The history of the Haven congregation goes back almost five years. After Edbert Carceler returned from a six-month evangelism and church building project in the Philippines in the winter of 2018, he started a Bible study group that would meet on a weekly basis with 12 attendees.
By 2019, the group had doubled to 25 regular attendees and was meeting in a rented chapel in Anaheim. By the spring of 2020, the congregation had grown to 50 members. The pandemic affected this congregation as it did others, but the members stayed faithful, and the group continued to grow. The congregation held Bible studies on Zoom and later met outdoors for in-person worship services, all the while looking for a new home. At this time, the group’s leadership was also seeking official affiliation with the Seventh-day Adventist denomination.
In 2021, the group’s prayer for a new location was answered as they moved to their current rented facility in Hawaiian Gardens, where they continued to grow to around 60 attendees every Sabbath. This is the same year that Haven was recognized as a group of the Southern California Conference (SCC) under the Pasadena church.
In the spring of 2022, the congregation had grown to welcome 100 attendees to worship. Today, the Haven company is a vibrant congregation with a passion for reaching the surrounding community for Christ.
At the organization service this summer, SCC leaders recognized the congregation’s growth and encouraged the members in their ministry as a company.
SCC Executive Secretary John H. Cress acknowledged how Haven has met, and even surpassed, the requirements for a company. “All these results and accomplishments reflect a church…that’s committed to the gospel commission and to the great commandment to love one another, to love our neighbors, and love God with all our hearts,” he said.
In his challenge to the company, Velino A. Salazar, SCC president, encouraged the members to be disciples who teach others as they lead them to Jesus, noting the value of cultural relevance. “Brothers and sisters, teaching takes time,” Salazar said. “So the most effective way is to reach out to people for Christ with someone from the same culture, who speaks the same language and understands the same set of values.”
Kathleen Diaz, SCC treasurer/CFO, encouraged the church in outreach and provided a $2,500 gift on behalf of SCC to support the work of evangelism. “Wherever you are placed, be a blessing to your community. Go and tend to those who have never heard about Christ,” she said.
The service highlighted the active youth ministry at the church and the commitment of the congregation’s leaders. “I never even expected we can be a company as soon as this,” said Carceler, “but the Lord has blessed.”
Watch the video highlight below:
