“If you want to know if Jesus has a sense of humor, just look at my life,” Geoff Sewell said. “I would never have gotten that answer correct on a multiple-choice question that five years after covid started, I’d be getting ordained in Southern California. Not on my list. And yet, God works in truly mysterious ways. I’m proof of that. Lord, you’ve called me; I’m grateful.”
Two years after retiring with 30 years of experience in the medical field, Sewell earned his Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry degree at Andrews University. He was unsure what God’s next steps were for him and prayed for His guidance. Soon, he was called to serve in the Southern California Conference—his home conference— as senior youth and young adult ministries director.
Though initially surprised, Sewell knew God had answered his prayer. With more than 20 years of experience serving as an elder and a few years as interim pastor on different occasions at the Aiea church in Hawaii, Sewell had led the youth, Vacation Bible School, and Pathfinder club ministries and was well equipped for this new role.
At Sewell’s ordination ceremony this spring, he emphasized how his commitment to health, well-being, mentorship, and discipleship has been vital to his ministry bringing the next generation of youth and young adults into healthy and loving relationships with Jesus— and with the church.
“We cannot be a healthy church if we’re losing half of our future,” Sewell said. “My team and I are on fire, dedicated to working with you to make that population healthy with our churches.”
Ministry colleagues from near and far showed support. Jon Cicle, assistant to the president in Northern California Conference, reminisced about their mission trip with Eagle Rock young adults; Celeste Harrison, pastor of Alhambra church and CODA*, spoke of their time attending the seminary; and Ben Supit, Hawaii Conference treasurer, represented Sewell’s former conference with a letter of affirmation from President Eric VanDenburgh.
“It is clear that his gifts are being used powerfully for the building up of God’s kingdom,” VanDenburgh said of Sewell. “As The Acts of the Apostles so beautifully states, ‘a man can have no greater honor than to be accepted by God as an able minister of the gospel’ [Ellen G. White, p. 328]. Today we celebrate that honor in Elder Sewell’s life and ministry.”
Sewell’s path from medicine to ministry may seem unconventional, but through his ordination, it is evident that God has prepared him for such a time as this.
