Northern Lights

Because of the Mosquito fire’s location, the NCC Disaster Response Team has been busy connecting with churches to ensure all evacuated members and those connected to the local church or school have been identified.

This effort revealed the fire impacted members from five churches: Meadow Vista, Lincoln Amazing Grace, Gracepoint, Georgetown, and Foresthill Church Company.

Thanks to our NCC Compassionate Givers and the hard work of local church leaders on the ground, disaster relief funds were distributed in the amount of $2,600 to the 26 families who were identified.

One member reported, “These funds came at the right time and helped to alleviate some of the stress related to displacement. Thank you so much!”

Featured in Northern Lights • September 22, 2022

On August 24, cars lined up outside the newly remodeled Placerville Church ACS Center. Each driver was met by a friendly volunteer and a box filled with nutritious food.

Displaced by the Caldor fire, one driver explained, “I’ve been struggling because food is so expensive. The only other food bank is down the hill, but with gas so high, I limit how often I go. This food place is close and a great help.”

Teresa Contreras, ACS co-leader, describes the first distribution day after eight months of being closed, “Our wonderful volunteers cheerily unpacked food donations and easily organized them without bumping into one another — a common occurrence in the old pantry space. In the front area, others waited with full wagons. Everybody was ready to serve, and the community was happy to see us back.”

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 15, Andrew Uyeyama, head pastor, explained, “For over 75 years – 40 years at this location, the Placerville Church has been serving food insecure families. Because it is such an important ministry, our church was committed to reopening as soon as possible.”

Wendy Thomas, El Dorado County Supervisor, expressed her gratitude and clarified the vital role of ACS because Placerville is considered a food desert, and many experience food insecurity.

James Lim, NCC ACS Director, and Derrick Lee, NAD ACS Director, announced they had approved a $10,000 grant to support the work of ACS in Placerville.

The Eldorado County Food Bank Director stressed the importance of the partnership and donated $2,000 worth of gift cards to the center.

Contreras continues, “Our ACS was a beacon of hope to the community, and now, through the grace of God, our light will shine again, and our services will be a blessing to our community as we connect them to Christ.”

Featured in Northern Lights • September 22, 2022

This summer students from Sacramento Academy engaged their calling to service at the Carmichael Adventist Community Services (CACS) food pantry.

According to Susie Kim, assistant director of CACS, “These mission-minded youth regularly came to the food pantry each week to help bag produce, stock shelves, load cars, and in general keep the food pantry going strong.”

Kim concluded, “SAA is dedicated to teaching students about serving their community. As a result, students often put in more than 200 hours each year. Thanks to our volunteers, CACS can distribute food to more than 250 families each week and is a blessing to our community.”

Featured in Northern Lights • September 15, 2022

On Sabbath, September 12 the North Highlands Spanish group became a church!

Pastor Jaime Calvo said, “Achieving church status on Sabbath, is a testament to our members’ dedication, time, and effort to God’s cause. He has truly blessed us.”

In 2009, Sacramento Spanish planted the group in Fair Oaks and by 2016 the group became the North Highlands Spanish Company.

It has grown over the years by being community-relevant. Members have been active with in-home visitations, VBS, health, and evangelism seminars.

Member, Guillermo Arevalo said, “It is an overwhelming experience to become a church after years of work growing our membership.”

Featured in Northern Lights • September 15, 2022

Recently three of our departments hosted weekend events to provide resources to local ministry leaders.

The Women’s Ministries Department hosted a leadership workshop to spiritually strengthen and help reconnect women in ministry. This event offered practical tools and techniques to revive ministries and connect volunteers after two difficult years of pandemic restrictions.

Angela Fusilier, director of women’s ministries, said, “The web of connection activity highlighted the importance and value of networking and pooling resources. Judging from the feedback of our fifty women leaders, the weekend was a great success.”

At Leoni Meadows, youth director Eddie Henrich with children and family ministry director Barry van Iderstein, led the Pathfinder and Adventurer Leadership Convention.

According to van Iderstein, “Our main theme and purpose was making sure our Pathfinder, and Adventurer groups are meeting the spiritual needs of our children through club ministries. Each event presenter was specifically chosen to support, inspire, and equip leaders to advance the spiritual growth of children.”

Featured in Northern Lights • September 15, 2022

The Sacramento Slavic church engages with its community by hosting a summer camping experience for members and friends.

Since 2012, the church has hosted youth camps every summer to connect friends and family from around the United States.

According to Roman Tsyganiuk, pastor of the Sacramento Slavic church, “This year, our camp had just over 140 people, and for the Sabbath service, another 50 people joined us.”

Tsyganiuk continued, “Thirteen people decided to make a covenant with God through baptism. It was an incredibly joyful event, and we are very grateful to God for these young hearts!”

Featured in Northern Lights • September 8, 2022

The Napa Spanish, a community-relevant and mission-driven church served their community on August 14 by hosting their second annual health fair.

This event was a very important collaboration with the St. Helena Hospital Foundation, Napa County Health Department, Open Doors, and Feeding it Forward.

The health fair focused on healthy living, cooking, and self-sufficiency for the local community. Additionally, enthusiastic youth delivered food to those who requested it.

According to Jose Diaz, pastor of Napa Spanish, “We had about 200 people attend our second health fair, and we thank all of our volunteers and all of the entities for their support of this important service.”

Featured in Northern Lights • September 8, 2022

Principal Lisa Bissell-Paulson is excited for the new school year at Redwood Academy, “We are so blessed to welcome back 90 Kindergarten through eighth-grade students and we expect more to arrive!”

The Redwood campus, a victim of the Tubbs wildfire in October 2017, has slowly progressed back towards normalcy since one of the most devastating fires in California history.

Although students still meet in temporary classrooms, one can start to see outlines of where the new classrooms and administration building will stand.

In a commanding location sits a shiny new gymnasium. Bissell-Paulson continued, “We’re so close to an occupancy permit for our brand-new gym! Complete with Basketball and Volleyball courts, it has a large commercial kitchen as well.

Bissell-Paulson exclaimed, “It will be such a welcome addition when open, and will connect our students, and families to our community through sports and events.”

Featured in Northern Lights • August 25, 2022

The Mosquito wildfire is burning in El Dorado and Placer counties near Foresthill, and Oxbow Reservoir. The town of Foresthill is under evacuation order. Stay up-to-date by visiting the CAL FIRE incident page.

Many church members have evacuated the area. Let’s keep them in our prayers. The NCC Disaster Response Team is in close contact with the church leaders on the ground and continues to monitor the situation.

Disaster relief funds will be deployed as needed.

Featured in Northern Lights • September 8, 2022

Craig Heinrich, camp director of Leoni Meadows looks back on a camp season once in jeopardy with an air of incredulity, “We had a phenomenal summer!”

He gushed, “Regardless of the intermittent problems like finding water pipes that the fire damaged, and a few sewer backups, we may have seen the best staff, volunteers, and campers ever!”

As you look out from the lodge, the fog bank-like wall of Douglas firs is gone. Yet, beauty has sprung up as ferns and undergrowth are quickly winning the war on grey ash and red soil. Heinrich continued, “God brought the Spring and Summer reminding us He can make all things new.”

Cowboy Camp was the most affected by the fire as it ripped through the barn, wagons, stables, and trails. It was the one camp that almost didn’t happen.

The weeklong “cowboys” bunked in temporary canvas bivouacs, an experience harkening back to visions of the wild west. “Cowgirl” Darci Miller, a first-time camper exclaimed, “I know we couldn’t make the famous long trail rides due to the burnt trees and blocked trails but being part of the camper rodeo was the best part of my week!

Heinrich spoke on behalf of the staff saying, “Thank you to all who donated time, funds, muscle, and skills to save the Leoni Meadows experience.”

Featured in Northern Lights • August 25, 2022