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Julie Lorenz

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Twelve People Baptized After Hybrid-style Evangelistic Meetings
Twelve People Baptized After Hybrid-style Evangelistic Meetings 4032 3024 Julie Lorenz
In December, 12 people were baptized during a week-long series of reaping meetings held at the Fairfield Suisun Spanish church and live-streamed to the Vallejo Spanish company. The evangelist was Alberto Ingleton, assistant to the president for Hispanic ministries at the Pacific Union Conference.
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“Even in the midst of a pandemic, the Church moves forward, and the Holy Spirit keeps adding people into the Kingdom,” said Paul Guevara, pastor of both congregations.
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At each site, members interacted with attendees, presenting gifts and providing refreshments.
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Before the series, interested people participated in Bible studies via Zoom. “The members worked together, preparing the field for the meetings,” said Guevara. “As a result, we had excellent attendance at both churches.”
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The meetings were also broadcast on Facebook. You can watch them. Click here and scroll down: https://www.facebook.com/Vallejo-Spanish-SDA-Church-106153977694144
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Weekend of Revival and Evangelism
Weekend of Revival and Evangelism 720 540 Julie Lorenz
The Hispanic congregations of Oakland, San Leandro, and Richmond celebrated a weekend of revival and evangelism, titled “Filled with the Holy Spirit,” at Golden Gate Academy. The event, held in the fall, was preceded by 40 days of fasting and prayer.
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The guest speaker was evangelist Robert Costa, and the guest singer was Mónica Ospina, who came from Colombia for the event. About 400 people attended from the three churches.
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During the weekend, the charter members of the new missional church plant, Buena Tierra, were dedicated (pictured). Also, several people were baptized!!!
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The congregations are led by Senior Pastor Luis F. Manrique and Associate Pastor Pedro Rosillo.
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Buena Tierra: Missional Church Plant
Buena Tierra: Missional Church Plant 720 540 Julie Lorenz
On Christmas afternoon, Buena Tierra—the latest NCC missional church plant—was officially inaugurated in Oakland. The new group of 39 members is the fourth congregation in a district led by Pastors Luis F. Manrique and Pedro Rosillo. Buena Tierra is a “daughter” group of the Oakland Spanish church.
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Nearly 200 members from the district attended the combined inauguration and Christmas program, held at the congregation’s rented church facility on 81st Avenue. Hispanic Ministries Coordinator Roman Leal challenged the new group to bring the gospel to the local area, which has the largest Hispanic population in the city.
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The service included an inspiring concert by singer Dani Ferras. Cesar Perdomo, an evangelist from Colombia, offered the prayer of dedication. Afterward, everyone enjoyed a delicious dinner, and children received gifts. A local family attended the service and expressed an interest in starting to study the Bible.
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Missional church plants are designed to multiply! “I look to the future and see Buena Tierra producing new fruits and planting new churches in and around Oakland until Christ comes,” said Manrique.
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Women’s Ministries Coordinator Angela Fusilier
Women’s Ministries Coordinator Angela Fusilier 504 384 Julie Lorenz

Angela Fusilier is the new women’s ministries coordinator for the Northern California Conference.  A Sacramento Capitol City church member, she has been active in ministry for decades.
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“We are very happy Angela has joined our NCC team,” said President Marc Woodson. “She has a real calling for ministry to women, and I know her leadership will be much appreciated.”
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A native of Ohio, Fusilier served as  lifestyle facilitator in the medical missionary work at the New Life Health Institute of Ashtabula, Ohio, before moving to California to serve as lifestyle facilitator at Weimar Health Institute. She earned her Master of Social Work from California State University, Sacramento, and currently serves as a social worker for Sacramento County.
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Fusilier was one of the founders of the Rites of Passage Youth Program, Young Ladies’ and Men’s Ministry, at the Capitol City church. She was recently the enditnow (abuse prevention) representative for NCC women’s ministries. “I want to create and provide safe spaces for women within the church culture,” she said.
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As she begins her new role, one of her goals is to foster ministry to women at the local level. “I want to focus on mining the resources in our various churches and communities,” she said. “There is a component for women’s ministries in every church—even if it’s not formally developed.”
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Fusilier has a passion for communicating the gospel. “I delight to share with others the abundant grace God has generously poured into my life,” she said. “I have overcome multiple challenges of addiction, abuse, despair, and depression, but I have personally witnessed the deliverance by an almighty God, who has redirected my life to a greater path.”
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She is eager to get started in her new position. “I look forward to working with the NCC Women’s Ministries Advisory Council, including my assistant coordinator Janice Nelson,” she said.
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Health and fitness are important to Fusilier, an avid downhill skier who also loves water sports.  She has been married for 22 years to Erick Fusilier, an elder at the Capitol City church.
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Her life verse is Hebrews 2:11: “Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters” (NIV).“This is such a life-giving statement,” Fusilier said. “The God of the universe is not ashamed to call me His family—His sister. It has become my desire to motivate and empower others to walk in the fullness of life provided by the Savior of all, Christ the Lord!”

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Willie Johnson Retires
Willie Johnson Retires 1382 1036 Julie Lorenz

After sharing the gospel for three decades, Willie Johnson Jr. officially retired at the end of December. He had served in the NCC office since 2016, leading four departments—African American ministries, urban ministries, men’s ministries, and prison ministries.
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“We have truly been blessed by Elder Johnson’s ministry—first as a pastor and then as a director and coordinator,” said President Marc Woodson. “He has engaged his calling with wisdom, truth, and a sincere love for people.”
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Johnson grew up in Louisiana and served in the Air Force. He was married with three children and working as a combustion safety technician in New Orleans when his life changed. “One Sunday morning, I fell on my knees and asked God for someone to guide me to Him,” he said.
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Two weeks later, the head elder of a nearby Adventist church knocked on his door and asked if he wanted Bible studies. Eight months later, Johnson and his wife, Bernadette, were baptized together.
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Johnson became involved in his local church—serving as a colporteur and head elder—but he felt God’s call to full-time ministry. Three years after his baptism, he enrolled at Southwestern Adventist College (now University). During his time there, he was a student pastor at several churches.
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After graduation, the Southwest Region Conference gave him 100 sets of Bible studies and challenged him to start a church. After much prayer and hard work, he planted two churches in Oklahoma. He was later called to pastor two churches in the Oklahoma Conference, where he was ordained in 1999.
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In 2004, he was called to the NCC, where he served as pastor of the Oakland Elmhurst church and the Fairfield Community church before taking on his many roles in the NCC office. “Willie is the consummate pastor, possessing superb skills to be an excellent pastoral leader,” said Jim Lorenz, ministerial director.
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Although officially retired, Johnson does not intend to abandon his calling. “I plan to spend the rest of my life doing what brought me into the Church–giving Bible studies, helping churches do evangelism, and preaching,” he said.

He will be missed by his colleagues!
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“Pastor Willie Johnson is a Christian who loves the Lord Jesus Christ and his wife and family,” said Edwin Brown, senior pastor of the Oakland Market Street church. “He goes out of his way to help and serve the Church and community in any way possible to lead people to Christ. He is an amazing friend and colleague. My wife, Paula, and I pray that God will richly bless him and Bernadette.”
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“Elder Johnson shares wisdom and peace through his kind words,” said Daniel Yim, pastor of the SDA Abundant Life/Sebastopol district. “His service is consistent and faithful. We are all blessed to know such a wonderful Christian who loves the Lord so much!”
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“In the nearly five years I’ve worked as Elder Willie Johnson’s administrative assistant, I’ve appreciated his great passion for the ministries he had charge over,” said Yolanda Frazier, administrative assistant in multiple departments. “He loves serving the people of God, connecting people to Jesus, and encouraging people for His Kingdom. Elder Johnson is fueled by these! He always says, ‘People don’t care what you know, ‘til they know that you care.’ Also, he often quotes Micah 6:8: ‘He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.’ This is how he has been a great and effective leader at the NCC. I’m sad to see him retire and will truly miss working with him.”

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Lodi Academy Schools in Parade of Lights
Lodi Academy Schools in Parade of Lights 720 480 Julie Lorenz
On Dec. 2, Lodi Academy Schools again participated in the annual Lodi “Parade of Lights,” joining nearly 80 floats moving through Lodi’s quaint Christmas-decked downtown. Spectators started lining up in the morning for the evening parade, during which more than 15,000 people waved at the participants and enjoyed the holiday event.
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Lodi Academy’s float was pulled by a bright-red 1947 truck decked out with a Christmas tree in the back! Covered in lights and shimmering tinsel, the younger students piled onto hay bales down the center of the float and waved bells while the onboard sound system played variations of “Joy to the World.”
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More than 150 Lodi SDA Elementary and Lodi Academy students, family members, and friends joined the contingent, waving and wishing spectators a “Merry Christmas” from Lodi Academy Schools.
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“Seeing that people enjoy seeing the truck and all the energy from the crowd makes this a really special event and worth the work,” said Kevin Haesche, Lodi Academy’s facilities manager. “Lodi Academy really gets to show people what we are all about in a very public way.”
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Local churches and schools share the float fun of spreading Christmas cheer through other events as the joy of Christmas month continues! Galt SDA Elementary used the academy’s float as part of a parade they joined in Galt, and Lodi’s English Oaks and Fairmont churches will use it for caroling in the surrounding neighborhoods during the holidays. Members can join caroling groups on Sunday, Dec. 19 with English Oaks, and Wednesday Dec. 22 with Fairmont.
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(Credit for first photo: Dave Marson Photography; Other photos: school supplied)

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Orangevale Church Drive-thru Christmas
Orangevale Church Drive-thru Christmas 720 540 Julie Lorenz
For the second year in a row, the Orangevale church hosted a Drive-thru Christmas event for its community. During two hours on Dec. 11, the church welcomed more than 350 people, who came to view a manger scene with real animals, hear voice and bell choirs, enjoy refreshments, and receive gifts. They also had the opportunity to participate in a canned food drive for the church’s food closet.
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Pastor Jon Cicle approached every car to welcome the visitors. “I was happy to meet new people from the community who felt this was a safe holiday event to come and enjoy,” he said.
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About 100 adults and kids volunteered, including students from Orangevale SDA School, who welcomed guests, sang, played handbells, and created gifts. “I love seeing our church family serve our community—sharing with our children the true meaning of the season and the joy of serving others,” said the event’s organizer Lian Funada.
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Church members offered to pray with the visitors. With tears streaming down her face, one woman told a volunteer, “No one has asked to pray with me before.”
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Gracepoint Church Community Christmas Party
Gracepoint Church Community Christmas Party 720 540 Julie Lorenz
As part of their ongoing efforts to build relationships with their neighbors in a nearby apartment complex, the Gracepoint church in Rocklin hosted a Christmas party on Dec. 11, attended by more than 100 people. The festive event included a photo booth, gingerbread house construction, food, treats, and more!
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Church members “adopted” 17 neighborhood families, providing presents for 31 children. The church worked with the local apartment manager to advertise the party and connect with the families.
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The congregation’s efforts to forge relationships are making a difference. “People were very appreciative,” said Associate Pastor Marlene Rodriguez. “One lady texted: ‘Thank you for all you guys do. I really want to know more about your church.’”
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Kevin Robert Is New Church Growth and Evangelism Director
Kevin Robert Is New Church Growth and Evangelism Director 720 540 Julie Lorenz
On Dec. 1, 2021, the Northern California Conference Executive Committee voted to invite Kevin Robert to serve as NCC church growth and evangelism director. He plans to begin his new role in January.
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“We feel blessed to welcome Kevin to the NCC,” said President Marc Woodson. “God has certainly answered our prayers because Kevin’s skillset, passion, and experience match our conference’s needs!”
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A pastor and church planter, Robert comes from the Southern New England Conference, where he has served the Merrimack Valley and Billerica churches since 2017. During the last few years, he planted One Connection Academy and One Connection Community church—both in Wakefield, Mass.
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Robert is also a facilitator and coordinator for the North American Division Evangelism Institute’s ACTS Church Planting Support System. He is currently coaching church planters in Massachusetts, Florida, the Philippines, Albania, and Mozambique.
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His passion is growing missional communities—modeled by the New Testament church—to reach people for Christ. “In a missional community, the believers eat together, study together, go on missions together,” he said. “The whole group has a desire to change the community where they live for the gospel.”
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The high school he planted was an intentional part of this type of evangelism. “We planted a core missional community team to use the school as a center of influence,” he said.
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Robert didn’t always plan to be a pastor. A native of Massachusetts, he graduated from Atlantic Union College with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. He spent a number of years as a sleep lab manager before answering the Lord’s calling to the ministry.
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As a young married couple, he and his wife, Tanya, were part of a church plant in Massachusetts, where Robert got involved in preaching and evangelism. With his wife’s encouragement, he began working on a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry from the SDA Theological Seminary at Andrews University, which he finished in 2016. In the midst of his studies, he was called to the Pennsylvania Conference, where he served in a four-church district until called back to Massachusetts. He was ordained in 2019.
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The Robert family will soon be moving to Angwin, where Tanya will teach nursing at Pacific Union College. The couple has three daughters: Gianna, a college freshman; Carmela, a high school freshman; and Analia, a third grader.
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Robert is excited to join the NCC team. “I’m looking forward to working with all the pastors and administrators, collaborating together, letting creativity flow,” he said. “We want to focus on multiplication, rather than addition—growing disciples that make disciples and churches that plant churches.”
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Gym Night Engages East Bay Young People
Gym Night Engages East Bay Young People 960 720 Julie Lorenz
Every Saturday night, 70-80 teens and young adults from around the East Bay gather at Pleasant Hill Adventist Academy for gym night. Around 8 p.m., organizer Wayne Ogata offers an opening prayer, and they play volleyball and socialize until midnight.

Ninety percent of those who attend are not connected to the Adventist church. They learned about the gym night through friends and social media. Many play, but others come just to watch, socialize, and eat. Food is sometimes provided by the Pleasant Hill church and others. Last week, a taco truck stopped by!

A Pleasant Hill church member, Ogata works hard to ensure that everyone gets the opportunity to play in a positive environment. He began organizing gym nights because he loves the game, but he now realizes they make it easy to engage with young people.

Ben Saechao, a young adult from Oakland, has been coming to the gym nights for years. “You go to a lot of other gyms, and it’s kind of intimidating for new players,” he said. “Wayne makes it clear that it’s all just for fun—a way to socialize and meet new friends and have a good time.”

Ogata is planning to invite participants to several pre-volleyball worship services during the holidays. However, he realizes that friendship is the best way to reach these young people. “One of them told me, ‘You don’t have to talk about church; the kids are going to ask you,’” he said. “We have kids showing up who haven’t been to church in years. You never know where it’s going to lead.”

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