• Connecting people to an abundant life with Jesus Christ and preparing them for His return

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Melany Quintero Joins NCC Offices
Melany Quintero Joins NCC Offices 1474 1967 Ken Miller

Melany Quintero is the new administrative assistant supporting the Hispanic and Asian Pacific Ministries coordinators.

Quintero was born in Costa Rica but attended school in Arizona and Tennessee. After graduating, she went to a university in Costa Rica and became an English professor.

Regarding her new position, she stated, “I enjoy being part of a ministry team that supports our ethnic churches and community outreach.”

Quintero is contagiously kind and a passionate, hard worker. Her hobbies include hiking, music, and cooking, and she has a passion for personal growth and serving God.

Featured in Northern Lights, February 9, 2023

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Wai “Larry” Chu Ordained
Wai “Larry” Chu Ordained 793 608 Ken Miller

January 28- Larry Chu was ordained at the Alameda East Bay Chinese church.

Chu has served as the full-time pastor of the Alameda East Bay Chinese Church and with a Chinese language group from Stockton Central since 2016.

Chu stated, “This ordination gave me encouragement from the NCC and church members, strengthening my faith to share the great news of Jesus.” Jim Lorenz, ministerial director, said, “Pastor Chu is a kind and gifted pastor dedicated to his church community and serves them well.”

A passionate, hard worker, Chu said, “My goals are to continue sharing the gospel among my members but also increasing ministry to young people, bringing more of that age group to church, and connecting them with Jesus.”

In 2015, Wai and his wife, Zi Yang, married and have served God together. They welcomed daughter Dorcas into their family in 2020.

Featured in Northern Lights, February 9, 2023

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Prayer Ministry Retreat
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Religious Liberty Weekend
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Blake Jones Installed At Orangevale
Blake Jones Installed At Orangevale 1082 1600 Ken Miller

January 21- Blake Jones was installed at Orangevale Church. Blake joined our territory from the Florida Conference. He explains, “I wasn’t looking to move to California until my friend talked me into it. From there, I felt this is where God wanted me to go.”

That friend was Kevin Robert, church growth and evangelism director. Robert said, “I got him into this. Blake clearly sees the pastoral ministry and how it is a calling to be an equipper of the saints, but not one that hovers over the members. He will do a great job!”

Jones describes, “I’m very passionate about equipping people to be fruitful disciples of Jesus.”

Blake has been married to Cris, his wife of 16 years. They have two children, Lucas-12, and Sofia-8.

Featured in Northern Lights, February 2, 2023

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Adventurers’ Adventure At Leoni
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January 27-29- The English language version of the annual Adventurer Family Fun Weekend was held at Leoni Meadows after being postponed in October. The same event in Spanish was held in November without a hitch.

This year’s theme, He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands, gave NCC Adventurers and their families a weekend of international cultures, languages, food, and games. More than 85 people attended from all over the conference.

Leoni staff opened the Leoni House Museum, where the children were delighted to find a perfect layer of snow, making it possible to sled down the hill in front of the meadow in spectacular weather!

Chef Ed and cafeteria workers went above and beyond to prepare a special kid-friendly menu.

Barry van Iderstein, director of children and family ministries, said, “I am so amazed by the perseverance and kindness I have experienced at Leoni Meadows. The camp’s willingness and creativity are examples of their passionate hard work that never ceases to impress. Leoni’s team is a huge blessing.”

Featured in Northern Lights, February 2, 2023

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Preschoolers’ Learning Ignited By Fire Safety
Preschoolers’ Learning Ignited By Fire Safety 1948 1080 Ken Miller

Gil Fayard is an alum of Sacramento Academy and a soon-to-be Pacific Union College graduate. A kind and compassionate hard worker, Fayard is determining his professional path. Currently, he works as an EMT and volunteer firefighter for the Angwin Fire department. His sister Natalie recently invited him to talk to her preschool class of youngsters at Sacramento Academy.

The children sat on the carpeted floor for circle time, a place used for special presentations and worship. With excitable attention, the children watched as he donned his turnouts (fire retardant overalls), firefighter’s jacket, and helmet describing the purpose of each piece of clothing.

Aided by a PowerPoint presentation, Fayard explained fire safety to the children, including how to dial 911 in an emergency and “stop, drop, and roll” to extinguish a fire on your clothing.

Fayard said, “Even though preschoolers are very young, this foundational safety lesson will stick with them for life. It’s also important to explain why they shouldn’t be afraid of first responders. We’re always there to help them.”

Shari Thompson, Sacramento Academy preschool director, said of Fayard’s presentation, “You can’t communicate this kind of information just being a teacher. To have somebody like Gil from the community present information from his work life is more vital to the education of our children. To see the kids’ faces light up is just amazing! We are thankful for people like Gil for serving as a first response worker and taking time for our children!”

Featured in Northern Lights, February 2, 2023

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Celebrate Black History Month!
Celebrate Black History Month! 1322 602 Ken Miller

Excerpt from HIS Story. An article written by Marc Woodson, NCC president, featured in the Pacific Union Recorder, February 2023 Issue.

“Our God intervenes in the affairs of humanity and weaves a tapestry of blessings using the scraps of man’s inhumanity. Like Joseph, African people were snatched from their homeland, sold into slavery, debased as animals, lost their identity, and kept in ignorance. How can these people perceive God amid their oppression? As we have seen when the enslaved people were emancipated, God delivers, makes the crooked places straight and the rough places plain, and every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain made low.”

Let’s celebrate and learn how God has used Black and African American Adventists throughout history. Follow this link:

Featured in Northern Lights, February 2, 2023

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Robert Benardo Installed At Sacramento Central
Robert Benardo Installed At Sacramento Central 6000 4000 Ken Miller

January 21- Rob Benardo was installed as pastor at Sacramento Central Church.

Pastor Benardo returned to our territory from the Battle Creek Tabernacle church in Michigan, where he was the prayer coordinator for the Michigan conference. He also pastored previously at the Milpitas Church in the early 2000s and is pleased to be back in Northern California.

According to Lynette Stansfield, a church member, “Sacramento Central is excited and grateful that God has led Pastor Rob and his wife Olga to Sacramento. We are particularly thrilled with his vision to grow our church by reaching out and serving those in Sacramento.”

Benardo is a friendly and energetic evangelist who likes to use acronyms for teaching and planning. His working title for what he hopes to accomplish in Sacramento is S.P.E.C.S.- Strategic Planned Evangelism for the City of Sacramento.

Bernardo shares his life with his wife of 32 years, Olga. They have two grown daughters, Amaris and Alexia, and his life motto is, “God’s glory is my greatest joy.”

Featured in Northern Lights, January 26, 2023

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Officers and Directors Consecrated
Officers and Directors Consecrated 1863 937 Ken Miller

January 21- The new NCC officers and directors were dedicated in a Sabbath afternoon service at the Roseville Church.

Voted during the September Conference Constituency Meeting, this administration team will serve the NCC for the next five years.

In his consecration message, Pacific Union President Bradford Newtonsaid, “There is such a wonderful spirit in this current administration. The God of the Bible is still in the midst of His people and will do a new and wonderful thing in this conference.”

NCC president, Marc Woodson, quoted the promise given to the Israelites found in Joshua 3:5 – “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” (NIV)

Woodson explained during the response time, “We are one body on one mission to connect people to an abundant life with Jesus and prepare them for the Second Coming. When we dedicate ourselves to this purpose, the God of miracles will do amazing things in our conference!”

Featured in Northern Lights, January 26, 2023

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