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

Planned Giving Trust Services Property Management

  • Ken Miller
  • No Comments

Because of You: A Thanksgiving Letter to Our Faithful Supporters
Because of You: A Thanksgiving Letter to Our Faithful Supporters 4000 2250 Ken Miller

By Laurie Trujillo, Director of Communication and Development

This Thanksgiving, we pause with full hearts to say two simple words that carry eternal weight: thank you. Because of your generosity, prayers, and steady encouragement, the mission of the Northern California Conference continues to move—quietly in living rooms and boldly in sanctuaries, in classrooms and dorms, at food pantries and baptisteries, along hospital corridors and at summer camps where young people say “yes” to Jesus.

Your gifts do more than fund programs; they open doors. In our churches, seekers find welcome and members find hope. Bible studies flourish, new believers step into the waters of baptism, and congregations discover fresh ways to serve their neighborhoods. In our schools, students learn in Christ-centered classrooms where teachers pray, mentor, and inspire—where worship, service, and scholarship are woven together. Across our ministries, compassion becomes tangible: meals shared, burdens lifted, stories told, and faith renewed.

Scripture reminds us, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever” (Psalm 107:1). We see that enduring love reflected in you. Some of you give quietly each month. Others offer time, expertise, or special gifts that launch new efforts. Many of you intercede for pastors, educators, students, and volunteers by name. However you give, you are part of a living testimony that gratitude is not just a feeling—it’s a way of life.

We also know this year has asked for perseverance. Families have navigated uncertainty, churches have carried heavy needs, and leaders have made hard decisions. Yet in every challenge, your faith has shone like a steady light. You have reminded us that mission advances best when God’s people move together—each one bringing a gift, a prayer, a word of encouragement. As Paul wrote, “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion… and your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9:11).

So today we give thanks for you—for your trust, your partnership, and your sacrificial love. Because of you, children hear the name of Jesus spoken with joy. Because of you, students discover purpose. Because of you, neighbors are served and congregations are strengthened. Most of all, because of you, the gospel continues to go forth with hope.

May your table be filled with peace, your home with gratitude, and your heart with the nearness of Christ. From our Conference family to yours—Happy Thanksgiving, and thank you for being part of this beautiful story God is writing among us.

Featured in Northern Lights, October 23, 2025

#nccsda

  • Ken Miller
  • No Comments

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.

#nccsda

  • Ken Miller
  • No Comments

Dudley Galusha Passes to His Rest
Dudley Galusha Passes to His Rest 696 928 Ken Miller

We regret to announce that Dudley Galusha, a member of The Haven church, passed away peacefully on June 6.

Galusha will be remembered for his unwavering dedication to his family, country, and church. His legacy is inspiring, having contracted the building of numerous institutions in Northern California and beyond. He built schools such as Clearlake School, Foothills Elementary School, Humboldt Bay School, and Rio Lindo Academy. He also constructed churches in our territory, including Cloverdale, Fort Bragg, Meadow Vista, Napa, Pacific Union College, Pleasant Hill, and The Haven. Moreover, he constructed Leoni Meadows, Newton Hall (PUC), and Redwood Creek Camp. His influence even reached international shores with constructing the Frogmouth Chapel in Cooroy, Queensland, Australia.

Vince Saunders, pastor at The Haven, expressed, “Throughout his life, Dudley had a tremendously positive influence within our church and community. Even now, his legacy of support for education and church ministry continues through his family as they rebuild our school. He will be greatly missed, and the reunion in Heaven will be exhilarating!”

His daughter Cynthia wrote, “His long life was very full, and he leaves a lengthy & outstanding legacy in the field of construction in Northern California. His mental sharpness and dry wit remained intact to the very end of his 98 years on earth.”

A celebration of life will be held on July 27, 2024, at 2:30 p.m. at The Haven SDA Church,15 Woodland Rd., Saint Helena, CA. In place of flowers, the family has requested any gifts be sent to the following:

Cookson Ranch Foundation (Redwood Creek)

P.O. Box 973, Blue Lake, CA 95525

Friends of Foothills School

711 Sunnyside Rd., St. Helena, CA 94574

  • Ken Miller
  • No Comments

Cheryl Peckham Joins NCC
Cheryl Peckham Joins NCC 3543 4157 Ken Miller

Cheryl Peckham recently joined the NCC Gift Planning and Trust Services department as Associate Treasurer.

Peckham was recently an Audit Specialist with the General Conference, a job she held for twelve years. She noted, “I am excited to have joined the Property and Trust Department at Northern California Conference. I look forward to working with a winning team. God is good!

Richard Magnusson, Director of Gift Planning and Trust Services, stated, “We are very pleased to have Cheryl join our Planned Giving/Trust Services team. Her depth of accounting knowledge and experience will benefit not only our ministry but also the many members who have partnered with us to plan gifts that will support the ministry for generations to come.”

Peckham spends her life with David, her husband of 49 years. They have two adult daughters, two sons-in-law, and three grandchildren.

Featured in Northern Lights, May 9, 2024
#nccsda

  • Ken Miller
  • No Comments

April Church Joins NCC Offices
April Church Joins NCC Offices 1474 1967 Ken Miller

April Church recently joined the NCC as the new Administrative Assistant to the planned giving and trust management department.

Originally from Rancho Cucamonga and, more recently, in Nevada City, she attended La Sierra University, studying global health, but realized she was more interested in international property management.

Church explains, “I recently moved to Roseville to be closer to my family and take this position. I’m excited for God’s unique assignment in this new chapter of my life, serving our community and the wellbeing of our people.”

Featured in Northern Lights, November 2, 2023
#nccsda

  • Ken Miller
  • No Comments

Mulching Mission Movement
Mulching Mission Movement 2000 1125 Ken Miller

October 10- It was all hands on deck as the NCC administration offices locked the doors and workers descended on Maidu Park in Roseville for the annual community service day.

In 2022, workers spread sixty yards of forest mulch at another Roseville park. This year, 300 yards were piled around the new location. The contrast in job size raised a few eyebrows. Albert Miller, NCC superintendent of schools and project coordinator, looked across the park at the piles and drily stated, “Well, it ain’t gonna get done by itself.”

While the mulch group shoveled and raked the piles methodically, smaller teams painted perimeter gates bright yellow and refreshed red curb paint along driveways. Four baseball equipment shacks were painted grey and blue. By the end of the workday, finished painters joined in the mulch movement, and the team completed all the jobs.

Brian Casteluccio, Roseville Parks, Recreation and Libraries Superintendent, wrote, “I want to send a huge kudos to your team. They did a great job! It was a very successful volunteer event. Your work is greatly appreciated by the City of Roseville and the community.”

Featured in Northern Lights, October 26, 2023
#nccsda

  • Ken Miller
  • No Comments

Creating A Culture Of Giving In Your Church
Creating A Culture Of Giving In Your Church 1400 916 Ken Miller

Join us for the Giving Is Good seminar sponsored by the Communication and Development department. This seminar explains how to create a culture of generosity in your church, school, or ministry. Click here for the Creating a Healthy Giving Culture resource guide.

This seminar will be held in the NCC Conference Office Board Room on Tuesdays: Aug 22, 29, and Sept 5, 12, from Noon-1:30 PM. Lunch will be provided. If interested, email Laurie Trujillo.

Andrew Uyeyama, pastor of the Placerville church, reported, “The elders are using the tools explained in the resource guide to raise funds for our church budget. We are learning to tell impact stories to build trust and engage our members. We are thrilled at how God is blessing our efforts.”

Laurie Trujillo, director of communication and development, explains, “Our department created this resource guide to help churches and schools raise funds for their programs and activities. The class is designed for elders, deacons, educators, or anybody interested in helping their organization in this way.”

Featured in Northern Lights, August 17, 2023
#nccsda

  • Ken Miller
  • No Comments

Ministries Move With Generous Planned Giving Gift
Ministries Move With Generous Planned Giving Gift 2000 1125 Ken Miller

The Open Door story from Sacramento Korean (see Stewardship Leads to Service Leads to Disciples) is just one of the many testimonies from a commitment to serving our neighbors with contagious kindness and passionate, hard work. During the 2023 year, the following projects have been approved, and the corresponding amounts allocated.

Rio Lindo Academy Men and Women’s Dormitory Remodel Project: $350,000. Albert Miller, superintendent, reported, “We have scheduled a meeting with the contracted architect and engineer in July. We aim to have one or two demo rooms completed by the end of October, followed by remodeling the dorms rooms staggered the following year based on available funding.”

Multi-Campus Hybrid School with Missional Group: $185,000 According to Kevin Robert, evangelism director, “The project is progressing well and has received approval from WASC. We are pleased to announce that academy classes for El Dorado will begin with four confirmed students and possibly a fifth for the upcoming school year.”

Free Dental/Vision Clinics for Communities: $50,000. James Lim, Asian Pacific coordinator, and community service director, reported, “I am happy that our free clinic projects are progressing smoothly. We have many churches participating, and we expect to use the full budget of $50,000 by the end of the year. Our partnership with Life Health Network has resulted in noticeable cost savings. Also, The NCC Women’s Ministry has been a valuable partner, providing event volunteers.”

Hispanic Ministries Center of Hope: $190,000. Paul Guevara, Hispanic ministries coordinator, stated, “Exciting news! Plans are underway to establish a Center of Hope in Hayward. A dedicated committee is working closely with an architect and engineer to ensure the building is used to its fullest potential while remaining within budget. Additionally, there are plans to develop the community service building adjacent to the Center of Hope.”

Cascading Organizational Health: $75,000. Marc Woodson, NCC president, remarked, “Organizational Health will help the conference thrive and accomplish its mission. A healthy organization starts with a cohesive leadership team at all levels. The funds have supported leadership training for pastors, educators, and directors. It also supported developing a team of 20 mentors to support 30 churches’ journey toward organizational health.”

Featured in Northern Lights, July 13, 2023
#nccsda

  • Ken Miller
  • No Comments

NCCSDA.com Wins Prestigious ADDY Award
NCCSDA.com Wins Prestigious ADDY Award 2000 1125 Ken Miller

Part of the NCC’s path to organizational health is to effectively inform, educate, and tell the stories of our churches, schools, and ministries. To do this, a new website was launched in 2020.

The COVID pandemic was a catalyst that accelerated the need for online methods for staying current with news and events. The NCC website was no exception, and its professional look, functionality, and information were revamped with a new look.

Subsequently, the site was entered into the 2022 American Advertising Awards competition, winning an impressive Silver Award. Terrill Thomas, web designer and president of T13 Media, said of the project and award, “It was gratifying to see Christian content, graphics, and web design be recognized for excellence by a secular professional organization.”

The website is constantly updated with important conference information, including employment opportunities, education scholarships, events, and news.

Most recently, the communication and development department has posted an incredible help guide for creating a culture of stewardship in your church. You can visit the website here.

Featured in Northern Lights, July 6, 2023
#nccsda

  • Ken Miller
  • No Comments

Efficient Teamwork Speeds Echo Ridge Gym Rebuild
Efficient Teamwork Speeds Echo Ridge Gym Rebuild 2000 1125 Ken Miller

In the aftermath of Echo Ridge’s gym collapse from snow, progress is being made towards rebuilding.

According to Patty Osborne, principal, “Our treasurer Russell Malott has shown passionate, hard work to secure three bids for the demolition and asbestos removal. Those bids have been forwarded to the conference property management team for approval.”

Richard Magnussen, director of property management, praised Echo Ridge’s team for a professional-level job. “They provided quotes from qualified and vetted contractors, one of whom we have approved for the work.”

Laurie Trujillo, director of communication and development, stated, “After seeing five disasters in our territory, I’m seeing everybody involved in the Echo Ridge project come together and working efficiently and effectively. It has been wonderful working with Russell. He is knowledgeable and professional and passionate about his school.”

Echo Ridge School relied heavily on its gymnasium for sports, housed several classroom-related areas, and for funding from the rented space.
Osborne continued, “The gymnasium was significant in teaching our students. It was also a community builder for our school. I appreciate our volunteers and the property management department’s dedication to rebuilding quickly.”

Donate here to become a player on the Echo Ridge Gymnasium rebuilding team.

Featured in Northern Lights, April 27, 2023

Enter your
text here