Southeastern California Conference
SECC Ordains Pastor Oscar Pereda
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ENNO MUELLER
SECC congregations: San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana Spanish and Inland Spanish. “He has demonstrated a passion for souls and delights in sharing the good news of salvation in the churches where he has ministered,” said Alberto Ingleton, SECC vice president for Hispanic ministries. In Enernest Furness, SECC ministerial director, congratulates Pereda. 2010, Pereda earned a Master of Divinity from La Sierra University. Five months after his ordination, he became pastor of the Costa Mesa Spanish church, where he currently serves. Passionate about leadership, Pereda seeks to empower others to be leaders in their churches and Gerald Penick, former SECC president, and Alberto Ingleton, SECC vice communities. He feels president of Hispanic ministries, address Pereda and his family. strongly that church members should be involved with their local theology. “I would like to facilitate a conversaneighborhoods in tion between the academic world and the practical ways. “We church world,” he said. “They see each other as want to be not only rivals, but there is so much to learn from both followers of Christ, but worlds.” also His representaIn the meantime, Pereda is busy with an tives in the world,” increasing ministry and a growing family. Edith he said. His current teaches religion and ESL at La Sierra Academy. plans for the Costa The couple has two children: Joy, a La Sierra Mesa Spanish church Academy freshman, and Jeremy, a seventhinclude offering par- grader at La Sierra Academy Junior High. enting classes, English For recreation, Pereda enjoys running, swimas a Second Language ming and biking — not just for health, but also classes and citizenship for the insights he receives while exercising. classes. “That’s when my creativity is developed,” he In due time, Pereda said. “I review sermons, get ideas, think deeply hopes to begin a about the Bible. I know that’s when God is doctoral program with going to speak to me.” the goal of becomOscar Pereda, pastor, serves at the Costa Mesa Spanish church, along with this wife, Edith, daughter, Joy, and son, Jeremy. ing a professor of Julie Lorenz ENNO MUELLER
he Southeastern California Conference recognized Oscar Pereda’s calling to the gospel ministry at an ordination service on Sabbath, May 18, at the Inland Spanish church. Pereda now serves as pastor of the Costa Mesa Spanish church. Born in Chiapas, Mexico, Pereda grew up in an Adventist family. When he was 15, the family immigrated to the United States and settled in Loma Linda. After graduating from Redlands High School, Pereda and his older brother, Rodolfo, returned to Mexico to study at the Universidad de Montemorelos. Fascinated since childhood by computers and technology, his plan was to become a computer engineer. However, at the university he says he felt the Holy Spirit calling him to a different path — not in a dramatic form, but in a quiet way. “It was not something extraordinary,” he said. “I felt that serving others was something I was really passionate about. I saw my commitment to working at a church, fellowshipping with others and helping them know about God.” When he told his parents that he had changed his career goal, “they totally embraced it,” assuring him that he had made the right decision. His choice was life changing in an unexpected way; in his theology classes, he met his future wife, Edith. Pereda graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts in theology, and returned to the United States. Before his ordination, he served at three
January 2014
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