Ministerial

November 5- Randy Speyer was installed as the pastor of Sacramento Woodside Church. He hopes to empower the growth of a loving and healthy community whose joyful pursuit is a spiritual life with God.

Before joining Woodside, he was the director of mission and spiritual care at Adventist Health. He was also pastor of care and counseling at Loma Linda University Church, and former lead pastor at Palo Cedro.

Speyer said, “I have a love for storytelling, music, and art with a passion for shaping people who will go out and shape the communities they are a part of.”

According to Jim Lorenz, ministry director, “Randy has so many talents and has worked in health ministry, been a church pastor, a counselor; we are blessed to have him choose church ministry again at Woodside.”

Randy has been married to his high school sweetheart, Jewel Tryon-Speyer, for 42 years.

Featured in Northern Lights, January 12, 2023

January 10- What would have been three days for pastors to share, learn, teach, and collaborate at Leoni Meadows had to be compacted into one day due to storm damage. Subsequently, all pastors from the territory diverted to Gracepoint Church for what was left of their mini retreat.

Jim Lorenz, ministerial director said, “This annual get-together is very important for the pastors. We not only get work done but collaborate and strengthen friendships. It’s as much business as it is therapy. Unfortunately, we had to cut a lot out because of the storm.”

In keeping with the original plan, Craig Heinrich and Leoni staff provided a quality lunch and the camp’s famous cinnamon rolls from the Gracepoint kitchen.

Featured in Northern Lights, January 12, 2023

November 19-David Peckham was installed as the new senior pastor of the Stockton Central church.

Peckham joins the NCC from Valley Center Church in San Diego County where he has been since 2015. In ministry since 1974, Peckham is known for his friendliness and constant activity.

According to Meleseini Tu’itupou, a Stockton member, “Even before he arrived, he asked us to send out invitations to everybody on our books, attending and not. He wants our members to be proactive, and involved in habits of connecting with our community, both Adventist and not.”

Tu’itupou continued, “I think members have been sparked and drawn into a leadership style of energy and action. This will be great as we serve our neighbors with passionate kindness.”

David and Cheryl, his wife of 48 years have two daughters: Melissa, who is the principal of Hilltop Christian School in Antioch, and Janine, associate pastor at Lodi Fairmont.

Featured in Northern Lights, January 5, 2023

November 5- Lizeth Momanga was installed as pastor at the Tracy church.

Before “Pastor Liz” settled in Tracy, she circled the world as a guest speaker in places like Venezuela, Kenya, and the Philippines. She planted a church of 25 in rural Alaska and produced daily live devotionals for the local radio station.

She says her passion is to “demonstrate God’s saving grace and love to the world through the living and preaching of the gospel.”

Lizeth earned her Master of Divinity in 2022 from Andrews University and shares her life with her husband, Richard.

Featured in Northern Lights December 8, 2022

NCC pastors and their families recently joined thousands of ministers from the North American Division at the “CALLED” convention in Lexington, Kentucky.

CALLED is a “camp meeting” planned and focused specifically for pastors and their families.

According to Jose Marin, executive secretary of the NCC, “It is a powerful event for strengthening pastoral calls to ministry, and it provides a space to connect with friends in ministry and share stories and faith.”

A very meaningful presentation was the 30 years of service medallions where several NCC pastors received the honor including, Marc Woodson and Jim Lorenz.

Woodson said of the honor, “I’ve always seen this honor as the older guard getting rewarded, but now that I’m here it has a very special meaning.”

Featured in Northern Lights • July 7, 2022