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Donate to the Feather River Adventist School Victims Fund
Donate to the Feather River Adventist School Victims Fund 4800 2700 Ken Miller
The Northern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (NCC) has established the Feather River Adventist School Victims Fund to provide a trusted avenue for support. This fund is dedicated to directly supporting the students, families, and staff of Feather River Adventist School, all of whom have been deeply impacted by this senseless and violent act.
In alignment with our values and ethical stewardship, we want to clarify that this fund supports the entire Feather River Adventist School community, not just two specific families. If you wish to restrict your support to Elias Wolford or Roman Mendez and their families, you may indicate this in the check memo line or the notes section of the online giving form. Because NCC is a conduit for support, ensuring that 100% of the contribution benefits those affected, gifts are not tax-deductible.
Please visit the Feather River Adventist School Victims Fund Giving Link to contribute.  Or send your contributions to Northern California Conference, C/O Feather River School Support, 2100 Douglas Blvd, Roseville, CA 95661. If you have questions, you can email our Director of Communication and Development, laurie.trujillo@nccsda.com. Your support will play a vital role in helping our community heal and rebuild.

Click here to support.

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Pacific Press Celebrates 150 Years
Pacific Press Celebrates 150 Years 3777 2023 Ken Miller

Northern California has played a significant role in the history of the Pacific Press Publishing Association.

At the 1874 Camp Meeting in Yountville, along the Napa River, Elder G. I. Butler, the president of the General Conference, encouraged the gathered community to continue their outreach and evangelism efforts on the West Coast.

This was just six years after Elders J. N. Loughborough and D. T. Bourdeau arrived in California and began evangelistic meetings in the Sonoma Valley. Moreover, it was only four months after James White started publishing “Signs of the Times,” a magazine aimed at the West Coast audience.

During the Yountville camp meeting, an offering was collected to fund publishing efforts that would support the growth of the Adventist Church, particularly on the West Coast. Consequently, the Pacific Press Publishing Association began its work in Oakland from 1874 until 1904 before moving to Mountain View in 1984. It has been located in Nampa, Idaho, for 40 years.

This year marks 150 years of sharing God’s love through the printed page. Dale Galusha, President of the Pacific Press Publishing Association, shared the special celebration event on August 17. Watch that event online!

Featured in Northern Lights, November 14, 2024
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Elder Jack Pefley Enters to His Rest
Elder Jack Pefley Enters to His Rest 961 1240 Ken Miller

We share with deep regret the news of Pastor Jack Pefley’s passing on Friday, October 11.

“Pastor Jack” was an evangelist for Amazing Facts from 1995 to 2009, then joined the NCC as the conference evangelist from 2010 to his retirement in 2017. A former co-worker reflected, “Jack’s style was right out of the Wild West, irrepressible, simple, and down to earth.” Until his passing, he regularly took the pulpit at Citrus Heights, his long-time church family.

Marc Woodson, NCC President, reflected, “Jack Pefley had a passion for winning people to Jesus. His optimistic spirit and joy while doing God’s work were inspiring and encouraging. Only heaven knows Jack’s ministry’s impact on the Kingdom. He will be missed, but we look forward to seeing him again when our Lord returns!”

The family warmly invites you to a memorial service at 11 AM on Sunday, November 3, at the Citrus Heights SDA Church.

Featured in Northern Lights, October 31, 2024
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Jason Bulgin Ordained at Capitol City
Jason Bulgin Ordained at Capitol City 3929 2075 Ken Miller

Recently, Jason Bulgin was ordained at the Sacramento Capitol City Church during the annual African American Convocation.

Born in Canada, Bulgin grew up in an environment deeply rooted in faith, cultivating a desire to serve others. To that end, he attended Oakwood University and experienced a profound spiritual transformation. This defining moment set him on an educational path, and he earned a Master of Christian Ministry and a PhD in Philosophy. He joined the NCC in 2021 as the associate pastor of Capitol City Church, where he is now the senior pastor.

Rudy Peters, African American ministries coordinator, stated, “Jason has his roots in a rich legacy of service. Inspired by his father and father-in-law, who were faithful pastors and nurtured by his mother, his ordination was a culmination of a long journey of service and prayer.”

Bulgin has been blessed with a loving family. He is married to Jessica Delana Ellis, and together they are the proud parents of four children: Jordyn Naomi, Sabrena Janae, Joseph Delano, and Jason Jr.

Featured in Northern Lights, October 31, 2024
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David Woolcock Ordained at Capitol City Church
David Woolcock Ordained at Capitol City Church 914 1017 Ken Miller

On October 12, 2024, David Woolcock was ordained at the Sacramento Capital City church, an event made more significant because it coincided with the annual African American Convocation.

Woolcock’s spiritual path was nurtured from a young age, as he decided to follow Christ and be baptized at 13. His original plan was to become a nurse and attend medical school, but that shifted after receiving a call to ministry. This ultimately led him to enroll at Andrews University, where he completed his Master of Divinity.

Over the years, Pastor Woolcock has served in various roles, including urban youth evangelism, youth pastor, associate pastor, and pastor for NCC since 2019. His philosophy is rooted in sharing the gospel and inviting people to follow Jesus, and he believes in the transformative power of faith. John the Baptist’s declaration inspires his overall approach to ministry: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

He shares his life with Dr. Marlin Duran, and together they have two children, David Jr., 13, and Joy, 7.

Featured in Northern Lights, October 24, 2024
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Academy Volleyball Teams Create Lasting Friendships
Academy Volleyball Teams Create Lasting Friendships 4004 2250 Ken Miller

Recently, the spirit of competition and friendship flourished at Pacific Union College, where twelve women’s high school volleyball teams came together for three days of intense play and community-building.

Teams from La Sierra, Glendale, and Newbury Park, MBA, Modesto, Mt. View, and Trinity joined NCC schools Lodi, Sacramento, Pine Hills, PUC Prep, and Pleasant Hill Academies for the event. These young athletes did not just show up to compete—they came to connect and support each other.

Michael Wong, Volleyball Coach at Glendale, highlighted the tournament’s significance. “It was a great experience for our team. Watching the girls create new relationships and reconnect with others from last year. Events like these strengthen the ties that unite us.”

Matthew Lee, Athletic Director at PUC Prep and the tournament director, also emphasized the power of connection. “What I love most about this tournament is how the teams interact off the court. You see them cheering for one another, sitting together between games, and sharing meals. These moments are about building lasting, meaningful bonds.”

This spirit of unity and faith showed itself strongly on Friday when a player fell hard on the court, prompting medical personnel to arrive. It was an emotional moment when players from many teams gathered in a circle and prayed for God’s protection over the injured player. Garrison Chaffee, youth pastor, praised, “I have great hope for the future with young people who display such faith, hope, and character!”

Featured in Northern Lights, October 24, 2024
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Loving Others in an Election Year
Loving Others in an Election Year 150 150 Ken Miller

By Steve Allred

Religious liberty is a term that we hear frequently in the political battles of today’s culture. Christians of all political persuasions are concerned with different issues in our world that impact religious liberty.

For example, some of my Christian friends are concerned with the freedom to be able to express their religious beliefs in the workplace without fear of losing their jobs or being denied a promotion. They are concerned with the freedom of religious institutions. to adhere to their beliefs regarding who they hire or Christian schools being able to uphold lifestyle standards for their students. They fear the intolerance of secularism and worry that political correctness and cancel culture are leading to the loss of religious liberty.

On the other hand, I have Christian friends who are alarmed by the rapid growth of a militant brand of Christianity, calling itself Christian Nationalism, that seeks to insert itself into politics to control the government. They are concerned that posting the Ten Commandments in public buildings and having government-sponsored prayer in public schools is not necessarily the way of Jesus, who offers us the freedom to choose in matters of faith. My friends are also concerned with Project 2025, a new political project that mandates Congress “encourage” a communal rest day on Sunday. They are alarmed as they see the wall of separation between Church and State disappearing.

My good friend observed that Adventists often occupy the uncomfortable middle on many issues. Historically, we’ve been a minority faith in a world that caters to religious groups who are in the majority. As a result, we sometimes find ourselves siding with other minority non-Christian faiths on religious liberty issues since they are often advocating for the same protections we are (e.g., Sabbath protections in the workplace). We also seek to be faithful to certain biblical principles (e.g., regarding sexuality) that run afoul of the progressive agenda. As a result, we sometimes find ourselves siding with other Christian groups on these issues where we share common ground. But, all things considered, we often occupy the uncomfortable middle.

Additionally, we do not exclusively identify with any political party or ideology as a church. We are not a Republican church or a Democratic church. We are non-partisan. We also do not believe that politics should shape our faith. We believe biblical principles should shape our worldview; from that foundation, we should make our political choices.

Of course, we can and should make our voices heard on issues that matter to us. And we should do so respectfully and with love. But I suggest to you that our world needs more from us than shouting and Facebook posts on the hottest religious liberty (or other political) topics of the day.

God has given us a higher calling than the political pundits and talking heads on TV or radio. In this tense election year, I suggest four scriptural principles and ideas to consider as you fulfill your calling as a follower of Jesus in the real world.

Your Primary Citizenship Is in Heaven

First, remember that your ultimate allegiance is to the kingdom of God, not to any nation on earth or to any politician: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Phil. 3:20, NKJV. The apostle Peter puts it this way:

“Live as foreigners and exiles…” 1 Peter 2:11, NIV. This should remind us not to become too preoccupied with politics or let any political ideology become an idol in our hearts. We are citizens of God’s kingdom before any other kingdom or nation.

No Earthly Nation Is God’s Kingdom

Second, don’t forget that the kingdom of God is “not of this world,” as Jesus put it in John 18:36. God’s kingdom is an entirely different kind of kingdom from the political machines of this world. You might remember the story of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel chapter 2. In the vision, the king saw a statue made of various types of metal. These metals represented the kingdoms of the world: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and the strong and weak nations of our world today, represented by the feet of iron and clay. But the kingdom of God was symbolized by a stone cut from a mountain “without hands.” (not of human origin) that destroyed the nations of the world and became its unique kingdom. The kingdom of God is not an extension of any nation on this planet, nor will it be set up on earth before the second coming of Jesus. We cannot venerate any country or nation as God’s nation. His coming kingdom is not of this world.

Praying for Your Political Enemies!

Thirdly, the apostle Paul reminds us, in 2 Timothy 2:1-4 to “pray for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty”. Why? Because God “wants all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.” That “all” includes your worst political enemy! Pray for the salvation of our nation’s leaders on both sides of the aisle.

Praying for Yourself and God’s Church

Finally, I recently had a conversation with a friend who used to serve as a missionary in Rwanda. We all know about the terrible genocide that occurred there a few decades ago. Christians who worshipped side by side in church one morning were killing each other the next. Why? My friend told me he believed that tribal identity was more important to the killers than their identity as citizens of the kingdom of heaven. Could this happen to us here as well? Could our political ideologies and political parties become more important to us than our identity as citizens of the kingdom of heaven? Ask God to show you if your political views have become an idol in your heart. And then pray that he will give you — and all of His church — love for those who are different from us and even love for those who may hate us.

As followers of Jesus, we have the solution to our divided world. While the kingdom of God is not of this world, God wants to reveal His kingdom through you in this world. It’s the kingdom of grace, not the kingdom of glory just yet. That kingdom is revealed “within you,” Jesus said (Luke 17:21) that the world is transformed when God’s kingdom shines through His people.

Reaching out to Someone on “The Other Side”

Do you want to do something concrete to promote religious liberty and grow the kingdom of God? In Luke 6:27-28, Jesus gave us a recipe for loving our enemies — something bound to make a difference in their lives: “…do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Right now, think of a person or family on the “other side” of the political or ideological divide. Send up a prayer for them and write it on your calendar to pray for them every day. Then, within the next few days, invite them to do something with you where you can grow a friendship. When you get together, listen to them and hear their perspective without arguing or condemning them. And, at the right time, you can also share your perspective. Or maybe God wants you to be friends and not talk about politics!

This kind of love is what our divided and hurting world desperately needs. When we, God’s church, live this out in our homes, workplaces, and churches, people’s lives will be changed. This love is the secret weapon of the kingdom of God that will ultimately win the battle between good and evil.

Featured in Northern Lights, October 24, 2024
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Mason Philpot Retires After 45 Years
Mason Philpot Retires After 45 Years 624 603 Ken Miller

In September, Mason Philpot, pastor of the Crescent City Church, retired after 45 years in ministry.

Many know Mason as an avid surfer. Lesser known is that he was also a team hopeful for the 1972 U.S. Water polo team. He recalled, “During the Olympic trials, I came down with a mysterious virus that kept me hospitalized for a week, and my Olympic dream was dashed.” Ultimately, that disappointment led him on a circuitous path to serve God. A route, He stated, “I’ve never regretted.”

His search for meaning in life, a commitment to Jesus, and a passion for healthy living from his formative years ultimately led to his joining the NCC in 1979 at the St. Helena Church. Having found his path, he soon attended Andrews University, earning a Master of Divinity degree in 1982.

Over the next 41 years, he was never far from the Northern California coast, pastoring at the Willows, Willits, Fort Bragg, and Crescent City churches.

Jim Lorenz, ministerial director, stated, “Pastor Mason is a consummate friend of Jesus and it shows in his pastoring. Whether it is helping at camp meetings, moving porta-potties around without complaint—which he did up to his retirement, or going out of his way to make people feel welcome at church, you know he loves Jesus.”

Mason concluded, “This journey has been a fantastic story of God leading me in this direction, and that direction, to where I am today. I intend to retire in Crescent City, God permitting, volunteering and surfing when the weather and waves permit.”

Featured in Northern Lights, October 10, 2024
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Lake Tahoe Connection
Lake Tahoe Connection 3991 1988 Ken Miller

Over 100 young adults gathered in Tahoe during the weekend of September 14, drawn together by a shared desire to connect with God, build lasting friendships, and immerse themselves in the beauty of creation.

Daniel Garza, district pastor of Woodland and Vacaville churches and Chair of NCC young adult ministries, expressed his joy over the event’s impact, noting the powerful potential of these gatherings. “This age group can often feel disconnected after leaving college and stepping into the workforce,” Garza shared. “But through events like this, we’re able to engage with them socially, mentor them spiritually, and help them remain rooted in their faith and connected to a church family.”

Remarkably, many attendees were non-Adventists from the Sacramento and Bay areas, drawn by friendships forged in previous gatherings and nurtured through social media. One single mother attending the event had been seeking a way to heal her strained relationship with her son. Through connections made in this young adult network, she began attending a Bible study, noticing a gradual transformation in their bond. Participating in the Tahoe retreat together, both mother and son were deeply touched by the weekend’s messages. Inspired by their experience, they chose to take the beautiful step of requesting baptism in the lake.

Garza emphasized how events like AdvenTed, Food Truck Mania, and trips like this one build a social momentum that opens doors for authentic connections with young adults. “Friendship evangelism is at the heart of what we do,” he explained. “Through these relationships, we are able to reach, nurture, and empower young people to live for Jesus.”

Featured in Northern Lights, October 10, 2024
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To the Least of These
To the Least of These 3894 2052 Ken Miller

On August 31, the Oakland Grand Advent Church, alongside members from various Bay Area churches, stepped out in love and faith to serve the homeless of their city, driven by the power of the Holy Spirit to bring light to lives in desperate need.

Under the compassionate leadership of Tony Borrero, a devoted church member, and with the support of Oakland Spanish, Elmhurst, Immanuel Temple, and Hayward Spanish churches, a diverse and joyful team gathered in East Oakland’s largest homeless encampment. Their mission was simple but profound: to show Christ’s love in action by offering tangible services and hope to those often overlooked by society. The team provided free medical and dental screenings, showers, laundry services, haircuts, pet care, and hot meals. One volunteer shared how a curious onlooker approached them, asking, “Who does this kind of thing?”—a question that opened the door to sharing the love of Christ in word and deed.

Borrero emphasized the heart behind the outreach: “Our main objective is to step out of the four walls of our church and introduce people to Jesus through our love, compassion, and actions. We want to meet people where they are and provide much-needed services to those in dire situations.” This ministry, however, goes beyond a one-day event. The long-term vision includes partnering with local agencies to help clean, maintain, and restore housing facilities and equipment and working with the community to create lasting change.

The beauty of this outreach is not just in the services offered but in how the Holy Spirit is moving to connect people in need to a more abundant life in Christ. Through the warmth of a meal, the dignity of a haircut, and the kindness of a listening ear, hearts are being softened, and lives are being transformed.

As Borrero reflected, “I thank God that the responses have been overwhelmingly positive. We’ve been blessed to partner with the City of Oakland officials and the Police Department, who are fully engaged in supporting our goals.”

Borrero’s passion for this ministry is unwavering: “This is just the beginning of befriending those in need, spreading the Gospel, and bringing beauty back to Oakland.”

Featured in Northern Lights, October 10, 2024
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