Discipleship and Evangelism Takes Form at SECC’s CDE Rally
By Taji Saleem
Discipleship will remain at the core of a believer’s journey—to become a disciple of Jesus and help make disciples. The Ministerial department of Southeastern California Conference (SECC) sees the intentional focus of discipleship for members. May 3, at the Loma Linda Korean church, over 300 members, leaders, and pastors were welcomed to the first Center for Discipleship & Evangelism (CDE) Rally. Aimed to introduce the new Center’s initiative, members heard inspiring messages from four main speakers, spent time in prayer, were led in thought-provoking panel discussions, and fellowshipped with other participants.
The evening began with a welcome from conference president, Jonathan Park and ministerial director, Will Penick, and associate ministerial director, Meshach Soli, who provided an overview of the rally before being led in worship. Members in attendance were eager to learn about ways to get involved through CDE.
Nimrod Maua, pastor of Church in the Valley, Kendra Haloviak Valentine, professor of New Testament and Ethics at La Sierra University, and Jonathan Henderson, pastor of Vallejo Drive church, and Vadim Dementyev, Center of Community Change associate director, were featured speakers. Each speaker emphasized the need for personal transformation and intentional community in the disciple-making process. Testimonies and conversations throughout the rally reflected a shared hunger for deeper spiritual growth and practical ministry tools.
The panel discussion, comprised of four pastors, shared personal testimonies of their experience of cohort discipleship called The Journey and the impact on their ministries. Mark Sigue, pastor of Loma Linda Filipino, participated on the panel who shared, “After 22 years, ministry took a whole new turn for me.” He acknowledged that the curriculum ensures that different perspectives are shared which helped create environments for intergenerational worship at his church.
Throughout the evening, attendees were introduced to CDE’s core pathways, including leadership development, evangelistic training, and support for church revitalization. Resources such as workshops, coaching cohorts, and digital content will be available to help individuals and congregations grow in their calling to make disciples.
“Discipleship is not a one-time event—it’s a lifestyle,” said Penick. “The Center exists to walk with churches on that journey, so that every member can live out their faith with purpose and impact.”
The rally concluded with a recommitment prayer, as participants stood together in unity—affirming their desire to be transformed disciples who disciple others. With strong interest and momentum from the rally, SECC leaders are hopeful that the Center for Discipleship & Evangelism will become a catalyst for spiritual renewal across the conference.