Dear Southeastern California Conference members,
We are profoundly saddened by the tragic events that unfolded Wednesday at Feather River Adventist School in Northern California Conference. In times like these, we turn to our Heavenly Father for His presence, seeking comfort, healing, and restoration for those who are suffering.
Our hearts are with those directly impacted by this devastating tragedy. We understand that events like these may bring worry and uncertainty, especially for families with children in school and church safety. Please be assured that the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and members remains our highest priority. We are ever mindful of the health and safety of our members.
As part of this long-term commitment to health and safety, we have already provided resources for protocols and practices to ensure school and local church safety. We are dedicated to maintaining a secure and supportive environment for everyone.
Church leaders have been actively monitoring the story and are assured there is no current threat to schools or churches within our conference or the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Your trust and partnership are invaluable as we navigate this difficult time together.
We ask you to keep the injured students and their families in your prayers and that you pray for the Feather River community—all the students, families, teachers, the larger community, and our church leaders. We also recognize that this event may have an emotional impact on our students, schools, and churches across the country.
We ask for your continued prayers for our Southeastern California Conference community, and Northern California Conference as they process this recent trauma together. We thank God for His mercy, His protection, and His steadfast love over those we hold dear. May His peace continue to guide and sustain us all.
All media inquiries and questions can be directed towards our Communications & Media department via email: communications@seccsda.org
Loma Linda, CA
Pastors Linda Biswas, Elina Camarena, and Maria Ejurango were recognized by the Association of Adventist Women on October 12, 2024. The annual Junia Awards were created to highlight women from each division who are active in their local church leadership, administration or religious training. The goal of the awards ceremony is to encourage other women who are also leading in church groups and to assure the worldwide church that women have been accepted as holding up half the sky in a wide array of cultures in the Adventist church. Each pastor from SECC have been recognized as the first Bengali-American, Hispanic, and Filipina respectively in their churches.
Congratulations Linda, Elina, and Maria!
Adventist Community Services is partnering with Azure Hills Church and Loma Linda University Church to collect items to send to North Carolina. On November 3, we will be packing up a semi-truck and sending supplies. We are collecting the following NEW items to send:
Baby wipes
Can openers
Diapers (Pampers) - Size 1 - Size 3T
Formula
Blankets
Cleaning products
5 gallon buckets
Paper towels, paper plates
Cold medicines
Adult Diapers
Socks / Gloves / Warm Hats
Sleeping Bags
Camping Tents
Please consider joining us in collecting these items. Items can be dropped off at the conference office on October 21-31, Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. You can also bring your church’s donations on November 3 as we pack the truck on Sunday, November 3 at our Conference office.
Please note that we have a NEW location for the event! While the flyer listed our previous venue, we’ll be meeting at the following address:
New Location: Southeastern California Conference Office
11330 Pierce St. Riverside, CA 92505
Date and Time: Sunday, November 3, 2024, at 9:00 a.m.
We would love for you and your congregation to join us in this effort. Attached to this email is a flyer you can share with your congregation.
For those who want to give financially, we are using the line item: Disaster Relief – Helene. They can write this on their giving envelopes or give in Adventist Giving.
Thank you in advance for your generosity and compassion during this challenging time. Together, we can bring hope and relief to those suffering from this tragedy. If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to contact Adventist Community Services Director, Andrea King.
We are excited to announce the appointment of Pastor Meshach Soli as the new Associate Ministerial Director for the Southeastern California Conference (SECC). He joins the Ministerial department with excitement to serve each pastor and a part of the Center for Discipleship & Evangelism.
Pastor Meshach, born and raised in Southern California, brings with him over 14 years of pastoral experience, a powerful testimony of transformation through God’s grace, and a passion for serving others. His ministry journey has been dedicated to empowering youth and young adults, and he currently serves as the Associate Youth Director for Club Ministries.
With a deep connection to his Pacific Islander roots and a heart for evangelism, Pastor Meshach is also the Board Chair for The Two Percent Ministry, serving Indigenous and Pacific Islander communities across the North American Division. Known for his dynamic leadership and love for ministry, he views his role not as a job, but as a lifestyle of service to God’s Kingdom. Beyond his ministry work, he is a loving husband to his high school sweetheart, Linda, and father of five sons, serving together with his family in their mission to 'Magnify the King and Multiply the Kingdom.'
Please join us in welcoming Pastor Meshach as he steps into his new role on September 29, 2024. We are excited about the fresh energy and vibrant leadership he will bring to our Ministerial department!
We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Taji Saleem as the new Communications and Media Director for the Southeastern California Conference (SECC). Taji has been an integral part of the SECC family since July 19, 2020, when he began his journey with us as a Media Specialist for the Youth Department. His innovative approach and creative talents have significantly contributed to the department's media outreach and engagement.
Most recently, Taji served as the Assistant Director for Media for the SECC Youth Department, a role he assumed October, 2022. His leadership and expertise in media production, graphic design, and digital communication have already made a lasting impact.
Taji holds a Bachelor of Arts in Film Production, with a minor in Graphic Design, from California Baptist University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He is currently completing a master’s program in Pastoral Ministry at Andrews University. Throughout his career, Taji has demonstrated a commitment to creating empathetic and relevant content that resonates with audiences across various platforms.
As the new Communications and Media Director, Taji will lead our efforts to enhance SECC's communication and media strategies, ensuring that our message reaches and inspires our diverse community. We are confident that his creative vision and dedication will continue to uplift and expand our conference's communication and media efforts as well as our mission.
Please join us in congratulating Taji on his new role and in offering your support as he transitions into this important position. We look forward to the exciting contributions he will bring to SECC in the years ahead.
Welcome, Taji!
January 25, 2024
We are pleased to announce the Executive Committee has elected Andrea King as the Vice President of Black Ministries for Southeastern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. King most recently served as the Communication and Media Director for SECC. Please continue to keep her in prayer as she steps into this new role.
It is with sadness that we ask you to pray and support the Hawaii Conference, as wildfires are still ravaging Maui. Reuters reports the death toll is up to 55 with many unaccounted for and billions of dollars in damage.
Hawaii conference has been affected too. “Members have lost homes and are displaced; our church kitchen, parsonage, and part of the sanctuary are gone,” said Hawaii Conference President Erik VanDenburgh in his August 9 statement. The conference is coordinating efforts to help members and students that have been affected by the fires. The photo above is taken from Hawaii Conference, displaying the yellow shirts that are "beacons of light" amidst the tragedy.
The need for housing, food, personal items, and even gasoline is great in Maui. Giving financially is one of the best ways to provide immediate relief. You can donate to the Maui Relief Fund by going to www.HawaiiSDA.com and donating there. To stay up to date, follow the Hawaii Conference Facebook page.
We ask that you continue to keep our brothers and sisters in Hawaii in prayer. Pray for God’s comfort, wisdom, protection, and provision during this time.
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble, Psalm 46:1.
We have exciting news! We are renovating the lodge! You asked for it, and soon it will become a reality- new windows, beds, curtains, bedspreads, bathrooms, even air-conditioning, and a whole lot more! Please visit www.lodgelift.com for more information and give as God impresses upon your hearts.
SECC hosts 7th annual Adventurer Campout
The 7th annual SECC Adventurer Campout welcomed over 1,400 adventurers, family members, and club leaders for a weekend full of fun and fellowship at Pine Springs Ranch, April 21 to 23, 2023. SECC Club Ministries is blessed to be able to host amazing gatherings like this, and we're already counting down for next year!
Over the past two weeks, SECC held presessions in preparation for Constituency Session in the five counties of our conference: Imperial County (at El Centro Spanish Church on April 30), San Diego County (at San Diego Fil-Am Church on May 1), Orange County (at OC Grace Church on May 2), Riverside County (at Riverside Community Church on May 4), and San Bernardino County (at Loma Linda Korean Church on May 9). These sessions are important in order to properly inform and prepare delegates for the 2023 Constituency. For constituency information, bylaws, and more, visit seccsession.org.
