Southeastern California Conference
Early Childhood Education Centers
are Key
to Witnessing By Julie Majestic, with Jessica Anzai Permaul
T
he Southeastern California Conference has four early childhood education centers in its territory. Two are connected to churches: Azure Hills Children’s Center, on the campus of Azure Hills church, and Children’s Discovery Center, on the campus of Riverside Community church. The other two are connected to academies: Loma Linda Academy Children’s Center and Sunrise Christian Preschool, at Orangewood Academy.
These centers are a key component in mission work to local neighborhoods. “Even though we are on school or church campuses, we’re a huge outreach in the community,” said Julie Majestic, principal of Loma Linda Academy Children’s Center. According to Majestic, a lot of parents who send their children to the centers are Hindu, Muslim, or atheist. “Our centers are a bridge for people who know a little bit but don’t really have a clear idea who Seventh-day Adventists are,” she said. Below are a few stories from the frontlines of Adventist mission work. Azure Hills Children’s Center One mother decided to enroll her son, Nicolas, at Azure Hills Children’s Center. Although not a practicing Adventist anymore, Azure Hills Children’s Center is on the same campus as Azure Hills church in Grand Terrace.
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she wanted him to have the same Adventist education she had growing up. At school, Nicolas learned how to pray and was consistent in praying at home before his meals and before going to sleep. Witnessing Nicolas praying at home moved the mother’s heart. She slowly began to realize that she missed the presence of God in her life. She sought a pastor at Azure Hills church to talk to, rededicated her life to Christ, and was rebaptized. After coming to the United States, the Lee family enrolled their two children in Azure Hill’s Children’s
Center last year. Their children learned many Bible verses and would recite the Lord’s Prayer. Although the family was not Adventist, they appreciated Adventist education and chose to enroll their son in Loma Linda Academy for kindergarten. Sunrise Christian Preschool A mother phoned Audry Railey, director of Sunrise Christian Preschool, asking if there was room for her four-year-old son.