September 02, 2025
RIVERSIDE, CALIF.—Southeastern California Conference (SECC) is pleased to announce Isaac Kim as Youth Director, effective September 2025. This appointment follows the confirmation of the August Executive Committee meeting.
Kim, who served as Interim Youth Director since April 2025 and formerly as an Associate Youth Director since December 2021, will lead the Youth Ministries department (SECC Youth) which oversees Club Ministry, Family & Children’s Ministry, Summer Camp Ministry, and Youth & Young Adult Ministry. He will continue to lead Family & Children’s Ministry as the department director.
Southeastern California Conference is excited to see how God will move throughout our youth ministries and the leaders our Youth department empowers.
Please join us in congratulating Isaac!
September 02, 2025
RIVERSIDE, CALIF.—Southeastern California Conference (SECC) is excited to announce the appointment of Pastor Danielle Berumen as the new Associate Ministerial Director, effective late September 2025. She joins the conference Ministerial department with an eagerness to serve and support pastors and church leaders.
Berumen comes with various church experience, including Interim Sole Pastor, serving at the Azure Hills, Palm Springs, and most-recently as Pastor for Children & Families at the Calimesa Church. Her work in ministry extends beyond the local church as a content developer for SECC’s Growing Together Sabbath School curriculum. She has a passion for ministry and a heart for encouraging others. Danielle and Manuel (Manny) have been married for eight years with two children, Eiza (five) and Judah (three). Berumen enjoys outdoor adventures with family, eating foods from different cultures, and traveling.
As Berumen joins the Ministerial team and our conference office family, please keep her and her family in prayer.
Congratulations Danielle!
From Canvasser to Calling: How Youth Rush Shaped a Future Pastor
By Ezrica Bennett
At 16, Joshua Roman joined Youth Rush as a shy teenager. Today, he serves as the San Diego program head and is spending his eighth summer with the organization. He is also pursuing a theology degree at Southern Adventist University. For Roman, Youth Rush was more than just a summer job; it was a catalyst for transformation.
Youth Rush is a summer literature evangelism program for young adults that equips students with meaningful skills and ministry experience. Each day begins with optional morning devotionals, followed by practical chores such as food preparation, inventory, or accounting. After breakfast and a mandatory worship session, students receive training on how to engage with the public safely and effectively. From 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., they canvas neighborhoods and parking lots, offering books on health and spirituality on a donation basis. Students keep a portion of what they collect, while the remainder supports the program’s operational costs, such as transportation and housing.
Like Roman, many students enter Youth Rush with little experience in social interaction or evangelism. Over time, they develop essential communication skills that strengthen their confidence and character which extend beyond their time in the program.
“Youth Rush helped me break out of my shell,” Roman shares. “I used to be terrified of talking to people. After facing rejection day after day, I stopped being afraid. I gained confidence, learned how to make friends, and how to reach people’s hearts.”
Students often experience moments where they see their faith come to life. Roman recalled one student who had been praying for an “angel experience.” One day, while canvassing, people kept glancing over his shoulder, and someone gave him two water bottles—one for him and one "for his friend." The student was alone. When he shared what happened, a leader suggested, “Maybe that was your angel.” The student was overjoyed; his prayer had been answered.
The process of engaging their faith through service makes this a life-changing experience for many. It certainly was for Roman. Though he once planned to follow his family into medicine or the military, he now sees ministry as his calling.
“Youth Rush changed my path and my heart,” he says. A journey that began with a simple yes continues to shape his purpose and the stories of other young adults, one summer at a time.
73 Years Young, 50 States Strong
By Jordyn Wright & Taji Saleem
At 73 years old, Pastor Ron Du Preez, senior pastor of the Beaumont Seventh-day Adventist Church, set out on a remarkable journey: walking (and sometimes cycling) 50 kilometers a day in 50 states over 50 consecutive days. Aptly titled Senior Strides, the initiative was far more than a physical feat—it was a mission to inspire health, faith, and community among seniors nationwide.
Starting in Hawaii on May 15 and finishing just before sunrise on July 4 at the General Conference Session (GC Session), Du Preez’s journey captivated both local communities and national media. At each stop, he visited senior centers, offering motivational talks, and personal encouragement. “People don’t respond to the ordinary anymore,” he shared. “But when they hear 50K a day for 50 days, they ask, ‘Why?’ That’s when I can share the mission: to energize and empower those over 65 to engage in fitness in a fun and friendly way.”
This is not the first time Du Preez has used fitness to build community. A story on the beginnings of his Senior Strides running group, local to Beaumont, was published in the January 2025 Recorder. This time, Du Preez chose to walk and cycle—making his journey more relatable and inclusive. In between walking and indoor cycling, he juggled logistics, coordinated with centers, and made time to connect deeply with seniors, often praying with them or gifting personalized books like The Great Controversy and The Ministry of Healing.
At the 62nd GC Session, Du Preez was invited to give a special presentation, sharing his experiences, and the impact the journey had on both himself and the communities he visited. This great feat garnered the attraction of Miami Dolphins running back, Alexander Mattison, and local news stations. Showing him support, the news stories reached thousands across Indiana, Michigan, and Southern New England.
Throughout the journey, Du Preez promoted a wholistic health message rooted in the Adventist lifestyle—encouraging movement, plant-based eating, rest, and spiritual well-being. "Stronger legs, longer life," he quoted from a Time article published during his trek. “Physical health strengthens your mental, social, and spiritual life.”
For Du Preez, Senior Strides wasn't just about miles—it was about momentum. “No matter your age or stage,” he concluded, “you can improve your health, bless others, and live the abundant life God intended.” You can learn more at seniorstrides.org.
“If I could summarize this journey, it’s simply about gratitude,” said Pastor Isaac Lee. “God and His people have affirmed this calling, and I don’t take that lightly.”
Lee was ordained to the gospel ministry at Yorba Linda Seventh-day Adventist Church in late March. He currently serves as executive and associate pastor, working with every department and focusing specifically on youth, collegiate, and young adult ministries. He began serving at Yorba Linda in November 2023.
His ministry began in 2009 as a part-time pastor at Fort Lee SDA Church in New Jersey. But the calling started even earlier — before he even knew it.
“My parents dedicated me to God to be a pastor,” he shared. “But they didn’t tell me that until I had already made the decision on my own.”
That quiet thread of providence has woven itself throughout his ministry journey. After seminary at Andrews University — where he earned both his undergraduate and Master of Divinity degrees — he received his first full-time call and served churches across the country.
One of the most defining chapters came after leaving Loma Linda Korean SDA Church. As he sought God's direction for his next step, he received offers from 8 to 10 churches across North America. But one offer stood out, not because it made sense, but because it moved his heart.
“Queens, New York, offered the lowest pay, no service credit, no insurance. It made no logical sense,” he said. “But I was moved with compassion for my people.”
What happened next stunned even him. Despite the Greater New York Conference’s typical policy against granting service credit for local hires, he was given four years of credit — double what he would have earned elsewhere.
“When I told the church members, they wept with me,” he recalled. “It was impossible. But God had a plan.”
Fifteen years since his first pastoral assignment, Pastor Lee says his ordination is not a marker of his worth, but of God’s faithfulness.
“There’s nothing about me that I can boast in,” he said. “Only that Christ chose to use a sinner like me. If anyone sees anything good, it’s just Him working through me.”
Now, settled into his ministry in Orange County, he’s prayerful for what’s ahead: “This is a new chapter — a balance between work and personal life, maybe even preparing for family. But as always, I’m just waiting and listening upon the Lord.”
Congratulations to Pastor Lee!
Coming Home on Mission: Dr. Richardson’s SECC Return
By Jordyn Wright
After more than a decade away, Dr. David Richardson is returning to the Southeastern California Conference (SECC) in a powerful way—as the newly appointed, Black Ministries Evangelist. With a rich background in ministry and higher education leadership, Richardson brings a passion for mission, discipleship, and collaborative evangelism.
Prior to accepting this new role, Richardson served as Vice President for Student Life and Mission at Oakwood University, the only historically Black Seventh-day Adventist institution. There, he focused on the spiritual development of students, oversaw co-curricular programming such as athletics, residence life, and counseling, and worked to ensure that the university remained aligned with its Adventist mission. His career also includes leadership roles at Walla Walla University and pastoral service in several churches throughout Southern California.
Richardson is no stranger to SECC. “This is where I started ministry in 1995, after being sponsored to attend seminary by the conference,” he shared. “I served at 31st Street, New Hope, and Maranatha churches, and also spent time at 16th Street and Imani Praise Fellowship.” Now, he’s excited to return with a fresh perspective and a heart ready to serve.
When asked about his vision for Black Ministries, Richardson emphasized alignment and collaboration: “I’m not here to do evangelism—I’m here to partner in it. Every church has a unique vision, and I want to work alongside pastors and congregations to create strategic plans that are sustainable and community focused.” His approach centers on discipleship, leadership development, and spiritual growth that extends beyond events and into daily church life.
Richardson is energized by the opportunity to help SECC churches grow in impact and mission. “There is no greater joy than pointing people to Jesus,” he says. “We’re going to work together—pastors, elders, members—to transform lives through intentional, mission-driven ministry.”
Richardson is married to his best friend and biggest supporter, Chasity Richardson, who previously served as the Director of Operations at Oakwood University. To the SECC community, his message is simple, yet profound: “I’m excited to be back. I’m here to partner with all our churches and help us think intentionally about how we do evangelism and discipleship. Let’s grow together.” As he settles back into familiar territory with renewed purpose, Richardson is ready to lead with humility, heart, and a clear focus on the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
To mark the beginning of the new school year, several SDA schools across the SECC opened their campuses with prayer walks. Students, parents, teachers, and staff joined together to dedicate the year to God, praying over classrooms, hallways, and shared spaces.
Participating schools included Redlands Adventist Academy, San Diego Academy, Calexico Mission School, San Antonio Christian School, La Sierra Academy, Orangewood Academy, Murrieta Springs Adventist Christian School, Desert Adventist School, Oceanside Adventist Elementary, Mentone SDA Elementary, and Loma Linda Academy.
The purpose of these gatherings served as powerful reminders that education within Adventist schools is about more than academics—it is about nurturing spiritual growth, building community, and inviting God’s presence into every aspect of school life. By beginning the year with prayer, these campuses set the tone for a Christ-centered journey ahead.
Laguna Niguel Junior Academy Operations Paused for the 2025-2026 School Year
August 11, 2025
RIVERSIDE, Calif.— The Office of Education takes its responsibility of ensuring our schools are providing safe, high quality (spiritually and academically) education for our families very seriously. This includes identifying trends and metrics that require attention to meet our educational standards.
On July 31, 2025, the Office of Education, along with conference administration, and the Laguna Niguel Junior Academy (LNJA) school board have concluded to pause the school’s operation for the 2025-2026 school. A number of factors were considered which included the lack of teaching and administrative staff at the school. After nearly two months of pursuing viable candidates, in addition to minimal student enrollment confirmation, the conference and school board have voted to pause operations for this school year.
As the conference continues to assess, the Office of Education is continuing to support families by personally contacting them with offers of assistance in transitioning to another Adventist school. Orangewood Academy (OA) is working closely with conference personnel to support transferring students for the nearing school year. OA will honor all tuition assistance and agreements if registered by August 14th. In addition to this, the conference will grant monthly transportation scholarships in the amount of $100 per family.
The LNJA school board will remain intact and continue to meet regularly to work on a proposal to present to the Office of Education in November on the future reopening of the school.
We invite you to continue to pray for our students, staff, and administrators through this season of transition. We remain affirmed that God’s work is still active through Adventist education and the lives of our students and families.
U.S. Navy Lt. Chaplain, Nephtali Ortega is Ordained to the Gospel Ministry
By Taji Saleem
The Sabbath afternoon on April 26, 2025 was filled with joy, prayer, and words of celebration. United States Navy Lieutenant chaplain, Nephtali Ortega Gauthier was ordained to the gospel ministry at the El Cajon Seventh-day Adventist Church. Southeastern California Conference’s (SECC) Ministerial department conducted an official ordination service along with the North American Division (NAD).
Surrounded by his family and friends, the church gathered in recognition of Ortega’s ordination. Chaplain Ortega is the first Navy chaplain within our conference territory to be ordained during military service under the NAD’s Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries (ACM).
Ortega’s introduction into ministry began in 2010 while a student in a military chaplaincy class. “The professor’s words reflected my own life experiences so clearly that I knew God was calling me to serve in a unique way,” Ortega recounted. Stepping into traditional pastoral ministry beginning in 2011, he served as a Bible worker, youth, associate, and district pastor at several churches in Puerto Rico.
However, Ortega sensed God was tugging towards another area of ministry. The idea of military chaplaincy was not just another role—it was a calling within a calling. Through much prayer and confirmation, in 2018, Ortega joined the U.S. Navy as a chaplain candidate before entering active duty as chaplain in 2022 through ACM.
Serving in uniform has taken Ortega to places he never expected both physically and spiritually. “It’s in those places that God met me, stretched me, and called me deeper into ministry,” he shared. Ministry has been redefined in Ortega’s context. While serving aboard the USS Comstock (LSD 45) and with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, ministry happened on the mess decks, in engine rooms, and during midwatch conversations while floating on the seas. “In that confined, floating world, I saw how deeply people long for meaning, connection, and hope, and how powerful it is when a chaplain shows up, listens without judgment, and reminds them they’re not alone.” Ortega carries this sentiment everywhere he goes.
Ortega’s journey reflects the powerful ways that God can be experienced outside of the church walls. Equally, he has been shaped and transformed through the church community and comrades he serves. Ortega’s remarks, based on Isaiah 6:8, during his ordination service summarize his journey well, “May everything I do in ministry be for His glory, by His grace. Here I am, oh Lord, send me.”
Congratulations to Chaplain Ortega on his ordination!
