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!
Danielle Berumen and Gabriel Morales Ordained to the Gospel Ministry
By Danni Thaw
This past May and June, the Southeastern California Conference (SECC) ordained two pastors: Danielle Berumen and Gabriel Morales.
Pastor Danielle Berumen serves as the Children’s and Family Ministry pastor at Calimesa church. She began her full-time pastoral career in April 2016 and joined Calimesa in March 2022.
Pastor Berumen holds a bachelor’s degree from La Sierra University and a master’s from Andrews University. Her journey into ministry began in college when she felt a clear call from God, shifting her path from pre-med to pastoral ministry.
"My ordination was more special than I anticipated it would be. It was so meaningful to be affirmed and encouraged," said Pastor Berumen. Her multicultural background and bilingual abilities allow her to minister to a diverse community.
Pastor Berumen views her role as holding the door open for all people to encounter Jesus. She loves spending time with her family, including her husband, Manuel “Manny” Berumen, and their two children, Eiza (4) and Judah (2).
Pastor Gabriel Morales, who serves as the young adult and media pastor at Azure Hills church in Grand Terrace, California, also brings a rich cultural heritage to his ministry. He began his current role in February 2023.
A graduate of Antillean Adventist University in Puerto Rico and Andrews University, Pastor Morales helps collegiates and young professionals deepen their relationship with Jesus and creates meaningful worship experiences through multimedia platforms.
"What’s significant about ordination is the affirmation and support received from my community," shared Pastor Morales. "For me, I have always been convinced of my calling. Ordination is just a public expression of what God has already been doing through me."
Drawing from his Puerto Rican roots, Pastor Morales incorporates the warmth and hospitality of his culture into his pastoral approach. He enjoys running, drinking delicious cafecito, rooting for New York sports teams, and spending time with loved ones.
SECC is blessed to celebrate the ordination of these dedicated pastors, who enrich their communities and spread the love of Jesus Christ. Congratulations to both!
On a Sabbath back in May, an entire Sabbath School class from Loma Linda University church (LLUC) took a field trip to radio host and Torah scholar Dennis Prager’s personally established synagogue in the San Fernando Valley, The Torah Minyan. Their visit was facilitated by Prager’s assistant and program producer, Allen Estrin, and built upon a decades-long dialogue and friendship between Dennis Prager and LLUC member Janine Colburn.
The Rational Bible Sabbath School class was founded in 2022 and is based on Dennis Prager’s recorded lectures at the University of Judaism, together with his commentary volumes on the Torah —the first five books of the Old Testament. The class aims to compare Jewish and Christian teachings, using Adventist commentaries and Ellen G. White’s Patriarchs and Prophets.
A total of 17 members from LLUC arrived for Sabbath at the synagogue. When Prager rose to give the sermon after the morning prayer session, the group was astonished to hear him say he had totally changed his sermon in anticipation of their coming. Whereas the “Torah Portion” for the day was to be in the book of Leviticus, Prager spoke instead more generally, titling his talk, “The Most Important Texts in the Torah.”
After a potluck lunch, Prager invited the LLUC Sabbath School leaders to participate in an interview for the benefit of his own members still present, around 150 in number.
During the interview, class leaders were asked questions about the Seventh-day Adventist Church, its origins, beliefs, primary founder, and the denomination’s general approach to Sabbath-keeping. Afterward, many Minyan members stayed by to ask further questions and field questions about Judaism from the group. Prager himself asked for a copy of Patriarchs and Prophets when he was shown one, and blessedly, the group just happened to have one to give him.
As the class was leaving, Prager invited them back, saying, “Let’s have an annual Adventist Day at the Torah Minyan!”
The Rational Bible Sabbath School class meets every Sabbath at 10:30 a.m. in the Family Ministries Complex of Loma Linda University Church, Room 2410. All are welcome.
The Beaumont church celebrated the 50th anniversary of its sanctuary on April 13, the exact date when church services were first held in the current facility.
In February, they welcomed their new pastor, Ron du Preez. One of the first things on his agenda was to celebrate this important anniversary. The event provided a wonderful opportunity for the congregation and guests to hear the Word, fellowship, enjoy music, and celebrate God’s faithfulness over the years.
The festivities began with a Friday evening vespers service, themed “Lo! He Comes—Longing for the Lord’s Day.” Attendees sang songs about the second coming of Christ, including the opening song, “Lift up the Trumpet,” accompanied by trumpets. Longtime members shared personal testimonies about the church's impact on their lives and the community, highlighting the blessings received through the Beaumont church.
Sabbath was filled with special events. The Honorable David Fenn, mayor of Beaumont, and his wife, Misty, offered greetings and good wishes for many more years of gratitude to God. Former pastors attended, including Bob Atteberry, Bill Penick, and Meshach Soli, along with Mark Etchell, the pastor from their sister church in Banning.
The worship hour featured music by the Advent Chorale and a sermon delivered by Atteberry. It was a special time for reconnecting with friends and former members, contemplating the joy of reuniting with loved ones at the second coming of Jesus.
The celebration continued with performances by children and other groups. Mary Ellen Bazemore reviewed the church's history through a PowerPoint presentation, showcasing various activities over the years and how people have changed over time.
The evening ended with a final song, “When We All Get to Heaven.” Guests stood and sang with power and emotion, expressing a collective longing for that wonderful day.
This golden anniversary provided a unique opportunity to honor the church’s past, celebrate the present, and dream for the future. The occasion strengthened the bonds within the church community and set a vision of mission and outreach for years to come, all for the glory of the Creator and through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Moreno Hills church is stirring up conversations with its new podcast, “Tofu Soup,” hosted by Klenth Sasil, associate pastor, and Giselle Imperio, church member. The podcast releases episodes monthly and is available now on YouTube and Spotify.
Born from young adult vespers, the show aims to capture the humorous, wisdom-filled discussions that happen twice a month in small groups at the homes of church members.
The show’s creators recognized the need for a more accessible platform. They wanted “Tofu Soup” to engage a wider audience by having conversations that simmer and engage. The name “Tofu Soup” reflects the desire to encourage community and dialogue as well as the surrounding environment.
“Soup is something people gather around to savor and enjoy over some good conversation,” said Imperio. “That’s the goal of this podcast. We wanted to create a space for young adults to share their thoughts about a wide range of topics.”
The podcast aims to be a genuine space for young adults to explore life's challenges and joys together. It emphasizes authenticity and openness to help foster spiritual growth and a stronger church community.
“‘Tofu Soup’ is a space for young adults to navigate life together,” said Sasil. “Being authentic and genuine is vital in our spiritual growth and church culture.”
Though tailored for young adults and young professionals, “Tofu Soup” welcomes listeners from all walks of life. The team behind the podcast is excited about its potential to positively impact their community.
“God is the guiding force behind our podcast,” said Imperio. “Ultimately, God is the MVP—our producer, director, and inspiration for every show—and we’re just along for the ride!”
The first episode is available now on the Moreno Hills Church Music YouTube channel and on Spotify. You can follow the team on Instagram at @morenohillssda or visit their website at morenohillssda.org.
Loma Linda Korean Church Embarks on Mission Trip to Belize
By Ezrica Bennett
In February, 25 individuals from the Loma Linda Korean church embarked on a mission trip to Belize. The group was comprised of diverse professions, including four physicians, five dentists, a dental hygienist, and two pharmacists. Some of the attendees brought their families and children, with the youngest being a one-year-old. The team made many sacrifices to get to Belize, including closing practices and using limited vacation time, but from their perspective, the blessings of service superseded anything that may have been lost.
"Mission trips start with prayer and end with prayer," said Richard Lee, lead pastor of Loma Linda Korean church, as he recounted the miracles of the trip to his congregation. For this mission trip, the team constantly sought God's guidance and practiced active trust in Him. While in Belize, the team spent the first few days visiting rural churches and working with the members, including planting bamboo trees and installing an automatic irrigation system. They saw over 300 patients at their medical and dental clinics and worked with a local orphanage run by an Adventist pastor. The team also helped with the renovation of the labor and delivery room in La Loma Luz Adventist Hospital. Prior to visiting Belize, the church raised $30,000 to help the hospital buy a new computed tomography (CT) machine.
Ministry is interwoven into the heart of the Loma Linda Korean church. The motto of the church is "Loma Linda and beyond," said Lee. One of their main objectives as a congregation is to reach the world around them for God. They do so by connecting with former members or ministry partners who are actively living and serving in different parts of the world. The church has visited other locations, including Cambodia and Haiti. For their trip to Zambia, they raised $20,000 for 50 cataract surgeries. Loma Linda Korean church plans to return to Belize in December. They also have a ministry partner who recently moved to Togo, and they plan to visit that location in the next few years.
In October 2023, the men’s ministry of Valley church, also known as MOVE (Men of Valley Engage), organized their first Men's Week of Prayer. The theme of the week was “Courage.”
The men, with the guidance of MOVE director Trevor Conner, took it upon themselves to create and carry out a special prayer line preceding the week of prayer. This prayer line strove to let the Holy Spirit lead, guide, and direct the men of MOVE. “It was astounding and a blessing to hear the men sing from their heart,” said Paulette Jumalon, a guest musician. What was planned as a traditional week of prayer turned out to be an exhilarating outreach opportunity, resulting in other men expressing interest in joining MOVE. “It was an awe-inspiring week,” said Alfonso Small, a MOVE member.
The week of prayer featured distinguished guest speaker Dan Smith, retired pastor. During the week, Smith inspired and reached church members and nonmembers alike. One Valley member discharged from the hospital was motivated to come directly to the prayer service. She expressed how thankful she was that there was a weekday service, and she was thoroughly blessed by Smith's message. In addition to Smith’s services, the attendees also participated in afternoon potlucks. At the final Sabbath afternoon potluck, “several individuals expressed interest in joining the [church],” said Eric Penick, pastor of Valley church.
MOVE’s main purpose is to use service as a vehicle to bring men into a union of brotherhood that fosters an intimate relationship with God, their families, and each other.
On one occasion, MOVE provided a cleanup service for Harold Aronson, a member of the community who lost his wife. Grateful and inspired, he began attending church.
On another occasion, the men helped Phyllis Kunkel, a fellow member of Valley, by visiting her home and providing cleanup services. She was given roses in appreciation of giving MOVE the opportunity for service. The overall attitude of MOVE is the more service we provide, the more we are blessed. Jesus Himself said that it is more blessed to give than to receive. We hope this may reach other men and inspire them to MOVE!
Corona Main Spanish Church Captures Thanksgiving Spirit
By Nicole Dominguez
Imagine looking over a crowd of 140 people, each with unique needs and faith walks, brought together by the desire for home-cooked food and fellowship. This past November, the Corona Main Spanish church hosted such an event with their Thanksgiving gathering, created to thank their neighbors. Food Pantry Director Paula Mendoza said, “The event was geared toward connecting with our community.”
This was not the first Thanksgiving community dinner or the first community activity held by the church. Corona Main Spanish church has been an active member of the community through a community resource fair. This made their mark on the community, yet the church saw that it wasn’t meeting a core need: unity. From that revelation, the church team embarked on hosting small groups and dinners to create meaningful connections with the community.
Of the 90 members present, 60 took an active role by helping to cook, serve, clean, set up, run the sound system, or register guests. Some members opposed an event not focused on the congregation, believing the community would be disinterested in the event. The weather report was another potential obstacle, forecasting rain and winds. However, God blessed the event by providing excellent weather and doubling the numbers from last year.
As community members left that evening, they departed with a greater sense of community and a frozen turkey donated by the pantry. Many commented on the sense of belonging they found and how loved they felt to receive such focused attention. Last year's Thanksgiving paved the way for 10 baptisms, further supporting the church’s outreach efforts.
Mendoza reflected on the importance of thinking outside the box and anchoring each effort in God: “God will bring it all together and provide resources to make it work because it is not our event but His. God was the one who hand-picked all the volunteers and all those who joined and participated. We have humbly created momentum with this event, and now comes the responsibility of asking God to lead the next steps in moving forward.”
On September 16, 1978, Loma Linda Filipino Church (LLFC) became an organized church with 151 members. Forty-five years later, on September 16, 2023, LLFC celebrated having over 1,000 members and welcomed back the founding pastor and his wife, Claudio and Flor La Vila. The church also celebrated three new leaders from the past year: Mark Sigue, youth pastor, Sandra Fermin, young adult and community pastor, and Gisella Montana, children’s ministries pastor. As the church moves forward, it is excited to see how God will work through them.
LLFC was blessed to have the Asidor family sing praises Friday evening with their harmonious voices. Sabbath morning echoed that opening with the LLFC String Ensemble continuing the musical praise. Robert Quintana, a pastor from Oklahoma, was the speaker for the weekend, touching on the church’s theme “Fortified@45.” He spoke on “The Great Adventure” that God has led this church through. While LLFC has seen many changes over the years, its commitment to serving God and its community has remained constant.
On Sunday, the church gathered once more to celebrate its history and heritage with “Pista sa Nayon.” The celebration was packed full of games, folk dances and songs, and laughter for all. There were booths set up for delicious Filipino food, massages, and even Mario Kart. Member Michelle Santos said she loves “embracing Filipino culture and celebrating how far our church has come. It feels great to call it home.”
Finally, we praise God for the faithful members who ministered over the years and helped build the foundation of this church— from the Pathfinder and Adventurer leaders and Sabbath School teachers who patiently hold the hands of our youngest members as they learn to walk with Christ to our wise elders who show the love of God through their kind words and gentle hugs. Lastly, the church is forever indebted to the late Dr. Lloyd A. Dayes, whose generosity allowed the church to be on the campus where it is now.
Truly, Loma Linda Filipino has been fortified over the last 45 years. And it will continue to grow stronger as it remains faithful to its mission to “Love God, Love Others, and Make Disciples.”
In October, thousands celebrated the 20th anniversary of Crosswalk church in Redlands, CA. The weekend-long festivities included Friday worship, Saturday services, and a block party. Since 2014, Tim Gillespie, lead teaching pastor, and the team have hosted anniversary celebrations.
The weekend began with 600 worshippers at the Friday night service. Gillespie led a conversation with church founder Michael Knecht. The two spoke about the church's three core values: belonging, momentum, and experience.
On Saturday, almost 2,000 people attended the three daytime church services. Thousands more joined online. And that evening, Crosswalk shut down the parking lot for the annual block party. The block party boasted dozens of food truck options and music from a live DJ. Over 2,300 community and church members attended.
“God has blessed us beyond measure since I joined in October 2014," said Gillespie. “We’ve grown the church ministry from 85 to over 1,500 in-person attendees. We now have thousands more online worshippers and seven campuses worldwide."
Gillespie credits the church's growth to the grace of Jesus and the church's three core values.
“Our ministry transformed over the last decade,” said Gillespie. “The Holy Spirit and our values guide us. We foster belonging by loving and welcoming people without exception. We generate momentum by expressing love through actions. And we also create a full-body sensory experience at church.”
Crosswalk aims to center Jesus while learning to love well together.
“It’s been a privilege and an honor to serve the Redlands community,” said Gillespie. “We will continue to seek ways to lift people toward equity and show them what belonging is.”
For Gillespie, the 20th anniversary is significant. “We had the chance to either do bigger buildings or a bigger mission,” said Gillespie. “God called us to a bigger mission. For the next 20 years, we'll keep sharing God's love and Jesus Christ's grace. We can serve people in any union, conference, or division.”
