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Against All Odds: San Gabriel Academy Boys Basketball Team Claims CIF Title
At the heart of San Gabriel Academy (SGA) are three goals: to serve others, grow in Christ, and aspire to excellence, inspired by Christ’s words in Matthew 5:14, “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden” (NLT). At SGA, Christ is not confined to a Bible classroom…
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Camarillo Celebrates Anniversary of First Service in Current Building
This January, the Camarillo church celebrated a significant milestone: The 50th anniversary of the ribbon-cutting ceremony that marked the beginning of services held in the church building in 1975. It was a weekend filled with gratitude, reflection, and renewed commitment to God’s leading as the congregation celebrated Christ’s faithfulness through the decades. The festivities began…
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Evangelism Corner | April 2025
This January, two West Region churches kicked off the year of evangelism with concurrent three-week-long evangelistic series starting January 30 and 31. With 10 presentations, the “Revelation Revealed: Bible Prophecy Seminar” at Sylmar church explored pressing topics through the lens of the Bible, including: People from the community joined the series having heard of the…
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Rolando Rivera Is Ordained
“It’s been a long journey, ups and downs,” Rolando (Jae) Rivera, Spanish-American church pastor, said, “but God is good.” Rivera was born in Puerto Rico. Raised in a dysfunctional home but forced to attend church, he grew up wanting nothing to do with God. After moving to the Bronx, his life became a mess and…
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Andy Zhang Is Ordained
Enze (Andy) Zhang was born in Zhejiang Province, China, to a devout Adventist family. Both his parents and grandparents remained unwavering in their faith, even enduring imprisonment for their beliefs. Their courage and dedication instilled faithfulness and resilience in Zhang. This foundation led to fulfilling experiences in education and ministry throughout his professional career from…
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Sergio Caishpal Is Ordained
Born to Salvadoran immigrants in Los Angeles and raised in Santa Rosa, Sergio Caishpal is a proud Californian. Growing up, he teetered between career possibilities. “I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be a physician, a psychologist, or a pastor,” he said, adding that a scholarship at Pacific Union College for theology majors encouraged him…
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SCC Welcomes Wayne Dunbar as New Associate Superintendent
After 32 years of experience in Adventist education, Wayne Dunbar comes to Southern California Conference (SCC) as associate superintendent. Dunbar’s journey into education began unexpectedly. He graduated from Walla Walla University with a degree in business and plans to work in health care administration. He worked in that field for two years before deciding to…
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James G. Lee Jr. Retires After 48 Years of Ministry
As with many people who find themselves working in administrative roles in a conference, James G. Lee’s ministry began in the field as a pastor. However, he had no intention of becoming a pastor. “You know what, to be honest with you, it was not something I wanted to do,” Lee recalled. “In fact, it…
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Velino A. Salazar Retires: Looking Back on 47 Years of Ministry
“I didn’t want to be a pastor.” Growing up as a “pastor’s kid,” watching his father in church administration, Velino A. Salazar wasn’t unaware of what the life of a pastor looked like. He didn’t think it was for him; his sights were set on the medical field. Then, in the summer of 1973, he…
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Southern California Fires: An Outpouring of Support & Blessings Amid Tragedy
On January 7, an extreme Santa Ana wind event gave momentum to two destructive fires in Southern California. By the next morning, much of the Pacific Palisades and Altadena communities in Los Angeles County were destroyed, leaving thousands of residents evacuated and homes burned. The fires continued to burn for days, while new fires continued…
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SCC Hosts Grand Opening for New Media Production Studio
In December, the Southern California Conference (SCC) held a grand opening for its new media production studio—a moment that had been in the making since before the start of the covid pandemic. The space was dedicated with a prayer before the ribbon was cut, and then the studio was officially open, allowing visitors to tour…
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My Kids Decided to Follow Jesus!
Every parent lives for moments when their kids make them proud. For Donavan Childs, pastor at Ephesus church, that moment came on the first Sabbath of the new year. On that memorable Sabbath, he baptized his children. “Baptizing one child would have been amazing,” Childs reflected, “but God blessed me to baptize, not one, not…
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Oliver Enriquez Is Ordained
Oliver Enriquez was born and raised in Cancun, Mexico, in a ministerial home. Although his father was not a pastor, he was an Adventist professor for almost 30 years. Growing up in this environment prepared Enriquez for his own journey in ministry. “My father, a man dedicated to the Adventist ministry of education,” Enriquez reflected,…
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Adventurer Leadership Training Emphasizes the Theme “Walk by Faith”
On a vibrant Sunday in October, Southern California Conference (SCC) youth ministries hosted an impactful Adventurer leadership training event at White Memorial church. Around 120 participants—club directors, staff, and parents—gathered with a shared purpose: to better support Adventurer clubs in their local churches. The day began with an inspiring devotional led by Geoff Sewell, youth…
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Annual Fall GLAR Gala Returns With More Than 200 Attendees
The Greater Los Angeles Region (GLAR) Fall Gala was held at the Renaissance Hotel in Los Angeles last year, with more than 200 people in attendance. Previously an annual event, the gala returned in 2024 after several years off due to the pandemic. The gala, which originated more than 15 years ago, was created by…
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A Century of Grace: Vallejo Drive Church Celebrates 100 Years of Ministry
One hundred years is a remarkable milestone—whether it marks the health and vitality of a centenarian or the enduring legacy of institutions rooted in tradition and growth. For the Vallejo Drive church, its century-long journey reflects both—a vibrant testament to faith and community and its unique legacy of promoting both spiritual and physical well-being. Organized…
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SCC Welcomes Lawrence S. Dorsey II as New Greater Los Angeles Region Director
After more than two decades of ministry, Lawrence S. Dorsey II steps into a new role as the Greater Los Angeles Region (GLAR) director for the Southern California Conference. Dorsey’s latest appointment was at Altadena church, which is where his pastoral ministry began as a youth pastor. “I never thought I could be in a…
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SCC Welcomes Brett Poynter as New Los Angeles Metro Region Director
Brett Poynter’s pastoral journey began right here in the Southern California Conference (SCC) in 2001 as the youth and young adult pastor at the Temple City church. After nine years, Poynter was called to serve as the senior pastor at the Hacienda Heights church, where he served for eight years. Upon receiving an invitation to…
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SCC Welcomes Branden Stoltz as New West Region Director
Branden Stoltz was on sabbatical when he learned he might be nominated for the West Region director position. “I was in the Redwoods at the time, and I immediately said, ‘Nope, I don’t want it.’ But as I was walking through the Redwoods, halfway around this large tree, suddenly the thought of being nominated, with…
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Keep the Flame Alive: Valley Crossroads Church Celebrates 65 Years of Ministry
Matilda Berry was inspired to begin sharing the gospel with the community in Pacoima in 1953. Word of mouth and distribution of tracts and other literature led to a small group of women requesting Bible studies. They met in each other’s homes until their growing numbers required a larger venue. One of these women,…