Southern California Conference

Lauren Lacson

Articles by Lauren Lacson

  • God’s Closet: The Hands and Feet of Jesus

    God’s Closet: The Hands and Feet of Jesus

    “I needed clothes and you clothed me.” Inspired by the words of Jesus in Matthew 25:36 (NIV), the God’s Closet ministry provides free clothing to families in need. Started 15 years ago, its impact has grown to 49 active locations today. Three Southern California Conference (SCC) churches hosted God’s Closet ministries on their campuses in…

    Lauren Lacson
  • Newly Organized Haven Company: “A Haven of Love to the Community”

    Newly Organized Haven Company: “A Haven of Love to the Community”

    The history of the Haven congregation goes back almost five years. After Edbert Carceler returned from a six-month evangelism and church building project in the Philippines in the winter of 2018, he started a Bible study group that would meet on a weekly basis with 12 attendees. By 2019, the group had doubled to 25…

    Lauren Lacson
  • SCC Builds Media Production Studio for Ministry

    SCC Builds Media Production Studio for Ministry

    Years before the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies were already noticing the impact of video. As early as 2013, global marketing agency Insivia reported, “Viewers retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video compared to 10% when reading it in text.” The method in which we share our message impacts both engagement…

    Lauren Lacson
  • A Fundraiser Built on Kindness

    A Fundraiser Built on Kindness

    “It was actually frightening to even think about hosting a fundraiser at the beginning of the school year, knowing how challenging the years have been for families to withstand this pandemic and make ends meet,” shared Roselaine Gorospe, San Gabriel Academy Elementary (SGAE) teaching vice principal. “When we were introduced to Raise Craze however, we couldn’t…

    Lauren Lacson
  • Compton Community Church: “In the Absence of Normal, You Can Be Creative”

    Compton Community Church: “In the Absence of Normal, You Can Be Creative”

    When the COVID pandemic first hit, we all faced a myriad of new challenges. What would virtual church look like? How could member care and community outreach happen in this new environment? As the Compton Community church navigated these questions, they—like many others—joined the online ministry sphere. Yet, the church felt that wasn’t enough for…

    Lauren Lacson
  • Donavan Childs Is Ordained

    Donavan Childs Is Ordained

    “Donavan stands tall because he doesn’t seek the approval of the Christian but the calling of God,” Taimi shared as he welcomed attendees to the ordination of colleague Donavan Childs. “As we recognize Donavan today, it is sure proclamation to little Donavans in our church, all around, that that, too, have a calling.” In November,…

    Lauren Lacson
  • Jason Whitley Is Ordained

    Jason Whitley Is Ordained

    In December, the Culver City church family celebrated the ordination of their pastor, Jason Whitley. Whitley briefly served as a worship leader at the Culver City church after earning his theology degree in 2013, after which he attended Andrews for his master’s degree. He then served as associate pastor at the Camarillo church until October…

    Lauren Lacson
  • Tehachapi Church Celebrates Debt-Free Milestone

    Tehachapi Church Celebrates Debt-Free Milestone

    Last month, Tehachapi church celebrated a milestone that was more than 50 years in the making. In 1970, Sharron Bullard and her husband, Harold, moved to Tehachapi and began looking for an Adventist church in the area. To their surprise, the closest congregation was in Mojave. “We need a church in Tehachapi” was Sharron’s response…

    Lauren Lacson
  • “The End of Blindness”: Lives Forever Changed by One Doctor’s Dedication

    “The End of Blindness”: Lives Forever Changed by One Doctor’s Dedication

    The End of Blindness” tells the true story of Samuel Bora, M.D., the only ophthalmologist for 3 million people in rural Ethiopia. With more than 4 million cases of visual impairment, Ethiopia has one of the highest rates of blindness in Africa. Performing up to 60 free cataract surgeries a day, Bora is committed to…

    Lauren Lacson
  • SCC Holds Special Constituency Session

    SCC Holds Special Constituency Session

    At the last Southern California Conference (SCC) regular constituency session in September 2019, it was voted “that SCC conducts a comprehensive Region Structure Assessment and bring analysis and report at a special session of the Constituency in 24 months.” To comply with this mandate, SCC conducted an assessment that was then presented at a special…

    Lauren Lacson