April 30, 2025
RIVERSIDE, CALIF.—Southeastern California Conference (SECC) is excited to announce Isaac Kim as the Interim Youth Director, effective April, 2025. He succeeds Aren Rennacker who served as conference Youth Director from December, 2019 before accepting a call to the Pacific Union Conference.
Kim has served within SECC for over 25 years in ministry, beginning at the Calimesa Seventh-day Adventist Church as Associate Pastor prior to leading our conference Family & Children’s ministry as an Associate Youth Director since December, 2021. He likes to work collaboratively with ministry teams, cheerleading ministry leaders, and creating space for people to share life together. Isaac and his two boys enjoy sports, both playing and watching. He strives to be the best dad that he can be by modeling the love of Jesus and believes that the message of the Gospel shows up in different ways in our journeys.
As Interim Youth Director, Kim will oversee conference Youth department operations, youth, young adult, family, and children ministry programs, and support church youth ministry leaders in various capacities.
Southeastern California Conference is excited to see how God continues to move within our youth ministries. Please join us in congratulating Isaac.
RIVERSIDE, Calif— From the SECC Ministerial department: Meshach Soli, associate ministerial director,
“To our Southeastern California Conference family,
We have served at the SECC in a variety of capacities for over 15 years. We have been truly blessed to minister to our local church, our families, our children, youth, and young adults, our clubs, our pastors, and our leaders. However, after much consideration, prayer, counsel, and doubling down on our family’s core values, we have accepted a call to serve as the new Executive Secretary and Ministerial Director for the Hawaii Conference beginning on June 1 of this summer.
We are so grateful for the years that we have been able to spend here in growing, leading, and ministering, and we just want to thank all of our family and friends for all the love and support that you have poured into the Soli tribe for many years. We also want to thank our administrators who have poured into us and believed in our leadership—I want to specifically thank Dr. Jonathan Park, our president, for not only his guidance, but his mentorship throughout the years; to Patty Marruffo who has also played a significant role in our ministry and journey, and of course to our Youth department and our Ministerial department.
Transition is hard, but we are excited to see how God is going to lead in this new season. The Bible says, “He who began a good work [in us] will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ,” (Phil. 1:16, ESV) and we look forward to your prayers to help sustain us and guide us in this transition.
This is not goodbye, this is, ‘see you later.’ We’re looking forward to growing our family and being a blessing overseas.
God bless, and aloha.”
Matt Hayes, CFO, John Crafter, president, Patty Marruffo, secretary, and Dante Marruffo, vice president of The Firehouse Family organization pose with their axes.
For the third year in a row, over two hundred firefighter families partook in the annual Firehouse Family Retreat. This year, hosted at Pine Springs Ranch from March 20-23, families enjoyed three and a half days of fellowship and activities for the entire family to enjoy. Patty Marruffo, Southeastern California Conference (SECC) executive secretary, and Dante Marruffo, senior pastor of Orange Coast church, serve as volunteer chaplains for the Riverside Fire Department. The idea for the event was born out of assessing a need when ministering to firefighters in active duty. They partnered with John Crater, fire chief for the Temecula Division, three years ago to support firefighters and their families. To their success, the Southeastern California Conference along with the Pacific Union Conference, the City of Temecula, and a number of other organizations, helped sponsor the event for a third year.
Patty Marruffo and John Crater share a hug.
The Firehouse Family is a registered non-profit organization that seeks to provide resources and relief to firefighters and their families. In the March 27 Executive Committee meeting held by SECC, Chief John Crater shared a personal testimony to the executive body about his experience as a firefighter and the impact the event has had on his family. "I am incredibly grateful to my friends, Patty and Dante, and to this body for your support of this event," Crater said. Bradford Newton, president of the Pacific Union Conference was in attendance at the meeting. Chief Crater presented an engraved axe, dedicated to the Pacific Union Conference, in gratitude of their support.
Elder Brad Newton is presented with the Pacific Union axe.
Plans are already underway for the next Firehouse Family Retreat on March 19-22, 2026. To learn more about the Firehouse Family, visit www.thefirehousefamily.org/home.
The Firehouse Family is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Dear Southeastern California Conference members,
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Pastor James (Jim) Clizbe on March 12, 2025. He is now resting in Jesus.
With 45 years serving the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Pastor Clizbe spent his career both in education and church ministry. He served in a number of conferences including the Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia-Cumberland, Columbia Union, Ohio, Texas, and Southern California before retiring within the Southeastern California Conference (SECC). His experience has led him to working as an elementary teacher, dean, principal, and superintendent, before accepting a call to serve as an associate pastor at the La Sierra University Church in 2005 before the end of his employment in 2007. He concluded his service within the Riverside County Sheriff’s department as a chaplain.
Southeastern California Conference expresses its gratitude for Pastor Clizbe and years of service as an educator and leader. Please keep his family and loved ones in your prayers.
Dear Southeastern California Conference members,
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Anthony Paschal, Sr. Pastor Paschal served within the Southeastern California Conference (SECC) for many years. He led as the Vice President for Black Ministries, and also pastored the Kansas Avenue and 16th Street SDA Churches. Before coming to SECC, he pastored in Southern California Conference and served as a chaplain in Los Angeles.
We solicit your prayers for his family and for the many people his life and ministry impacted. His services will take place in Dallas, Texas on March 31, 2025. A memorial service is being planned within the Southern California region in April.
Flowers can be sent to:
Skyvue Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens
7220 Rendon Bloodworth Rd.
Mansfield, TX 76063
Dear Southeastern California Conference members,
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Elder Gerald Penick, Sr., who passed away on Friday morning, March 7, 2025, surrounded by his wife and children in Alvarado, Texas.
Elder Penick was born on October 1, 1944, in Topeka, Kansas, where his father pastored. Beginning at age 4, Gerald displayed his musical talent, playing the piano and adding the organ soon after. He led choirs by age 13. He graduated from Oakwood College in 1970, where he met the love of his life, Linda Penick.
Elder Penick’s ministry journey included being the organist for C.D. Brooks and E.E. Cleveland. He began his pastoral ministry in the South Central Conference, Central States Conference, and Allegheny West Conference before he joined the Southeastern California Conference. In Allegheny West, he finished building the Southeast SDA Church in Cleveland, OH. At Kansas Avenue, he held several evangelistic series to plant the Mt. Rubidoux SDA Church, leading baptisms at the Union for several years.
After pastoring the Kansas Avenue and 31st Street churches, he transitioned into the conference office. There, he served as Vice President of Black Ministries, where he created the Black Adventist Ministerial Fellowship (BAMF) and established the Black Ministries camp meeting, which was open to all churches. Over the course of 25 years, he held key positions including Vice President, Executive Secretary, and served as President for Southeastern California Conference from 2005-2012.
As president, Elder Penick’s leadership created an indelibly tangible impact within the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Jonathan Park, current president of SECC shares, “under Elder Penick's leadership, Elder Sandra Roberts became the first female Executive Secretary and later the first female president of a conference in the North American Division. I have always appreciated his extraordinary way he welcomed me into the conference office and his willingness to listen and impart his wisdom.”
Though Elder Penick’s leadership in administration was invaluable, his dream was always to return to pastoral ministry after leaving the office. He worked another six years in local congregational leadership. He served as Executive Pastor at Garden Grove (now OC Grace), served as Interim Pastor at several congregations, and concluding his years of ministry at Arden Hills in 2018 and OC Grace in 2019.
We are deeply grateful for Elder Penick’s many years of faithful service to the Southeastern California Conference and his unwavering commitment to ministry. He was well-loved for his gifted piano and organ playing, and his smile and laughter brightened the lives of many. His love for Jesus and his passionate energy for service left a lasting impression on all who knew him.
Elder Penick is survived by his beloved wife, Linda, his adult children Gerald Penick, Jr. (Terri), Eric (Tanisha), Anthony (Johanna), and seven grandchildren, and many other relatives and friends.
Please keep his family and loved ones in your prayers during this difficult time.
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Dear Southeastern California Conference members,
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Pastor Bernard Taylor. He passed away Saturday, February 15, 2025, and is now at rest in Jesus. A memorial service for Dr. Taylor will be held on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. at the Loma Linda University Church. All are welcome to attend his memorial service.
Dr. Taylor taught biblical languages at La Sierra University beginning in the early 1990s until 2021. Upon accepting appointment as Associate Pastor of the Loma Linda University Church in 1990, Dr. Taylor also joined La Sierra University’s School of Religion as Collaborating Professor of Biblical Languages and Old Testament Theology—a position he held until 2021. During these years he regularly led La Sierra's pastoral ministry students into a thorough knowledge of the biblical languages of classical Hebrew and Koiné Greek, as well as into Ecclesiastical Latin, and the theological thought of the Hebrew scriptures. The publication of his Analytical Lexicon to the Septuagint (Zondervan 1994; rev. 2009) marked his thoroughgoing scholarship and lasting contribution to the field of scriptural linguistics. Accordingly, graduates of La Sierra who applied for admission into graduate programs in pastoral ministry at the SDA Theological Seminary and other advanced institutions found ready acceptance; their knowledge of the biblical languages was consistently strong.
Another significant part of Dr. Taylor's public ministry during these years was his regular participation over a couple of decades and more, as a panelist on "Searching for Answers," the popular weekly telecast on Loma Linda Broadcasting Network, with world-wide viewership. His spiritual insights into biblical teachings, arising from his thorough linguistic knowledge that were delivered in terms that spoke to the Christian lives of ordinary laypeople (often with a touch of his gentle trademark humor), contributed definitively to the program's success.
Please keep his family and his loved ones in prayer.
Memorial Service for Dr. Bernard Taylor
March 22, 2025, at 4:00 p.m.
Loma Linda University Church
11125 Campus St.
Loma Linda, CA 92354
Dear Southeastern California Conference members,
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Pastor David Perez Torpoco. He passed away January 27, 2025, and is now resting in Jesus. Originally from Huancayo, Peru, he received his education at Colegio Unión and pastored for 25 years before beginning his ministry in the United States.
Pastor Perez was a servant of God, the church, a beloved husband and father that left a legacy of inspiration. He is best remembered as being present and intentional with those he loved and served.
Before his retirement, Perez served in Orange County, assisting with a colporteur ministry, leading bible studies, and pastoring the Brawley, Indio Spanish, Lake Elsinore, Temecula, and La Sierra Spanish churches.
Southeastern California Conference is grateful for the many years of service to our Church and his commitment to ministry. He brought a spirit full of love for Jesus and passionate energy of service to others.
He leaves behind his wife Elizabeth and his children, Sam, Areli, Aurora, his 4 grandchildren Bernard, Amanda, Ariana, and Elias. A service will be held on February 9, 2025, at the La Sierra Spanish church.
Please keep his family and his loved ones in prayer.
January 30, 2025 | Columbia, MD
From the North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church: An Appeal for Human Dignity and Decency
There are many in the United States who are afraid for their futures, and for the lives of family members. As a Christian denomination in the U.S., the Seventh-day Adventist Church supports the rights of all persons, no matter their country of origin—the equal rights provided in the U.S. Constitution and fair treatment as immigrants and refugees in this country.
As members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, we believe that “we are all equal in Christ, who by one Spirit has bonded us into one fellowship with Him and with one another; we are to serve and be served without partiality or reservation” (Fundamental Belief No.14).
“We maintain our allegiance to the biblical principles of equality and dignity of all human beings in the face of historic and continuing attempts to use skin color, place of origin, caste, or perceived lineage as a pretext for oppressive and dominating behavior. These attempts are a denial of our shared humanity, and we deplore all such aggression and prejudice as an offense to God” (Seventh-day Adventist Church statement “One Humanity: A Human Relations Statement Addressing Racism, Casteism, Tribalism, and Ethnocentrism”).
The Bible declares that in Christ there is neither Jew nor Gentile, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female—all are one in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:28). We are one humanity. Dehumanization and margination by law or the implementation of the laws or policies are diametrically opposed to the Bible. Therefore, it is inhumane and robs people of their God-given dignity in Christ to have policies that make them afraid to go to church and school because of the threat of being deported.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America encourages its churches and schools to be warm and welcoming places for all people. All are created by God and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
In light of the fact that we have a shared humanity, in light of the fact we all are created equal, in light of the fact we should love our neighbor as ourselves, and in light of the fact that Jesus said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matt. 25:40, NIV), our appeal is for us, as Adventists, to show our immigrant families that we love them by lifting up our voices and standing by their side in these times of uncertainty.
Our appeal to our policymakers and government leaders is found in The Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual (p. 92): “All are in search of wholeness. All are gifted, needed, and treasured. All are created in the image of God with an inherent dignity regardless of any limitation they may have.” Therefore, let our laws and the implementation of our laws treat all of God’s children, who are created in His image, with the dignity and decency they deserve.
Sincerely,
G. Alexander Bryant, DMin
President
Kyoshin Ahn, PhD
Executive Secretary
Judy Glass
Treasurer/CFO
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Pastor Julio Tabuenca. He passed away Friday, January 17, 2025.
Pastor Julio Tabuenca was born in Juliaca, Peru, where his parents served as missionaries from Argentina. In 1967, he and his wife, Alicia, traveled from Argentina to the United States to pursue master's degrees at Andrews University. Pastor Julio would go on to complete his PhD from CA Graduate School of Theology and his EdD from Loma Linda University.
Over his lifetime, Pastor Julio held several leadership roles ranging from Adventist education to Public Health. His last thirty years of ministry were spent in the Southeastern California Conference where he pastored nearly a dozen churches with his trademark passion and dedication, eventually retiring as senior pastor of the Campus Hill church in 2018.
He leaves behind his wife Alicia, children Monica Huff, Arturo Tabuenca, and five granddaughters.
Southeastern California Conference expresses their gratitude for his years of service and active membership in spreading the gospel.
Please join us in keeping his family and loved ones in prayer.
