A string quartet from Chino Valley Chinese church accompanies the praise team as they sing “How Great Thou Art.”
A string quartet from Chino Valley Chinese church accompanies the praise team as they sing “How Great Thou Art.”

In early August, members from Chinese churches across the North American Division met at the Chino Valley Chinese church for a weekend of worship, fellowship, and testimony. The theme, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,” was emphasized by keynote speakers Ricardo Graham, Pacific Union Conference president, and Iki Taimi, Southern California Conference (SCC) director of senior youth and young adult ministries. 

“We pray that God will bless your ministries here and those of you that have come from other parts of the North American Division,” said Graham during Friday night’s service, “that we might reach all the people that God puts in our pathway to share with them the powerful, wonderful message that the Seventh-day Adventist Church has been given.”

Several of the churches in attendance were represented in various aspects during the programs. Every person who stepped up to the microphone to offer prayer, testimony, present a report or honor, or share the message had a translator so that everyone in attendance could be reached. Special musical performances—praise and worship teams, choirs, string quartets, and a harp soloist—were woven throughout the meetings.

An estimated 300 people attended the worship service at Chino Valley church Sabbath morning.
An estimated 300 people attended the worship service at Chino Valley church Sabbath morning.

Sabbath was a full day that included services in the morning and the evening. Sabbath School focused on informative outreach and mission reports from nine different churches. Attendees heard how Fremont Chinese company, Houston Chinese Fellowship, Loma Linda Chinese church, Los Angeles Cantonese company, Los Angeles Chinese church, San Gabriel Valley Chinese company, South Bay Chinese church, Toronto Chinese church, and Chino Valley Chinese church have grown in the past few years. Highlighted outreach programs included health clinics, baptisms, music ministry, missionary work, a new church building, and so much more.

Taimi speaks to the youth and young adults about the importance of keeping up with Jesus. Sabbath school and divine worship services were also offered for juniors, primary, and children’s classes.
Taimi speaks to the youth and young adults about the importance of keeping up with Jesus. Sabbath school and divine worship services were also offered for juniors, primary, and children’s classes.

Paul Cho, pastor at Chino Valley Chinese church, recalled the ways the congregation has seen God at work in their church in the last 15 years. As a reminder of these miracles, he shared a photo he recently took of a vibrant rainbow around the new church building that, as he put it, “was drawn by the finger of God.”

After the evening service, the events continued with a social, where attendees shared games, food, and fellowship.

The weekend concluded with a focus on prayer. Janet Lui, member of Rolling Hills church and SCC prayer ministries coordinator, gave a special presentation, titled “Praying to Know God,” expressing how we can meet God every day through prayer.

“The work will never be finished if we leave it up to the preachers,” emphasized Graham. “There are not enough of us; there are too many people to be reached. We all have an opportunity to invite someone to come to Jesus.”