91大神

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

Northern Lights

Melany Quintero Joins 91大神 Offices

Melany Quintero Joins 91大神 Offices 1474 1967 Ken Miller

Melany Quintero is the new administrative assistant supporting the Hispanic and Asian Pacific Ministries coordinators.

Quintero was born in Costa Rica but attended school in Arizona and Tennessee. After graduating, she went to a university in Costa Rica and became an English professor.

Regarding her new position, she stated, 鈥淚 enjoy being part of a ministry team that supports our ethnic churches and community outreach.鈥

Quintero is contagiously kind and a passionate, hard worker. Her hobbies include hiking, music, and cooking, and she has a passion for personal growth and serving God.

Featured in Northern Lights, February 9, 2023

Wai “Larry” Chu Ordained

Wai “Larry” Chu Ordained 793 608 Ken Miller

January 28- Larry Chu was ordained at the聽Alameda East Bay Chinese church.

Chu has served as the full-time pastor of the Alameda East Bay Chinese Church and with a Chinese language group from Stockton Central since 2016.

Chu stated, 鈥淭his ordination gave me encouragement from the 91大神 and church members, strengthening my faith to share the great news of Jesus.鈥 Jim Lorenz, ministerial director, said, 鈥淧astor Chu is a kind and gifted pastor dedicated to his church community and serves them well.鈥

A passionate, hard worker, Chu said, 鈥淢y goals are to continue sharing the gospel among my members but also increasing ministry to young people, bringing more of that age group to church, and connecting them with Jesus.鈥

In 2015, Wai and his wife, Zi Yang, married and have served God together. They welcomed daughter Dorcas into their family in 2020.

Featured in Northern Lights, February 9, 2023

Prayer Ministry Retreat

Prayer Ministry Retreat 1912 999 Ken Miller

Religious Liberty Weekend

Religious Liberty Weekend 850 425 Ken Miller

Blake Jones Installed At Orangevale

Blake Jones Installed At Orangevale 1082 1600 Ken Miller

January 21- Blake Jones was installed at Orangevale Church. Blake joined our territory from the Florida Conference. He explains, 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 looking to move to California until my friend talked me into it. From there, I felt this is where God wanted me to go.鈥

That friend was Kevin Robert, church growth and evangelism director. Robert said, 鈥淚 got him into this. Blake clearly sees the pastoral ministry and how it is a calling to be an equipper of the saints, but not one that hovers over the members. He will do a great job!鈥

Jones describes, 鈥淚鈥檓 very passionate about equipping people to be fruitful disciples of Jesus.鈥

Blake has been married to Cris, his wife of 16 years. They have two children, Lucas-12, and Sofia-8.

Featured in Northern Lights, February 2, 2023

Adventurers’ Adventure At Leoni

Adventurers’ Adventure At Leoni 2000 1125 Ken Miller

January 27-29- The English language version of the annual Adventurer Family Fun Weekend was held at Leoni Meadows after being postponed in October. The same event in Spanish was held in November without a hitch.

This year’s theme, He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands, gave 91大神 Adventurers and their families a weekend of international cultures, languages, food, and games. More than 85 people attended from all over the conference.

Leoni staff opened the Leoni House Museum, where the children were delighted to find a perfect layer of snow, making it possible to sled down the hill in front of the meadow in spectacular weather!

Chef Ed and cafeteria workers went above and beyond to prepare a special kid-friendly menu.

Barry van Iderstein, director of children and family ministries, said, 鈥淚 am so amazed by the perseverance and kindness I have experienced at Leoni Meadows. The camp’s willingness and creativity are examples of their passionate hard work that never ceases to impress. Leoni’s team is a huge blessing.鈥

Featured in Northern Lights, February 2, 2023

Preschoolers’ Learning Ignited By Fire Safety

Preschoolers’ Learning Ignited By Fire Safety 1948 1080 Ken Miller

Gil Fayard is an alum of Sacramento Academy and a soon-to-be Pacific Union College graduate. A kind and compassionate hard worker, Fayard is determining his professional path. Currently, he works as an EMT and volunteer firefighter for the Angwin Fire department. His sister Natalie recently invited him to talk to her preschool class of youngsters at Sacramento Academy.

The children sat on the carpeted floor for circle time, a place used for special presentations and worship. With excitable attention, the children watched as he donned his turnouts (fire retardant overalls), firefighter鈥檚 jacket, and helmet describing the purpose of each piece of clothing.

Aided by a PowerPoint presentation, Fayard explained fire safety to the children, including how to dial 911 in an emergency and 鈥渟top, drop, and roll鈥 to extinguish a fire on your clothing.

Fayard said, 鈥淓ven though preschoolers are very young, this foundational safety lesson will stick with them for life. It鈥檚 also important to explain why they shouldn鈥檛 be afraid of first responders. We鈥檙e always there to help them.鈥

Shari Thompson, Sacramento Academy preschool director, said of Fayard鈥檚 presentation, 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 communicate this kind of information just being a teacher. To have somebody like Gil from the community present information from his work life is more vital to the education of our children. To see the kids鈥 faces light up is just amazing! We are thankful for people like Gil for serving as a first response worker and taking time for our children!鈥

Featured in Northern Lights, February 2, 2023

Celebrate Black History Month!

Celebrate Black History Month! 1322 602 Ken Miller

Excerpt from HIS Story. An article written by Marc Woodson, 91大神 president, featured in the Pacific Union Recorder, February 2023 Issue.

鈥淥ur God intervenes in the affairs of humanity and weaves a tapestry of blessings using the scraps of man鈥檚 inhumanity. Like Joseph, African people were snatched from their homeland, sold into slavery, debased as animals, lost their identity, and kept in ignorance. How can these people perceive God amid their oppression? As we have seen when the enslaved people were emancipated, God delivers, makes the crooked places straight and the rough places plain, and every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain made low.”

Let鈥檚 celebrate and learn how God has used Black and African American Adventists throughout history.

Featured in Northern Lights, February 2, 2023

Robert Benardo Installed At Sacramento Central

Robert Benardo Installed At Sacramento Central 6000 4000 Ken Miller

January 21- Rob Benardo was installed as pastor at Sacramento Central Church.

Pastor Benardo returned to our territory from the Battle Creek Tabernacle church in Michigan, where he was the prayer coordinator for the Michigan conference. He also pastored previously at the Milpitas Church in the early 2000s and is pleased to be back in Northern California.

According to Lynette Stansfield, a church member, 鈥淪acramento Central is excited and grateful that God has led Pastor Rob and his wife Olga to Sacramento. We are particularly thrilled with his vision to grow our church by reaching out and serving those in Sacramento.鈥

Benardo is a friendly and energetic evangelist who likes to use acronyms for teaching and planning. His working title for what he hopes to accomplish in Sacramento is S.P.E.C.S.- Strategic Planned Evangelism for the City of Sacramento.

Bernardo shares his life with his wife of 32 years, Olga. They have two grown daughters, Amaris and Alexia, and his life motto is, 鈥淕od鈥檚 glory is my greatest joy.鈥

Featured in Northern Lights, January 26, 2023

Officers and Directors Consecrated

Officers and Directors Consecrated 1863 937 Ken Miller

January 21- The new 91大神 officers and directors were dedicated in a Sabbath afternoon service at the Roseville Church.

Voted during the September Conference Constituency Meeting, this administration team will serve the 91大神 for the next five years.

In his consecration message, Pacific Union President Bradford Newtonsaid, 鈥淭here is such a wonderful spirit in this current administration. The God of the Bible is still in the midst of His people and will do a new and wonderful thing in this conference.鈥

91大神 president, Marc Woodson, quoted the promise given to the Israelites found in Joshua 3:5 – “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” (NIV)

Woodson explained during the response time, 鈥淲e聽are聽one body on one mission to connect people to an abundant life with Jesus and prepare them for the Second Coming. When we dedicate ourselves to this purpose, the God of miracles will do amazing things in our conference!鈥

Featured in Northern Lights, January 26, 2023