Southeastern California Conference 1915: The Liberty Bell is brought through Loma Linda on its countrywide tour during Annual Council 1922: La Sierra Academy is founded 1932: First JMV Pathfinder Camp is purchased in Idyllwild 1932: The Loma Linda Food Company opens a factory on property near the La Sierra College Campus 1938: Calexico Mission School is organized 1946: First conference-sponsored Pathfinder Club is formed in Riverside. 1956: Orangewood Academy begins as a junior academy 1961: The College of Medical Evangelists was reorganized as the School of Medicine of Loma Linda University, with campuses in Loma Linda and Los Angeles 1961: Pine Springs Ranch hosts its first summer camp 1973: Mesa Grande opens its doors as a junior academy 1984: At Loma Linda University Medical Center, Dr. Leonard L. Bailey performs the first xenotransplant procedure on “Baby Fae,” who was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. 2004: Gerald Penick Sr. was elected as first African-American conference president 2013: Sandra Roberts is the first woman to be elected as conference president
For ethnic food lovers, Calexico Mission School sold churros locos, La Sierra Spanish church had peanut soup and tamales, Valley Christian sold boba and Vietnamese noodles, and Oceanside school offered egg rolls and rice bowls. Meanwhile, kids lined up at the face painting station to become a tiger, a princess, Superman or a ninja turtle. Out on the field, Doug Mace, pastor for middle school ministries at Loma Linda University church, coordinated bubble ball soccer, hula-hooping contests, and more fun for kids of all ages. Attendees gathered under the big tent for the main program, where they sang praises and Randal Wisbey, president of La Sierra University, reflected on the conference’s 100-year journey. expresses his gratitude for the close relationship After a welcome by Roberts, conference between the university and the conference. president, Randal Wisbey, La Sierra University president, and Rusty Baily, the Riverside mayor, spoke about their gratitude for the churches in the area and the impact they have had on the Riverside community and within the conference territory. Other officials, including Ted Benson, Pacific Union Conference treasurer; Daniel Weber, North American Division communication director; and Ernest Castillo, North American Division vice president for multilingual ministries, shared congratulatory remarks as Roberts Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey congratulates Southeastern California Conference on its birthday. received a commemorative crystal plaque. Jonathan Park, conference executive secretary, led attendees in prayer. Following special music diverse ministry,” said Roberts. “I look forward to SECC’s 100th Birthday Party performances by La Sierra Academy’s Delta Mu, seeing us move forward with an intentional focus at La Sierra University Valley Adventist Christian School and Laguna on the mission of expanding God’s kingdom.” The SECC centennial would not be complete Niguel Junior Academy, Roberts joined Ernest without a family fun event hosted on the campus Furness, ministerial director, on the platform for a Amy Prindle of La Sierra University complete with outdoor discussion that spanned the conference’s eventful activities, fair food, face painting, free souvenirs, history and rallied for a future of positive growth. See more photos online at musical performances and prize drawings. Verlon Strauss, conference treasurer, offered www.pacificunionrecorder.com. To kick off the celebration, the 5K Fundraiser a consecrating Walk/Run for Adventist Education took pace on La benediction. Sierra University’s track. Fifty participated, raising After singing “Happy $1,000. Each runner got to choose the school they Birthday to You” to the wished to support through Worthy Student Funds. conference, guests Whereas, the Lord has signally blessed our conference A full afternoon of choral and instrumental devoured free cupcakes during the past year as manifested in preserving the performances by La Sierra and Orangewood and ice cream at the health and lives of our workers, and giving them a large Academies, Valley Christian Adventist School, event’s closing, and number of souls for their labor, and in putting it into the Laguna Niguel Junior Academy, Needles Adventist several expressed how hearts of the people to give of their means to support the School and La Sierra University’s UNITED followed inspired they felt that work at home and abroad, we hereby render to Him a the 5K. While listening to inspirational music in the conference is truly tribute of thanksgiving and praise, and pledge ourselves the gym and on the lawn, families enjoyed classic moving in a missionto more consecrated service for the coming year. treats such as corn dogs, pizza and root beer floats driven direction. sold by Desert Adventist School, La Sierra Academy “As a conference, Published in Pacific Union Recorder, Vol. 16, No. 5 and Murrieta Springs Academy, respectively. we hope to model the Loma Linda, California, Sept. 7, 1916 beauty of a thriving,
Gratitude
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