On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus (Luke 24:1-3, NIV).
Love cannot live without action, and every act increases, strengthens, and extends it. Love will gain the victory when argument and authority are powerless. Love works not for profit nor reward; yet God has ordained that great gain shall be the certain result of every labor of love. It is diffusive in its nature and quiet in its operation, yet strong and mighty in its purpose to overcome great evils. It is melting and transforming in its influence.… Pure love is simple in its operations, and is distinct from any other principle of action.
—Ellen White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, pp. 135-136
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What’s inside
4 Uniquely Called: Joanna’s Quiet but Powerful Ministry
8 Fundamental Belief #19: The Law of God
10 Adventist Pioneers in the West: Beginnings: Media Ministries
15 A Crisis in Seventh-day Adventist Hermeneutics
20 God’s Perfect Timing in an Imperfect World
24 When Darkness Speaks 26 Arizona Conference 28 Central California Conference 30 Hawaii Conference 32 Holbrook Indian School
Adventist Health 35 La Sierra University 36 Loma Linda University Health 37 Pacific Union College 38 Nevada-Utah Conference 40 Northern California Conference
42 Southeastern California Conference 44 Southern California Conference
Iwant you to think for a moment about the people who have been there for you in ministry. Not the ones in the spotlight. Not the pastor up front or the singer on stage. I mean the people who quietly show up, faithfully, time after time. The ones who give of their time, resources, and hearts without needing or requesting recognition.
For me, I think of a head deacon I once served with. He was there early, left late, repaired things without being asked, and saved the church thousands of dollars. No sermon with his name on it, no headlines—but without him, ministry would have been crippled.
You probably have a name in mind right now. Someone whose faithfulness has lifted the load, supported our mission, and encouraged your heart. I want to introduce you to one of those quiet pillars from the pages of Scripture: a woman named Joanna. Mentioned only twice in the Bible, she is easy to overlook. Yet, when you put together the biblical record, the historical background, and some remarkable archaeological discoveries, you see that she was uniquely called—and that her example speaks directly to how God calls each of us.
Luke 8:1-3 says: “Soon afterward [Jesus] went on
through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.”1
Here’s her first mention: She’s a follower of Jesus. She’s been healed. She’s a woman of means. She’s the wife of Chuza, a high official in Herod Antipas’s government. And she supports Jesus’ ministry financially.
The second mention comes in Luke 24:9-10, after the resurrection: “And returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles.”
Johanna was there at the empty tomb. She heard the angels proclaim, “He is not here, for he has risen” (Matthew 28:6). She carried that first resurrection message back to the apostles.
That’s it—two verses. But when we look deeper, these two verses open a window into an extraordinary story.
Luke describes Chuza, Joanna’s husband, as Herod’s household manager. The Greek term used by Luke doesn’t just mean “butler” or “servant.” It refers to a royal steward, a governor, even a viceroy—someone with authority over an entire province and the finances of a kingdom.
Joanna, then, was no peasant. She was part of the aristocracy, moving in the same social circles as Herod’s court. This is the same Herod who had John the Baptist imprisoned and beheaded (Luke 3:19-20; Mark 6:17-29). Now think about that: someone from inside Herod’s household became a disciple of Jesus!
For Joanna, following Jesus meant risk. Risk to her reputation— aligning with a wandering rabbi condemned by religious leaders. Risk to her safety—as someone linked to Herod’s court, she could easily have been accused of treason or disloyalty. Risk to her comfort—she left the security and wealth of palace life to travel dusty roads with Jesus and the Twelve.
But she had been healed by Jesus—spiritually, emotionally, perhaps physically. When Jesus changes you, you can’t go back to life as usual.
Like the rich young ruler, Joanna had wealth. But unlike him, she didn’t walk away sorrowful. She used her resources to advance the kingdom. She “provided for them out of her means” (Luke 8:3). She lived out her name, which means “Yahweh is a gracious giver,” by becoming a gracious giver herself.
A remarkable archaeological discovery adds weight to her story. A first-century ossuary (a limestone box for bones) was found near Jerusalem inscribed with the name “Yehohanah”—the Hebrew form of Joanna—and identifying her as the granddaughter of Theophilus the high priest. Why is that significant? Luke dedicates his Gospel to “most excellent Theophilus” (Luke 1:3). The title “most excellent” is used in Acts for Roman governors, and Josephus applies it to the high priesthood.
If this is the same Theophilus, then Joanna wasn’t just in Herod’s court—she was also from a family that held the highest religious office in Jerusalem. This would explain why Luke alone names her and why he places her name at the center of the text in Luke 24:10 (Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James), drawing our attention to her as a key witness of the resurrection.
In God’s providence, Joanna may have been both the granddaughter of the high priest and the wife of Herod’s viceroy—and yet she chose to identify with the crucified and risen Messiah.
We sometimes picture ministry as preaching, teaching, leading. But Joanna reminds us that support roles are kingdom roles. She traveled with Jesus’ group, which meant logistical help: meals, lodging, supplies. She gave financially, which freed the disciples to focus on preaching. She bore witness to the resurrection, which made her a foundational link in the Gospel testimony.
Without her, and others like her, the visible ministry of Jesus and the apostles would have been much harder, if not impossible. Paul would later write about those who have the gift of contributing (Romans 12:8) and those who “have devoted themselves to the service of the saints” (1 Corinthians 16:15). Joanna was one of those people.
Joanna’s life shows that God calls both fishermen and financiers, peasants and palace insiders. The gospel is not bound by class, gender, or status. You may feel too ordinary to make a difference—or too compromised by your background. Joanna shows us that no one is too far away, and no one is too highly placed, for Jesus to call.
Not everyone will preach to thousands or lead worship on stage. Some of the most crucial ministry happens quietly—through prayer, financial support, hospitality, and practical service. If you’re serving behind the scenes, you’re in good company. Heaven’s record books value Joanna’s contribution just as much as Peter’s sermon at Pentecost.
Joanna left behind privilege and comfort to follow Jesus on dusty roads and into danger. What
might God be asking you to lay down? Comfort? Status? The security of staying silent? Following Jesus still requires courage.
When Joanna and the other women told the apostles that Jesus had risen, Luke says, “these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them” (Luke 24:11). You may share your testimony and be met with skepticism. You may speak truth and be ignored. Joanna’s story says: Keep speaking anyway. The message is too important to withhold.
Jesus valued Joanna’s ministry enough for it to be recorded for all time. We should value the “Joannas” in our lives—those who serve faithfully, sacrificially, without applause.
Have you thanked them lately? Encouraged them? Prayed for them?
Joanna’s name surfaces only twice in Scripture. But behind those mentions is a life of deep commitment, costly discipleship, and kingdom significance. She reminds us that in God’s kingdom, there are no “minor” roles. Every act of faithfulness—every meal served, every mile traveled, every dollar given, every testimony shared—is woven into God’s redemptive work. When you serve in obscurity, remember Joanna. When you feel unseen, remember that God sees. And when you wonder if it’s worth it, remember that the quiet servants often stand closest to the empty tomb. May we all be uniquely called, like Joanna—and may we answer that call with joy.
Stephen Mayer is the treasurer and CFO of the Pacific Union Conference.
1Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the English Standard Version.
We sometimes picture ministry as preaching, teaching, leading. But Joanna reminds us that support roles are kingdom roles.
Fundamental Belief #19
The Law of God
By David B. Smith
IThe one thing that commandmentkeeping can never do is to save us! It has many positive functions, but heavenly merit or salvation credit is not one of those things.
came home from work not too long ago and found that someone had tossed a brick through my living room window. They had also removed a laptop, iPod, camera, two guitars, keyboard, and $50 in Thai currency from my domestic kingdom. (Why they wanted a stack of baht I have no idea—good luck spending that at Taco Bell.) Needless to say, I wish the thief had been more aware of—and more obedient to—the Ten Commandments! I only hope that my vocabulary, as I surveyed the bare spots in my ransacked home and verbalized my frustration, measured up to God’s eternal law. Even without formal religious instruction, most of us have an inner sense of right and wrong. If sin is “the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4, KJV), the violation of some divine standard, then what is that standard? The Bible says that Lucifer sinned in heaven centuries before the children of Israel hiked through the Red Sea. Cain sinned against his brother in Genesis 4. So there plainly was some heavenly rulebook or set of guidelines even before an invisible God spoke the Ten Commandments from the top of Mt. Sinai.
But what is the purpose of the Decalogue? Is it still in force 2,000 years after Calvary? Even as politicians and pastors encourage judges to post the Ten Commandments on their courtroom walls, churches are divided on the continuing role of the 15 verses where Exodus 20 spells out God’s great do’s and don’t’s.
Christians do generally agree that despite the “Thou shalt not’s,” the Ten Commandments are a positive expression of God’s eternal character. He is good; the law is good. Both are perfect and fair. Both are reasonable. Believers of all
denominations consider the Ten Commandments to be a wise foundation for holy living. Pastors encourage their flocks to keep the commandments and live simple, obedient lives. Jesus said to His disciples: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15, NKJV). Paul, the most zealous proclaimer of the gospel of grace, quickly adds: “So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good” (Romans 7:12, NIV).
If we truly understand the spirit behind the commandments, we grow to understand that they are a law of liberty, given to us by a heavenly Father who truly cares about our safety and the security of the guitars and laptops in our living rooms!
A mature disciple of Jesus who loyally keeps his Savior’s commandments lives a cheerful, positive life—free from the worries about his lies coming unraveled, his thefts discovered, his selfishness and hateful moments exposed. “I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts” (Psalm 119:45, NIV).
But if the Law of God is an eternal expression of His will and character, if it is the foundation of His secure government, did it come to an end at Calvary? Virtually all believers acknowledge that the civil and ceremonial laws surrounding the Exodus 20 commands did culminate at the Cross; the torn veil in the temple gives a divine sign that the sacrificial system had been fulfilled by Jesus’ great Calvary gift. But only the Ten Commandments were spoken by God’s own audible voice; only the Ten Commandments were written in stone. Are the Ten Commandments different from the ceremonial laws?
The great catechisms of the Christian Church have always considered the Ten Commandments to be a unique and lasting expression of God’s will for us. John Calvin called them “as unchangeable, as the justice of God, which it embraced, is constant and uniform.”1 John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church, concurred: “This is a law which can never be broken. It stands fast as the faithful
witness in Heaven.”2 Here in the internet age, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association website adds its affirmation: “The world has changed greatly since God gave the Ten Commandments to His people almost 3,500 years ago, but if anything, that makes them even more important to us today, not less so.” Then Pastor Graham adds: “Yes, times change—but God doesn’t change.”3
There are many positive things the law can do. Obviously, it shows us God’s character. It is a blueprint for moral and mature living. Like a bathroom mirror, it points out our sins and shortcomings—leading us to repentance and conversion. Obedience provides us with the opportunity to bring glory to God by our noble and unselfish acts of service (Matthew 5:16), making Christianity look like a dynamic and valid lifestyle.
The one thing that commandment-keeping can never do is to save us! It has many positive functions, but heavenly merit or salvation credit is not one of those things. Paul writes that the law is like a “schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ” (Galatians 3:24, KJV). It shows us the stark reality of how we fall short—and that we need the mercies of a loving heavenly Father. To make the point absolutely clear, Paul asserts just one page earlier: “Know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ” (Galatians 2:16, NIV). As we stand before the great judgment bar of God and see that the eternal Ten Commandments are the basis for that judgment (James 2:12), it is wonderful news that the spotless character of Jesus has been credited to our account!
David B. Smith is a retired math professor from San Bernardino Valley College and the former scriptwriter for Voice of Prophecy.
1John Calvin, Commentary on a Harmony of the Gospels, vol. 1, p. 277, https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/951.81.
2John Wesley, Sermon on the Mount (Alachua, FL: Bridge-Logos Publishers, 2010), p. 142.
3“Answers,” Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada, https://sdawest. pub/graham.
Charles D. Brooks
La Voz de la Esperanza
George Vandeman
Pioneers in the West
By the Recorder editorial staff
Beginnings: Media Ministries
Voice of Prophecy
The early days of media ministries in the West were groundbreaking for the whole of the country. In 1929, H.M.S. Richards began his Tabernacle of the Air broadcasts that eventually became the Voice of Prophecy (1937). This was an avenue of evangelism that had not been explored before. Broadcasting over KNX-AM radio in Los Angeles, Richards showed it was possible to reach audiences in a way that was brand new. [For more information, see the article on H.M.S. Richards from this series in the January 2025 issue of the Recorder.]
“October 19, 1929 marked a
major mile-stone with the first fifteen minute radio broadcast on station KNX in Los Angeles, California. The broadcast that would be repeated several times a week was paid for by the Los Angeles Express ‘as a perk for the advertising that Richards placed with them every week.’ The first steps in using media broadcast as a means of proclaiming the Seventhday Adventist message were being taken.”1
His message? Simply the Bible. Asked for advice to young ministers, he had this to say: If I were a young preacher, “I’d preach the Bible; preach it plain, simply, without frills, and let its message cut deep, right to the heart of people. Nothing else will convict, convert, and conserve like the
H.M.S. Richards
Word. It is the living Word of the living God, and therefore it is all-powerful wherever He directs it!”2
In 1942 the Voice of Prophecy was the first religious broadcast aired coast-to-coast. Richards later identified this event as one of his greatest thrills in ministry—a long ministry that through its direct outreach and through a Bible correspondence school, resulted in many conversions. Richards retired in 1969, while the ministry continued under his son, H.M.S. Richards Jr.
La Voz de la Esperanza
La Voz de la Esperanza began in 1942 in Cuba, with Braulio Perez Marcio as principal speaker. Broadcasts began over KOWL Santa Monica, California, and CMQ Havana, Cuba. “He was the founder and speaker/director for more than 30 years. Not only did he lead the radio program, but he also held evangelistic campaigns throughout many hispanic countries as well as the United States. His knowledge, compassion, and his ability to write books and poetry as well as his understanding of the hispanic culture made him a very influential personality.”3 [See the article about Braulio Pérez Marcio from this series in the September issue of the Recorder.]
By 1943 the program could be heard across Latin
America, with one former vice president of Peru identifying it as “the father of Spanish Christian radio programs.”
Perez Marcio continued broadcasting until 1971, when Milton Peverini Garcia joined, first as associate speaker and later as speaker-director. Since 2013 the program has been led by Omar Grieve, as director, and his wife, Nessy Pittau, as associate director.
Faith for Today
Begun by William Fagal in New York in 1950, Faith for Today moved to California in 1972. There the Christian drama series Westbrook Hospital was developed, along with docudramas such as “John Hus” and “The Harvest.” In 1980 Dan Matthews took over leadership, and in 1985 Christian Lifestyle Magazine began. In 1990 this morphed into Lifestyle Magazine, a talk show program. Other programming followed, such as McDougall, M.D. and The Evidence Faith for Today is currently headed by Roy Ice.
La Voz de la Esperanza Faith for Today
It is Written
In 1956, George Vandeman started It Is Written, the first Adventist television program in color, broadcast from Fresno, California. He continued broadcasting until 1992, using a unique semi-documentary format along with a mix of health and felt-needs concepts designed to appeal to a wider secular audience. Under his leadership, It Is Written developed
new evangelism initiatives. His live “Revelation Seminars” attracted tens of thousands of visitors, and the telecast entered millions of homes in numerous countries. Since 2011, John Bradshaw has led It Is Written. Originally from New Zealand, Bradshaw has held more than 100 evangelistic series spanning six continents and has impacted thousands of lives in hundreds of cities.
George Vandeman
Charles D. Brooks
Breath of Life
In 1974, while serving as Director of Public Affairs at KHOF in Glendale, California, Walter Arties developed the Breath of Life telecast. C.D. Brooks, field secretary at the General Conference, accepted an invitation to join the program as speaker, a role he held for 23 years.
The telecast was aired 13 to 26 weeks prior to evangelistic meetings scheduled in specific locations. In Washington, DC, for example, public evangelism was conducted consecutively in 1978 and 1979 with the telecast used to gain interest. Church members advertised the telecast and the meetings. Baptisms totaled more than 500, and a new church was organized. Brooks was followed in 1997 by Walter L. Pearson Jr., who continued the legacy begun by Arties and Brooks. Breath of Life is currently headed by Debleaire K. Snell.
More media ministries have been developed since, including Acts 2000 (first worldwide satellite broadcast), LifeTalk Radio (1991), Jesus 101 (2013), and other programs. It’s interesting to note that the primary location for media ministry is in the experimental and innovative West. The headquarters of the Adventist Media Center is in Riverside, California, and hosts the website www. adventistmediaministries.com for the North American Division.
1Eric M. Doran, Utilizing H.M.S. Richards' Sermons and Writings in the Development of Sermons That Focus on the Unique Aspects of Seventh-day Adventist Preaching as Implemented at the Kress Memorial Church in Winter Park, Florida (D. Min. dissertation, Andrews University, 2011), p. 100.
2H.M.S. Richards, cited by Herbert Ford, “If I Were a Young Preacher…,” Ministry Magazine (October 1970), p. 10.
3“Our Story,” La Voz de la Esperanza, https://www.lavoz.org/our-story.
Adventist Hermeneutics
By Sigve K. Tonstad
Søren Kierkegaard once imagined a theater catching fire. A clown rushed onto the stage to warn the audience. They thought it was part of the show and laughed. Even as the flames advanced, the laughter continued, and no one moved to safety.1 This chilling allegory feels uncomfortably close to our own time. But today, it is not the theater on fire—it is the planet itself. Global warming accelerates. Biodiversity shrinks. Forests disappear. And now, a virus, SARS-CoV-2,2 has joined this tapestry of crisis, exposing deep fractures in how humanity understands itself, its place in the world, and even the Scriptures it professes to cherish.
Covid is more than a public health emergency. It is, at root, an ecological crisis. But it is also a crisis of hermeneutics—a crisis of interpretation. It challenges us to ask how our readings of the Bible, of history, of science, have brought us here and how they might yet show us another way.
At the most basic level, everything is ecological. Ecology is the science of relationships, interdependence, and connectedness. Viruses are Ecology 101—composed of nucleic acids wrapped in proteins, unable
Covid is more than a public health emergency. It is, at root, an ecological crisis. But it is also a crisis of hermeneutics
—a crisis of interpretation.
to reproduce without invading living cells. They depend completely on other life forms. Without a host, they are inert. With a host, they become highly efficient replicators. This is not an accident but a vivid demonstration of relatedness, showing that even what we fear as enemies are, in one sense, woven into the same web of existence.3
Covid is also zoonotic—a disease that crossed over from animals to humans.4 This crossing was not random. It was prepared by centuries of ecological disturbance: deforestation, habitat destruction, the wildlife trade, and industrial-scale animal farming. Bats, likely the reservoir for SARS-CoV-2, carried the virus without harm. Possibly, it passed through an intermediate host—perhaps the pangolin, the world’s most trafficked mammal—before infecting humans. Our incursion into remote habitats, our extraction of wild animals, and our relentless global commerce enabled the spillover.
In this sense, Covid-19 is not just a virus that came to us. As David Quammen insists in Spillover, we came to the virus. Human activity dismantled ecological boundaries, creating new pathways for pathogens to travel. Our appetite for expansion is the true vector.
Consider our movement into the Congo, the Amazon, Borneo, and Madagascar—places that once stood apart from human habitation. Our bulldozers, chainsaws, and highways turned them
into sources of timber, minerals, and exotic meat. Consider the wet markets in Wuhan and other Asian cities, where live animals are stacked in cages, stressed and shedding viruses that leap to human handlers. Consider the “Era of Zoonotic Viral Disease”5 in which we now live—a time when our own choices accelerate the emergence of deadly pathogens.
Quammen, writing in 2012, foresaw a pandemic with “high infectivity preceding notable symptoms.”6 Covid fit this grim prediction perfectly. Is it the “Next Big One” he warned of—or only the precursor to something worse? Regardless, it reveals our dangerous illusion that we are separate from the natural world, immune to the consequences of our encroachment.
Quammen borrows the luster of a text about horses in Revelation for his entire book. We are by this criterion not only in the Era of Zoonotic Viral Disease but also in the Era of the Pale Horse. Here is the text, in a slightly modified version of my translation in my commentary on Revelation. “And I looked, and wow! there was a pale horse! And the one sitting on it bears the name Death, and Hades followed in his train. And these were permitted to have power to kill a fourth of the earth—with sword, with famine, and with death, and by the wild animals of the earth (Revelation 6:8).”7
Traditionally, readers have assumed that “the
wild animals of the earth” in this vision are lions, tigers, and snakes. But today, we see that the most lethal wild creatures are not big predators but tiny viral hitchhikers, carried into human populations by our own restless ambition.
Beyond biology, the pandemic is a crisis of meaning. It exposes how our inherited ways of reading reality and reading Scripture have failed. Wendell Berry, in The Unsettling of America, described a fracture running through the Western mind—a separation of soul from body and body from world. This fracture is not a marginal heresy but a mainstream assumption, “a geologic fault” that splits our awareness in two.8
This dualism reaches back to Plato, who exalted the immortal soul over the perishable body. Early Christian thinkers such as Origen absorbed this view, and over centuries, it became fused with Christian doctrine. Heaven, the immaterial realm, became the true homeland. The body and the earth were relegated to temporary importance.
This split persisted across centuries, shaping thinkers from Augustine to Luther to Barth. Even as they mined Scripture for insight, they often missed the Bible’s deep affirmation of creation itself. Paul, in Romans 8, writes of all creation groaning, awaiting redemption. But the weight of tradition dulled Christian sensitivity to these ecological dimensions.
Peter Brown noted how a “high-pitched, Platonic notion of the soul” eclipsed earlier ideas of embodied existence. Roy Porter, the historian of medicine, traced how this dualism set the stage for later conflicts about nature and science.10
In time, the Enlightenment challenged spiritual
overreach, but it did not return to a theology of care. Instead, it bred a new attitude—domination. Francis Bacon’s vision was of humankind regaining mastery over nature. He declared that by science and the arts, we would “bind her to our service and make her our slave.”11 This language, first descriptive, became prescriptive. Soon, it justified extraction, conquest, and mechanization.
William Leiss called this “the domination of nature.”12 Christianity, ironically, became the scaffolding that upheld this mindset. Lynn White Jr. argued that the biblical idea of dominion, filtered through Western culture, erased reverence for the natural world. Animism respected the spirit of living things, but Christianity stripped creation of meaning, turning it into raw material.
Berry countered this perspective by emphasizing that the Bible does not teach a spirit-matter divide but rather insists on their interdependence: “The Bible’s aim…is not the freeing of the spirit from the world. It is the handbook of their interaction.”13 The resurrection of the body testifies to the dignity of matter itself.
For Seventh-day Adventists, these insights strike uncomfortably close. Our tradition has many strengths—Sabbath observance, care for health, a wholistic anthropology—but we have often overlooked their ecological dimensions.
We have focused much energy on when and how God created the earth. These are worthy questions. But what about the ache of the earth itself? Our debates over origins rarely translate into advocacy for ecosystems in peril. Yet Genesis 2 calls humanity to “till and keep” the garden—to
For Seventh-day Adventists, these insights strike uncomfortably close. Our tradition has many strengths— Sabbath observance, care for health, a wholistic anthropology— but we have often overlooked their ecological dimensions.
preserve, protect, and nurture.
Adventists have championed the doctrine that there is no immortal soul. We understand humans as unified, embodied beings. But we have not always extended this insight into ecological solidarity. We have emphasized the state of the dead but neglected the groaning of the living creation. Richard Bauckham describes humans as belonging to a “community of creation.”14 To recover this vision would be to reclaim a wholistic ecology.
We are rightly known for our Sabbath observance. But have we truly grasped the Sabbath’s ecological meaning? The commandment stipulates rest for animals and land. The Sabbath Year mandates that fields lie fallow—a radical gesture of trust and restraint. In a civilization that never stops extracting and producing, the Sabbath is a countercultural witness to limits and renewal.
If covid has taught us anything, it is that endless expansion is unsustainable. The world itself longs for a Sabbath rest. Reimagining our Sabbath theology to include ecological healing could be a powerful gift to the world.
Our eschatology emphasizes the three angels’ messages. The first angel calls all people to worship the Creator of “heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water” (Revelation 14:7, NRSV). Yet we have rarely noticed that this is an ecological declaration. It contrasts the Creator who nurtures with the destroyer who poisons rivers and seas. Choosing sides is not only about doctrines—it is about whether we will stand with life itself.
And finally, our hope is not for an escape to heaven but for the renewal of this earth. Revelation envisions a restored creation, not a discarded one. This perspective calls us to care now, not just wait for the future.
Food choices are a hallmark of Adventist practice. We have emphasized health and obedience to biblical dietary principles. But we have not made ecology the central reason for these choices. Yet plant-based eating is essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preventing zoonotic diseases. Jonathan Safran Foer writes, “Saving the planet begins at breakfast.”15 Should we not take this seriously, aligning our
If covid has taught us anything, it is that endless expansion is unsustainable. The world itself longs for a Sabbath rest.
health message with creation care?
Our approach to public health should also be communal, not merely individual. Vaccination, sanitation, and disease prevention are expressions of love for our neighbors. Paul wrote, “Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law” (Romans 13:10, NRSV).
In March 2020, Carsten Jensen boarded one of the last flights from Los Angeles to Copenhagen. The airports were silent, the shops closed, the world pausing in stunned recognition of its own vulnerability. He called it “Saying Goodbye to the World We Know.” 16
Since then, more than a million Americans have died of covid. Hospitals overflowed. Refrigerated trucks became morgues. The pandemic revealed not only viral fragility but social fractures: inequality, polarization, the erosion of trust.
Even as restrictions were lifted and economies begun to recover, the ecological crisis remains. The forces that created this pandemic— deforestation, wildlife trade, climate change— are still advancing. If we do not learn from this disruption, we will repeat it.
Kierkegaard’s clown tried to warn the audience. They laughed until it was too late. Will we repeat that mistake? Or will we embrace a hermeneutic that heals the fracture between spirit and matter, between humans and the earth?
Seventh-day Adventist theology has treasures that can contribute to this healing. The Sabbath teaches restraint. Our understanding of the human person affirms embodiment. Our health message promotes stewardship. Our eschatology points to the renewal of creation. But these teachings must be reoriented toward ecological solidarity.
Wendell Berry described the fracture as a flaw in the mind that “runs inevitably into the earth.” 17 It is time to mend this flaw. It is time to bring our five loaves and two fishes to the Word Incarnate, trusting that He can multiply them into healing for a suffering planet.
May we choose not to be the audience that laughs and cheers. May we take up the role of the clown who warns—not with self-righteousness but with compassion. For the world is on fire, and the time to act is now.
Sigve K. Tonstad is professor of religion and assistant professor of medicine at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California. He is the author of several books, including The Lost Meaning of the Seventh Day, and Letter to the Romans: Paul among the Ecologists. This article has been adapted from World Disrupted, World Revealed (Westlake Village, CA: Oak & Acorn Publishing, 2024), pp. 227-248.
1Søren Kierkegaard, Either/Or , edited and translated by Howard V. Hong and Edna H. Hong (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1987), p. 30.
2“SARS-CoV-2,” Wikipedia , https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-2.
3David Quammen, Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic (New York: Norton, 2012), p. 40.
4“Zoonoses,” World Health Organization , https://www.who.int/newsroom/fact-sheets/detail/zoonoses.
5Veronna Marie and Michelle L. Gorden, “The (Re-)Emergence and Spread of Viral Zoonotic Disease: A Perfect Storm of Human Ingenuity and Stupidity,” National Library of Medicine , https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ articles/PMC10458268/.
6Quammen, Spillover , p. 208.
7See Sigve K. Tonstad, Revelation , Paideia: Commentaries on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2019), pp. 125-126. I oscillate between an option that says that “these were permitted to have power to kill” and “these were commissioned to have power to kill.” The first option represents a theology of permission with God do ing the permitting. The second assumes demonic agency and demonic commission.
8Wendell Berry, The Unsettling of America: Culture and Agriculture , 3rd ed. (Berkeley, CA: Counterpoint, 1997, orig. 1977), pp. 112-113.
9Peter Brown, The Ransom of the Soul: Afterlife and Wealth in Early Western Christianity (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2015), p. 13.
10Roy Porter, Flesh in the Age of Reason: How the Enlightenment Transformed the Way We See Our Bodies and Our Souls (London: Penguin Books, 2003), p. 28.
11Francis Bacon, The Masculine Birth of Time , quoted in Richard Bauckham, God and the Crisis of Freedom: Biblical and Contemporary Perspectives (Louisville and London: Westminster John Knox Press, 2002), p. 160.
12William Leiss, The Domination of Nature (Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 1994).
13Berry, The Unsettling of America , p. 113.
14Richard Bauckham, The Bible and Ecology: Rediscovering the Community of Creation (Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2010), p. 64.
15Jonathan Safran Foer, We Are the Weather: Saving the Planet Begins at Breakfast (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2019).
16Carsten Jensen, Øvelser i avskjed: en koronakrønike [ Exercises in Saying Goodbye: A Corona Chronicle ] (Oslo: Forlaget Press, 2021).
17Berry, The Unsettling of America , p. 113.
God’s Perfect Timing in an Imperfect World
By Carlos G. Molina
Time is one of the most profound concepts in both theology and human experience. It defines our days, shapes our history, and frames the narrative of salvation. While many ancient cultures saw time as cyclical, deterministic, or even threatening—as in the myth of Cronus devouring his children—the Bible presents a redemptive view of time. For believers, time is not random or meaningless; it is the linear arena in which God’s purposes unfold. Nowhere is this perspective more vividly captured than in the apostle Paul’s statement in Galatians 4:4: “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law.”1
The Greek language contains several distinct terms for time, each carrying specific nuances. Aeon denotes eternal periods, eggus describes something that is near, hora refers to an hour or short span, and kairos signifies a divinely appointed or decisive moment.2 In Galatians 4:4, Paul uses chronos, the word for measurable, sequential time—emphasizing the historical reality and specific timing of Christ’s incarnation. This choice of vocabulary indicates that Christ’s coming was not arbitrary or mythical but took place at a precise point in human history. The term “fullness” implies that God had predetermined and orchestrated events so that, when the appropriate moment arrived, the Messiah would be born. Time, in Paul’s theology, is not merely a neutral backdrop—it is a vessel carrying divine intent.
Psalm 31:15 says, “My times are in your hands” (NIV), reminding us that our days are not random but directed by divine wisdom. And Galatians 4:4 is one of the most powerful declarations of divine timing: “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son.”
In the New Testament, different Greek words are used to describe time. Two are especially significant: Chronos refers to linear time, time as a sequence of events—minutes, hours, years. Kairos, on the other hand, signifies the right or appointed time, the decisive moment.3
In Galatians 4:4, Paul uses chronos to highlight that God's plan unfolded in real historical time. Jesus was born not in a mythical realm but at a particular point in human history. God operates not outside of time, but within it—bringing salvation in real time.
But God’s time is always purposeful. The “fullness of time” means that everything necessary had been prepared: prophetically, politically, socially, and spiritually. Heaven’s clock struck the exact moment.
Galatians 4:4 echoes the grand prophecy of Daniel 9. The seventy-week prophecy pointed with remarkable precision to the arrival of the Messiah. Daniel 9:27 speaks of the final “week”—seven prophetic years—when the Messiah would confirm the covenant and bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
According to the biblical timeline, Jesus was baptized in A.D. 27—at the beginning of the last prophetic week. His ministry lasted three and a half years, ending in His death during Passover in A.D. 31. This wasn't coincidence. It was fulfillment.
John the Baptist confirmed this when he declared in Mark 1:15, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.” Everything had been leading to this. Daniel foresaw it. Paul affirmed it. History confirms it.
God is never early. He is never late. He is always right on time.
But prophecy was not the only reason for the
timing of Christ’s coming. The world of the first century had been uniquely prepared.
Under Emperor Augustus, Rome introduced the Pax Romana—a relative peace that allowed safe travel and communication across vast territories. This peace became the cradle in which the Prince of Peace was born. Greek, the language of culture and commerce, was widely spoken across the empire. The New Testament would be written in Greek, making the gospel accessible from Judea to the ends of the empire.
Roman engineering gave the ancient world a network of roads that missionaries would later use to carry the gospel. As Paul journeyed from Jerusalem to Rome, he walked on roads paved by empire but directed by God.
Though Rome was pagan, it tolerated local religions. Judaism was legally recognized, and Christianity initially found refuge under its umbrella. This allowed the gospel to gain traction in its early years before persecution intensified.
So when Paul said, “in the fullness of time,” he was pointing not just to prophecy but to providence. God shaped history to make the world ready for Jesus.
You may be wondering: “That’s beautiful history and theology—but what does this have to do with me today?” It has everything to do with you.
The “fullness of time” in the first century finds an intriguing parallel in today’s globalized world. Advances in technology, communication, and transportation have shrunk the globe, creating new opportunities for the spread of the gospel. English has become a near-universal language, and digital media has replaced Roman roads as the primary means of evangelistic outreach.
However, alongside this connectivity, we witness spiritual and moral crises reminiscent of those in the time of Jesus. As Paul predicted, perilous times have come—marked by moral decay, religious confusion, and widespread apathy (2 Timothy 3:1-5). Jesus warned that wars, famines, pestilences, and natural disasters would increase before His return (Matthew 24:6-7; Luke 21:11). These signs have intensified in recent decades.
The covid pandemic, for instance, was a global shock that revealed both our fragility and interdependence. While it is not a specific sign of the end, it fits into the larger prophetic landscape Jesus described. Like the plagues of the Roman and medieval worlds, it serves as a wake-up call to spiritual urgency.
In this context, the church is called to be the faithful remnant—proclaiming truth, demonstrating love, and offering hope. Just as Christ came in the fullness of time before, He will return again—right on time.
God still works in the fullness of time—not just in history, but in your life. Isaiah 60:22 says, “I, the Lord, will hasten it in its time.” God is never rushed. He is never slow. He is perfectly on time.
There are moments in your life when you might feel forgotten, delayed, or left behind. But God's delays are not His denials. The same God who orchestrated the arrival of His Son will fulfill His promises to you. Wait on the Lord.
Galatians 4:4 also reminds us that Jesus entered time to redeem us from sin. He didn’t stay outside of our pain. He was born under the law, walked in human flesh, and suffered for our sake. That’s how much He values our time-bound existence—He entered it to save us.
The same God who orchestrated the arrival of His Son will fulfill His promises to you. Wait on the Lord.
If the first coming of Christ happened “in the fullness of time,” then His second coming will too. Jesus gave signs to look for: earthquakes, pestilences, wars, false teachings, and widespread lawlessness (Matthew 24; Luke 21). We see these signs multiplying today. Pandemics, political instability, natural disasters, moral confusion, and spiritual apathy are not the end—but they are signs that the end is near.
Daniel 12:4 foretold that in the time of the end, knowledge would increase. We see this not only in science and technology but in the revival of prophetic understanding. More people than ever are studying Daniel and Revelation.
But there's more. Revelation 14 describes a final message going to all the world—a call to worship the Creator and prepare for judgment. The hour is late. The signs are clear. The return of Jesus is near. The same God who sent His Son the first time will send Him again. And again, it will be “in the fullness of time.”
An old parable tells of a traveler in the Arabian desert who came across a man weeping beside a pile of treasure. “Why are you crying?” the traveler asked. “I lost a jewel,” said the man, “a jewel made of 24 diamonds, 60 rubies, and 60 emeralds.” “That must be a very precious jewel,” the traveler said. “Yes,” said the man. “It was a single day—now lost forever.”
Time is precious. Job said, “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle” (Job 7:6). James wrote, “What is your life? It is even a vapor” (James 4:14). God gives us time, not to waste it but to use it. Not to worry but to worship. Not to accumulate wealth but to build character and faith.
Each day is a gift. Each moment is an opportunity. The same God who orchestrates history cares about how you use your time. And if you feel your days are slipping by, remember: it’s never too late to surrender your life to Jesus. What about the times when God seems silent? What about the waiting?
Galatians 4:4 reminds us that centuries passed before the promise was fulfilled. God’s people waited through exile, occupation, and oppression. And then—when they least expected it—He came. Maybe you are waiting for healing, or a breakthrough, or direction in your life. Trust in His timing. He is the God of the fullness of time. As Isaiah 26:3-4 says: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever.”
Hebrews 3:15 says, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” You don’t have forever. You have today. If you hear God calling you, answer now. Don’t let another “precious jewel” slip through your fingers. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 6:2, “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
Jesus entered time to save you. He took on flesh. He bore your sin. He died your death. And He rose again—so that your time could be filled with purpose, not despair; with joy, not sorrow.
Don’t waste this moment.
In the fullness of time, God sent His Son. And in the fullness of time, He will send Him again. The world was ready once—prophetically, politically, linguistically, and spiritually. It is becoming ready again. And you and I are part of that preparation.
As we wait for the Second Coming, let us redeem the time (Ephesians 5:16). Let us live with urgency, purpose, and passion. Let us be the light in a dark world, the peace in a stormy society, the love in a hurting world.
Let us remember: our times are in His hands. And there is no better place to be.
Carlos G. Molina is a retired pastor and an adjunct professor of New Testament at Universidad of Montemorelos, Mexico.
1Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version.
2“Time,” Second Exodus, https://secondexodus.com/home/words/time/.
3Tim Kight, “Chronos vs. Kairos,” A Call to Excellence, https:// acalltoexcellence.com/chronos-vs-kairos/.
When Darkness Speaks
By Alberto Valenzuela
In the heart of sacred Scripture lies a haunting cry: “Darkness is my only friend” (Psalm 88:18, NCV). This final line of Psalm 88 echoes across time and space, unsettling readers and comforting them in equal measure. Unlike most psalms of lament, which conclude with affirmations of trust, Psalm 88 ends in silence, isolation, and unrelenting despair. Yet this absence of hope makes it one of the most necessary texts in Scripture.
In a world that equates faith with joy and optimism, Psalm 88 asserts that even the faithful can be overcome by sorrow and depression. This psalm validates suffering, sanctifies crying out—even when no answer comes—and insists that faith sometimes means simply enduring.
Half of the psalms express lament, but Psalm 88 is unique in refusing to pivot toward hope. Its refusal is sacred. The psalmist prays persistently despite feeling abandoned. Belief, here, is not rejoicing but surviving. Darkness is not faithlessness but part of the struggle of faith.
Modern readers recognize in Psalm 88 the voice of depression: isolation, despair, a sense of abandonment. Depression distorts perception, convincing sufferers they are unloved. Yet Psalm 88 affirms that such feelings belong within faith. They must be named without shame.
Religious communities often wrongly view depression as lack of faith, urging people to “pray more” or “be grateful.” I’ve heard those words of advice so many times being said to those so very close to me. Prayer and Scripture matter, but they are not substitutes for therapy and medical care. Just as cancer patients need treatment, so do those with depression. Mental illness is real, complex, and often requires therapy, medication, and community support.
The psalmist’s prayer is not a solution but a struggle for survival—a frayed thread that still connects to God. This is radical faith. Luther spoke of Deus absconditus, the hidden God who seems absent yet works unseen.1 The crucifixion mirrors this: Jesus cries, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34), showing that even despair is sacred ground.
How should the Church respond? First, we need to break stigma. Depression is not a moral failure but a medical condition. Second, encourage professional help. Third, cultivate vulnerability. Leaders who share their struggles dismantle shame. Fourth, embody God’s love for those who cannot feel it. Presence itself can be holy— showing up, sending a text, reminding someone they matter, keeping them in our prayers.
Churches must be aware of local resources and crisis lines, treating referral as pastoral care. Seek help when depression interferes with life, relationships, or hope. Even if you feel unworthy, you deserve help. Psalm 88 ends in darkness, but our lives need not. Help exists. Hope exists. Sometimes it begins with one step: telling a friend, “I need help.”
Faith does not deny darkness but insists darkness will not have the last word. Psalm 88 teaches that darkness is not incompatible with belief. It is part of the journey—a place faith must travel. Some of the deepest faith is forged in uncertainty. I love the quote in Conclave : “Our faith is a living thing precisely because it walks hand in hand with doubt. If there was only certainty, and if there was no doubt, there would be no mystery, and therefore no need for faith.” 2
While our beliefs emphasize health, they often neglect mental health. The Church must develop a theology of the broken, acknowledging pain and embracing doubt. Jesus came for the sick, wept at Lazarus’s tomb, sweated blood in Gethsemane, and cried out from the cross. His resurrection redeems suffering but does not erase it.
To follow Christ is to walk with others in pain, carry each other’s burdens, and sit in the darkness whispering, “You are not alone.” Psalm 88 remains in Scripture because it tells the truth: sometimes darkness is all we see. Yet its inclusion means such moments are not beyond God.
To the suffering: you are not forsaken. Your pain is not proof of God’s absence. It is one with the psalmist’s cry, Christ’s prayer, creation’s groan. To companions of the suffering: let your presence remind them that love remains, help is possible, and they are not alone.
Darkness may feel like a friend, but it is not the only one. In Christ’s body, we find companions who stay. And in time, the God who seemed hidden may be seen again. Until then, we lament, hope, and hold on.
Alberto Valenzuela is the associate director of communication and community engagement for the Pacific Union Conference and editor of the Recorder.
1Bobby Grow, Deus Absconditus, “God With Us,” March 26, 2010, https:// sdawest.pub/god_with_us
2Robert Harris, Conclave (New York, Vintage Books, 2024), p. 135.
FAR LEFT: Growing Youth Leaders
Director Aren Rennacker presented the opening message on Friday night. MIDDLE: Youth Director Manny Cruz (right) introduces Randy Hill, Pacific Union Vice President for Youth Ministries, as one of the seminar presenters at the leadership training. LEFT: The Camp Yavapines kitchen crew served nearly 300 registrants in the cafeteria.
Rising Leaders Shine at Youth Ministries Leadership Training
The largest gathering of Arizona youth ministry leaders in over a decade took place at Camp Yavapines from August 22 to 24 as nearly 350 leaders converged on the campground for the Arizona Conference Youth Ministries Leadership Convention.
Leaders from across Arizona trained in specific tracks designed for Adventurer leaders, Pathfinder leaders, Master Guides, TLTs, and youth ministry leaders. Each session was divided into two groups: one Spanishspeaking and one English-speaking. With the large attendance, every meeting space was filled, every classroom was in use, and even the chapel lobby was divided into teaching areas to hold the overflow. But rather than seeing the crowded spaces as a challenge, attendees described it as a joy—a clear reminder that the future of youth ministry is strong.
One particular way youth ministry is growing is by empowering youth to become leaders themselves.
Pastor Manny Cruz, youth director for the Arizona Conference, observed, “I was very encouraged by this generation of leaders. Many young ones, Gen Z’ers, are
actually leaders now. They understand the challenges we face as a church, but they also have a good attitude about it.”
Throughout the weekend, workshops, worship, and fellowship blended together into an atmosphere of optimism for the growth of youth ministry in Arizona. Young leaders stepped forward with energy and vision, while seasoned leaders shared their wisdom and encouragement.
With an emphasis on the growth of young leaders, the keynote speaker was Aren Rennacker, director of Growing Young Leaders, a newly established department in the Pacific Union dedicated to promoting and supporting young people preparing for pastoral or educational service in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
The entire weekend of training reminded everyone present that when God calls leaders—whether young or old—He also equips them. And this new generation of leaders is ready, eager, and committed to serving Christ and His church.
By Jeff Rogers
LEFT: Young adult participants represent the growth of youth ministry. MIDDLE: Youth leaders from around Arizona gathered in the Camp Yavapines chapel for general session meetings. RIGHT: A youth and young adult praise team.
Show Low Church Holds First Evangelism Series in 15 Years
The Show Low church experienced a powerful movement this August as it held its first evangelism series in 15 years. Led by Pastor Dwayne Lemon, the “Prepare to Meet Your God” seminars garnered an enthusiastic response from the community and revitalized the congregation’s outreach efforts. Local Pastor Nick Eaton spearheaded the planning of the series and the members of the church responded with energy for the programs.
baptized, we had special music, then two more people came up for baptism. We had a total of six people.”
“We had more than 90 people come from the community throughout the entire meeting,” Eaton shared. “We had scheduled three for baptism on Sabbath morning, August 30. I received a call on Sabbath morning that someone else wanted to participate in getting baptized. After those four were
However, the church is not done yet. They are continuing to work with 22 additional individuals who attended the meetings and are now considering baptism or profession of faith.
Eaton also noted that some guests were still inviting friends and family—even on the final night of the series—demonstrating the contagious excitement surrounding the meetings.
The music duo Desert Witness played a crucial role in the series, providing inspirational music that began and closed each meeting.
The series not only brought new members to the church family but also renewed the congregation’s sense of mission. What began as a step of faith after many years without an evangelistic effort has become a testimony to God’s power to transform lives and inspire His people to share the good news.
By Jeff Rogers
Four of the baptismal candidates stand with the evangelism team at the final meeting at the Show Low church.
Pastors Eaton (left) and Lemon celebrate with a baptismal candidate on Sabbath, August 30.
Camp Wawona Reopens After Years-Long Hiatus, Welcomes 188 Campers
Divine providence and human effort combine to bring summer camp back to life.
After years of closure due to covid, fires, and facility challenges, Camp Wawona reopened this summer to 188 campers—far exceeding initial expectations of 40 participants.
The camp's comeback began in March when Delinda Hamilton, summer camp director, and Brian Simmons, Camp Wawona director, started their positions with just three months to prepare.
“We relied on God to bring staff to us,” Hamilton said. “This conference is all about prayer, and that's what we went to our prayer team with. We had missed the typical college recruitment season, so we were in a pinch.”
Overcoming infrastructure obstacles
The camp faced significant challenges, including a pool losing water and kitchen facilities that hadn't operated in years.
“We were losing thousands of gallons of water a day from several leaks,” Simmons said. “Previous operators told us that maintaining the pool was a full-time nightmare.”
Through prayer and what staff describe as divine intervention, solutions emerged. A professional donated thousands of dollars in time and expertise to
repair the facility.
The 180,000-gallon pool—reportedly the largest in Mariposa County outside universities—now accommodates 168 swimmers simultaneously and offers the 12-foot depth required for lifeguard certification training.
Staffing solutions
When traditional college recruitment fell through, the prayer team intensified their efforts. Staff arrived from Michigan, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Texas, and California, including three student missionaries and two international staff from Mexico.
“One staff member found old camp records while cleaning and recognized names of former counselors,” Hamilton said. “We called them, and both were available. They became some of our best boys' village staff.”
The camp operated with 37 staff members— significantly fewer than comparable facilities that typically employ 100-115 camp staff.
Reduced costs increase access
Administration reduced camp costs from $850 to $400 per week, with March registrations available for $375. The reduction made camp accessible to families who previously were unable to afford the experience.
“We had campers who in the past were not able to attend,” Hamilton said. “Churches stepped up to sponsor campers, paying
half or full costs. We believe we were the least expensive camp on the entire West Coast.”
Safety and accreditation
Despite the rushed timeline, Camp Wawona achieved American Camp Association (ACA) accreditation—a voluntary certification covering 266 safety and operational categories. The camp had operated without this accreditation for five or six years.
Pastor Timmy Baze of the Chowchilla church, who had ACA experience, guided the process. County inspections for food service, pool operations, hazmat, and organized camp activities all passed in two months, which, given the tight timeline, was a miracle.
During kitchen inspection, it was discovered that Lexi, a counselor, possessed the exact California food service certification required—credentials she had obtained three years earlier.
“Three years ago, God knew we would need that certification,” Hamilton said.
Spiritual impact
The camp's theme, “Holding on to Hope,” addressed challenges young people face today. Three one-week sessions served cub campers, junior campers, and a combined tween-teen group.
Camp pastors Andrew Uyeyama, Zac Page, and Josh Thompson led weekly spiritual programs.
The traditional Book of Life signing ceremony returned, with 150 campers dedicating their lives to Jesus.
One counselor reflected, “At other camps, fun comes first and God second. But at Camp Wawona, it was clear—God was first, and fun was second.”
The summer's most memorable moment involved a camper who came full of energy and joy. By week's end, he decided to give his heart to Jesus and be baptized at Wawona.
“But God wasn't finished,” Hamilton said. “This camper’s faith touched his family. His mother, who once worked at camp, felt God calling her to be
baptized alongside her son. And then his grandfather said, ‘I want to follow Jesus through baptism too.’”
Three generations were baptized together in one ceremony.
“It is a testimony to how God can use the faith of a child to bring whole families into His kingdom,” Hamilton said.
Dedicated service
Behind every story of joy was sacrifice. With only 37 staff members, each person carried multiple roles, working late and waking early to ensure the camp's success.
Longtime Camp Food Service Director Paulette Bair, who initially declined the role, later felt God calling her back. She prepared food from scratch—an uncommon effort in camp ministry. Campers said the meals were among their favorite parts of camp.
Looking forward
Based on positive feedback, camp leadership expects increased enrollment next summer. Campers described the experience as “the most spiritual camp I have ever been to,” “the best week of my life” and “the most peace I have felt.”
Plans for next year include adding a family camp, increasing staff numbers, and potentially reintroducing the horse program, which costs approximately $30,000 annually due to National Park Service feed requirements and leasing expenses.
“God truly did something special this summer at Camp Wawona,” Hamilton said. “We're really grateful that we got to be part of it.”
This year's Camp Wawona summer program demonstrated that with faith, prayer, and dedicated effort, even challenging circumstances can transform into opportunities for ministry and spiritual growth.
By Justin Kim
Revive Us Again: Pentecost 2025 Ignites a Spiritual Awakening in Lanai
There are moments in the life of a church when heaven seems to touch earth—and for the Lanai group, Pentecost 2025 provided that experience.
From June 15 to June 28, what began as a simple evangelistic initiative turned into a Spirit-filled revival that transformed hearts, renewed faith, and united the church family like never before. As part of the North American Division’s bold vision to reawaken the mission spirit through public evangelism, Lanai was blessed to be one of the early sites to host this evangelistic thrust.
The team was composed of faithful and passionate servants: Ernie Montalban from California, who led and coordinated the operation; Ernesto Rosa from Oklahoma, who preached the prophetic messages with power and clarity; Ernesto and Kim Layon from Arizona, who gave relevant and practical health lectures; and Isaura Sicarios from Arizona and Donna Austin from Washington, who brought joy and spiritual lessons to the children through Vacation Bible School.
The nightly series, entitled “Amazing Prophecies: Revelation of Hope,” opened the treasures of the book of Revelation, pointing every message to the soon return of Jesus and the urgent call to prepare. From the beginning, it was clear that the Holy Spirit was present.
Children eagerly attended each night, not out of obligation but out of delight. Seven-year-old PJ shared
that his favorite part was playing “Heads Up Seven Up,” a simple but joyful game that brought laughter and fellowship. Yomyom, also seven, said, “I loved all the new songs I learned.” These children were not only having fun—they were absorbing truth, singing Scripture songs, and forming early impressions of church being a place of love and learning.
Adults were just as impacted. Raquel described the presentations as “inspiring.” Enrique, 75 years old, said the messages were “touching and enlightening.” Robert appreciated the health lectures, calling them “informational but applicable,” while Herbert went further and declared that every element—sermons, health talks, and children’s programs—were “transformational.”
It is no exaggeration to say that this two-week effort breathed new life into the church. The culmination on June 28 was a Sabbath to remember. With tears of joy and hearts burning with conviction, seven individuals were baptized in the cool, clear tide pools of Lanai—a sacred setting where creation itself seemed to witness the vows made for eternity. Two of those baptized were new commitments to Christ—Enrique Manuel and Gary Suzuki—and five were rededications through rebaptism: Melchor Oamil, Melanie Manuel, Robert and Sandra Enfield, and Jeanith Taal.
The Lanai SDA Group, though small in number, has caught a glimpse of what the early church must have felt on the Day of Pentecost. Joy, unity, and holy purpose now define our fellowship. As their pastor, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. I have seen what God can do when His people come together in prayer, when His Word is preached with boldness, and when hearts are open to the Spirit’s leading. We now look
NOTICE OF CONSTITUENCY MEETING OF THE HAWAII CONFERENCE OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS
Notice is hereby given that the Regular Quinquennial Constituency Meeting of the Hawaii Conference of Seventh-day Adventists is called to convene at 9:00 a.m. Sunday, October 5, 2025, at Honolulu Central Seventh-day Adventist Church, 2313 Nuuanu Avenue, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii.
The purpose of this meeting is to receive reports, to elect conference officers and the Executive Committee, and to transact other business as may properly come before the constituency meeting.
Each organized church shall be represented by one (1) delegate and one (1) additional delegate for each forty (40) members or major fraction thereof.
forward to the next evangelistic effort in 2026. The members of Lanai have pledged their support— financially, physically, and spiritually.
Let us join together and echo the prayer of Psalm 85:6: “Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?” (NKJV). The answer is yes, and the time is now.
By Ramel Ramos
Spiritual: Fourth Pillar, First Priority
At Holbrook Indian School (HIS), the focus is on educating the whole person. The method for this approach is our MAPS initiative. MAPS is an acronym for Mental, Academic/ Artistic, Physical, and Spiritual—the four pillars of our education program. While Spiritual may be listed as the fourth pillar, it is our first priority and the first of the pillars we seek to demonstrate during our opening week on campus each year.
At HIS, each child who arrives on our campus is welcomed with open arms and hearts. This time of year is joyful and exciting because it means that we get to reconvene our efforts to show Jesus to our students, beginning with the first week of school. With our minds set on Christ, we enjoy the many opportunities
to share God’s love and laughter with our students through teachable moments and reflection during the icebreakers and team building activities that take place that first week of each academic year.
We kicked off the new school year with our traditional “handshake” icebreaker event. During the handshake, students and staff line up across from each other and take the opportunity to introduce themselves and put a face to a name, all while rotating in the opposite direction so that each one has a chance to participate. This is a great way for our new students to meet staff. It also gives our returning students the opportunity to reconnect with their teachers and other staff members after a long summer break.
Additionally, our first week of school is geared toward making HIS feel like home. After worship each morning, students and staff engage in team building activities that foster the start of new friendships and academic relationships. One way we show our love to students is by engaging with them in team activities to help set the tone for HIS to be their home away from home. God is a big part of these sessions, with time for reflection on how each activity in which the students participate reflects God’s character.
Several team building exercises this year included get-to-know-you activities in which students had to talk to each other in order to find answers to questions
A Seventh-day Adventist Boarding Academy Serving Native American Youth Since 1946
set by our vice principal, Mr. Campos. Other games included the shoe relay, island hop, and the hula hoop challenge. However, the activity that our staff and students enjoyed the most was our start-of-the-year picnic and water play.
God purposely designed children to learn through activity. Students and staff members engaged in laughter, play, and camaraderie as they tagged each other with water cannons, dumped each other into one of the three inflatable pools on the commons, or soaked an unsuspecting teammate with a splash from a water bucket.
Praise God for His wisdom in creating play as a means to educate, grow, and promote unity among children.
Regardless of how children come into our lives, we have a divine duty to lead, guide, respect, protect, love, cherish, and delight in our youth. While the focus at HIS is to educate the whole person and to support our students in their healing journey, our hearts work from the posture of understanding that our students are heirs to the kingdom of God and finding ways to tie that into our Spiritual pillar of education.
By Kimberly Cruz
A Seventh-day Adventist Boarding Academy Serving Native American Youth Since 1946
Holbrook Indian School (HIS) is a first- through twelfth-grade boarding academy operated by the Pacific Union Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. HIS also manages a first- through eighth-grade day school on the Navajo reservation in Chinle, Arizona. Eighty-seven percent of funding comes from individuals who have a desire to support Native American ministries and Christian education. Your generosity makes a difference in the lives of our students, their families, and the communities they serve. Thank you for your support.
Mobile Care: Closing Healthcare Gaps in Rural Communities
In today’s fast-paced world, healthcare can often take a backseat. Many people live with undiagnosed conditions that may surface far too late.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only half of Americans visited a primary care physician in 2019. So, what about the other half?
Adventist Health hopes to reach some of those individuals through its Mobile Care Clinic—a mobile healthcare unit staffed by resident physicians and other providers whose mission is to improve access to healthcare, especially in the rural communities of California’s Central Valley.
Life-changing care
One year ago, Rommel Vasquez was working at his company’s swap meet booth in Hanford, CA, when he began experiencing a headache.
“One of my co-workers told me there was a mobile healthcare unit at the swap meet, so I walked over, and they checked my blood pressure, which was higher than normal,” said Vasquez.
An A1C test, which can help identify diabetes, revealed that Vasquez also had elevated blood sugar levels. For adults, the normal level is 5.7; Vasquez was at 6.3.
“The doctor told me to drink a lot of water, exercise, and eat healthier,” said Vasquez, who has made it a routine to visit the Mobile Care Clinic every Monday.
“I have a regular provider, but it’s hard to get in, so I come here because it’s convenient to check my blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol while at work.”
Following the doctor’s advice, Vasquez began eating better and exercising. He encourages others to take advantage of the free service.
“Everything is confidential, there’s no cost, and no one is turned away,” he said.
Cristielen “Cris” Neves Wright, MD, a resident with the Adventist Health Hanford Family Medicine Residency Program, recalls helping a woman at the clinic who was concerned about breast cancer.
“A patient in her 40s came in with a lump on her breast. She didn’t have a primary care provider and asked that I take a look,” said Dr. Wright. “I examined her and noticed it didn’t raise a concern for malignancy, but it was infected and needed to be treated with antibiotics.”
Dr. Wright referred the woman to the Emergency Department for medication and recommended she seek a primary care physician for follow-up care.
A great first step
“Our goal is not to replace primary care providers but to direct people to a provider for regular checkups,” said Dr. Wright.
“The Mobile Care Clinic is a great first step to helping people get the treatment they need,” said Ryan Parrish, a physician assistant who staffs the mobile clinic and also cares for patients at Adventist Health Medical Office–Orange Cove. Parrish has been traveling with the mobile clinic for two years.
“We hope to bring awareness and encourage people to establish care with a provider. Just because you feel fine doesn’t mean everything is fine,” said Parrish.
The Mobile Care Clinic has traveled as far north as Dunlap and as far south as Porterville. Providers care for underserved community members, including field workers and the homeless. The unit also visits senior centers and schools, offering exams and vaccines.
“We’re trying to remove barriers to accessing healthcare in rural and underserved communities,” said Shruti Javali, MD, program director for the Adventist Health Hanford Family Medicine Residency Program. “If patients can’t come to us, what better way to bring the doctor to the patient.”
To learn more about the Mobile Care Unit, visit: https://www.adventisthealth.org/central-valley/services/ mobile-care.
By Amanda Jaurigui
La Sierra University Hires New Enrollment Services VP, Expands Team
In ongoing support and expansion of its enrollment capabilities, La Sierra University in August hired a new vice president of enrollment services and grew its department staff. Bobby Brown, a La Sierra alumnus and former enrollment services associate vice president, began the VP position September 1.
Brown arrives after serving for 11 years as executive director of enrollment management for the Loma Linda University School of Public Health. In this position he was responsible for assisting with recruitment, marketing, and admissions executive functions; strategic leadership in the analysis, planning, and implementation of admission programs; and development of new enrollment growth strategies in collaboration with stakeholders, among many other responsibilities aimed at supporting and growing enrollment for the school.
Brown held the enrollment services associate vice president’s position at La Sierra between August 2007 and December 2013. In this role he oversaw budgets and staffing, developed systems enhancing department functions, and was instrumental in the university’s 50% enrollment surge between 2008 and 2013. Before that, he served as La Sierra’s admissions director for two years.
“We are thrilled that Bobby has chosen to join our campus community. He is not just starting a new job— he is returning to a community that believes deeply in people, in purpose, and in God’s calling for our work together. He is adding value to this community,” said La Sierra University President Christon Arthur. “Bobby is engaging in the important work of providing access and educational opportunities to students across the region, nation, and world. His broad expertise combined with his solid understanding of La Sierra’s values as a former student and employee make for an exceptional foundation from which he will serve as our enrollment services vice president. Welcome home, Bobby.”
“I’m humbled, grateful, and excited for this incredible opportunity to return home to La Sierra University to serve as VP,” Brown said. “My main aim is to establish a strategic framework that is in alignment with La Sierra University’s mission, vision, and values, thus ultimately increasing enrollment, net tuition revenue, retention, and overall student experience.”
Bobby Brown, La Sierra University’s new enrollment services vice president.
Brown holds an M.Ed. in enrollment management and education from the University of Southern California and an MBA from La Sierra University. He earned a B.Sc. in business administration from Northern Caribbean University in Jamaica.
He arrives as La Sierra’s enrollment services department is expanding with new staff—four individuals are expected to join the team in the coming weeks. Kathryn Borrowman, Audrey Fankhanel, and Ashley Vallin are arriving to serve as enrollment counselors. Campus Chaplain Jason Decena will transition from his role on the Spiritual Life team to join enrollment services, where he will serve as a recruiter and ministerial liaison. In his new role, he will help strengthen connections between local Adventist communities, other faith-based institutions, and La Sierra.
By Darla Martin Tucker
Loma Linda University Health Advances Clean Energy with Major Solar Project
New Solar Panel and Battery System Cuts Costs and Carbon at Faculty Medical Clinics
Arenewable microgrid energy system is now supporting the electricity needs of Loma Linda University Faculty Medical Clinics (FMC). The new system generates two megawatts of clean, reliable solar energy onsite and includes a battery storage system. Fully operational since August 22, the project delivers significant energy cost savings and operating resilience while also reducing the FMC’s power-related environmental impact.
The new system comes online after three years of planning and 18 months of construction. Power is generated by 3,622 solar panels installed on the top level of the P4 parking garage and above the groundlevel physician parking, providing shaded parking. A one-megawatt Tesla battery on the building’s south side stores excess power and can provide six hours of
emergency back-up power. The system also supports 10 electric vehicle charging stations located on the FMC’s west side parking lot. Renewable Energy Partners (REP) of Corona, CA, who built the array, will also facilitate its maintenance going forward.
FMC operations use an average of 1.7 megawatts of electricity per day, with usage reaching more than two megawatts during the peak summer months. The microgrid will provide 87 percent of the necessary power during peak needs, with the remainder purchased from Southern California Edison.
Cost savings with the microgrid system are achieved as the FMC more efficiently manages its energy source, allowing for more precise budget planning for energy costs in both the short and long term. The current baseline cost for power purchased from Southern California Edison is 17 cents per kilowatt hour, rising to 24 cents at peak times. The FMC has contracted with the microgrid’s supplying company to pay 15 cents per hour for the next 30 years. At current rates, the FMC will achieve $500,000 in annual savings. With power projected to reach 30 cents per kilowatt hour during the contract, annual savings could reach as much as $1.5 million.
“Our solar panel infrastructure strengthens our ability to care for the community, even during emergencies,” said Ricardo Peverini, president of the Loma Linda University Faculty Medical Group. “It reduces our environmental footprint, makes our operations more resilient, and saves resources that we can reinvest into patient care. It’s a healthier future for our patients, our staff, and our region.”
By Larry Becker
PUC’s Biology Department Serves Thousands in Sri Lanka
From July 7 to 12, Pacific Union College Biology
Professors Backil Sung, Aimee Wyrick, and Floyd Hayes, along with 10 of their students, served in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Joining them on the mission project were volunteers from Vietnam, the Philippines, Australia, India, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, China, and Hong Kong. Together, the 110 volunteers provided medical and dental services, offered counseling, reinstalled electrical power lines, addressed financial needs, and hosted Vacation Bible School.
Their team also distributed 3,000 pairs of reading glasses, visited orphanages, cooked meals, conducted health screenings, and provided transportation and food to patients from nearby communities who had traveled up to 100 miles for help. Many of these patients were workers in tea gardens who were paid only $2 a day, which they could not afford to spend on lunch or bus tickets.
Sung helped plan this mission trip with the help of his non-profit, All to Heaven, which pledged $25k to renovate the operating room at Lakeside Adventist Hospital in Kandy and $20k to improve the boys' dormitory at Lakpahana Adventist College. He also partnered with their hospital, college, and several organizations that brought professionals from medical, nursing, dental, and public health fields, as well as electricians, volunteers from secondary and higher education, and students, who traveled to Kandy to help serve.
In the dental camp, students and other volunteers assisted dentists and dental hygienists to provide teeth cleaning and extraction services to over a thousand patients. Meanwhile, the electricians repaired power lines in homes and school buildings to prevent fires and
added more light bulbs to make the classrooms and the auditorium brighter. With the help of the Herber Family Faculty Development Grant to PUC's biology department, Hayes and Wyrick purchased science equipment for the students in the Kandana Branch of Lakpahana Adventist College.
One of the PUC students who volunteered was Marilyn Do. She was responsible for measuring the height and weight and calculating the BMI of the patients at Lakpahana College. "In the fast-paced rush of getting as many people into the school as possible, the random thank yous, hugs, and handshakes from patients as they exited the clinic were enough to slow me down and realize the impact that we were making,” she said. After meeting many students, Do gladly keeps in contact with some of them, despite the 12-hour time difference.
She recalls her week in Sri Lanka as an “unforgettable” experience. “I felt that this mission trip truly polished me as an individual,” said Do. “I gained not only essential communication skills but also a reinforced passion for helping others, along with countless memories. I felt evolved in both my faith and mental fortitude. Having firsthand experience of the new outlook I’ve gained through this mission trip, I am eager to join future ones as well. I hope to continue advancing my faith and exercising goodwill in these trips.”
The mission trips that PUC’s biology department takes every year continue to increase in volunteers. Unfortunately, they cannot accept everyone, which is why the organization group is planning two mission trips next year to Africa and Asia. For the PUC students, it was terrific to be able to take time out of their summer break to serve in another country and fulfill the Adventist mission.
By Ally Romanes
A group photo of NUC officers, pastors, and educators who gathered for TEAM 2025, united in Christ and mission.
TEAM 2025: Educators and Pastors
Refocus
on What Matters Most
From August 3-6, the Nevada-Utah Conference (NUC) invited its employees to pause, realign, and remember why they do what they do. This year’s TEAM Meeting, short for Together Educators and Ministers, was held at the NUC headquarters in Reno, Nevada.
While strategy and structure were part of the conversation, the most important message was clear: ministry must start with Jesus.
Abiding before doing
The event opened with a devotional from guest speaker Pastor John Ciccarelli, who reminded attendees that all kingdom work flows from abiding in Christ. “We can run great programs and keep people busy,” he said, “but we won’t transform anyone’s life, including our own, without the presence of Jesus.”
He illustrated his point with a simple image: a pitcher, a cup, a saucer, and a plate. “Ministry,” he
teams.
explained, “should never be about pouring from an empty vessel. We minister from the overflow. When we remain in Jesus, His grace fills us, and that’s what spills into our classrooms, our pulpits, and our families.”
Through Scripture, personal stories, and honest reflection, Ciccarelli helped ground the entire conference in a foundational truth: Grace isn’t just what starts our journey; it’s what sustains us every step along the way.
Leading with clarity
That same spirit of intentionality carried over into the leadership session led by NUC President Carlos Camacho. Shifting the focus from personal growth to team alignment, he challenged ministry leaders to evaluate how their churches and schools operate—not just in practice but also in purpose. He spoke about trust, clarity, and alignment as essential traits of healthy teams.
The goal is to move from “siloed” work toward unified ministry, where every team member feels empowered and connected to a common purpose.
Carlos Camacho, NUC president, shares leadership principles focused on clarity, alignment, and healthy
Executive Secretary Chanda Nunes-Henry prays with Pastor Melody Darrow during the closing anointing service.
Evangelism with intention
Building on the themes of alignment and overflow, Pastor Emil Peeler offered practical strategies for making evangelism more than an event. From preparation and proclamation to follow-up and retention, Peeler emphasized that evangelism must become a culture, not just a campaign. His call was simple but bold: “Evangelism is not optional. It is who we are.”
Throughout the weekend, participants experienced both spiritual renewal and professional growth. Feedback from the post-event survey reflected this dual impact.
One attendee shared, “We need more spaces like this to breathe, reflect, and grow.”
Another said, “The combination of spiritual reflection and strategic training was powerful. I left feeling re-centered.”
When asked what they appreciated most, responses included:
• Time with other conference workers.
• The overall dynamics and flow.
• The unity and focus on what really matters.
TEAM 2025 reminded everyone who attended that ministry is not about managing outcomes; it’s about walking with Jesus in faith, trusting His presence, and showing up with expectancy.
By Neat Randriamialison
Pastor Ray A. Carter Ordained to the Gospel Ministry
On August 23, the Nevada-Utah Conference (NUC) celebrated the ordination of Pastor Ray A. Carter at the Uintah Conference Center in Vernal, Utah. The larger venue was chosen to accommodate the many attendees who came to witness this sacred milestone, as the Vernal church could not hold the overflow crowd.
Carter has faithfully served the Nevada-Utah Conference for 17 years as Bible worker, volunteer lay pastor, associate pastor, and sole pastor. The service was officiated by Elder Chanda M. Nunes-Henry, NUC executive secretary, with NUC Treasurer Karen E. Schneider also participating. The ordination sermon was delivered by William Davis, director of Disabilities Ministries and associate director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty for the Pacific Union Conference.
Schneider, treasurer (left), and Chanda M. Nunes-Henry, executive secretary (right), present Carter (center) with a commemorative plaque on behalf of the Nevada-Utah Conference.
Davis, a longtime mentor to Carter, spoke with heartfelt conviction about the call and responsibility of gospel ministry.
Carter is the third NUC pastor ordained in 2025, joining Kevin Solomon (June 9) and Loren Yutuc (June 14), as previously reported. The Nevada-Utah Conference rejoices in these faithful servants of God and prays for His abundant blessing upon their ministries as they continue to proclaim the everlasting gospel with courage and compassion.
By Chanda M. Nunes-Henry
Karen
Pastor Ray A. Carter accepts the call to gospel ministry during his ordination service.
From Ashes to Amen: Paradise Dedicates New Church, Marks a New Chapter in Community Rebuilding
In August, nearly 600 people gathered in the new sanctuary of the Paradise Seventh-day Adventist Church, marking a milestone five years in the making. The Dedication Weekend was more than just a ribbon-cutting; it was a homecoming, a testament of faith, and a visible sign that Paradise is slowly rising from the ashes of the 2018 Camp Fire.
When wildfire destroyed the church, a portion of the school, and thousands of homes, church members did not retreat—they mobilized. They expanded their freshwater well for the community, distributed home starter kits, and built storage sheds for displaced families. They launched Love Gives, a ministry providing furniture and household goods to returning residents. During the pandemic, they delivered groceries and essentials to homebound neighbors, continuing their ministry even without a permanent building.
Worship continued, first outdoors and then in the academy gymnasium, which volunteers transformed each week. In May 2023, hope materialized as ground was broken for the new sanctuary. Two years later, the congregation entered a building crafted from timber, stone, and unwavering
perseverance. Pastor Zach Reiber honored God and His sustaining love in the midst of both challenges and triumphs.
The recovery extends beyond the church walls. Paradise Adventist Academy, which reopened in 2021, now teaches a generation shaped by tragedy and a commitment to community service. The town, once in ruins, is slowly returning—its population is over 9,000—with new construction standing alongside reminders of loss.
Marc Woodson, NCC President, shared, “Through the ashes of tragedy, Paradise members have shown what it means to live on mission—creating ministries to meet unique community needs, lifting spirits with kindness, and opening hearts to the transforming power of Jesus. Their steadfast love has helped neighbors rebuild and prepared hearts for the joy of His soon return.”
By Communication Department
From the Fireline to the Frontlines of Faith: Lloyd Ogan Leads Sierra Chaplaincy With Heart and Mission
On August 14, at a change of command ceremony, the Sierra Chaplaincy program welcomed Lloyd Ogan as interim executive director and senior chaplain. A longtime member of the Camino church and board chair at El Dorado Adventist School, Ogan now steps into a role that blends his extensive operational leadership with a pastoral heart shaped by decades of service.
Ogan stands among a rare few Adventists to hold such high-level positions in public service—a distinction shared with leaders like Rear Admiral (ret.) Barry C. Black, former U.S. Navy chief of chaplains and current U.S. Senate chaplain (since 2003), and Desmond T. Doss, the WWII medic and Medal of Honor recipient who saved lives without carrying a weapon.
Sierra Chaplaincy, a faith-based nonprofit with a secular mission, supports El Dorado County’s first responders and community members during their most difficult moments—providing presence, prayer, crisis intervention, and emotional support. Whether responding alongside law enforcement, comforting grieving families, or uplifting firefighters after a tough call, chaplains serve as a crucial link between those who protect the community and the community itself.
A 36-year veteran of the fire service, Ogan dedicated 33 years to the Sacramento Fire Department, rising through every rank to become deputy fire chief of operations and later acting fire chief. He has also led as interim fire chief for the El Dorado
County Fire Protection District and interim division chief of operations for the Turlock Fire Department. Alongside his leadership in emergency services, he has served for more than 20 years as a hospital and fire chaplain and holds a ministerial license with the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
“Through every act of service, Sierra Chaplaincy is living the gospel in real time,” said Jim Lorenz, vice president for ministry at the Northern California Conference. “It’s about more than responding to emergencies—it’s about building trust, meeting unique needs, and connecting people to the abundant life Jesus offers.”
By Laurie Trujillo
Called and Commissioned: The Ordination of Pastor Melinda Mauia
On April 5, 2025, a milestone day for both her life and the wider church community, Pastor
Melinda Mauia was ordained to the gospel ministry—a moment she describes as a profound gift from God and a historic breakthrough for Samoan women in pastoral leadership.
Mauia’s journey to this moment has been one of perseverance, faith, and resilience. Raised in a Seventh-day Adventist pastoral family, she witnessed the dedication and sacrifices of ministry from an early age. Yet, her path was far from straightforward. After seasons of personal struggle and spiritual searching, she found her footing through Yucaipa Youth Ministries and missional discipleship. Those early experiences ignited her passion for service and led her to Andrews University, where she overcame academic challenges to earn both a bachelor's degree in theology and later a Master of Divinity in 2014.
Though doors to pastoral ministry did not open immediately, God redirected her path in unexpected
ways. From teaching and coordinating in South Korea to serving in San Francisco and completing Clinical Pastoral Education in Loma Linda, Mauia gained deep experience in trauma care, cross-cultural ministry, and spiritual leadership. In 2021, she accepted the call to serve in the Santa Ana Samoan church and New Hope Samoan company, where she has faithfully led with humility and courage.
As a Samoan woman in ministry, Mauia has faced both cultural and gender-based challenges. “Sometimes my brothers could say the same thing I was saying, but it would be more readily accepted because of gender,” she reflected. Yet, she has learned to meet these moments with love, rooted in her Samoan upbringing and her calling to shepherd her people as a spiritual mother.
The ordination service carried the theme “I trust in God my Savior—He will never fail.” Surrounded by family, church members, and mentors, Mauia experienced the peace of God’s affirmation. A deeply personal highlight came when her father prayed the ordination prayer over her ministry, sealing the moment with family legacy and blessing.
Her ordination is also a historic first: she is believed to be the first Samoan female pastor ordained by a Samoan church—a glass ceiling broken for future generations. “I may be the first, but I won’t be the last,” she said. With gratitude to her family, community, and conference, Mauia continues to lead with compassion, determination, and unwavering trust in God, who has guided her every step.
By Jordyn Wright
Mauia is surrounded by her family.
Mauia’s sermon on trusting in God.
Pastors pray a blessing over Mauia.
Worship That Transformed a Summer
There was something different in the air at Pine Springs Ranch (PSR) this summer, something deeper, quieter, and more powerful than the usual camp buzz. It was worship. Not just the songs sung at morning gatherings or the hands raised during evening vespers, but a spirit of worship that shaped how staff and campers interacted—in the dining hall, during activities, and in the ways they listened, encouraged each other, and served. This focus on spiritual connection defined each week and led to something beautiful: 18 baptisms, including 14 campers and four staff members who publicly declared their commitment to Jesus.
At the center were Jo and Laia Amaya, a husbandand-wife team pursuing Master of Divinity degrees at Andrews University. Having served within the Southeastern California Conference before graduate school, they returned with a vision: to cultivate a worship culture that felt authentic, safe, and rooted in relationship.
“We didn’t want worship to feel like a performance
or a task,” Laia shared. “We wanted it to be a joy— something that made people feel seen and safe.” Instead of assigning worship to busy staff, Jo and Laia led every service themselves, inviting others to join as they felt ready. By midweek, staff and campers who had at first been hesitant to sing were stepping forward as “worship leaders,” a title used to affirm and empower them.
Their style was less about polish and more about presence. Songs were chosen for age groups, sometimes adjusted when participation lagged, but always aimed at building trust and community. “We saw worship as our mission field,” Jo explained. “It wasn’t just about music; it was about how we treated each other.” Even silly or unfamiliar songs became tools for connection—opportunities to sing with friends and grow in faith together.
Angelica Torres, returning as spiritual care coordinator, saw how this reshaped camp culture. “With so many new staff, we had to rebuild from the ground up,” she explained. “Jo and Laia helped us see that worship wasn’t just a slot on the schedule—it became the heart posture of the community.”
By the final day, campers who once sat quietly were leading songs with confidence. Staff who had never imagined themselves in spiritual roles were guiding others in prayer. Arms linked in worship circles became a weekly scene, as once-reluctant voices now asked, “Can we sing that song again?”
As summer closed, PSR stood out as more than just a camp. Worship had shaped it into a community— one where leaders emerged, relationships deepened, and God’s presence was experienced in everyday moments.
By Jordyn Wright
Some of the baptismal candidates.
Two Ministries, One Mission: Educator and Pastor Summit Fosters Collaboration
This summer, before the start of the new school year, educators and pastors in the Southern California Conference (SCC) gathered at Glendale Adventist Academy for a day of connection and collaboration. This One Mission Summit focused on strengthening the partnership between these two ministries under SCC’s mission to exalt Christ by cultivating healthy churches and schools.
The day kicked off with a devotional from Jonathan Henderson, Vallejo Drive church pastor, and a message on shared mission from John H. Cress, SCC president. Karl Haffner, vice president for student experience at
Keynote speaker
Karl Haffner shared multiple presentations throughout the day.
Loma Linda University, was the keynote speaker.
“One of the most surprising, and frankly heartbreaking, realities in the Seventh-day Adventist Church is this: The two full-time professionals hired by the denomination—pastors and teachers—often work side by side but rarely together,” Cress said. “Though both are called, committed, and embedded in the life of the local church, their worlds rarely intersect. They face similar battles; they fight for the same souls; yet too often, they do so in isolation.”
“Pastors are not just preachers; they are teachers of truth,” Cress added, referring to the spiritual gifts Paul describes in Ephesians 4. “And teachers aren’t merely
educators—they shepherd hearts. These two roles were never meant to be divided.”
With shared mission at the heart of the event, attendees were assigned to groups mixing educators and pastors across schools, positions, and regions, in which they engaged in discussions throughout the day. They answered questions regarding communication and support among the two ministries, spiritual gifts and calling, practical application and next steps, and many other topics—all to foster deeper understanding and intentional collaboration.
“I’m energized by the time we spent in our groups with our educators and our pastors to come up with ideas how we can connect, minister to families, and be a blessing overall in our communities,” said Ben Guerrero, Whittier church pastor.
The presentations, the breakout groups, and a panel moderated by SCC Executive Secretary Danny Chan that featured three educators and three pastors were all designed to equip and encourage
those serving in these different yet complementary ministries.
“This summit is going to help us start to think of what is the best way for creating organized systems and structures for schools and churches to communicate better,” said Samantha Macias, Glendale Adventist Academy principal.
“Instead of asking the other party to do something for you,” said Miles Yu, San Gabriel Academy teacher, “ask the other party, ‘What can we do for you? How can we serve you?’ I believe that would begin a great relationship building that will fit our mission, which is to exalt Christ and build a healthy church and school.”
To learn more about what educators and pastors shared at the One Mission Summit, visit scc. adventist.org/one-mission or scan the QR code.
By Araya Moss
Danny Chan leads educators and pastors in a panel discussion. From left to right: Chan; Angel Nair, SCC associate superintendent; Celeste Harrison, Alhambra church pastor; Carol Todd, Los Angeles Adventist Academy principal; Robert Cabrera, Lancaster Spanish church pastor; Michele Cortner, Antelope Valley Adventist School principal and 5th- through 8th-grade teacher; and Ron Sydney, The Place Adventist Fellowship church pastor.
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Calendar
La Sierra University
Pianist Jonathan Mamora in Concert. International award-winning pianist Jonathan Mamora will give a solo recital Saturday, Oct. 4, at 7 p.m. at Hole Memorial Auditorium. Admission is free. Performance celebrates Jonathan’s return to La Sierra University this fall as an assistant professor of music. Information at music@ lasierra.edu, 951-785-2036.
Parker Quartet in Concert. The Anna H. Wang Concert Series presents the Parker Quartet, Saturday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m., Hole Memorial Auditorium, performing works by Debussy and Schubert. Pre-concert talk with KUSC’s Brian Lauritzen, 6 p.m. Information and tickets at https://www. ahwconcerts.org. Masterclass Sunday, Oct. 26, at 10 a.m., free admission.
Archaeology Discovery Weekend. La Sierra University’s 17th Annual Archaeology Discovery Weekend will be held Nov. 15–16 under the theme “Alexander the Great: How He Changed the World.” Illustrated presentations by international scholars, family events, hands-on labs. Lectures in person and online. Admission free. Registration and info at lasierra.edu/archaeology.
Pacific Union College
PUC College Days, Nov. 14-17. PUC is looking forward to welcoming academies to their campus for their fall College Days. Academy students will enjoy a unique experience at the college by attending events such as Pioneers games, vespers, hiking, and visiting classes. Students get to use this time to see what it’s like to be a PUC college student. For more information, email visit@puc.edu.
Fall Fest at PUC. PUC will be hosting their annual Fall Fest on Sunday, Nov. 16 at 5 p.m. at the Pacific Auditorium. Students and families are welcome to enjoy food and entertainment. Admission is free.
Connect Ministries is a group of Pacific Union College students passionate about Jesus and sharing through music and worship. The bilingual team leads the worship services, retreats, youth events, and any programs where they can inspire other young people to become worship leaders. Any school or church interested in having them visit, please email connectministries@puc.edu.
Add PUC News in Your Church Bulletin. With many updates to share at Pacific Union College we designed a printable bulletin insert for churches to use. Just print the PDF double sided and cut in half, then include as a bulletin insert. Download at puc.edu/bulletin.
Subscribe to the PUC Now Newsletter. Stay up-to-date with Pacific Union College by subscribing to their monthly newsletter at puc.edu/subscribe. From campus stories and
alumni features to student interviews, you’ll be in the now with PUC.
Southeastern California Conference
30th Year Oceanside Adventist Elementary Alumni Sabbath, Nov. 1, 2025. Join us for the 11:00 a.m. service, enjoy a courtyard reception, and stay for the Fall Festival at 6 in the evening. Text 760-994-5022 to let us know you are coming.
Southern California Conference
Tamarind Avenue Church 60th Anniversary Week, Oct. 26-Nov. 1. Join Tamarind church for a weeklong 60th anniversary celebration, concluding Sabbath with an evening concert. Speaker: Pastor James Kyle. Music by the Ambassador Chorale. The concert will feature artists God’s Messengers, Chosen Praise Ensemble, S7even and Friends. Info: Call 323-428-0881 or email officemanager@ tamarindavesda.org. Tamarind Avenue church, 417 S. Tamarind Ave., Compton, 90220.
Temple City Community Health Clinic, Oct. 26, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Temple City church is hosting a health and wellness clinic offering a variety of services to help take care of the mind, body, and spirit. From free health screenings to informative workshops, there is something for everyone. Don’t miss this opportunity to prioritize your health and well-being. Spots are limited; register today! To register, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/temple-citycommunity-health-clinic-tickets-1567737959439.
Classified Employment
Holbrook Indian School is currently in need of a Development Director, Maintenance Director, and Maintenance Associate II. These are paid positions. If you or someone you know are mission-minded and would like to serve American Indian children, please see or share our jobs page at HolbrookIndianSchool.org/jobs.
The Miranda Seventh-day Adventist Church is looking for a missionary-minded couple to care for its church. The couple will rent the church trailer home and be responsible for maintaining the church grounds. For more information, please call Mike Michelli at 707-296-5518.
Pacific Union College seeks dedicated Executive Director to lead Human Resources operations and strategy and oversee well-being and development of talented team members. Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills are essential. https://sdawest.pub/ job_posting. Email hr@puc.edu, 707-965-6231.
Pacific Union College seeks qualified candidates to fill open positions in fulfilling our mission to Learn with Purpose, Rise in Faith, and Serve in Love. Beautiful mountain campus, minutes to shopping, an hour+ drive
of ocean and skiing. Current openings at https://sdawest. pub/candidates.
Camp Cedar Falls is hiring! Live and work in God’s beautiful nature. Positions available include: Camp Ranger/Custodial and Camp Ranger/Maintenance. Opportunities available to singles, couples, and families. To learn more or apply, visit https://sdawest.pub/ openings. For questions, call Camp Cedar Falls at 909805-4104.
You can change lives! Canvasback Missions is seeking dedicated couple of strong faith to be co-directors of our Wellness Center, Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands in the tropical North Pacific. More information: https:// canvasback.org/career/ or call 707-746-7828.
Caretaker Position, Redwood Area Camp Meeting. Located in beautiful Southern Humboldt County, this is a live-on-site, year-round position. Applicants must have basic mechanical, electrical, and plumbing skills. For more information and to apply, please contact the HR Department at the Northern California Conference Office at 916-886-5600 or email hr@nccsda.com.
Real Estate
PUC Commercial Space for Rent. Pacific Union College has commercial real estate space available for lease. The spaces are in various sizes and functionality and are available for inquiries. For additional information, please email Sam Heier at sheier@puc.edu.
Cottage for Rent. Are you looking for serenity and peace? Then this rental is the perfect place for you. A small and private cottage, complete with picket fences and gardens. 1 bedroom, 1.5 bathrooms, skylights, and unique shower. Located in foothills by Collins Lake, CA. Contact John at Mountains. skyz@gmail.com.
Summit Ridge Retirement Villages, an Adventist
community in a rural setting, offers affordable homes or apartments and caring neighbors, with fellowship you will enjoy. Onsite church, planned activities, and transportation as needed. Onsite Wolfe Living Center offers independent living and nursing homes. Visit SummitRidgeVillage.org or call Bill Norman 405-208-1289.
Choice mountain land in the Cherokee Nat’l Forest in East Tennessee. Six tracts ranging from 2+ acres to 7+ acres; gated community off a county-maintained road. Large creek. Underground power. 50 miles from SAU. Wonderful Christian neighbors. 15 minutes from the Hiwassee River basin. Country living at its best. Call, text, email for more info and photos: 706-766-1825 or drdickmiller@gmail.com.
Country living with contemporary luxury in this newly remodeled 3-bed 2-bath 2700 sf home with open floor plan bathed in natural light with gourmet kitchen, SS appliances, granite countertops, LVP flooring. A master suite with a large bathroom and shower with a huge walkin closet. Also a large game room/office, all on a single level. House on 1.6 acres backed by a pond and stream; more acreage available. Any questions or pictures, contact me at ptnbear@gmail.com.
Country living in Northern California: 3-bedroom, 2-bath, newly renovated home for sale on one acre,
quiet street 15 minutes from Redding, mature fruit trees, grapevines, 50x80 fenced garden area with small greenhouse, irrigation system, landscaping, 3-car garage, gym, and large 18x30 shop with RV hookups. Call, text 909-735-2745.
Near Pacific Union College, in Pope Valley, CA. Beautiful 3-story, 4 BDRM, 3 full bath home for sale. Downstairs could be apartment. Peaceful, secluded, sits above creek. Own water access. Dock possible. Kayak, swim, picnic, hike. No neighbors either side, rolling hills across. $525,000. See listing: www.listing4. com/1060deputydrive. Kris Chun, Brokerage License 01870237; phone: 707-853-5747.
Reduced price, rare mountain jewel, 21.67 acres in high Sierras, out of valley fog, east of Jackson, CA, near Silver Lake, Kirkwood, and south Lake Tahoe. Horse corral, miles of forest trails, 5th wheel and camping trailer on site. Hunting, and fishing on river. A great weekend retreat or home site. $99,000. Terms, owner seller must sell 209-745-2302
For Sale
Outpatient Physical Therapy and Aquatic Therapy in the foothills above Sacramento, CA. Turn-key practice, in business for over 30 years. Great referral base and solid practice. Lots of potential for growth. Great opportunity
for someone wanting to establish a medical mission outpost or wellness center as well. 5400-sq-ft facility. $450,000. Flexible options to the right party. Contact levi2000@sbcglobal.net or leave message at 209-304-7455.
Well-established medical practice for sale in beautiful East Tennessee, one hour from Southern Adventist University. Low capital investment, 4000-sq-ft office building with 8 exam rooms, excellent support staff, completely furnished, 10 years of patients in electronic medical records. Transition assistance available. Please contact William H. Taylor II, CPA, MBA at whtayloriitn@ gmail.com indicating level of interest.
Vacation Opportunities
Travel on a faith-based biblical tour to Egypt (Dec. 2025) or Israel (March 2026) with Dr. Carl Cosaert, Dean of the School of Theology at Walla Walla University. To learn more, visit www.adventtours.org or email info@ adventtours.org.
Travel on a William Tyndale Reformation Tour, Aug. 26 to Sept. 11, 2026, celebrating the 500th anniversary of the English New Testament with Dr. Carl Cosaert of Walla Walla University. Explore Tyndale’s England, with an optional Germany and Belgium extension. To learn more, visit www.adventtours.org or email info@adventtours.org.
Angwin home. Five-bedroom, three-bathroom vacation home 2 miles from PUC. Fully furnished, large kitchen, dining room, living room, family room, piano, vineyard views, WiFi, washer and dryer, BBQ, sleeps 10. Call for rates, photos and reservations: 415-539-7980 or email nroger1965@gmail.com.
Bulletin Board
Get free stickers. LifeTalk Radio has free stickers for kids. Order at: LifeTalk.net/stickers. Let others know LifeTalkKids.net has awesome programs for kids of all ages. Discover exciting adventure, captivating history, amazing Bible stories, and more. Check out: LifeTalk.net.
Support group. Do you live at the intersection of Adventist Faith Highway and LGBTIAQ+ Family Boulevard? Do you think you can't talk to anyone, living in secrecy in your faith community regarding a family member? Are you seeking to love and reprimand simultaneously? How is it going? We would love to hear from you no matter where you are on this journey. We are parents too and have found a way forward to grace for our loved ones and peace with God. We offer anonymous peer support and listening ears: grace.and.peace789@gmail.com.
Canvasback Missions: Help the Lord’s ministry of healing in Micronesia by donating your car, boat, bike, RV, or truck. All proceeds help provide free medical services to the island peoples of Micronesia. Canvasback Missions, a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization, has been serving since 1986. For more info: www.canvasback.org or 707-746-7828.
Shop for new/used Adventist books: TEACH Services offers used Adventist books at www.LNFBOOKS.com or new book releases at your local ABC or www.TEACHServices. com. Authors, let us help publish your book with editing, design, marketing, and worldwide distribution. Call 706-5049192 for a free evaluation.
Living Trusts by SDA Paralegal with 30 years experience and great references. Protect your assets from probate and illegal claimants. (A simple will can be contested in court.) Fully comprehensive estate plan. Two-week turnaround. Single person $550; couple $700. Why pay thousands? donnadeblauw9@gmail.com (California only).
At Rest
Black, James – b. Oct. 19, 1942, Sharon, PA; d. Aug. 3, 2025, Las Vegas, NV. Survivors: wife, Liberty Black; brother, Bill Black.
Burgdorff, Janel – b. Nov. 29, 1950, Los Angeles, CA; d. Aug. 12, 2025, Redlands, CA. Survivors: husband, Tom; son, Chad; daughters, Missy, Courtney; sisters, Cherie Kirk, Shelley Thiel; brother, Scott Hutson.
Coy, Leonard Eugene – b. Dec. 5, 1936, Watertown, SD; d. Aug. 5, 2025, Walnut Creek, CA. Survivors: wife, Erma; son, David; daughters, Carmyn Hardt, Karen Darnell, Suzanne Coy; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren. A former president of Feather River Hospital, he was a longtime member of the Pleasant Hill church where he served as the Adventist Community Services director and in a variety of other local ministries.
Darby, Robert – b. Feb. 23, 1933, Marshall, MO; d. Aug. 7, 2025, Loma Linda, CA. Survivors: wife, Joann Darby; children, Marlise Perry, Larisa Thompson; sister, Shirely Brown; four grandchildren.
Knight, Robert O’dell Sr. – b. Dec. 18, 1935; d. Aug. 23, 2025. A lifelong member of the Berean church in Los Angeles, Bob was deeply committed to his Christian faith and a passionate supporter of Christian education. Known for his kindness, generosity, and steadfast spirit,
Bob's legacy is one of service, integrity, and love. His impact was felt not only in the property he maintained but in the countless lives he touched.
Prior, Lois – b. Jan. 22, 1930, Cedar Rapids, IA; d. Aug. 4, 2025, Loma Linda, CA. Survivors: children, Gary Prior, Cindy Prior; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren.
NEW FROM
This annotated edition of Steps to Christ is the result of many years of reflection on the content of this deeply spiritual little book, first published more than a century ago. In Steps to Christ, Ellen White clarifies and expounds on God’s plan of salvation through Christ and illuminates the believer’s experience. This edition will benefit all those who wish to learn how to personally experience the salvation that Jesus Christ has provided for all humankind, as well as those who want to reflect on the meaning of that salvation.
The first edition of this annotated Steps to Christ was published by Andrews University Press in 2017 to commemorate the 125th anniversary of its original publication in 1892. In this second edition, you will find a slightly revised introduction that offers a brief history of the book, including how Ellen White and her assistants prepared and compiled the manuscript from prior publications. That information will help correct some misunderstood views about Mrs. White’s inspiration and the purpose of her books. The introduction also provides a historical and theological summary of Ellen White’s understanding of salvation.
DENIS FORTIN is professor of historical theology and former dean at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan.
Redden, Raymond – b. May 4, 1938, Loma Linda, CA; d. Aug. 31, 2025, Sacramento, CA. Survivors: wife, Zana Tregoning Redden; son, Timothy Redden; daughters, Linnea Carter, Jerda Herrera, Tiffany Redden; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren. Raymond was a member of the Carmichael church where he designed and installed the initial sound system.
Rice, Floyd Darrell – b. Sept. 17, 1933, Portland, OR; d. Aug. 2, 2025, Cameron Park, CA. Survivors: wife, Norma; sons, Daryl, Doug; daughters, Debbie Rice, Denise Skinner.
Van den Hoven, Ester – b. Aug. 14, 1924, Düsseldorf, Germany; d. July 28, 2025, Loma Linda, CA. Survivors: children, Ellen Morse, Raymond Van den Hoven; five grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren.
White, Cris A. – b. May 7, 1940, Maui, HI; d. Nov. 14, 2024, Phelan, CA. Survivors: son, Cristopher; sister, Sharon Dunawy; five grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren.
Zane, Adam – b. May 12, 1999, Loma Linda, CA; d. Aug. 18, 2025, Ontario, CA. Survivors: mom, Sandra Zane; dad, Ryan Zane; sister, Samantha Zane.
Oak & Acorn Publishing is a ministry of the Pacific Union Conference.
The Last Word
By Ray Tetz
Things We Learned on the Grand Circle Tour
The Pacific Union Conference is comprised of five states in the Pacific Southwest: Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California, and the island state of Hawaii. It’s a big territory—more than 12% of the total area of the United States. How big? 487,083 square miles big! More than three quarters of a million miles of roads keep us all connected.1
After joining the communication team for the Pacific Union in 2015, I put a goal on my bucket list to make a circle tour of the headquarters of the six conferences that are connected by highways—Hawaii being the obvious exception. While I’ve visited each of the offices individually, I’d never put in the miles between them all in one itinerary. Until this summer.
In late August, I set out with our Communication & Community Engagement team of Connie Vandeman Jeffery (associate director and All God’s People producer/host) and Alberto Valenzuela (associate director and Recorder editor). Alberto likes to drive, so we traveled in his Toyota. We forbade Connie’s guitar, so there was lots of time
for conversation. Our goal was to meet with the communication directors, to listen more than we talked, to find out what they love about their work, and to explore ways we can be of better service as they tell their stories and communicate with their local churches, schools, and members. What a great experience!
In eight days, we traveled nearly 2,000 miles and visited six of our conferences. The weather for the entire trip was hot—including a 110° day in Arizona. (“But it’s a dry heat,” they all said at each stop.)
In order, our visits were to the Southern California Conference in Glendale, CA; Southeastern California Conference in Riverside, CA; Arizona Conference in Scottsdale, AZ; Nevada-Utah Conference in Reno, NV; Northern California Conference in Roseville, CA; Central California Conference in Clovis, CA; and then back to the Pacific Union Conference in Westlake Village, CA.
The focus of the trip was not the miles traveled but the time spent with the communication directors and their teams. We were fortunate to have a solid block of time— uninterrupted by phone or zoom calls—with each of the six directors. The visits affirmed the appreciation
we have for the diverse gifts they bring and how they enrich our communication team here in the Pacific Union.
In Southern California, Lauren Lacson and her team have faithfully pursued an integrated approach to their communication and media. Southern had a grand opening for their new media production studio last fall, and each month they are producing media focused on mission. In Southeastern California, Taji Saleem is committed to developing new infrastructure for video and media production while deepening the storytelling capacities. In Arizona, Jeff Rogers emphasizes grassroots, people-first communication with weekly emails and monthly newsletters. Jeff combines the media with personal visits to churches in Arizona nearly every Sabbath.
In Nevada-Utah, Neat Randriamialison is developing media and communication tools that reflect his pastoral experience as well as his media
training. He emphasizes strong personal relationships and a spirit of collaboration in a sprawling conference that serves two states and 110,560 square miles. In Northern California, Laurie Trujillo has worked hard to integrate communication with development and stewardship, working closely with her executive leadership. And in Central California, Justin Kim leads a bright, young, multi-talented team in innovative, multilingual digital evangelism.
While we didn’t have the opportunity to visit Hawaii on this trip, I also want to affirm the communication director for the Hawaii Conference, Miguel Manzo. (We hope to visit with him later this year.) Miguel came up through the Pastoral Intern program, and he is deepening his communication skills as he helps tell the story of the work in Hawaii.
It was an inspiring and impactful trip. It reaffirmed my confidence and appreciation in our communication team throughout the union and brought into clearer focus the values and priorities that we all share.
While each individual team has its own strengths
and perspectives, and each individual conference has unique initiatives and priorities, the core mission of the church is deeply and commonly held At every stop, I was reminded of our shared faith and beliefs, our common purpose and mission. Each conference has distinctive ways of approaching their work, but our hopes and goals are the same.
Our mission requires great tools and strategies. Each of the communication directors are developing and strengthening the resources and capacities to tell the story of Jesus using modern technologies and digital methods. Every conference is developing and expanding ways to communicate with their members and the communities they serve.
Good leadership prompts growth and success. It was so exciting to see how each individual director is committed to continuous growth and improvement. I was inspired to hear about what they are doing, how they are expanding, and the initiatives they are developing.
Audience engagement is growing and diversifying. Whether it is through the use of visual products, social media, traditional communication tools,
personal participation, mentoring and sharing, or innovative technologies, the communication leadership in our conferences is aware of the importance of reaching our members, our neighbors, our young people, the various ethnic and cultural groups in our communities, those who support God’s work through their time and resources, and those who have become passive or are unengaged.
And finally, relationships anchor the communicator’s life. Every director spoke about the importance of strong working relationships with local pastors and communities. They are mindful of the working relationships that are necessary with their presidents and executive leadership. They describe being engaged in the activities and ministries of local churches and schools. There is universal support for the various departments and ministries of the church.
As we wrapped up our grand circle tour and meetings with the conferences, I thought of what the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth. It perfectly summarizes the impact of our trip: “I thank my God always on your behalf for the grace of God which has been given to you through Jesus Christ. By
Him you are enriched in everything, in all speech and in all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift while waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, and by Him you were called to the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:4-9, MEV).
Every part of the communicator’s trade—speech, knowledge, leadership, creativity, relationships—is given to us by God and sustained by His faithfulness. For our Pacific Union communication team, the lessons of the grand circle tour strengthen our shared resolve to faithfully tell the story of God’s work among His people and to constantly seek new ways to communicate and share the gospel of Jesus.
Ray Tetz is the director of communication and community engagement of the Pacific Union and the publisher of the Recorder.
While each individual team has its own strengths and perspectives, and each individual conference has unique initiatives and priorities, the core mission of the church is deeply and commonly held.
Pacific Union College’s demonstration and experimental forest, an integral part of the college’s heritage, is a 1,100acre protected preserve that is an outdoor classroom and a local destination. With 35 miles of trails winding through conifers, madrone, and some of the easternmost coastal redwoods, the forest offers endless opportunities for hands-on learning, recreation, and support for the educational mission of PUC.
