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Preston Willis Installed at Immanuel Temple
Preston Willis Installed at Immanuel Temple 4032 3024 Ken Miller

A New Chapter of Ministry Begins at Immanuel Temple

The Immanuel Temple Seventh-day Adventist Church welcomed James Willis as their new pastor during a special installation service in June, celebrating the beginning of a new season of ministry together.

Church members, family, friends, and Northern California Conference leaders gathered for worship and prayer as they affirmed God’s calling on Willis’ life and committed to partnering with him in ministry.

Rudy Peters, African American Ministries coordinator, emphasized the importance of unity between pastor and congregation. 鈥淭here is a spirit of hope and expectation at Immanuel Temple,鈥� Peters said. 鈥淚 believe God has brought Pastor Willis to this congregation for such a time as this, and I look forward to seeing how God will use this partnership to strengthen the church and expand its ministry.鈥�

We invite members throughout the conference to pray for Willis, his family, and the Immanuel Temple church family as they begin this new chapter of ministry together.

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Lizeth Momanga Named 91大神 Director of Church Growth and Evangelism
Lizeth Momanga Named 91大神 Director of Church Growth and Evangelism 4000 2250 Ken Miller

We are pleased to announce that Lizeth Momanga is the new Director of Church Growth and Evangelism.

Momanga brings more than 15 years of experience in pastoral ministry, church planting, and evangelism. She has served congregations in the United States and Australia, planting churches, strengthening congregations, developing leaders, and creating initiatives that help churches connect with their communities.

Jos茅 Mar铆n, president, shared, 鈥淚 believe Lizeth鈥檚 experience and passion for mission and mentorship will be a tremendous resource to our pastors and churches. She understands that healthy church growth begins with making disciples, equipping leaders, and helping our churches connect meaningfully with their communities.鈥�

A graduate of Pacific Union College with a degree in theology, Momanga is currently completing dual Master of Divinity and Master of Social Work degrees at Andrews University. Her graduate studies have further shaped an approach to ministry that integrates evangelism, pastoral care, church health, and a deeper understanding of the people and communities churches are called to serve.

Throughout her ministry, Momanga has planted and pastored congregations, served on church planting and evangelism task forces, trained pastors and lay leaders, led international evangelistic efforts, and presented on church planting, leadership, and ministry.

Most recently, Momanga has served as senior pastor of the Tracy Seventh-day Adventist Church and as a member of the 91大神 Evangelism Task Force.
Momanga and her husband, Richard Ogeto Momanga, have shared much of their ministry journey together. During their years in Australia, they served the Wallsend church for four years before returning to the United States in 2022.

In her new role, Momanga will work with pastors, churches, and lay leaders throughout the conference to strengthen congregations, support church planting, develop leaders, and advance creative, community-focused approaches to sharing the gospel across Northern California.

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91大神 Men鈥檚 Retreat Goes All In
91大神 Men鈥檚 Retreat Goes All In 4000 2250 Ken Miller

Men from across the Northern California Conference gathered recently for the 91大神 Christian Men鈥檚 Retreat, centered on the theme 鈥淎ll In, Men.鈥� Speaker Marty Miller invited participants to reflect on what full commitment to God looks like in everyday life鈥攁t home, in the church, and in the wider community.

Throughout the weekend, men worshiped together, participated in seminars, and engaged in conversations focused on practical, Bible-based discipleship and Christian character. The message of wholehearted commitment was echoed by Rudy Peters, 91大神 African American Ministries Coordinator, who shared, 鈥溾�楢ll-in men鈥� are ordinary men who have made an extraordinary decision鈥攖o give God their whole heart, their full devotion, and their unwavering commitment.鈥�

Time was also set aside for fellowship and connection, as attendees shared meals, built new relationships, and encouraged one another in their spiritual journeys. The retreat provided a steady rhythm of worship, learning, and conversation designed to support reflection and renewal.

Through gatherings like this annual retreat, the 91大神 Men鈥檚 Ministries Department continues to support men in growing as disciples and serving faithfully in their homes, churches, and communities.

Featured in Northern Lights, June 25, 2026
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Pastors Meetings Seek to Engage and Teach
Pastors Meetings Seek to Engage and Teach 4000 2250 Ken Miller

In January, pastors came together at Gracepoint Church for their annual business meeting鈥攁 time set aside for learning, alignment, and connection.

The gathering provided policy updates, moments of inspiration, and dedicated Q&A sessions with leaders from various administrative departments. Some of the topics covered were practical and necessary, including employment matters, hiring, administrative processes, and even routine鈥攂ut important鈥攄etails like expense reimbursement.

The event also offered pastors a forum to share with administrators the everyday challenges they face, giving leaders better perspective on the realities of leading and pastoring in their communities.

Jim Lorenz, ministerial director, highlighted the value of these gatherings: 鈥淥ne developmental aspect we intentionally address, is adding to a pastor鈥檚 professional toolbox with new or improved skills. There is also the communicational part, where different initiatives can be discussed and clarity can be gained, and lastly, there is the camaraderie of colleagues who might not get to see each other very often.鈥�

Interacting in a setting like this strives to build a stronger, more unified team, better equipped to spread the love of Jesus Christ and navigate the challenges and joys of ministry together.

Featured in Northern Lights, February 26, 2026
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Eric Holness Installed at Richmond Beacon Light
Eric Holness Installed at Richmond Beacon Light 3583 1883 Ken Miller

On January 3, Eric Holness was installed as pastor of the Richmond Beacon Light Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Holness comes to Richmond after being the associate pastor of Oakland Market Street church since 2024. The service marked the beginning of a new covenant relationship between pastor and congregation, grounded in prayer, Scripture, and a shared commitment to ministry.

Reflecting on the occasion, Rudy Peters, African American Ministries Director for the Northern California Conference, noted that 鈥渢he air was filled with expectancy and promises of an amazing covenant relationship.”

Pastor Holness expressed gratitude for the call, stating, 鈥淚 am humbled and amazed by the opportunity to serve.”

The Richmond Beacon Light family looks forward to a new season of Spirit-led ministry and community impact under Pastor Holness鈥檚 leadership.

Featured in Northern Lights, January 22, 2026

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91大神 Urban Ministries Workshop Equips Churches to Serve Their Communities
91大神 Urban Ministries Workshop Equips Churches to Serve Their Communities 3869 2052 Ken Miller

By Kathy Batchelor

The Northern California Conference Urban Ministries Department hosted its Urban Ministries Workshop on November 9, 2025, at the Fairfield Church. Pastors, ministry leaders, and members from across the conference gathered to explore practical ways to engage their communities through meaningful service, outreach, and discipleship.

Participants attended breakout sessions on evangelism, community partnerships, recovery ministry, discipleship, and youth engagement鈥攅ach designed to help churches create sustainable, long-term impact. Virge Newman, a volunteer from the Pittsburg Church, shared, 鈥淎s my community project, I chose assembling hygiene kits for the homeless! I am now inspired to organize a family gathering to prepare hygiene kits for the homeless in my city!鈥�

Speakers highlighted how deep connections can form when churches work hand-in-hand with their communities and partner organizations. In the afternoon, attendees put their learning into action through hands-on service projects. Teams assisted at the Fairfield Thrift Store, distributed blessing bags, and prayed with shoppers at Food 4 Less. They also cleaned trash in the surrounding neighborhood and assembled hygiene kits for those in need.

The day concluded with participants inspired, equipped, and committed to expanding their community engagement鈥攄emonstrating that meaningful ministry happens when the church shows up with compassion and purpose. Josie Asencio, Pastor of the Antioch Church, reflected, 鈥淚鈥檓 thankful to be part of the Urban Ministries Team, especially when we get to train people on how to partner with their communities through service. That is an important aspect of discipleship.鈥�

Featured in Northern Lights, December 1, 2025
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Many Nations, One Voice: Fiji International Choir
Many Nations, One Voice: Fiji International Choir 1900 1267 Ken Miller

Reprinted from nadadventist.org

Three years ago, Josiah Hughes, a member of Capitol City Seventh-day Adventist Church 鈥� Fiji Campus, in Sacramento, California, had a bold vision: to gather Fijian Adventists from around the world to sing at the GC Session.

鈥淢ost applied for the visa but were rejected,鈥� said Epeli Saukuru, general secretary of the Fiji Mission, who joined the choir; notably, he wrote more than 400 visa letters. Others cancelled for financial reasons, leaving the U.S.-based churches bracing to sing alone.

Amazingly, 85 voices came together from the U.S., Australia, England, New Zealand, American Samoa, and the Philippines. 鈥淲hen we all met here, Joe was overjoyed,鈥� said Saukuru. 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 easy to put everything together. We can only praise God.鈥�

The group included six pastors, as well as Marc Woodson, the Northern California Conference president, who learned the lyrics phonetically. Although they learned the songs via Messenger and rehearsed just twice, their rich harmonies and smiles gave no hint of obstacles. 鈥淪inging is natural for us,鈥� said Saukuru. 鈥淲e love singing.鈥�

鈥淲e felt like we were singing with the angels. Even Joe said he felt the angels were singing with us while conducting,鈥� he reflected. Their message shone through, even in a different language: 鈥淒espite the many challenges we go through, God鈥檚 great love can still protect us. And we can still proclaim hope for the second coming.鈥�

Saukuru added that in the South Pacific, they can feel isolated, but at the session, they realized 鈥淲e鈥檙e not small. We鈥檙e part of a bigger global church family. And that has been a blessing.鈥�

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Aron Crews Ordained
Aron Crews Ordained 4000 2250 Ken Miller

On September 20, Aron Crews was ordained at Granite Bay Church, where he has served as a youth pastor since 2022.

From his high school years, when a Bible teacher first inspired and mentored him, to his college experience that deepened his love for Scripture, Crews has been steadily drawn to a life of ministry. The influence of dedicated mentors and his personal study of the Bible and the writings of Ellen G. White shaped a passion for God鈥檚 Word that he eagerly shares with others. His formal training was completed with a Master of Divinity degree, equipping him for a lifetime of service to the church.

Reflecting on his journey, Crews says with confidence that God has indeed been 鈥渁ble to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us鈥� (Ephesians 3:20).

Crews shares his life with wife, Dr. K鈥檇ee Crews, a licensed clinical psychologist whose work and speaking ministry also touch lives for Christ.

<em>Featured in Northern Lights, September 25, 2025</em>

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Elias Esquivel is the new Leoni Meadows Camp Director.
Elias Esquivel is the new Leoni Meadows Camp Director. 3583 1833 Ken Miller

The Northern California Conference (91大神) is delighted to welcome Elias Esquivel as Leoni Meadows Camp Director. He will start in October.

For Esquivel, camp ministry has been more than a career鈥攊t has been a lifelong passion and calling. His journey began in 1999, when, as a 14-year-old, he worked in the dish room at Pine Lake Retreat in the Florida Conference. 鈥淐amp ministry is my passion,鈥� Elias reflects, 鈥渂ecause it changes lives, and it changed mine.鈥� He would go on to spend ten years at Camp Kulaqua in Florida, serving as the Operations Manager before moving back to Pine Lake as the Camp Manager. Eventually, his path led him north to the Ohio Conference, where he spent five summers at Camp Mohaven, four of those years as Camp Manager.

Elias combines a passion for ministry with practical skills. Growing up on a farm, he learned responsibility early, driving tractors at age five and fixing what needed repair. He later studied structural engineering and earned a business degree, giving him what he calls 鈥渁 well-rounded grasp of plant operations and systems.鈥�

Camp has shaped Elias鈥� life in many ways鈥攊ncluding personally. During a Bible workers鈥� program at camp, he met his wife, Lizandra. For twenty years, they have built their life around faith, ministry, and service, and today they鈥檙e raising two children, Elijah (14) and Lilah Ruth (11).

At the heart of Elias鈥� vision for Leoni Meadows is a promise from Scripture that has guided him throughout his life:鈥� 鈥楩or I know the plans I have for you,鈥� declares the Lord, 鈥榩lans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future鈥欌�� (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV).

鈥淭hroughout my life I鈥檝e tried to seek God鈥檚 will, and it doesn鈥檛 always line up with my own,鈥� Elias reflects. 鈥淏ut I know God鈥檚 plan is better than mine, and He declares that He will prosper us and not harm us. I always defer to Him, knowing His plan is the best.鈥�

Stepping into leadership at Leoni Meadows, Elias鈥� priority is people and mission. 鈥淢y goal is to listen and learn the operation well, then chart a plan forward,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e鈥檒l keep strengthening programs, investing in safety and excellence, and serving kids and families. None of this happens without our dedicated staff鈥擨 want them to know how essential they are to the camp鈥檚 success.鈥�

With broad experience, practical skill, and deep spiritual conviction, Elias is ready to lead Leoni Meadows into its next chapter鈥攊n this place, children, families, and staff encounter Jesus in transformative ways. Please join us in welcoming Elias Esquivel and his family. We鈥檙e excited for what God will do next at Leoni Meadows鈥攚here unforgettable experiences, Christ-centered community, and life-changing moments continue to flourish.

Featured in Northern Lights, September 25, 2025
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Your Life Story Matters
Your Life Story Matters 824 506 Ken Miller

The Willits Seventh-day Adventist Church hosted a special evangelistic series, 鈥淵our Life Story Matters.鈥� Each night was filled with prayer, inspiring messages, and opportunities to share God鈥檚 love with the community.

Chaplain Erwin Pajares delivered powerful sermons that touched hearts, while Jeb J. Bersabal led Bible studies, helping attendees grow in God鈥檚 Word and take steps toward a personal relationship with Christ.

The series was a true team effort. Members welcomed guests, assisted with seating, and lifted their voices in worship, creating an atmosphere of care and unity. By God鈥檚 grace, five precious souls chose to follow Christ through baptism. The week was a joyful reminder that every life story matters to God鈥攁nd when His people come together in love, lives are transformed.

Featured in Northern Lights, September 25, 2025
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Cultivate Generosity

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