CONFERENCE NEWS

On April 24, the Central California Conference Literature Ministries Department partnered with Fresno Adventist Academy for a special day of outreach in the neighborhood closest to the school. Nearly 60 young people, including students in grades 7–12, along with several parents and teachers, went door to door to pray with families and share Christ-centered literature. By the end of the outreach, 234 copies of The Great Controversy, 254 copies of Patriarchs and Prophets, and 2

FRESNO, CA — On Saturday, May 16, the Fresno Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church became the vibrant epicenter of youth ministry as it hosted the latest stop of the FEJA Tour. The high-energy event drew more than 150 passionate participants, bringing together young people, leaders, and families from local Fresno congregations and surrounding Hispanic churches, with some traveling from as far as San Francisco and Santa María. The day began with a warm, enthusiastic welcome fro

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CA — From April 24–26, the pristine surroundings of Camp Wawona in Yosemite National Park served as the breathtaking backdrop for the annual CCC FEJA Teen Camp. A long-standing and highly anticipated tradition, this year’s camp once again delivered an unforgettable experience, combining deep spiritual growth with vibrant youth fellowship. The weekend was designed to give teenagers a meaningful break from their daily routines, offering them a space to

The Hanford Seventh-day Adventist Church recently celebrated the successful completion of its 4th Annual 40-Day Wellness Challenge—an inspiring, community-centered program that continues to serve our church and community. Designed as a Bible-based lifestyle initiative, the challenge once again brought together individuals and families committed to improving their physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Running from January through early March, the program combined

La Selva Beach, Calif. (May 7) — Conference leaders, pastors and church members from across Area 3 gathered at the Monterey Bay Academy Church on May 7 for the Area 3 Conference Connects event, a meeting designed to strengthen collaboration, communication and shared commitment to mission across the Central California Conference. Attendees described the gathering as an opportunity to foster unity between conference leadership and local congregations. One pastor referred to the

MONTEREY, Calif. (May 2) — Members from churches across Area 3 of the Central California Conference gathered April 29 through May 2 for a series of revival meetings centered on the theme of hope, faith and spiritual renewal. The first three evenings were held at the Monterey Peninsula Seventh-day Adventist Church, while the final meeting took place at the Monterey Bay Academy gymnasium and was followed by the area’s quarterly gym night. Programs were broadcast live through ch

SANGER, Calif. — The Sanger Bilingual Seventh-day Adventist Church, in partnership with Adventist Health, hosted a Free Community Health Expo on Sunday aimed at promoting wellness, prevention and holistic care among local residents. The event provided attendees with access to basic health screenings, including glucose, hemoglobin, A1C, blood pressure, height and weight measurements, as well as general health assessments conducted by medical providers. In addition to screening

HANFORD, Calif. — A ten-week literature evangelism outreach across the HEAL District is leaving a lasting spiritual impact, as churches report renewed energy for mission and meaningful connections within their communities. From Jan. 3 to March 14, the Central California Conference Literature Ministries Department partnered with SOULS West and the HEAL District churches—Hanford English, Armona and Lemoore—under the leadership of Pastor Julian Kastrati. Together, they carried o

TULARE, Calif. — Through the support of an evangelism endowment from the Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, the Tulare Seventh-day Adventist Church is discovering fresh, practical ways to connect with its community—one meal, one seminar, and one relationship at a time. With a vision to meet real needs before making spiritual appeals, the church has launched a series of health-focused outreach events designed to serve, educate, and build trust. Each event comb

On March 1, 2026, the doors of Clovis SDA Church opened to what looked, at first glance, like a typical training event. By mid-morning, it was clear this was something more. Leaders were not just attending. They were leaning in, asking questions, laughing through skits, and imagining what summer ministry could become in their own churches. VBS Live is designed to do exactly that. It is not simply a walkthrough of a program. It is a full, immersive experience where leaders ste

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - On Friday evenings in San Francisco, something different is happening. There are no rows of pews, no passive audiences waiting for a sermon to end. Instead, young adults gather around tables, open up about their struggles, and wrestle with a question that is reshaping how they think about faith: What can we actually do about it? That is the heartbeat of The Place — a young adult church plant operating under San Francisco Central Seventh-day Adventist

FRESNO, Calif. — The Central California Conference held a series of full-day training seminars across the conference from March 17–19, bringing together pastors and church leaders to explore Thrive , the North American Division's new interest management and discipleship platform. The training began on Tuesday, March 17, at the Sunnyvale Adventist Church for churches in Areas 1, 2, and 3, continued on Wednesday, March 18, in Bakersfield Hillcrest Adventist Church for Areas 4 a

Whack! Pop! Are sounds that reverberate throughout the Turlock SDA Church gym during a session of the Church’s Pickleball Ministry. This unique ministry has become a phenomenon in the Turlock area drawing participants from Turlock and surrounding areas every day of the week except Sabbath. Participants include Church members along with community members of all ages and all levels of skill. The main draws are “state of the art” indoor courts but also a friendly and welcoming

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