CONFERENCE NEWS

As the Central California Conference Women’s Ministry team prepared for this year’s retreat, their prayer was simple but heartfelt: that every woman attending would experience a space where she felt accepted by God and leave knowing how deeply she is loved by Him. One of the “fleeces” the team placed before God was a new request. For the first time, they prayed that if any woman attending the retreat felt called to baptism, the opportunity would be available. They asked God t

Over 160 young adults, ages 18-36, gathered at Soquel Campground for a powerful and purpose-filled retreat centered on the theme, “ON PURPOSE”.   Attendees came from all over California, neighboring states, and even as far away as Connecticut.  They arrived hungry for connection, clarity and spiritual renewal and they left deeply encouraged and challenged.  The weekend speaker, Benjamin Lundquiest , brought dynamic and practical messages that resonated with the entire group. 

FRESNO, Calif. — As the Central California Conference commemorates Black History Month, I had the privilege of speaking with Alonzo S. Wagner III, Black Ministries Director and pastor of Fresno Westside Adventist Church. His message to CCC families was both reflective and forward-looking, rooted in gratitude, collaboration, and a deep reliance on the Holy Spirit. Pastor Wagner recently reflected on conversations with two of our senior pastors, Pastor Ted Jones and Dr. Taylor,

FRESNO, Calif. — When the Central California Conference Black Ministries team began planning for 2026, one question rose to the surface: How do we build lasting community beyond a single annual gathering? For Alonzo S. Wagner III, Black Ministries director, the answer was clear—create intentional spaces where churches can pray, worship, and connect throughout the year. “Convocation cannot be the only time we come together,” Wagner shared in a recent conversation. “If Camp Mee

On February 21, 2026, the San Jose Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church hosted the Central California Conference Pathfinder Bible Experience (PBE), welcoming 21 Pathfinder clubs from across the conference for a day centered on Scripture.   This year, Pathfinders studied Isaiah chapters 1–33 along with the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary. For months, these young people committed themselves to memorizing passages, studying prophetic themes, understanding context, praying

ARMONA, Calif. — Christian Home and Marriage Sabbath was joyfully celebrated at the Armona Seventh-day Adventist Church on February 14, 2026. Coordinated by the Family Ministries Department, co-led by Miguel and Irene Razon, the event highlighted the importance of nurturing strong families and Christ-centered marriages in today’s busy world. With the church beautifully decorated and music presented by young families and their children, the atmosphere was uplifting and heartfe

Some people came carrying questions. Others came carrying pain. Many came carrying burdens they had not spoken out loud. They arrived quietly—walking through a simple backyard gate on cold winter nights in Gilroy, unsure of what to expect, but hoping for something they could not fully explain. What they found was not a program. They found prayer. They found community. They found God waiting for them. Over the past month, something deeply human and deeply spiritual has unfolde

The Rich History: The picture you are viewing shows 18 Black ordained Pastors at the 1918 General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist held in San Francisco CA. None of these men were from California. The reason? There were no Black ordained SDA preachers in California at that time. A work for the Colored people (we were colored at that time) had started as early as 1906 in Oakland, California. In Los Angeles,1906, two laymen from the Central SDA Church were involved in giving

The heavy rain could not prevent the Pastors, Ministry Leaders, Administration, different employees and even some volunteers of the Central California Conference from meeting for our annual ministerial retreat. Weather conditions called for a last minute change in location and instead of traveling to Camp Wawona, God’s servants met at Soquel. Most cars had been to this campgrounds before and most Pastors knew the place well. As they arrived, prayers were offered for each of t

President Ricardo Viloria shares his vision for the year ahead and reflects on lessons learned during his first full year of leadership. In this conversation, he offers encouragement, biblical hope, and specific prayer requests for our conference family. Q: As you enter the second year of your term, what direction or focus do you sense God calling our conference to pursue? I sense God calling our conference to cultivate a healthy culture where people flourish, the organizatio

On January 17, 2026 , the Federation of Adventist Youth (FEJA) —a youth ministry of the Central California Conference (CCC) serving Hispanic churches —held a successful leadership and planning meeting at the Central California Conference offices, bringing together leaders from across the conference territory. The event gathered 97 participants representing 34 Hispanic congregations . The meeting brought together Adult Youth Ministry (AY) Directors and their leadership teams

Central California Conference is pleased to announce that Melanie Rivera has accepted the call to serve as Manager of Sonora Community Estates, following action taken by the Executive Committee last month. Her appointment will become effective on February 8, 2026. Melanie Rivera brings more than 27 years of administrative experience, including 15 years in executive leadership, with extensive expertise in financial management, operations, human resources, compliance, and prope

Central California Conference acknowledges that the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists has extended a call to Justin Kim to serve as Assistant Secretary of the Ministerial Association, effective February 16, 2026. In this role, Justin will support the work for the world church while also collaborating on GC-wide initiatives such as 10 Days of Prayer, One Voice 2027, and other global ministerial and evangelistic efforts, including various media ministry projects. Jus

WAWONA, Calif. — High school students from across the Central California Conference gathered at Camp Wawona Jan. 16–18 for Teen Bible Academy’s Study Weekend, setting aside the distractions of everyday life to deepen their relationship with God through Scripture, worship and community. Teen Bible Academy was founded in 2003 by Pastor Steve Hamilton while serving as a youth pastor in Bakersfield. Sensing a growing need for intentional spiritual formation among teens, Hamilton

Central California Conference is pleased to announce that on January 25, 2026, the Executive Committee extended a call to Erik R. Borges to serve as Interim Vice President for Education, effective January 26, 2026. Mr. Borges has accepted this call and has begun his service in this role. This interim appointment is for a one-year term, during which the conference will continue to seek God’s guidance and move forward in prayer, trusting His leadership for the future of our edu

CLOVIS, Calif. — The Central California Conference announced that on December 14, 2025, the Executive Committee has voted Daniel Gouveia as the new Ministerial Director. He will officially begin his new role on January 15, 2026. We had the opportunity to speak with Pastor Gouveia about his faith journey and vision for supporting pastors across our conference. Following God's Call Pastor Gouveia was born into a young Adventist family in Portugal. His recently baptized parents

CLOVIS, Calif. — The Camp Wawona Lodge Renovation campaign continues to move forward with momentum and gratitude, guided by prayer and the leadership of the Camp Wawona Operations Board. As of Jan. 8, 2026, a total of $122,260 has been raised toward the $150,000 goal to renovate the main lodge at Camp Wawona. The total reflects the generosity of 26 donors, including two anonymous gifts of $50,000 each, which provided a strong foundation for the campaign. With $27,740 remaini

For decades, compassion has been more than a calling for the members of Oakdale Adventist Church—it has been a way of life. At the heart of that ministry is Roger Renslow, whose long-standing commitment, alongside a dedicated team of church members, has shaped a homeless outreach that continues to transform lives across the community. Renslow has been involved in homeless ministry since the mid-1980s. What began with simple acts—feeding individuals along the river from the ba

The Maranatha Seventh-day Adventist Company gathered in joyful worship as new believers publicly declared their faith through baptism, led by Pastor Gomez. The service marked a meaningful milestone not only for those entering the waters, but for the entire faith community that has walked alongside them in prayer, study and encouragement. Family members, friends and church leaders witnessed each baptism as a testimony of God’s transforming grace and a commitment to follow Jesu

MONTEREY, Calif. — Two individuals were baptized at the Monterey Peninsula Church on Sabbath following the church’s Christmas Cantata, publicly affirming their decision to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The baptisms took place in the church baptistry immediately after the musical program and were part of the ongoing spiritual impact of the church’s Pentecost 2025 evangelism initiative. Church leaders attributed the decision to the collective efforts of members