Lauren Lacson

“God was really doing something special,” reflected Iki Taimi, director of Southern California Conference (SCC) Senior Youth and Young Adult (SYYA) ministries. “And there was no way we could have done it if the coronavirus hadn’t hit. We see many things as a crisis, but God sees it as an opportunity.” The opportunity came as…

During the COVID-19 pandemic, churches in SCC’s Hispanic Region have been busy ministering to the felt needs in their communities. Many have started or continued operating food banks, and hundreds are impacted by these ministries each week. According to Baldwin Park Community Services Director Noemi Sias, their church distributes 16,000 lbs. of food to about…

Every year, South Bay Christian School (SBCS) students enjoy a day at the beach. This year, the sixth- to eighth-grade students experienced the tradition even during a pandemic— but they didn’t take a field trip. Instead, they gathered via Zoom! The day reflected plenty of pre-planning from Mrs. Voigt, 6th-grade teacher; Mrs. Perez, 7th-grade teacher;…

During a global pandemic like this one, staying healthy is on everyone’s mind. Poor nutrition and unhealthy habits are even more dangerous than they’ve been in the past, with factors like diabetes and obesity increasing one’s risk for negative outcomes from COVID-19. There’s no better time to focus on what it means to be healthy—physically,…

  Unity. Justice. Community. Peace. That’s what the demonstration on June 3 in Los Angeles was all about—around 300 people gathered to pray, march, and connect. It was the first time one of our Southern California Conference (SCC) churches organized an event like this. It was a diverse group in every sense of the word:…

The last few months have been a whirlwind for us all. As the novel coronavirus has ravaged the world, our communities have been deeply impacted. Shared experiences range from emotional stress and spiritual discouragement to physical illness. During this unprecedented and challenging time, our churches have come together with innovation and creativity. “Ministry is actually…

“I have to tell you,” began Greg Hoenes, West Region director, “we don’t do ordinations like this every day.” For José Gutierrez, ministry is a second career. After beginning his career in social work, Gutierrez sensed God calling him into ministry. Trained as a family counselor by the county of Los Angeles, Gutierrez worked for…

It was a full day of joy and celebration as current and past members of the Glassell Park Spanish church in Glendale, Calif., gathered together for the church’s 40th anniversary. Some members came from local cities like Los Angeles, while others traveled from other states for this special milestone. The church’s current location in Glendale…