen participants by providing instruction, fellowship, and workshop opportunities.
• Parenting workshops are designed to equip parents with formation and skills, enabling them to be effective, spiritually grounded parents.
• Single adults are provided with opportunities to fellowship together. This ministry supports and empowers singles to live a rich and full life, as they grow in a loving relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Provides a variety of health education opportunities. Speakers present on topics such as: How to prepare healthy balanced meals, how to take care of your mental health, building excellent relationships, and self-care.
• Manages disaster response activities within the Conference in partnership with the Pacific Union and the North American Division.
MILESTONES & MIRACLES
• Amidst the onset of the pandemic, many churches had to close their physical buildings, but others responded by opening food pantries and extending their outreach to unprecedented levels within their communities.
• Thirty churches received $1,000 incentives to initiate community service ministries.
• $100,000 was raised to aid families affected by the devastation of the Creek fire. Soquel Campground provided refuge for hundreds of families displaced by the Santa Cruz Complex Fire.
• Numerous disaster response volunteers underwent training to assist their respective communities in times of crisis.
• Through our connection with FEMA, several churches received donated storage containers, strategically positioned throughout our Conference territory.
• Collaborations with construction companies yielded donations of materials valued at $400,000, benefiting our local Soquel Conference Center, schools, and churches.
• Introduced a new ministry opportunity to our pastors that resulted in over 30 individuals engaging with CityServe ministries, which provides communities with free products from Costco.
• Fostered health initiatives within the Conference, including cooking schools, emotional wellness seminars at camp meetings, Lifestyle Matters programs, and local health workshops.
• Prison ministry training was conducted at our Soquel Camp Meeting.
• Life Hope Centers were established in multiple regions of the Conference.
• The coordination and promotion of most ministry endeavors have been spearheaded by conference ministry directors. Our recent focus is on optimizing our resources and empowering lay leaders to champion ministry events in each of the areas.
• $5,000 has been earmarked for each area to facilitate the coordination and execution of ministry events across the Conference.
DEPARTMENT PROFILE
• The Communication Department manages all aspects of corporate communication within the Central California Conference by working through varying venues, offering creative services and technological support while developing a strategic online presence.
• Supervises production and programming for the annual 10-day Soquel Camp Meeting, managing relationships within Central California Conference, partnering with the larger Seventh-day Adventist Church, and working with secular media outlets, civic organizations, local churches, and outside community entities.
• Provides consultation for and maintains support to other conference departments in the areas of marketing, branding, writing, broadcasting, photography, print services, legal press releases, social media support, and live-event production to support existing conference ministries and develop new ministries.
• Provides leadership in crisis management while working directly with news outlets on behalf of the Conference to brand and protect its mission.
CORE VALUES DEMONSTRATED
Video Production
• Produced content for various seminars and convocation messaging in media format.
• Produced multiple administrative videos, including official conference communique, retreat promos, presidential messages, and corporate expressions of gratitude.
Graphic Arts and Print Shop
• Provided and supported various design services for different conference events.
• Utilized business-level copier and banner-printer technology to reduce costs and provide print products to churches and schools.
Soquel Camp Meeting
• Purchased media equipment, trained young people, and operated camp meeting media operations with in-house labor.
• Redeveloped web-based camp meeting registration, integrated with a children's registration program, reducing labor and enabling a faster registration process through automation.
• Continued broadcasting live programming on YouTube and Facebook for personal and localchurch viewing.
MILESTONES & MIRACLES
• Developed the Arise & Go Digital Academy into a leading online learning community, offering a wide range of seminars designed to equip members with the necessary skills and knowledge for various ministries.
• Built a studio at the Conference office to record seminars and for video production.
• Overhauled and launched a new conference website and social media channel, featuring a fresh design and constantly updated content, including news.
• Authored and curated articles for the monthly Pacific Union Recorder, the Central ACTS newsletter, and the Central Connections e-newsletter.
DIGITAL EVANGELISM
DEPARTMENT PROFILE
• Exploring and Developing Digital Evangelism Strategies: Our department leverages digital marketing to foster community connections, focusing on prayer-based campaigns to engage local communities.
• Mobilizing and Training Digital Missionaries: We offer technical consultations and training programs designed to equip individuals with the skills needed to engage with communities online effectively.
• Digital Strategy Consultation: We provide expert advice to optimize local churches’ digital platforms, enhancing their ability to reach and connect with their community.
• Promoting Local Churches through Digital Marketing: Our approach includes using digital marketing to promote local churches within the community, thereby fostering spiritual relationships through targeted prayer campaigns.
MILESTONES & MIRACLES
• Pioneering Digital Evangelism Initiative: Initiated a groundbreaking Digital Evangelism Campaign, spanning the Central California Conference territory and encompassing tech hubs like San Francisco and Silicon Valley—the epicenter of the global IT industry. This forward-thinking initiative was in collaboration with the General Conference Communication team and the Adventist Information Ministry of the North American Division, setting a new standard for digital outreach and engagement for the world church.
• Tangible Results in Digital Evangelism: Engaged 5,686 individuals from the local community with a 47% follow-up success rate from digital advertisements. This effort led to more than 250 new individuals joining the church in person, marking the first baptism at the Milpitas Adventist Church.
• Mobilization of Digital Missionaries: Mobilized over 450 digital missionaries. The impact of digital evangelism has transformed our community and the spiritual lives of our members.
• Expansion to Adventist Schools: Extended the digital evangelism initiative to Adventist schools, targeting parents with children. We engage them with prayer and parenting seminars, encouraging enrollment in Adventist schools beyond church participation.
• Development of a Missionary Guidebook: Identified the need for standardized training in the field. Compiled various questions and answers to publish a comprehensive training guidebook, addressing the most pressing needs.
• Training Website Launch: Developed www.dmissionary.com, a website dedicated to sharing digital resources and training materials and fostering a learning community among digital evangelists.
• Digital Evangelism Training Seminar: Held numerous digital evangelism seminars to mobilize and equip our members and leaders from other conferences, in collaboration with the General Conference and the North American Division. The Central California Conference is taking on the role of a digital evangelism hub, establishing itself as a pioneering conference in this area.
CORE VALUES DEMONSTRATED
• Innovative Outreach: We leverage digital platforms for evangelism, emphasizing prayer campaigns and social media engagement. This approach allows us to connect with diverse communities in meaningful ways.
• Mobilizing Members as Digital Missionaries: We present digital evangelism as a visionary and accessible initiative, encouraging our members to join this movement and become active participants in spreading our message.
• Empowerment through Training: By equipping church members with the necessary skills, we empower them to become digital missionaries. This significantly expands the reach and effectiveness of our digital evangelism efforts.
• Community Engagement: Our strategy includes building and nurturing online and offline relationships. We emphasize transitioning from digital interactions to active participation in local church activities, fostering a sense of belonging and community.
• Hybrid Evangelism Approach: Our evangelism efforts represent a forward-thinking approach, combining digital tools with traditional methods to meet individuals where they are in the digital age. This strategy fosters meaningful connections that encourage physical church involvement.
• Local and Global Vision: Our focus extends beyond local community engagement. We aim to connect with Spanish-speaking congregations and produce content that resonates across different cultures and languages. Our goal is a comprehensive digital evangelism strategy that encompasses both local and global communities, demonstrating our commitment to spreading our message far and wide.
DEPARTMENT PROFILE
• The Central California Conference Education Department serves a TK-12 student body of more than 1,212 students across 17 elementary schools, six senior academies, and two K-10 junior academies, as well as more than 120 children in three Early Childhood Education Centers.
• It employs a yearly average of 328 educators, administrators, and support staff in schools, as well as 30 additional employees serving Early Childhood Education Centers.
• In 2022, we adopted Acts 2:21 as its motto: “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” This is to strengthen focus on Spiritual Action Plans in the schools and encourage students, principals, teachers, and other support staff to fellowship with and place their trust in God, as well as fostering community and showcasing Christ’s character.
• For our current school year, we have a new mission statement, Serving God by Serving Others, corresponding with Rom. 12:7 (NLT), “If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.” This mission statement was selected to continue the journey toward education for eternity by serving, teaching, and supporting students with intentionality.
• More than 98% of 12th-grade graduates from the Conference academies go on to colleges or universities, and 95% of these graduates also complete college degrees.
MILESTONES & MIRACLES
• During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, all schools were able to maintain operation in some capacity, whether via distance learning or combination distance/in-person, as state restrictions began lifting. Special emphasis was placed on the health and safety of our employees and students.
• Implemented Standards-Based Learning (SBL) on all school campuses. The transition to SBL began by sharing information with principals in 2020, and moving on to required training through 2022 and 2023.
• Developed a procedure that allows homeschooled students to enroll part-time at elementary schools, as well as junior and senior academies, in order to take a variety of courses and become connected with a spiritual campus learning environment.
• During the COVID-19 lockdowns, the Education Department managed to find solutions that allowed for our special elementary events, such as Spelling Bee and Bible Challenge, to be done remotely with the help of platforms such as Zoom and Kahoot.
• Facilitates the Friendship Games Sports Ministry program, which includes various tournament weekends and the Track and Field Meet.
• In partnership with the Exercise Department of Pacific Union College, we facilitated the 31st annual Track and Field Meet for our students in grades 9-12 with a record participation of more than 198 student athletes.
• Sponsored the biannual Choral Ministry Weekend for grades 9-12 with an average participation of more than 150 students from the Conference’s six academies.
• Implemented multiple Task Force Committees within the Board of Education that seek solutions in the following key areas:
º Housing costs throughout the Central California Conference
º Restructure for school governance
º Hiring process, recruiting, and retention
º Evangelism allocation
º Marketing and enrollment
º Student scholarships
EVANGELISM
DEPARTMENT PROFILE
• The Evangelism Department studies, develops and implements strategies for reaching over 10 million people within the Central California Conference. This undertaking is our most important priority, and it is accomplished in numerous ways.
• Our aim is to inspire a vibrant culture of evangelism throughout our territory. This is a critical part of spiritual vitality in growing and multiplying Christ’s church, fulfilling the Gospel Commission while carefully caring for God’s precious means.
• Raising and allocating the annual Soquel Camp Meeting Evangelism Offering, and ensuring that these funds are used for their intended purposes, such as: public, digital, and personal evangelism, CROSS Trainers (Bible workers), workshops, church plants, outreach to children, Teen Bible Academy, GLOW, the Fill Every Desk Initiative, and Youth Rush.
• Continual support is given to CROSS Trainers, church-plant leaders, and lay leaders that serve in nearly 30 different congregations throughout our Conference.
MILESTONES & MIRACLES
• $2,377,078 was received for the Soquel Camp Meeting Evangelism Offering.
• $1,020,770 was gifted from the Pacific Union Conference Evangelism Endowment Fund, which helped to support specific CCC evangelistic projects and initiatives.
• Pastor Edgar Sanchez was added as an additional full-time evangelist focusing on our growing Hispanic population, alongside our longstanding evangelist Pastor Eddy Perez, who continues to serve in this capacity.
• In response to the impact of a global pandemic and the long-term closure of churches, our department stepped into action and identified challenges and opportunities. We supported our congregations with intensive trainings for making a positive digital presence, which continues to yield an increasing harvest.
• We continue to seek and implement cutting-edge approaches to present the message of salvation on virtual and public venues through digital communication, while developing more effective approaches for personal evangelism through social-media platforms, where Pastor Justin Kim is paving new ways of engagement.
• Throughout the Conference many members conducted their very first evangelistic series. We have been blessed with a marked increase in church attendance and public evangelistic efforts, totaling nearly 400 soul-winning events leading to over 2,700 new members.
• We remain hopeful and focus more than ever on the heart and mission of taking the Adventist message to all of Central California and the world in this generation.
DEPARTMENT PROFILE
• The Gift Planning Ministries has a unique mission within the Seventh-day Adventist Church by providing useful financial, estate, and gift planning services.
• This ministry also provides tailored estate planning documents that lead to leaving a legacy of financial security, protecting your loved ones, and providing financial support for a variety of Adventist ministries.
• Our department builds reciprocal relationships with donors.
• We also provide education and resources to the conference departments, churches, and schools.
MILESTONES & MIRACLES
• We provided one or more of the following services to fifty-seven different families: trusts, wills, charitable gift annuities, Powers of Attorney for health and finances, and charitable remainder trusts.
• Conducted seminar training to young adults, families, and retired individuals on the Biblical principles of estate planning.
• $4,464,730 was received, which directly benefited the Central California Conference, its ministries, local schools, and churches.
• $703,616 was received, which benefited other Adventist ministries.
• Awarded from the NAD Certification & Accreditation Committee a Level A3. Our next trust review will be in three years, based on our most recent General Conference Audit Department trust review.
• The Lord continues to bless through the legacy of His faithful children.
DEPARTMENT PROFILE
• The Hispanic Ministries Department is dedicated to empowering, supporting, and unifying the 49 Hispanic and bilingual congregations within the Central California Conference.
• 21 pastors and 11 lay leaders help to provide support and guidance to our Hispanic communities.
• We provide comprehensive training and equipping resources tailored for pastors, local church leaders, and members, that result in growth and effective ministry.
• Oversee and promote the Hispanic Youth Federation (FEJA).
• Provide for Spanish-language Camp Meeting programming at the Hispanic tent in which Sabbath attendance reaches at least 2,000 attendees.
• Host annual Hispanic couples retreats, women’s retreats, and men’s retreats.
MILESTONES & MIRACLES
• 1,233 baptisms and professions of faith. This represents an impressive 45% percent of the total baptisms and professions of faith for our Conference.
• The Fresno El Shaddai Hispanic group and the Morgan Hill Bilingual group were established during 2022.
• Congregations organized with “company” status: Dinuba Hispanic in 2019; Ceres Hispanic in 2020; and San Francisco New Covenant in 2021.
• Organized the Los Banos Hispanic congregation with "church" status in 2023.
• United two congregations (Visalia Central Bilingual Seventh-day Adventist Church and Visalia Latin-American Seventh-day Adventist Church) into one congregation: Visalia Central Seventh-day Adventist Church.
• Annual Retreats:
º Couples Retreat - averaging 60 couples.
º Women’s Retreats - averaging 400 attendees of which 20% are not yet Adventist. At this retreat, 20 individuals made a commitment to be baptized.
º Men’s Retreats - more than 300 participants of which 15% are not yet Adventist.
º FEJA Retreat ages 13-17 - attracts over 100 attendees annually.
º FEJA Retreat ages 18-29 - more than 250 participants annually.
HUMAN RESOURCES
DEPARTMENT PROFILE
• The Central California Conference Human Resources Department promotes a safer, healthier, and happier work environment by managing and overseeing various aspects of employee relations, compliance, and operations within the organization.
• This is achieved by increasing professionalism and standardization, implementing policies and practices, ensuring legal compliance, creating programs that align employment practices with organizational goals, maintaining knowledge of best employment practices, ensuring legal adherence, promoting a positive workplace environment, managing compensation, and more.
MILESTONES & MIRACLES
• Assigned, processed, and recorded CalOSHA training in the following requirements, including billing and collections: Injury and Illness Prevention (339 trained); Preventing Harassment and Discrimination (408 trained); Bloodborne Pathogens (650 trained); and Hazard Communication (113 trained).
• Process over 1,000 employee status transitions each year—locally-funded, conference-funded, education, seasonal, and temporary.
• Soquel Camp Meeting: Managed the security team, parking team, and information booth at the Soquel Conference Center. Collaborated with conference administration on employee work assignments during camp meeting.
• Work with Adventist Risk Management and Ascend to Wholeness healthcare coverage plans. Successfully enroll over 350 employees annually in the healthcare system.
• Government Reporting: annually prepare and submit the EEO-1 Component 1 Data Collection report to the Federal Government; and the Pay Data Reporting to the California State Government.
• COVID-19 Prevention Program: Developed and implemented the COVID-19 Prevention Program outlining authority and responsibility, identifying and evaluating, correcting, and controlling COVID-19 hazards, and investigating and responding to COVID-19 cases.
• California Assembly Bill 506: developed and implemented a conference-wide procedure that meets the compliance requirements of AB-506 and mandated reporter training.
º HR staff were trained and cleared by the California Department of Justice as Custodian of Records and Heads of Agency.
º Secured and documented results of DOJ and FBI live scan background check screening of all employees.
º Reviewed, tracked, and documented the Mandated Reporter Training certificates for all employees.
• Established a Conference-wide wage scale (with various levels) for all employees.
• Online Employee Handbook: Developed an up-to-date online Employee Handbook (our previous handbook was printed in 2003). Policy changes can be viewed in real-time, allowing the handbook to be constantly relevant and up-to-date.
JUNIOR YOUTH MINISTRIES
DEPARTMENT PROFILE
• The Junior Youth Ministries Department is responsible for leading, training, and equipping ministry leaders associated with Adventurers, Pathfinders, Teen Leadership Training, Master Guides, and summer camp staff.
• The resources, time, energy, spiritual gifts, and talents of the department team are devoted to providing wholesome and spiritual programming for children and youth.
• Develops and provides resources and training opportunities that equip and enable local church leaders to connect children and youth with Jesus.
• Camp Wawona’s goal is to contribute to the overall growth of mind, body and spirit of our summer camp staff and campers through Christ-centered programs and activities while enjoying nature.
MILESTONES & MIRACLES
• After the COVID-19 pandemic,
º We established 25 new Adventurer Clubs that served 29 of our churches.
º Increased our Pathfinder Club from 10 to 38, that now serves 41 churches.
• We had over 100 Pathfinder baptisms.
• At the close of 2023, we initiated our Master Guide University, aimed at cultivating leadership within our Conference. We currently have 70 individuals working to fulfill the program requirements.
• Camp Wawona Summer Camp:
º From 2019 to 2021, Camp Wawona was closed due to various uncontrollable factors, including fires, snow, windstorms, and compliance with California state mandates during the COVID-19 quarantine. In 2021, the closure was extended as the United States National Park Service restricted access to residents only.
º Looking ahead, Camp Wawona is set to fully open this year for our summer camp program.
• “Summer Camp on the Road” Day Camps: In 2021, the Junior Youth Ministries Department introduced a new proposal and organized several day camps in schools and churches throughout our Conference. We served 162 campers and had a staff of 20 individuals.
• Connecting Through Prayer Groups: We are working to establish prayer groups that will convene regularly, either in person or through Zoom. We currently have over 50 groups.
LITERATURE MINISTRIES
DEPARTMENT PROFILE
The Literature Ministries Department of the Central California Conference has continued its impact through its publishing work, encompassing three main initiatives:
• Youth Rush: our student summer canvassing program has been a cornerstone of our ministry. Every summer, our department recruits, mentors, and trains 50-70 young adults to go door-to-door and share truth-filled literature.
• GLOW Tract Ministry: the GLOW (Giving Light to Our World) Tract Ministry continues to make a significant local and global impact. Operated in collaboration with the Pacific Union Conference, our department has led global GLOW initiatives, overseeing the creation, large-scale distribution, and sharing of testimonies.
• SOULS West Graduate CROSS Trainer Program: this department recruits, mentors, and oversees some of the highest quality Bible-working young people in the Conference, often bringing qualified ones to work more directly with the department in a mentored role in the publishing work.
MILESTONES & MIRACLES
• The COVID-19 pandemic led to the suspension of the Youth Rush program in 2020. In 2021, due to pandemic restrictions in California, our teams work in Oklahoma. We are rebuilding our program to its former capacity so we can reach homes with the truth and continue to support students with scholarships for Adventist education.
• Approximately 7,166,840 GLOW tracts were sold from our department.
• Since the inception of the GLOW ministry by the Central California Conference, approximately 150 million GLOW tracts have been printed worldwide.
• 183 student canvassers knocked on doors all over our Conference and received over $1 million in donations for 94,384 truth-filled books.
• Student scholarships awarded have surpassed $667,000.
• A Youth Rush Canvassing App was developed and first used in 2023.
• Distributing the book "The Great Controversy": In November 2020, we began collaborating with the organization Streams of Light International to train church members to go door-to-door and share copies of the book "The Great Controversy" for every home in Central California and North America by the year 2026.
• Three mission trips to Silicon Valley and San Francisco.
• In our Conference territory, over 220,000 copies of "The Great Controversy" have been shared.
• More than 1,000 members have participated in GLOW and "The Great Controversy" outreaches across our Conference, with hundreds of people signing up for Bible studies.
• Hosted a Three Angels’ Messages Symposium at our Soquel Conference Center, attracting nationwide participation.
DEPARTMENT PROFILE
• The Ministerial Department’s primary purpose is to provide support, encouragement, mentoring, professional and personal development, and counseling to our pastors, their spouses, and their children.
• The department assists conference administrators with the process of interviewing pastoral candidates.
• Oversees pastoral leadership and development throughout our Conference.
• Provides confidential counseling and referrals for professional counseling.
• Reviews and approves Continuing Education Allowance allocations for pastors.
• Monitors and facilitates the process for pastoral ordination and commissioning.
• Works with the NAD Ministerial Council to coordinate communication between the pastors and the local conference.
• Promotes, coordinates, and oversees church planting.
• Coordinates annual ministerial retreats.
MILESTONES & MIRACLES
• Established the Leadership Institute to annually provide four days of training and continuing education to our pre-ordained/commissioned pastors. We equip our pastors with practical tools such as church and personal finances, conflict management, pastoral visitation, church growth, and leadership.
• A first-ever retreat for pastors and elders was held, in line with our Conference’s vision of “Mobilize, start new groups, and baptize.”
• Launched strategic church plants including Fresno El Shaddai Hispanic, Fresno Ghanaian, Hope Madera, Maranatha, Morgan Hill Bilingual, South Bay Ukrainian, and Tulare Hispanic. (The following were approved to be launched in 2024: Clovis Latin-American, Los Banos Samoan, and Orion Hispanic.)
• Organized several groups into congregations with company status: Ceres Hispanic, Dinuba Hispanic, and San Francisco New Covenant. (The following groups were approved to be organized into congregations with company status in 2024: Fresno El Shaddai Hispanic, Hope Madera, Maranatha, Morgan Hill Bilingual, and Tulare Hispanic.)
• Organized the following congregations with company status into a church: Los Banos Hispanic, and The Ark Community. Of special note, the Los Banos Hispanic congregation baptized 25 people during 2023.
• Shared the vision for multiplying churches. A multiplying church will be thinking, praying, and planning to plant another congregation before being organized as a church.
DEPARTMENT PROFILE
• The Central California Conference holds title to all its properties in trust for its local churches and schools. The logistical aspects of acquiring, developing, and selling these properties is managed by the Property Management Department.
• The department works with all local churches and schools in the purchase, sale, and leasing of real property.
• Provides additional services to local churches and schools, including assistance with the appropriate filing and reporting of property tax exemptions.
• Provides oversight to maintain our school facilities in compliance with federal AHERA regulations related to asbestos-containing materials and continued surveillance requirements.
• Major property management decisions are discussed and voted upon by the Property Council consisting of conference officers and staff, and a standing Property Management Board consisting of conference officers, staff, and lay persons.
MILESTONES & MIRACLES
• The Property Management Department facilitated the purchase of eight properties, totaling $4,327,000.
• The department facilitated the sale of 15 properties, totaling $3,650,000.
• Recorded and maintained 119 active conference property leases.
DEPARTMENT PROFILE
• The Religious Liberty Department plays a crucial role in managing requests for Sabbath accommodations within the workplace and facilitates arrangements for students facing exams on the Sabbath.
• The department actively engages in addressing challenges related to labor union membership, and offers assistance to individuals seeking non-combatant status.
• The department collaborates closely with the Religious Liberty leadership at the Pacific Union Conference. Notably, there are two Public Affairs and Religious Liberty offices strategically positioned in California, with one close to the State Capitol. This strategic placement enhances our ability to advocate for and protect religious liberties on a local and regional level.
MILESTONES & MIRACLES
• Supported numerous church members in maintaining their employment while upholding Sabbath observance.
• Advocated for Seventh-day Adventist students by assisting in the arrangement of alternative exam days.
• Provided effective guidance and additional support to individuals navigating complex cases, resulting in positive outcomes.
• Contributed to the success of the Pacific Union Conference by actively supporting the annual Religious Liberty Offering and participating in the Religious Liberty Campaign season.
DEPARTMENT PROFILE
• Risk Management is a ministry of active stewardship, helping safeguard the property and people the Lord has entrusted to the Central California Conference.
• Maintains policy records and coordinates claims processing for all Conference departments, churches, and schools related to automobile, camper, cyber, general liability, injury, property, and student accident.
• Maintains records and coordinates responsibilities of all church and school safety officers.
• Receives and reviews camp, church, and school self-inspection reports.
• Coordinates property inspections and valuations with insurers for the purposes of insurance coverage.
MILESTONES & MIRACLES
• The department processed 25 Auto Loss Claims, representing $177,536 and paying out $147,236.
• Processed 25 General Liability Loss Claims, representing $71,567 and paying out $51,592.
• Processed 68 Property Loss Claims, representing $1,991,318 and paying out $1,980,818.
• Conducted monthly Conference Office Safety & Risk Management Committee meetings.
• Promoted the semiannual Church Safety Sabbath.
• Participated in annual NAD Risk Management initiatives and Emergency Preparedness Planning.
SENIOR YOUTH & YOUNG ADULT MINISTRIES
DEPARTMENT PROFILE
The Senior Youth and Young Adult Ministries Department has made significant impacts over the last five years as a result of the many ministries and programs that have been started to boost, support, and lead young people to a more powerful relationship with Jesus.
MILESTONES & MIRACLES
• Over 3,000 Zoom meetings for thousands of youth and young adults.
• Five one-day young adult conferences with over 200 young adults attending in the Bay Area, Fresno, Madera, Ceres, and more.
• Teen Bible Academy is a three-week summer program focused on solitude, study, and service. Since its inception, more than 860 teen students have attended these programs. Many become staff once they graduate from high school.
• 25 Youth and Young Adult Leader trainings. These trainings occur annually throughout the Conference and are designed to help develop ministries in the local church setting.
• Over 100 young adult and youth groups were started in local churches for prayer, Bible study, outreach, and fellowship. Mentoring is available to help teams and groups succeed in their local churches.
• Three health events, two HealthX trainings for health ministry leaders and one Bite-size health event, provided special training to equip leaders for developing various cooking schools, health events, and local health ministries. The first happened in Clovis, and the most recent was in Bakersfield. The first event had over 70 health leaders, and the second had close to 90. The goal is to create awareness of the health ministry, develop health programs for community evangelism, and network health ministry leaders.
• Public campus retreat hosted at our Soquel Conference Center. This retreat brought together Adventist public campus students throughout the Pacific Union Conference. They were able to network, learn ways to share their faith, and become better students for God’s glory.
• Young adult-focused ARISE event with David Asscherick and Ty Gibson had over 350 people in attendance. Topics included the gospel, community, and understanding of the major components of Adventism.
• Teen girls and teen boys retreats. These annual weekends are facilitated by young adults who help teens recognize their value in Christ. Activities are designed to build friendship and lead young people to fall in love with Jesus. We restarted in 2023 with more than 200 teens in attendance.
• Camp meeting young adult, youth, and early teen divisions. Many young adults volunteer in our division tents for camp meeting.
º 2023: over 36 teens made decisions to be baptized.
º 2024: more than 400 young adults attended the Sabbath programs.
SONORA COMMUNITY ESTATES
DEPARTMENT PROFILE
• The Sonora Community Estates is a 40-unit retirement community owned and operated by the Central California Conference for Adventist retirees who are over 55 years old, and consists of 11 houses, seven duplexes, one triplex, two six-plex buildings, and one studio—ranging in size from 4002,400 square feet.
• Our campus exceeds 30 acres, and is shared with the active and vibrant 800+ member Discover Life Seventh-day Adventist Church, and a 10-grade (soon to be a 12-grade) academy.
• We also adjoin the county Dragoon Gulch trail system, with its 3-4 miles of woodland trails and 360-degree Sierra Mountain range vistas.
• Mild weather patterns make us conducive to year-round outdoor activities, being above the valley fog and, in most years, minimal snowfall at our elevation.
MILESTONES & MIRACLES
• The Central California Conference acquired the property in the 1960s, and has steadily been working to improve and maintain the community at an attractive and functional level appropriate to the age group we serve. As of 2023 we have fully remodeled 90% of the unit interiors, and have budgeted to bring the final units to current specifications on “turnover,” as they vacate.
• All units are equipped with central heating and air conditioning, dishwashers, microwave ovens, and modern ceiling fans to maximize heating and cooling efficiencies. Outlets and hardware are modern Decora paddle-type switches, and brushed nickel finish lever latches for ease-of-use door and cabinet hardware.
• With modestly priced monthly rentals beginning at $800/month, climbing into the mid-teens for homes, we continue to explore means and methods of improving the property to continue as a seniors-friendly facility while continuing to remain an affordable option for Seventh-day Adventist retirees.
SOQUEL CONFERENCE CENTER
DEPARTMENT PROFILE
• The Soquel Conference Center maintains and manages over 108 acres in Soquel, California.
• It hosts and provides operational support for the annual 10-day Soquel Camp Meeting, which holds up to 10,000 guests on campus for the weekends, in addition to facilitating broadcasting and livestreamed meetings internationally.
• The center annually hosts and facilitates the activities of approximately 12 weekend events for the Conference, churches, schools, and Pathfinders, consisting of up to 300 guests each time, as well as weekend RV and cabin stays, family reunions, and weddings.
• The center encourages positive relationships with the Soquel community and surrounding counties.
• Soquel Conference Center is an emergency evacuation location, as well as a local law enforcement and fire training site.
MILESTONES & MIRACLES
• Partnered with the County of Santa Cruz and provided 10 RV spaces and office space to house Transitional Young Adults, young adults that are/have transitioned out of the foster care system and are going forward into the workforce.
• 2020 CZU FIRE: hosted our community as an evacuation center. Many people expressed their thanks and were touched that the Adventist community opened their doors in a time of need.
• Verizon cell tower installed at hilltop.
• South water tank replacement.
• Large auditorium upgrades:
º Structural beams: exterior glulam brackets, designed and retrofitted, and interior glulam replacement.
º LED lighting, interior, installed (donation).
º LED lighting, installed on the exterior entrances.
• Cabin Upgrades:
º New bunk beds, twin/double and twin/twin, and new mattresses.
º Added tables and new shelving units.
• Vinyl Flooring: installed in Esperanza meeting room, small auditorium, administration offices, ministers room and prayer room (labor donated).
• 20 LED canopy lighting installed around campus (donated).
• Playground area: 5-12 years of age playground equipment (donated).
• Youth area improvements through donations:
º Nine-hole disc golf and discs.
º Sand, net and volleyballs for the volleyball pit.
º Barbecue area with pergola and a serving counter with shelves.
º Six cornhole game sets.
º Four basketball hoops and basketballs.
º Six foosball game tables.
• Small auditorium: 300 padded, interlocking and stackable meeting room chairs (donated).
• Large dining hall: installed string lighting for warm, inviting atmosphere.
• Soquel would like to thank our Operational Board, past and present, and our wonderful volunteers who gave so generously of their time, talents, and treasury.
YOUTH EVANGELISM
DEPARTMENT PROFILE
• The Youth Evangelism Department was created to promote Adventist youth evangelism, by strengthening, mentoring, and training youth to share the gospel in all areas.
• Our motto is: “Young people saving young people.”
• Our aim is to develop youth evangelism programs in our territory that create an atmosphere of evangelism. This starts with the training established by the our General Conference Youth Department, which seeks to develop more leaders with an evangelistic vision, and create materials for young people to lead evangelistic series, small groups, support groups, and Bible studies.
MILESTONES & MIRACLES
• Summer camp was reopened in 2023 with a spiritual objective in all its programming. We had a blessed camp without accidents. Five young people were baptized during summer camp, and 15 were later baptized in their local churches. Glory to God for these results!
• Several churches in our territory have carried out special youth evangelism series directed strictly by young people and for young people.
• A monthly digital training resource was created, allowing more than 176 registered youth to receive training from youth evangelism experts.
• Established the Senior Youth Leadership Program in English and Spanish for the benefit of young people who wish to train and serve in their local churches.
• Initiated the Adventist Youth Ministry Silver and Gold Medal Program, which inspires our young people physically, mentally, and spiritually.
• Since January 2023, we have visited more than 32 churches supporting the vision of the pastors in starting new groups of Adventurers, Pathfinders, and youth evangelism teams.
• A seminar was created, presenting the four fundamental principles of youth evangelism. Those who registered received support materials.
• All registered young persons and leaders are added to a database for follow-up and future contact.
• Local church groups were established to perform practices and projects during each webinar. There are 75 established groups with 59 young people from 34 churches registered to start a group with their close friends.
• More than 200 backpacks with materials have been delivered to our youth evangelists to start new evangelistic groups.
• Webinars will be offered on various topics related to youth evangelism.