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A Backpack Full of Love
A Backpack Full of Love 4000 2250 Ken Miller

The 2026 Back 2 School at the 鈥淟ight鈥� & Health Family Event helped families start the new school year with a little less on their plates鈥攁nd a little more in their backpacks.

A collaborative effort between Beacon Light鈥檚 Health Department and Spanish Congregation Outreach Department, the event served more than 120 families. Children received free backpacks and school supplies, while families also had access to groceries, haircuts, health screenings, refreshments, and a bounce house for some back-to-school fun.

For parents, the practical help meant fewer items on an already long back-to-school list. For Beacon Light, it was another opportunity to build relationships with families in the surrounding community.

Much of what was given that day came through the generosity of church members and individual donors who contributed supplies, resources, time, and financial support.

The larger goal went beyond what could fit inside a backpack. It was an opportunity to show families that Beacon Light is a church in their community ready to welcome them, serve them, and build relationships that last beyond a single event.

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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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Dear Northern California Conference Family
Dear Northern California Conference Family 4000 2250 Ken Miller

It has been a great honor to serve this conference for the past 19 years, first as executive secretary and then as president for the last eight years.

The Northern California Conference is truly blessed, and my wife, Marlene, and I have been grateful for the opportunity to serve and minister here. We have seen firsthand this conference鈥檚 deep commitment to connecting people to an abundant life in Jesus Christ and preparing them for His Second Coming.

With my recent election to serve as the president of the Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, the time has come to say farewell. I will deeply miss the pastors, principals, teachers, and support staff who faithfully give their best each day to advance God鈥檚 kingdom. I will also miss serving alongside my fellow officers, ministry department directors, and office staff, whose tireless commitment strengthens and supports our churches, schools, and ministries across the Northern California Conference.

It has been an incredible journey, and by God鈥檚 grace and power, we have accomplished much. Looking back, several moments stand out to me:

I am grateful that we have expanded opportunities for women in pastoral ministry, with more women serving as pastors than ever before in our history. I am thankful that our Conference headquarters moved to the greater Sacramento area, helping us serve our territory from a more central location. I have also deeply valued our journey toward organizational health, which has brought greater clarity, alignment, and a rich perspective as we advance God鈥檚 mission.

And I am especially encouraged by the launch of our Ending Homelessness Initiative to significantly decrease the number of those experiencing homelessness throughout our territory.

We could not have accomplished any of these things without Divine providence. So I say, 鈥淭o God be the glory, great things He has done!鈥�

Thank you, 91大神 family, for granting me the opportunity to help lead this great conference. It has been a privilege and a joy. Let鈥檚 together remain faithful until our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ comes to take us home!

Marc. K Woodson

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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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Anderson Church Takes 鈥淕rowing in Jesus鈥� to the Mountains
Anderson Church Takes 鈥淕rowing in Jesus鈥� to the Mountains 4960 2488 Ken Miller

For one weekend in August, church looked a little different for the Anderson Church.

More than 70 members, friends, and visitors headed to Lost Creek Group Campground near Lassen, Aug. 28鈥�30, for the church鈥檚 鈥淕rowing in Jesus鈥� campout. Tents replaced pews, the surrounding forest became the backdrop for worship, and three days together offered plenty of time for people to reconnect.

The weekend included Sabbath worship, music, prayer, activities, shared meals, and messages centered on the campout theme. Even the setting played a part. Surrounded by trees, campers were reminded that growth takes nourishment and time鈥攁nd that a growing relationship with Jesus is much the same.

Some of the best parts of the weekend were less formal. There was laughter, time to talk without rushing off to the next thing, meals together, music, and the work of volunteers who kept everything moving. Families, longtime members, visitors, and friends simply had time to be together.

By Sunday, the tents were packed, the campfires were out, and everyone headed home. After three days of worship, meals, conversations, and plenty of time together, the Anderson church family left Lost Creek knowing each other a little better than when they arrived. And that fit the weekend鈥檚 theme, 鈥淕rowing in Jesus,鈥� pretty well.

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Edwin Brown Installed at Vallejo Berea
Edwin Brown Installed at Vallejo Berea 3875 2012 Ken Miller

The Vallejo Berea Seventh-day Adventist Church gathered on Aug. 1 to welcome Edwin Brown, pastor, during a special installation service marking the beginning of his ministry with the congregation.

Brown brings decades of pastoral experience to Vallejo Berea. Friends, family, church members, and Northern California Conference leaders gathered to celebrate God’s leading, honor his years of ministry, and pray for the work that lies ahead as he joins the Vallejo church family.

Rudolph Peters, African American Ministries director, described an atmosphere of excitement and appreciation within the congregation and expressed confidence in the ministry God will accomplish through Brown’s assignment.

As Vallejo Berea enters this new season, the congregation looks forward to growing in faith, strengthening its ministry, and continuing to share the hope of Christ with the community.

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Meet Our New Principals: Karen Wiechmann, El Dorado Adventist School
Meet Our New Principals: Karen Wiechmann, El Dorado Adventist School 3883 2145 Ken Miller

Karen Wiechmann: Leading with Faith, Purpose, and Meaningful Excellence

Karen Wiechmann鈥檚 connection to El Dorado Adventist School is deeply personal. She first knew EAS as a student, and after years away, God led her back to the school that helped shape her. Since returning, Karen has served in nearly every corner of school life鈥攆rom teaching kindergarten, a year she remembers with great joy, to coaching, recruitment, marketing, enrollment, and development. Whether she is in a classroom, welcoming a family, solving a problem, or stepping in wherever needed, Karen leads by being present, engaged, and willing to work alongside others.

For Karen, Adventist education is ministry. She believes Jesus belongs at the center of the school experience and that every child should be known, loved, challenged, and encouraged to discover their God-given purpose. She is passionate about聽meaningful excellence鈥攕trong academics rooted in faith, high expectations paired with compassionate support, and a culture of shared accountability.

Karen wants students to leave EAS well educated, able to think critically, grounded in character, and confident in who God created them to be. She wants them to recognize the gifts God has placed within them, discover their purpose, take responsibility for their choices, build healthy relationships, and learn to live, lead, and love like Jesus.

Those who know Karen often notice her warmth first. She is quick to smile, quick to find humor, and quick to make people feel welcomed, valued, and cared for. Her leadership style is hands-on. She believes encouragement often means getting beside people, working with them, and helping create the confidence that together, hard things can be accomplished.

Karen believes El Dorado Adventist School is more than a place where students attend classes. It is a community where children should experience belonging, purpose, challenge, opportunity, and the love of Jesus. She wants EAS to be known for academic strength, authentic faith, meaningful relationships, character, service, and a willingness to pursue excellence in ways that truly matter.

Outside of school, Karen鈥檚 natural curiosity often takes her down the scenic route. She enjoys road trips, discovering new places, noticing God鈥檚 beauty, capturing meaningful moments with her phone, sharing experiences and laughter with friends and family, and going on adventures with Juni, her rescue dog.

Karen rests her hope in God and considers it a privilege to serve a school she has loved for much of her life. Her prayer is that El Dorado鈥檚 Eagles will grow into young people who know who they are in Christ, understand the gifts God has given them, and are prepared to use their lives with purpose, courage, faith, and a heart for service.

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Meet our Principals: Kimberly Baumbach, Paradise Elementary
Meet our Principals: Kimberly Baumbach, Paradise Elementary 3870 2012 Ken Miller

Sometimes the Best Lessons Don’t Go According to Plan

Kimberly Baumbach had everything ready.

A bottle with vinegar. A balloon filled with baking soda. A classroom of students eager to see a simple science experiment demonstrate how carbon dioxide can inflate a balloon.

She carefully stretched the balloon over the bottle and waited for the reaction.

Instead of slowly filling with air, the balloon suddenly ripped wide open.
In an instant, baking soda and vinegar sprayed across the classroom.

For one silent moment, everyone simply stared.

Then the room erupted in laughter.

“It was definitely not the science experiment I had planned,” Kimberly recalled. “But it became one of those moments none of us ever forgot.”
After cleaning up the mess, the class tried the experiment again. This time, everything worked exactly as the textbook promised. Ironically, it was the successful demonstration that students barely remembered. The unexpected one became the lesson they talked about long afterward.
For Kimberly, that’s one of the beautiful realities of education. Some of the most meaningful learning happens in the moments you could never have planned.

Now, as Teaching Principal at Paradise Adventist Elementary, Kimberly brings that same perspective into every school day.
With 26 years in education, she still lights up when students discover something new for themselves. She believes learning should spark curiosity, encourage creativity, and help children see the gifts God has placed within them. “One of my favorite parts of teaching is watching students experience the joy of learning,” she said. “Just as important is helping them discover ways to serve others, show kindness, and reflect Jesus in their everyday lives.”

That philosophy extends well beyond academics. At Paradise Adventist Elementary, Kimberly hopes every student experiences a school where faith, kindness, respect, curiosity, and a love of learning grow together. She believes each child has been uniquely created by God with purpose and incredible potential, and every day offers a new opportunity to help students discover both.

Outside the classroom, Kimberly enjoys hiking, backpacking, reading, and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Chris, recently celebrated 26 years of marriage. Their two sons continue to make them proud鈥擩ackson is entering his senior year of high school, while Nicolaus is beginning his senior year of college.

As a new school year begins, Kimberly is looking forward to partnering with students, families, faculty, and staff as they build a Christ-centered community where learning is joyful, relationships are meaningful, and every child is encouraged to grow academically, spiritually, and personally.

And if another science experiment decides to erupt unexpectedly? She’ll probably laugh right along with the students. After all, some of the best lessons have a way of surprising everyone.

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Meet Our New Principals: Gladys Paloma, Galt Adventist School
Meet Our New Principals: Gladys Paloma, Galt Adventist School 3837 1966 Ken Miller

What if your child’s principal had spent 13 years as a missionary teacher on a tiny Pacific island… and later served students on the Navajo Reservation?

That’s the journey that brought Gladys to Galt Adventist School.

After earning her education degree in the Philippines, Gladys and her family answered God’s call to Palau, where they spent 13 years serving as missionary teachers. When another door opened, they moved to New Mexico to minister through La Vida Mission on the Navajo Reservation. Most recently, she taught K鈥�2 at Bayside Adventist Christian School before accepting God’s next assignment as teaching principal at Galt Adventist School.

There’s a thread running through every chapter of her story. Whether she’s teaching on a Pacific island, in the Southwest, or here in Northern California, her passion has remained the same: helping children grow academically while discovering the love of Jesus.

One fun fact? Gladys is naturally left-handed but writes with her right hand. She also enjoys badminton and volleyball and, like so many of us, is learning pickleball. She’ll also happily admit that, even as an adult, she’d rather take the stairs than ride an elevator alone. After moving across oceans and serving wherever God has called, it turns out elevators are still just a little more intimidating than missionary service.

We’re excited to welcome Gladys and her family to Galt Adventist School and look forward to seeing how God continues to bless students through her ministry.

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Meet our New Principals: Jennifer Cooper from Lodi Academy
Meet our New Principals: Jennifer Cooper from Lodi Academy 4000 2250 Ken Miller

Coming Home: A Familiar Face with a Heart for Students

Some places never really leave your heart.

For Lodi Academy’s new principal, Jennifer Cooper, this isn’t just a new job鈥攊t’s a homecoming. A Lodi Academy graduate from kindergarten through twelfth grade, she now returns to lead the school that first nurtured her love of learning and her faith.

Her journey has taken her from teaching in multi-grade elementary classrooms to special education, college courses, and eventually high school math. After nine years teaching at Lodi Academy and a season focused on family, she has come back in a new role鈥攐ne she sees as part of God’s plan.

What excites her most isn’t a building or a title. It’s the students. “We have the best students,” she says. “They’re smart, talented, full of potential, and they inspire me every day.” She believes school should spark curiosity, build confidence, and help every child discover the gifts God has placed within them. Academic excellence matters, but so do character, leadership, friendships, and a growing relationship with Jesus.

As the mother of five, she understands what parents hope for when they send their children to school. She wants every family to know that Lodi Academy is a place where students are known, encouraged, challenged, and loved.
One of her greatest joys is hearing from former students years later seeing them thriving in their careers, families, and faith.

That’s the kind of impact she hopes every Lodi Academy student experiences.
For her, Lodi Academy has always been more than a school. It’s home. And she’s excited to welcome a new generation of families into a community where students can grow, belong, and discover the purpose God has for their lives.

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