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A Community of Love and Care for Seniors at Scholl Canyon Estates
Nestled next door to the Southern California Conference office in Glendale, independent living facility Scholl Canyon Estates offers home-cooked meals, exercise classes, game nights, group outings, housekeeping, live-in managers, and much more. Many of the activities are offered free of charge, and they are open to residents as well as members of the community. “I…
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All Nations Church Supports Health and Wellness in Monrovia
This September, All Nations church collaborated with Loma Linda University (LLU) School of Medicine and the Institute for Community Partnerships and Adventist Health Glendale (AHG) to host a community health day Sabbath to celebrate health workers and showcase health careers. The morning worship service featured LLU students and a message from Dexter Frederick, M.D., LLU School…
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Los Angeles Portuguese Church Hosts Wedding Vow Renewal Ceremony
Think about your favorite season of the year. For my wife, it’s fall. She is fascinated by the renewal of the leaves of each different type of tree near our home. She often says, “I fall in love with the fall season because it inspires me to believe in the hope of renewal.” With this…
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A New Chapter Begins: Etuini Mo’unga Installed as Pastor of L.A. Tongan Church
This year, Los Angeles Tongan church welcomed Pastor Etuini Mo’unga, the second pastor to ever lead this congregation in its history as the first Adventist Tongan church organized outside of Tonga. In the late 1970s, three Adventist Tongan families settled in Southern California—primarily in Riverside, Culver City, and Hawthorne—and held church services in different locations.…
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SCC Young Adults Bring Warmth and Love to Peruvian Village of Japura
This summer, the Southern California Conference (SCC) Senior Youth and Young Adult (SYYA) team joined the ADRA Warm Homes project in Peru, where they stayed 90 minutes outside of Cusco, Peru, at ADRA’s Camp Chuquicahuana. During the trip, the group of 37 installed Trombe walls for solar heat, solar panels for electricity, wood floors, a…
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SCC Officers Elected at 66th Constituency Session
On Sunday, September 29, 2024, delegates of the Southern California Conference (SCC) convened for the 66th SCC constituency session at the White Memorial Church. At this meeting, various reports were presented and delegates elected the conference officers, as well as executive and bylaws committee members, who will serve during the upcoming five-year term. We are…
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Community Connection Is Emphasized Throughout the Week at Thousand Oaks Church
At Thousand Oaks church, there is always a host of activities taking place each week to bring the community together. “Everything we do is open to the community,” said Jonathan Clark, Thousand Oaks church senior pastor. “We’re hoping to be a community church under the umbrella of the Adventist church.” On Tuesdays, Thousand Oaks serves…
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Valley Crossroads Church and Mother’s Nutritional Center Are Transforming Lives
This summer, Valley Crossroads church became a beacon of hope and love for the local community. The church opened its doors and hearts in a special collaboration with Mother’s Nutritional Center to bring joy, support, and encouragement to everyone who attended. This heartwarming event was more than just a gathering; it was a true testament…
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From Parrots to Pit Bulls: God Orchestrates Unique Connections During Youth Rush
God not only answers the prayers of canvassers but the unseen prayers of families as well. The phrase “God can make a way out of no way” rang especially true for student literature evangelists participating in Youth Rush this summer in the Southern California Conference (SCC) territory. Gabriel was having a particularly bad day before…
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116 Baptisms and a New Church in Pasuquin
As Michael Johnson was talking with some of his members at the Pasadena church where he is the pastor, the topic of mission trips came up. He was sharing about when he and his wife participated in a mission trip to El Salvador. One member asked if he had ever been to the Philippines. Johnson…
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Children at Lancaster Spanish Church Are Growing in Jesus
“It’s been on my heart for a few years to start a children’s ministry for the kids in our church,” said Leticia Cruz, children’s ministries director at Lancaster Spanish church, “because I see that it’s very important, especially with the times that we are in now, to teach our kids more about God.” Before launching…
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Teen Challenge Week Builds Up Young People at North Hills Church
When North Hills church pastors Angel Smith and Tim Cress realized the opportunity before them when it came to youth ministry, they jumped at the challenge. Smith had directed a canvassing program and Cress had hosted three teen challenge weeks when he was a next gen pastor in Colorado, so they were well equipped to…
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Weekend of Evangelism Training Equips Hispanic Region for Mission
This June, 240 lay members and pastors met at Camp Cedar Falls for the second cycle of the Hispanic region’s 2024 evangelism campaign. Plans for the first cycle were presented in January. The second cycle will be a collaboration between Hispanic region churches and participating academies: San Fernando Valley Academy, Glendale Adventist Academy, San Gabriel…
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Newly Organized United Filipino Company Recommits to the Great Commission
“We are glad to be here to establish, inaugurate, and celebrate this milestone in the life of the United Filipino company,” John H. Cress, Southern California Conference (SCC) executive secretary, said at the congregation’s company organization this spring. At first, the congregation was recognized as a Sabbath School group by the Central Filipino church in…
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Adventurers Connect With Jesus at Annual Retreat
Each year, Adventurer clubs look forward to the Adventurer retreat, a weekend of outdoor activities, games, crafts, worship, and time spent with family and each other. For the convenience of families attending, this year’s retreat took place over two weekends in May and June at Camp Cedar Falls. About 300 people attended each weekend. The theme…
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Community Health Fair Serves Thai Community in Los Angeles
On Sunday, June 30, the Los Angeles Thai company hosted its 13th annual health fair—this year featuring a rummage sale with food, dessert, garments, and household items. About 300 individuals, including doctors, nurses, staff, and vendors, attended the event. Among them, 150 people, notably Buddhist Thai peoples residing in Los Angeles, received thorough health services,…
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Aprirak Detwinya Is Ordained
“This is the first time in my life I have truly felt overwhelmed with all the good things: your love, love from God,” Apirak Detwinya, pastor of the Los Angeles Thai company, said at his ordination ceremony this spring. “To God be the glory.” Detwinya grew up in Thailand, a country with a predominantly Buddhist…
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Evangelistic Series Showcases Identity and Purpose
This spring, the Simi Valley community was welcomed to a unique evangelistic series focused on identity. The event was held at the Simi Valley church, and presentations were given by Southern California Conference Literature Ministries Director Andy Villanueva. “I aimed to preach a series designed to uplift and inspire our community, showcasing our Adventist beliefs…
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Whittier Church’s Community Closet Reflects on Year of Service
Throughout the past year, Whittier church has grown its community outreach by introducing a community closet ministry. Every second and fourth Sabbath from 3-5 p.m., visitors to the church’s Adventist Community Services food pantry can now also select from a variety of free clothing, shoes, accessories, and toys for all ages. This May, Whittier church…
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Food Pantry at El Rio Spanish Church Provides Relief to Community
What do Vacation Bible School (VBS), Dorcas Ministries, and a food pantry have in common? At El Rio Spanish church, members have demonstrated the significance of different ministries working in tandem to share God’s love with the community in Oxnard. The church is situated where many agricultural farm workers live with their families, often in…