Northern Lights

We are sad to announce that Lester Bennett passed away at age 97 on June 8, 2022, in Napa, Calif.

Throughout his career, he pastored for the Northern California, Hawaii, and Central California Conferences, as well as an assignment in Malawi.

He and his wife Leona served in multiple churches across the NCC territory starting in 1958, including Eureka, Vallejo Central, Woodside, Concord, Oroville, Galt, Stockton, and Oakland Grand Advent.

Leona preceded him in death in 2014 and he is survived by his three children: Larry Bennett (Diane), Lyle Bennett (JoAnna), and Lynette Kinsey (Fred), along with eight grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.

He is also survived by his second wife, Eloise Mattison. There will be a “Celebration of Life” for friends and family at the Napa Community SDA Church on Sabbath, June 25, at 3 p.m.

Featured in Northern Lights • June 16, 2022

One of the ways the IMPACT Community Cares Group engages their call to ministry is by doing yard work and household chores to connect with their neighbors.

Matt Mattzela, pastor of the Novato Sonoma district says, “We have been working at a neighbor’s yard for a few weeks now, and from that we received a call from her friend. A week later, we started work and getting to know this new friend.”

Mattzela continues, “We are not professional gardeners, we are simply extra helping hands for our neighbors. In this way we’re making ourselves relevant to our community.”

Featured in Northern Lights • June 16, 2022

For the 21/22 school-year compassionate givers funded one month of tuition for 218 new beginners in our schools.

Many of these new beginners, like Katie, are now heading into first grade.

As Katie explains, “I love God and want to be Jesus’ disciple and I learn how to be a good one at my school. Of course, I will go back to school!”

After prayer, consider a $600 investment in children entering our Kindergartens for the 22/23 school year.

Become a Compassionate Giver today!

Support the New Beginners Fund

Featured in Northern Lights • June 16, 2022

Recently, Chico and Live Oak Spanish churches came together with community members in fellowship at 5-Mile Recreation Park in Chico.

There they conducted church services in the midst of nature. Visitors and members enjoyed a beautiful service celebrating the wonders of God and connection.

Leandro Carralero, pastor of the Chico Spanish church said, “We must introduce ourselves more and more in the communities to be able to serve them better. Thank God for this special day!”

Featured in Northern Lights • June 9, 2022

After a year without a head pastor, the Placerville church welcomes Pastor Andrew Uyeyama, wife Andrea, and his two beautiful daughters Remi and Riley.

Featured in Northern Lights • June 9, 2022

In the 2021-22 school year, the New Beginner’s Fund enabled NCC schools to provide 218 kindergartners a free month of schooling. 

God blessed our schools and the number of Kindergarteners increased by 20% as compared to the previous school years. Moreover, 100% of them stayed in our schools for the entire year.

Our goal for the 2022-23 school year is to raise $41,000 to help this year’s kindergarten class.

Support the New Beginners Fund

Featured in Northern Lights • June 9, 2022

Leoni Meadows director Craig Heinrich said, “I don’t know how to articulate how generous the members of the Northern California Conference have been towards our camp!”

This exclamation follows a call for volunteers last weekend to complete several back-breaking tasks. Over thirty helpers arrived on Sunday, many from Placerville, Camino, and Sacramento churches. Heinrich continued, “they assembled over seventy-five bunk beds and placed three-hundred new mattresses.

When asked what major tasks remained Heinrich said, “new carpet installation is coming soon as well as continued cleaning to prepare for the summer season.”

Featured in Northern Lights • May 19, 2022

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples; if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

Early Thursday mornings, Victor and Chon go to their local food bank warehouse and purchase hundreds of pounds of food. They then load them in their hardy trucks and drive to the food bank of the Sonoma SDA church.

There, a team of dedicated and hardworking volunteers receive the goods and organize them into groups – vegetables, fruits, bread and buns, beans, grains, canned goods, toiletries, etc. before the local community people arrive.

Every week people in the community happily walk home with full bags to feed and support their families.

Matt Mattzela district pastor said, “This initiative has definitely been a tremendous blessing to local families, especially now with the rising cost of goods.”

To many, the food bank of the Sonoma church is one of the most-awaited blessings of the week. The IMPACT Community Cares Group works alongside the Food Bank team to serve the community.

Featured in Northern Lights • May 19, 2022

Students from Paradise Adventist Academy (PAA) recently engaged their call to service, providing manpower to several community projects.

Freshman Jake Chinnock said, “It was nice to get out of school for a day and know we were helping someone”.

Julie Ching, marketing director at PAA said, “students built a pasture fence, planted flowers, and other general yard work.”

At Feather River Adventist school, another group from the academy helped paint a mural that shares a happy floral scene with passing motorists.

According to sophomore Zohie Lonsberry, “the best part of the painting project was getting to connect with friends and the new little friends who helped us paint”.

Ching continued, “The outreach projects are required community service hours and make our schools more visible to the community. With every outreach project our children do, a servant’s heart is nurtured, and Christ is held up.”

Featured in Northern Lights • May 19, 2022