Northern California Conference

On Feb. 8, 2022, the Northern California Conference (NCC) Executive Committee selected Rudolph (Rudy) Peters to lead four NCC ministries. He now serves as the African American ministries coordinator, urban ministries director, men’s ministries coordinator, and prison ministries coordinator. “I am humbled by the opportunity to serve our pastors, churches, and communities,” said Peters. “I look forward to coming alongside people to help them engage in effective ministry that will impact the lives of all those who live within our territory.” During his 17 years in the NCC, Peters served as pastor of the Valley Community church, the Richmond

Beacon Light church, the Stockton Mayfair church, and the Rancho Cordova church. Many know him due to his leadership in the Adult II division at Redwood

Camp Meeting. A native of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, an island in the Caribbean, Peters has been a pastor since 1991.

He led churches on the islands of St. Vincent, Dominica, and St. Lucia, as well as in New York and Connecticut— where he planted the Bridgeport Tabernacle church. Ordained in 2000, Peters holds a bachelor’s degree in theology from Andrews University, a master’s degree in urban management from Connecticut

State University, and a Doctor of Ministry from San

Francisco Theological Seminary. As he begins his new roles, Peters is focusing on his personal ministry mission. “I want to be a leader, teacher, bridge builder, advocate, and coach for people to successfully navigate spiritual, social, economic, educational, and political challenges,” he said. He is considering new ways to bring about church revitalization and church growth. “We need to reimagine our churches—especially coming out of the pandemic—to make them vital and relevant,” he said. “I’m mindful of the unique challenges that are facing African Americans and how we need to present the gospel in a way that will resonate with them.” Peters takes over the position formerly held by Willie Johnson Jr., who retired at the end of 2021. “Elder Johnson was an amazing leader—one who was not afraid to share his leadership with others,” said Peters. “One of the beautiful things he did was advocate for pastors.” Peters has been married to Valentine, whom he sees as his greatest gift and blessing, for 29 years. The couple have two children: Theon, a biochemistry graduate of the University of California, Davis, and Ethan, a middle school student. In his spare time, Peters enjoys listening to audio books, lifting weights, and playing racquetball and pickleball. President Marc Woodson looks forward to seeing the many ways the Lord will work through Peters in the coming years. “Leading four ministries is no easy task,” he said. “So we are grateful for Rudy’s breadth of experience, his education, his leadership skills—and especially his passion for winning souls and growing disciples.”

____________________ By Julie Lorenz

Rudy Peters, son Ethan, and wife Valentine Peter

ISTOCK.COM/MTCURADO ISTOCK.COM/DIMPLE BHATI

ISTOCK.COM/VADIM_NEFEDOV ISTOCK.COM/SILENT_GOS

The Northern California Conference (NCC) is on a journey toward organizational health. The first step on this journey expanded the leadership team to eight members. The second step clarified why we exist, how we behave, what we do, and what will make us succeed. The answers to these questions then guide the team in decision making. One decision that has repeated itself is how to support the humanitarian response in the global community when a disaster strikes or war hits a region. Because the conference is comprised of a diverse group of members from all over the world, events in other countries personally affect our members and employees. So far in 2021 and 2022, we have supported the following projects:

On April 9, 2021, La Soufrière volcano erupted, displacing thousands of people, including our Adventist brothers and sisters in the Caribbean nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Mission quickly mobilized and began serving 700 meals each day. When Pastor Rudy Peters, the new African American Coordinator notified administration of the need in his home country, the leadership team voted to provide support to the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Mission via the InterAmerican Division.

Many of the populated islands in the Kingdom of Tonga were heavily damaged by the eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai and the subsequent tsunami in early January 2022. The NCC leadership team reached out to Tui Finau, pastor of the Sacramento Tongan church. Through our weekly newsletter, Northern Lights, we promoted their in-kind donation drive to our members; in addition, we will help ship those items to the island in partnership with this local church.

Many of the approximately 500 members of the Sacramento Slavic, Sacramento Ukrainian, and Sacramento Yugoslavian churches are apprehensive and fearful about the well-being of their loved ones who are fleeing Ukraine as well as those who have stayed behind. Beyond prayers for peace, various leadership team members have been in constant contact with the pastors of these churches to address identified needs. Because of its demonstrated humanitarian work, the leadership team voted to support ADRA's effort to alleviate the immediate and urgent human need in the region.

Due to the annual wildfires and other disasters in our conference, the leadership team established a disaster relief fund and the disaster response committee. Plans are in place for the 2022 season if a disaster should hit our region.

____________________ By Laurie Trujillo