91大神

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Bruce Nicola Laid to Rest
Bruce Nicola Laid to Rest 319 371 Ken Miller

Retired 91大神 pastor Bruce Nicola was laid to rest on November 12.

A family member stated, 鈥淏ruce鈥檚 long ministry blessed countless lives during his years of service. He enjoyed a good joke, the outdoors, and especially basketball. In his younger years, he developed a life-long love of rock hunting and grew succulents and a beautiful garden in retirement.鈥�

Nicola鈥檚 career spanned 44 years with the 91大神. During that time, he served as a pastor and hospital chaplain. His geographical range extended from as far north as the Arcata-McKinleyville district, south to Livermore, and several churches in between. He retired in 2019 as the district pastor for the Orland and Willows churches.

Ed Fargusson, Assistant to the 91大神 president, stated, 鈥淏ruce was a pastor of many talents and had a keen wit. He held about every pastoral position available, which gave him a mastery of serving others. Most importantly, he loved the Lord. He will be missed.鈥�

Featured in Northern Lights, November 16, 2023
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46th African American Convocation
46th African American Convocation 2000 1125 Ken Miller

One of the many things that our African American ministries department supports is the annual African American Ministries Convocation.

Now in its 46th聽year, this event held every October brings great speakers and musicians together to praise God, inspiring unity and hope.

This year, over 600 gathered at the Oakland Market Street church. They were blessed with praise, singing, and inspirational sermons by Dietrich Germany, pastor of the Stockton Mayfair church. A youth program kept over sixty children busy, and Dr. Shirley-Ann Thomas, Assistant Professor of Education at Oakwood College, provided a ministry in music.

Rudy Peters, African American ministries coordinator, commented, 鈥淢y prayer for this convocation is that all grew in faith and commitment to Christ.鈥�

Featured in Northern Lights, November 2, 2023
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Peggy Haines Joins 91大神 Offices
Peggy Haines Joins 91大神 Offices 1855 2460 Ken Miller

Peggy Haines recently joined the 91大神 Administration office as the new conference clerk and administrative assistant for the risk management department.

Haines recently moved to Roseville from Loma Linda, where she worked at the University Health Department for the last seven years. She explained, 鈥淚 wanted to be closer to my daughter and two grandsons.鈥�

Haines continued, 鈥淚 love my new job; it is my way of giving back to God鈥檚 work. My parents sacrificed to put my siblings and me through Adventist education, and I wanted to be a part of this mission.鈥�

Featured in Northern Lights, October 26, 2023
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Mulching Mission Movement
Mulching Mission Movement 2000 1125 Ken Miller

October 10- It was all hands on deck as the 91大神 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, 91大神 superintendent of schools and project coordinator, looked across the park at the piles and drily stated, 鈥淲ell, it ain’t gonna get done by itself.鈥�

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, 鈥淚 want to send a huge kudos to your team.聽They did a great job!聽It was a very successful volunteer event. Your work is greatly appreciated by the City of Roseville and the community.鈥�

Featured in Northern Lights, October 26, 2023
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Baptisms and Mysterious Guests
Baptisms and Mysterious Guests 2000 1125 Ken Miller

God is doing some fantastic things in the West Sacramento SDA Church.

Sasa Andelkovic, district pastor, explains, “During the pandemic, our church attendance significantly dropped.聽Around the same time,聽many of our youth聽graduated from high school and went to college. Our church looked desolate.聽Only about twenty-five people were attending on Sabbath, one-third of normal.”

The congregation began earnestly praying that God would fill their church, especially with young people.聽Andelkovic continues, “From our prayers,聽strange things started to happen! We had a student from UC Davis join us with her boyfriend.聽She had learned about the Sabbath聽over the internet, and two more young adults arrived at our church having seen our web page.”

The new guests attended Bible studies, eager to know more about Jesus. Church members worked diligently to include their new friends in activities, drawing them into the church.聽Andelkovic聽states, “We were happy to see things happening聽and the spirit moving, but that was just the beginning!”

In time, the church had its first baptism, a rebaptism. This decision by a gentleman聽seemed to encourage others. Andelkovic聽exclaimed, “As a district pastor, I am there every two weeks, and when I baptize, I always appeal to the congregation, asking if others wish to make that commitment. After this baptism, every time I was there, a new hand would go up in the church!”

“After the third Sabbath with a baptism,” Andelkovic continues, “I聽jokingly聽told the congregation that we needed to continue the tradition asking, ‘Who will be baptized next?’聽I聽couldn’t dream up what聽happened next!聽The whole back row of the church stood up joyfully, waving their hands.聽I was stunned! It was a group of people I hadn’t even met yet!聽Needless to say,聽I couldn鈥檛 wait to meet them and hear their stories.鈥�

Andelkovic states, “The original couple from UC Davis just made a commitment too, requesting baptism as well, our cup runneth over.”

Andelkovic聽reflects, “You just never know how God will answer your prayers! We often ask for blessings and then try to predict how He will work. But I must tell you, this experience left me in awe of how His way is not our way, but the experience is always wonderful!”

[Stay tuned for a story of the mysterious back row!]

Featured in Northern Lights, October 26, 2023
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Pastor Em谩n Collins Passes to His Rest
Pastor Em谩n Collins Passes to His Rest 1284 1561 Ken Miller

We regretfully announce that Em谩n Collins passed away on October 1 in Argentina with Ruth, his wife, and loved ones by his side.

Collins joined the 91大神 in 1986 as the pastor of the Antioch Church. The following year, he became an evangelist in our territory, also serving as the Hispanic Ministries coordinator. In 2003, Collins moved from the Hispanic coordinator position and joined the Hayward Spanish SDA Church as lead pastor until his retirement in 2009.

Paul Guevara, the current 91大神 Hispanic Ministries Coordinator, stated, 鈥淚 had the privilege to know pastor Collins and will always remember him as a great human being who treated everyone with love and respect. He was passionate about Jesus and His work.鈥�

Sal Alvarado, ABC director, reflected, 鈥淧astor Collins was my mentor and my friend. He was a great evangelist, and I credit the baptisms of my wife and son to the power of his presentation of the Gospel.鈥�

A family member revealed that a memorial was held in Argentina, and there are no plans for a service in the United States.

Featured in Northern Lights, October 19, 2023
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Nathan Shires Installed
Nathan Shires Installed 2236 2742 Ken Miller

Recently, Nathan Shires was installed as the new district pastor of the Healdsburg and Cloverdale churches.

Formerly a district pastor from Oklahoma, Shires shared, 鈥淢y wife and I weren鈥檛 necessarily looking to move, but the Lord had other plans. He fulfilled all five of the criteria we had laid before Him. We took that as our answer to come to California.鈥�

Shires brings community-focused energy to his district, as he explains, 鈥淩evitalizing ourselves and our churches in a missional style is key to connecting our communities. I am excited to be in the Healdsburg, Cloverdale area and blessed with willing and eager churches to do God鈥檚 work.鈥�

Nathan shares his life with Gurpreet, his wife of five years. She is a nurse practitioner for Adventist Health who grew up in San Jose.

Featured in Northern Lights, October 12, 2023
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Stockton’s Soapy Service
Stockton’s Soapy Service 1893 981 Ken Miller

September 24- The Stockton Central Church sponsored a community car wash put on by the church youth leaders.

David Peckham, lead pastor, explained, “This event was designed to engage with our neighborhood and as a fundraiser for the youth department. We did not charge a fee for each washed car but accepted donations, and many cars queued up for a scrub.”

The enthusiastic washers scurried around each car, quickly soaping, rinsing, and drying cars. While waiting, drivers could peruse a rummage sale in the gymnasium, hosted by the primary sabbath school parents and children.

Peckham continued, “One visitor who had his truck washed exclaimed that he was impressed by such a positive experience and how impressive it was to see youth working so hard. After his truck was dried, he left the site and returned later with a flat of bottled water as a gift for all the workers!”

One parent stated, “This was a unique opportunity to engage the community, for families to work together for a good cause, and mentor our youth to work with passion and a purpose.”

Featured in Northern Lights, October 12, 2023
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Catrina LeSure Ordained
Catrina LeSure Ordained 1983 1197 Ken Miller

September 23, Catrina LeSure was ordained at the Palo Cedro Church.

Her father gushed in his introduction, 鈥淐atrina has loved the Lord from a very young age. With that came a desire to serve others. As a result, she graduated from Andrews University with a degree in Education.鈥�

Her first job out of college was a junior-high teaching position, and while she loved the kids and being their teacher, it fueled a desire to go deeper. She returned to Andrews, studied for the ministry, and pursued service as a pastor.

After entering ministry in Idaho, she answered the call to the Palo Cedro church, where she is currently the youth pastor.

Marc Woodson, 91大神 president, praised, 鈥淲e are very proud of Catrina today; she has served the Lord well and served with courage, and we are glad she is a part of the 91大神.鈥�

Featured in Northern Lights, October 5, 2023
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Willits Church Commits To Serving Unhoused
Willits Church Commits To Serving Unhoused 834 574 Ken Miller

Members of the Willits Church continuously show their servant鈥檚 hearts and passionate hard work, positively impacting their community.

Jeb Berbasal, district pastor, stated, 鈥淔rom a deep sense of duty and love for their neighbors, they have created 鈥楽erving with Compassion,鈥� an initiative to feed and serve unhoused persons in the area.鈥�

The ministry team serves many people weekly, feeding, praying, and clothing with love and encouragement. Bersabal continued, 鈥淭his outreach is also about manifesting faith through action. Serving others with compassion is a sacred duty that strengthens both the giver AND the receiver.鈥�

Bersabal concluded, 鈥淭he core of its mission is not just about the food; it’s about letting people know they are seen and valued as part of caring for them.鈥�

Featured in Northern Lights, October 5, 2023
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Northern Lights, the official monthly news source of the Northern California Conference, shares how churches, schools, and members are connecting people to an abundant life with Jesus Christ and preparing them for His soon return.

漏 2026 91大神 Conference聽| 2100 Douglas Blvd. Roseville, CA 95661 | P. O. Box 619015 Roseville, CA 95661-9015聽| (916) 886-5600 | info@nccsda.com

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