PAC - Pacific Union Conference : Pacific Union Conference Westlake Village CA

PAC posts - 167

For Such a Time as This

(También español) To Adventists living in the 21st century, it may seem that Christian education has been central to their church from its inception. That, however, is far from the truth. Formal education, in fact, was the last major institutional development within the denomination.

Only 180 Days

(También español) Every school year, teachers have only 180 days to teach their lessons and make an impact on their students. I was raised in the rhythm and the tempo of the school year. My dad was an Adventist teacher.

“This Is Not a Death Sentence”

(También español) On a Sabbath afternoon in June 2021, shortly after being diagnosed with esophageal cancer, my dad said, “This is not a death sentence.” He believed he would overcome it: “I’m going to kick this thing, don’t you worry.” Despite his words, I couldn’t help but imagine the possibility of life without him.

Fundamental Belief Number 13: The Remnant and Its Mission

(También español) The Word of God clearly establishes the missionary heart of God. It affirms that God yearns for the salvation of humanity, and for this reason He sent His Son with a message of salvation: “that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

The Crisis of the Nineties

(También español) With Adventists advocating views similar to those of the most active champions of Black men's rights from before the Civil War through Reconstruction, with Mrs. White providing firm theological underpinning for equality among races, how can one explain her statements such as these, which endorse segregation?

Adventist Pioneers in the West: Beginnings in Nevada

(También español) The year was 1869. Evangelists John Loughborough and Daniel Bourdeau had only been in the West for a year. They had started holding tent meetings in northern California—in Petaluma, Santa Rosa, and Healdsburg.

A Sign of Relationship

(También español) In the ancient world reflected by the Bible, the giving and receiving of signs served as an important facet of life. Throughout Mesopotamia (the area between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers now known as Iraq), signs typically came from popular gods using their chosen method to interact with humanity.

The Last Word: Rescuing Samuel Rhodes

(También español) In 1847, Samuel Rhodes—a deeply committed believer in the teachings of William Miller, the Baptist preacher whose interpretation of biblical prophecy sparked the Advent movement—hit rock bottom.

The Call to Evangelization

(También español) What is the state of evangelism today? Has the current culture influenced the methods and frequency of the expression of our faith? As walking sermons, are we presenting Jesus enough?

Live Your Calling

(También español) I was wearing my Adventist Health Simi Valley Hospital jacket on a Southwest flight last week. The flight attendant standing by our row looked at it intently and asked, “Do you work for Adventist Health?” I responded that I was a board member and a Seventh-day Adventist.

Fundamental Belief Number 12: The Church

(También español) Fundamental Belief 12 is a well written and concise statement of the Church in its past, present, and future dimensions. Further insight into its nature is outlined in the first chapter of The Acts of the Apostles by Ellen White, entitled “God’s Purpose for His Church.”

Does everything change?

(También español) When I was a young boy, my older sister used to listen to a folk song by the Indios Tucumanos, of Argentina, which illustrates a great truth. The song, written by Mercedes Sosa, is called Todo cambia (Everything Changes).

The Last Word: Remembering Charles Bradford

(También español) Elder Charles Bradford was an icon of spiritual leadership, pastoral care, and visionary administration within the Seventh-day Adventist Church. His life and ministry were marked by a deep commitment to biblical teachings, the mission of the Adventist Church, and a passion for evangelism.

Adventist Pioneers in the West - Beginnings: Southern California

(También español) With most early Adventist activity concentrated in the northern part of the state, it wasn’t until 1874 that Southern California had an ordained minister in its territory—John B. Judson. Evangelism picked up with the arrival of William Healey, who held a series of tent meetings in downtown Los Angeles in 1879.

Slavery and Prophecy

(También español) Many prominent Adventist leaders held views on slavery similar to those of Mrs. White. Through the Civil War years, such revered names as James White, Uriah Smith, and J.N. Andrews used the pages of the "Review and Herald" to attack laggards who did not endorse the emancipation position. An example is Uriah Smith's explicit criticism of President Lincoln.

Family History

(También español) My paternal grandmother was partially responsible for my love of history. Carrie Isabel Woodson was a woman of dignity who took pride in her family and her heritage. She was the granddaughter of an enslaved man from Virginia, Henry Raddick, who changed the name of his family after being set free by Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.

Praising God Together

(También español) My first memory of church was as an 8-year-old boy in Sabbath School. We sat on small wooden chairs and sang songs led by a really nice lady who seemed very old and wise. When it came time for the lesson study, we listened as our teacher told the story of Paul’s missionary travels. My continuing love for the Bible Book of Acts was born in that class.

Fundamental Belief Number 11: Growing in Christ

(También español) Growing in Christ is about spiritual growth and transformation through Jesus Christ. This journey begins with a pivotal choice: to stop resisting. Ellen White beautifully captures this truth in Steps to Christ: “The sinner may resist this love, may refuse to be drawn to Christ; but if he does not resist he will be drawn to Jesus”

A Brave Face

(También español) How is your hope for 2025? Can you become enthusiastic about the greeting, “Happy New Year”? Are you hopeful and confident about 2025, or is life so grim or blah that your attitude is, “It’s another year, so what”?

Ellen G. White: Racist or Champion of Equality?

(También español) “Christ came to this earth with a message of mercy and forgiveness. He laid the foundation for a religion by which Jew and Gentile, black and white, free and bond, are linked together in one common brotherhood, recognized as equal in the sight of God.”

Whither Evangelism

(También español) We naturally share what excites us. When we’re genuinely passionate about something, we tend to talk about it enthusiastically, encouraging others to experience it too.

Finding Joy in the Journey

(También español) Twenty-five years ago, the world held its collective breath as the new year dawned. Would the internal clocks of the globe reach January 1, 2000, and then create global technology malfunctions?

Adventist Pioneers in the West - Beginnings: H.M.S. Richards

(También español) Harold Marshall Sylvester Richards (1894-1985) was born in Davis City, Iowa, the son and grandson of gospel ministers. Already a successful evangelist, he was ordained in 1918 while still attending Washington Missionary College.

The Last Word: Burning “the Bull”

(También español) Martin Luther was excommunicated on January 3, 1521—in part because of his (literally) fiery response to receiving from the church establishment a document entitled "Bull Exsurge Domine!” (“Arise, O God!”).

Fundamental Belief Number 10: The Experience of Salvation: Abiding in Christ

(También español) The very first piece of furniture my wife and I acquired when we established our home was a piano—one that still graces our living room. I can’t imagine our home without it.

The Last Word: He Called It Love

(También español) In the fullness of time, God acted decisively for the world’s salvation. He didn’t establish a new nation to receive Him; instead, He came through Israel—the same nation that had too often grown tired of waiting for the Messiah and turned to other gods.

The Wiseman

(También español) Faced with the possibility of witnessing the most important event in the history of humanity, how could we not dare to face the risks and dangers of the journey?

Adventist Pioneers in the West - Beginnings: Pacific Union College

(También español) The first steps in the establishment of Pacific Union College began in 1882 when Sidney Brownsberger was selected as principal at a school in Healdsburg with just 28 students.

Systematic and Proportionate Giving

(También español) If your pastor should announce next Sabbath morning that he is going to speak on stewardship, most of the members would draw the conclusion that the sermon would be on money—tithes and offerings.

Press Release - December 6, 2024

Northern California Conference Issues Statement After Butte County Press Conference Addressing Adventist School Shooting

Press Release - December 5, 2024

North American Division President Responds to Shooting at Adventist Elementary School in California

The Great Gift

(También español) The night before Christmas morning was the most exciting time of my life as a child. Those brightly colored presents under the tree were irresistible to my young eyes.

Fundamental Belief Number 9: Understanding the Life, Death, and Resurrection of Christ

(También español) The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are at the heart of the Christian faith and Seventh-day Adventist beliefs. These events not only illustrate God's love for humanity but also serve as the cornerstone of God's plan for atonement—bringing humanity back into harmony with Him. But what does “atonement” truly mean, and how does it reflect God’s character?

The Last Word: Covered in Forgiveness

(También español) The first Bible that I remember as belonging to me personally was regular book size, not too big, but certainly not small. It had a leatherette zippered cover. There was a little cross on the zipper pull, so you always knew if your Bible was open or closed.

A Joyful Hymn of Thanksgiving

(También español) The primary duty of the Israelites during the celebration of the New Year, as articulated by priestly law, was to be “altogether joyful,” (Deuteronomy 16:15) and to “rejoice before the Lord" (Leviticus 23:40) in recognition of the numerous blessings bestowed upon them through their agricultural endeavors.

Adventist Pioneers in the West Beginnings: Central California

(También español) Central California has the privilege of being the very first place in the West to be touched by the Adventist message. In 1859, when Merritt Kellogg, stepbrother of John Harvey Kellogg, arrived in San Francisco with his wife and family, he was ready to share his faith.

Rags to Riches

(También español) Macedonia was a mess. The early Christians in that area were facing challenges beyond their control and asked God for help. God relayed their request via vision to Paul. “Come over to Macedonia and help us,” a man in a dream called out to the sleeping persecutor-turned-evangelist.

O Come, Let Us Be Thankful!

(También español) The first thanksgiving feast was not the one to which the Pilgrims and the Native Americans sat down more than 300 years ago. The Scriptures tell of countless others that occurred long before.

Ministering to the Young at Heart

(También español) Hey! Leave him alone!” she yelled at the man on the street who was speaking harshly to an elderly man as she was walking by. “What gives you the right to treat him that way?”

Fundamental Belief Number 8: The Great Controversy

(También español) I was 16 years old when Elder Jaime Castrejón, our next-door neighbor, shared a book with me: El conflicto de los siglos (The Conflict of the Ages). In English it is titled The Great Controversy.

The Last Word: The Gospel of the Disappointment

(También español) October 22, this year and every year, is a teachable moment for those who have lived in hope for something that hasn’t yet happened.

“But Where Are the Nine?”

(También español) Ten lonely men, ten physically deteriorating men, ten men suffering from leprosy had finally met Jesus outside Jerusalem.

Adventist Pioneers in the West Beginnings: Pacific Press

(También español) The history of the publishing work in the West and that of Pacific Press go hand in hand. When James and Ellen White came west for the second time in 1874, it was clear that printed materials were needed to share the Adventist message, just as they had been when the movement started back East.

The Transformational Power of Joy

(También español) After I concluded a weekend series of sermons at a local church, a couple approached me, requesting a private conversation. I assumed they either had marital issues or wanted to delve deeper into my presentations. I was entirely wrong—they wanted to talk about: me.

A Debt of Love

(También español) According to a United Press International article published in 1973, the “uglies” picketed an American Airlines ticket office in Fort Worth, Texas, to protest alleged discrimination in hiring when the company advertised for good-looking people.

The Pacific Union Recorder: A Vital Communication Hub

(También español) The Pacific Union Recorder stands as a cornerstone in the landscape of Adventist media, serving the vibrant and diverse community within the Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

Fundamental Belief Number 7: The Nature of Humanity

(También español) Sadly, I must say that this fundamental fails the “Jesus test.” There’s no mention of Jesus, even as we discuss the nature of humanity and the God who took on our nature (John 1).

The Pacific Union Recorder: Some Historical Highlights

(También español) The Pacific Union Recorder first saw the light of day on August 1, 1901. In the many years since then, it has reported on a myriad of church activities, faithful members, and significant events, often of global significance.

“He Will Never Leave You Nor Forsake You”

(También español) I recall a time in my ministry when the congregation and I encountered a challenge. As their leader, I was troubled and needed to make a decision about how this particular situation should be handled.

Fundamental Belief Number 6: Creation

(También español) The Creation story has thrilled me since I was a child. In Sabbath School classes at church and in Bible classes at school, I discovered that this fundamental belief of Creation was intensely personal to me.

The Work That Needs to Be Done

(También español) If we were asked about what the Bible says about money, a lot of us might quickly say, “The love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10, KJV).

Adventist Pioneers in the West Beginnings: Utah

(También español) In 1889 a group of literature evangelists was sent by the California Conference to Utah, though they found “the outlook was not at all flattering.”

Unwelcome Abundance

(También español) Those words, “unwelcome abundance,” have been percolating in my head for some time. I’ve tried to shake them off, but somehow they keep coming back. I wonder where they’re from—a book, a poem, a movie?

The Good Sabbath

(También español) Few words are more conspicuous in the Bible’s account of Creation than the enthusiastic declaration: “God saw that it was good.”

The Welcoming Kingdom

When Jennifer and I visit our two granddaughters in Sonora, California, there is excitement when we exit the car in the driveway.

Fundamental Belief Number 5: The Holy Spirit

(También español) As a faith community, our dialogue about the Holy Spirit has been relatively limited. This may stem from a desire to distinguish ourselves from the practices of other Christian groups.

A Report That Deserves to Be Available and Studied

(También español) With his preface, dated May 30, 1988, Fred Veltman signed off on the “Full Report of the Life of Christ Research Project.”

Adventist Pioneers in the West Developments: La Sierra University

(También español) In 1920, five years after the creation of the Southeastern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, the conference and adjacent Southern California Conference realized that their local Adventist school, San Fernando Academy, needed to be replaced and expanded.

The Glory of the Ordinary

(También español) The Gospel of John, after introducing us to John the Baptist, introduces us to the first of the apostles, Andrew (John 1:35-42). Although Andrew was the first of the twelve apostles, he is one of the least known.

The Sabbath Bridge

(También español) At first, it doesn’t seem all that strange. According to the book of Acts, we see Paul, who lived part of his life as Saul, a persecutor of Christians, sitting in a synagogue on the Sabbath.

Meeting Ellen G. White (Again)

(También español) Driving down Silverado Trial in the Napa Valley of Northern California, you pass thousands of acres of lush green vineyards that seem to glow in the sunshine.

Fundamental Belief Number 4: The Son

(También español) Is Jesus the Son of God? One fundamental question we need to ask when we read our Bible is whether that question is true or false. Perhaps we should start by asking if Jesus claimed to be God.

Adventist Pioneers in the West Beginnings: Elmshaven

(También español) In 1900, Ellen White, 72 years old, had just returned from nine years in Australia. Having sold her home in the U.S. before leaving for Australia, she needed to find somewhere to live.

An Idea Whose Time Had Come - Part 3

(También español) That was then, this is now. Randy Hill, who spent part of 1985 working as a Taskforce youth pastor in the Simi Valley church in California, is now vice president for youth and young adult ministries for the Pacific Union. Hill recently provided an update.

The Son of Joseph

(También español) Although, strictly speaking, it is not a religious festival, Father's Day gives us a chance to reflect on a familiar theme in our tradition.

A Mars Hill Reverie

(También español) It was a stifling hot summer afternoon in Athens, Greece, and for the first time in my life, I had just been robbed.

An Idea Whose Time Had Come part 2

(También español) What do Sandra Roberts, executive secretary of the Pacific Union Conference; Tony Anobile, vice president for church ministries of the Southwestern Union, and Ray Tetz, director of communication and community engagement for the Pacific Union Conference, have in common?

Adventist Pioneers in the West Beginnings: At the Forefront of Change

(También español) Even before the first Adventist evangelists stepped ashore in California, there were to be changes in outreach and church methods.

Fundamental Belief Number 3: The Father

(También español) Throughout my adult life, whenever I needed a prayer breakthrough, I called my parents. My wife and I are convinced that my father has a direct link to the throne of God and that God hears and answers his prayers.

“When Mother Tucked Me In”

(También español) Every year during the month of May, I find myself wishing for one more visit with my mother. It has been 22-plus years since she fell asleep in Jesus, and yet I miss my mom on Mother’s Day more than on her December 19 birthday or the anniversary of her death.

“Lest We Forget”

(También español) Do you remember the time when…” That’s the preamble to most family stories—often recounting something embarrassing or surprising.

Birth of a Mission

(También español) Say the word “Pathfinders” to an adult Seventh-day Adventist and an interesting thing might happen to their face. A faraway look captures the eyes as a gentle smile lifts the corners of the mouth.

Dig Deeper, Think Bigger: The Impact of Adventist Higher Education on One Grad’s Life

(También español) When Julie Lee was young, nearly everyone at her church in Bakersfield, California, went to Pacific Union College (PUC). She planned to, as well.

God Kept the Door Open for Me

(También español) May I please, please, pleeeeeeeease come teach a lesson to the three- and four-year-old class at Stepping Stones?” my fifth-grade self asked Shirleen Brown, the daycare director at my church.

Teachers: The Exceptional Humans Who Join Our Journeys

(También español) When Taylor Laurie reflects on her 16-year journey as a student in the Adventist educational system, it takes about two seconds for the names of her favorite teachers to surface—those who “poured into me love and support,”

“They Served Me”

(También español) Liss’ warm smile lit up the screen as she joined our videoconference from behind her desk in northern California, where she holds the position of operations director for Kaiser Permanente Health Connect.

The Appeal of Angwin: The Small College Community with a Big Heart

(También español) Driving through the world-renowned Napa Valley along the Silverado Trail reveals breathtaking views of rolling vineyards and lush green and gold trees—all surrounded by coastal mountains.

Shaped for Serving God

(También español) After spending some time studying theology at Pacific Union College, Robert Robinson decided he wanted something different.

A Mother’s Legacy

(También español) My mom always reminded me,” Dr. Wesley Phipatanakul recalled quietly, blinking through his wire-rimmed glasses, “that the most important thing in the world was my relationship with the Lord.”

Some Principles of Christian Education

(También español) Many church members are confused and unhappy about the problem of Christian education.

Thriving: Adventist Education’s Wholistic Development

(También español) The establishment of Adventist education began in the late 1800s after the foundation of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination had been set and its leaders began to look past the immediate structure of the church—both literally and figuratively.

Beyond Textbooks: Students Find Foundation, Transformation at La Sierra

(También español) When senior exercise science major and soccer player Madyson Cornish enrolled at La Sierra University four years ago, she could not have envisioned the difficult turns ahead of her, the resulting groundswell of support she would receive in response, or its significant impact on her life.

Four Teachers Who Changed My Life

(También español) The closest thing to a “family business” in my family is being a teacher. My dad taught science and math and was a small school principal. His parents were both teachers, and so was his sister.

In Search of Proper Education

(También español) To Adventists living in the twenty-ﬁrst century it may seem that Christian education has been central to their church from its inception. That, however, is far from the truth.

Fundamental Belief Number 2: The Trinity

(También español) The Christian belief in the Trinity has always been a challenge—how three can be one is hard for us to understand. It is still a matter of debate for some.

An Idea Whose Time Had Come - Part 1

(También español) As she and her dad traveled in the old blue Nissan sedan along Michigan State Highway 46, Sandra Roberts was trying to imagine what lay ahead. It was the late summer of 1980.

Adventist Pioneers in the West Developments: An Amazing Beginning

(También español) The situation was challenging. The College of Medical Evangelists (later Loma Linda University) was in trouble. Located in what was then a relatively rural area, they were struggling to find enough patients to provide cases for their medical students to study.

The Power of Example

(También español) The day dawned cloudy and gloomy as I peered through the window of my hotel. A certain uneasiness lingered in my heart, knowing that I would be attending a funeral that morning.

Your Daughters Shall Prophesy

(También español) If it weren’t for Grandpa, I may not have felt the call to pastoral ministry. He was the first pastor I knew. I saw his deep love for Jesus and caring concern for people.

The Language of Heaven

(También español) There are many computer and app-based language learning systems. Recently, our daughter Amanda applied some birthday money to the language program “Babbel” to become conversant in Spanish.

Fundamental Belief Number 1: The Holy Scriptures

(También español) When I became an Adventist, I had for the first time the opportunity to read the Bible. I have been an avid reader since I learned how to read.

Adventist Pioneers in the West Beginnings: Black Ministries

(También español) While much of the early work among African Americans was obviously conducted in the South, the West can lay claim to some significant events.

P.G. Rodgers: Builder of Black Adventism

(También español) Dr. H. Claude Hudson, president of the Los Angeles chapter of the NAACP, and Charlotta A. Bass, publisher of the California Eagle, Southern California’s leading Black newspaper, were among the guest speakers at Wadsworth Seventh-day Adventist Church in Los Angeles on Jan. 7, 1931.

The Power of Memory

(También español) Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Ironically, most of us either do not know or forgot who said this.

Finding My Purpose

(También español) He was 14 and I was 12 when our relationship began—too young for “serious stuff,” my parents said. But as the years rolled along, through academy and college, the “serious stuff” developed.

The Revitalized Church

(También español) Have you ever visited a church that just exuded life and vitality? Many of us have experienced this type of church in some form, where—from parking lot to pew, in the prayers and the praise, and throughout the program all the way to the potluck table—the glow of Jesus and His love shone through in a palpable and contagious way.

As Time Flies By

(También español) Wherever we turn, we hear people talking about how fast time passes. The psalmist mourns that his days are like a handbreadth and his years are like nothing (Psalm 39:5).

Adventist Pioneers in the West: A Wave of Missionaries

(También español) After the initial emphasis on sending out missionaries directly from the West, the newly formed Pacific Union Conference championed the program with the result that a wave of missionaries went all around the world.

The Preamble to the 28 Fundamentals

(También español) The Preamble to the 28 Fundamentals is probably the least read portion of the official statement. Yet it is essential in order to understand the Adventist perspective on the list of doctrines that follow.

Maranatha

(También español) "The defendant will please rise for the reading of the verdict.” This is the moment of highest drama in the criminal trial. Guilty or not guilty?

Thoughts for the New Year

(También español) Although in one sense the first day of the new year is no more to God than any other day, yet He often puts into the hearts of His children at that time a desire to begin the new year with new resolves

What Christmas Means to Me

(También español) Christmas has different meanings for different people. For some in the business sector, for example, Christmas is merely an opportunity for profit.

A White Christmas

(También español) Most people would not choose the Christmas season to visit the small town of Washington, New Hampshire—home of the first Sabbath-keeping Adventist congregation.

Adventist Pioneers in the West: Arizona - The Early Years

(También español) The beginnings of Adventist work in Arizona are a little hazy. Certainly there were Adventists in Arizona by the 1880s—there is an entry in the Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook for 1884, but with no details.

From Joy to Mourning

(También español) It was to be a day of joy and celebration. Every year, the Jewish religious cycle concludes with the completion of the reading of the Torah and a celebration known simply as “rejoicing in the Torah.”

God With Us

(También español) A million miles away from our planet orbits the massive James Webb Space Telescope. This marvel of astronomical engineering has amazed both scientists and the general public with dazzling pictures of our universe.

A Welcoming Place

(También español) My wife, Jennifer, and I were walking with our granddaughters on a beautiful fall afternoon. Macy had shared her scooter with one of the neighbor boys, and now he had suddenly zoomed away.

The Big Question

(También español) The Lord Jesus had spent several days with His disciples by the Sea of Galilee. While they were there, the Pharisees and Sadducees came to tempt Him by demanding that He show some sign to authenticate His claim to be the Messiah.

The One Who Had Mercy

(También español) In Deborah Stone’s book, The Samaritan’s Dilemma, the issue of a panhandler in her hometown of Henniker, New Hampshire, was brought up at a town hall meeting, highlighting the current state of our society.

When the Church Invests: The Value of Student Leadership Conference

(También español) When Marc Woodson, president of Northern California Conference, was in high school, the faculty yearbook sponsor gave him an opportunity that perhaps solidified his life’s trajectory to land him as a leader in the church: He sent Woodson to the union’s Student Leadership Conference.

Fill My Cup, Lord

(También español) I am on a self-care journey that has had its hills and valleys, its highs and lows, over the years.

We Are His Treasure

(También español) What is your most loved treasure? We all have something. And I don’t mean something costly like a car, a painting, a sculpture, or gold and silver possessions. I mean those things that tug at our heart: a childhood photo or toy, baby’s first shoe, a graduation memento, a postcard from a loved one.

Adventist Pioneers in the West: Touching Hearts in Hawaii for Jesus

(También español) The Hawaiian Islands were formerly known as the Sandwich Islands. Visited by Captain James Cook in 1778, he named them after John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich.

The Real HIRAM EDSON

(También español) Time has greatly altered the perception of Hiram Edson in the minds of many.

The Legacy of Ellen White’s Ordination

(También español) The history of Ellen White has been distorted to fit not who she is but who some people think she ought to be.

How to Belong to the Church and Still Be Yourself

(También español) Make no mistake, the church is legitimate. It is Christ’s idea. He started it when He declared, “On this rock I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18).

The “Last but First, Least but Greatest” Conundrum

(También español) What is the purpose of a parable? In the Gospels of the New Testament, parables were stories told by Jesus to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. In Matthew 20:1-16 Jesus tells the parable of the vineyard workers.

Adventist Pioneers in the West: James and Ellen White

(También español) Ellen White’s role in the West began before she ever visited! In 1868, before evangelists J.N. Loughborough and D.T. Bourdeau had even boarded their ship for San Francisco, Ellen White had a vision in Battle Creek as to how to work in California.

The Power of Preaching the Gospel Through the Written Word

(También español) Even before becoming Seventh-day Adventists, Pietro and Cecilia Peverini began keeping the Sabbath after reading Les Signes des Temps (The Sign of the Times in French) in 1885.

Stewardship Series Part 5: Depending on God

(También español) Studies show that the fear level in our present society is one of the highest that humanity has ever experienced.

Stewardship Series Part 4: In the Image of God

(También español) What does it mean to be created in the image of God? This idea of reflecting God’s personality and character—being a representative of the Almighty—is so crucial for the believer that Paul suggests that God Himself is leading the charge.

Stewardship Series Part 3: A Relationship with a King

(También español) The Creation account promotes the often elusive joining of human beings in mind, body, and spirit. Relationship, both earthly and divine, is the second perpetual monument established in Eden, right after the Sabbath.

Stewardship Series Part 2: Worship

(También español) The day after Adam was formed out of wet clay and became a living human being was unlike any other day of Creation week.

Stewardship Series Part 1: Who Am I?

(También español) You look in the mirror and wonder. Who am I? Why am I here? What am I supposed to do? Such philosophical questions have challenged members of the human race since Eden.

The Sign of Stewardship

(También español) When our son Tyler was 3 years old, he and his big sister were watching Sesame Street on the local PBS station. Suddenly Bert and Ernie cut away to a smiling man who obviously didn’t live on Sesame Street.

Adventist Pioneers in the West: William Ward Simpson

(También español) William Ward Simpson was born in Brooklyn, New York, on August 1, 1872, to English parents. The family moved back to England shortly afterwards and then returned to the U.S. when he was 11.

Just a Teacher Who Loves His Kids: Teryl Loeffler Retires After 46 Years

(También español) I always knew teaching was what I wanted to do, and it was the impact of my own teachers on my life that influenced me,” explained Teryl Loeffler, associate director of education for the Pacific Union Conference.

The Seeds of Greed

(También español) The term “greed” could be defined by relating it to several examples: the excessive desire for riches, a desire to satisfy sensual appetites, and even the fervent craving for something good.

When Faith and Work Are One and the Same

(También español) There is no line of distinction between faith and work. As assistant vice president for community partnerships and director of the Institute for Community Partnerships at Loma Linda University Health, I live out my faith in the work of enriching people’s lives through outreach, education, and mentorship.

Celebrating 18 years of Service, Student Growth, and Happy Memories

(También español) In 2023, Susie Oliva celebrated 18 years of service as a teacher at Victor Valley Seventh-day Adventist School in Victorville, California, in the Southeastern California Conference.

The Sabbath, a Symbol of God’s Love

(También español) The fourth commandment, which asks us to keep the Sabbath day holy, has a deep spiritual significance that goes beyond simply being a promise with a reward.

Divorce by the Book

(También español) When is it lawful, in the eyes of God, to divorce a spouse? Jesus uttered one major saying concerning that subject. His words were reported by three New Testament Gospel writers

Blind Camp Coming to Cedar Falls

(También español) This July, for the first time since 2001, staff will welcome an anticipated 15 -20 blind campers to Camp Cedar Falls in Angelus Oaks, Calif., for an integrated junior/blind camp.

Elder Rich DuBose Retires from Church Support Services

(También español) The Pacific Union Conference has announced the retirement of Elder Rich DuBose, director of Church Support Services (aka Creative Ministries).

Lord, please forgive my sins.

(También español) I would like to open up about a spiritual impulse that came into my soul many years ago regarding the miracle of God’s forgiveness

Learning to Trust God Through the Storms of Life

(También español) I will never forget the day of April 27, 2011. It was a day when I experienced firsthand that God was looking out for me. My name is Santiago Hernández. I am majoring in religion with an emphasis in health sciences at Pacific Union College, where I also play soccer.

“Drawing From a Fountain Ever Fresh”

(También español) I recently flew over much of the state of California and was awed by the bright green hills and the snow lingering in the mountains this late in the year.

Your Target: To Be Like Jesus

(También español) Of all the requests that the gospel makes of us, the most difficult are those that have to do with physical suffering. We are willing to leave father, mother, siblings, spouses, children, home, possessions, and homeland for the gospel.

Sowing the Seeds and Reaping the Harvest

(También español) What happens when you mix a passionate calling for evangelism with a church that actively works on sowing the seed of Christ’s gospel in their community? Miracles! Miracles happen!

Angel on the Road to Santa Cruz

(También español) The torrential downpour and deafening thunder echoed through the pitch-black fields as I trudged along the rocky dirt road to my next assignment.

“I Will Return”

(También español) Luke 15:18 tells of a transformational moment toward which the prodigal son has been heading for years. His arrival at this moment was not planned, but it was scripted. Every act of this young man’s life was leading him directly to this moment.

The “Everything Else” About Adventist Education

(También español) One of the weekly assignments in fifth grade, alongside handwriting and spelling lessons, was to submit a “newspaper”—a simple, three-column blank sheet that we could fill with whatever we wanted.

An Adventist School Is A Place Where . . .

(También español) Youth are immersed in the Word of God and are taught the real gospel. They get a true picture of the character of God as a loving heavenly Father, come to understand the plan of salvation, and personally decide to accept God's invitation.

God Is in This Story

(También español) As a second grader, Colin moved in with his grandma, Pamela. They lived in Paradise, California, where Pamela worked as a nurse.

Source and Aim of True Education

(También español) True education means more than the pursual of a certain course of study. It means more than a preparation for the life that now is. It has to do with the whole being, and with the whole period of existence possible to man.

Take a Closer Look at Adventist Schools

(También español) Every year I look forward to the special “Education Issue” of the Pacific Union Recorder. Since 2018, the April issue has focused on the ministry and powerful work that takes place in the Seventh-day Adventist schools across the Pacific Union.

“He Knows Me by Name”

(También español) It was when I was a 14-year-old high school student at Golden Gate Academy in 1958 that I realized that Jesus loves me and knows me by name—including how to correctly pronounce Trujillo.

Unto These Hills

(También español) I am reminded of Ps. 121 when I look at the hills around me. My Camarillo, Calif., home is surrounded by hills—hills that were dry and brown because of the drought; hills that were scarred by the aptly named “Hill Fire” in 2018

Ministering to “The Chosen”: Building Bridges Through Jewish Ministries

(También español) Sometimes we forget that Jesus’ command to share the gospel with “every nation, tribe, tongue, and people” (Revelation 14:6, NKJV) includes the very people whom He called His own special people, the Jews.

Love in Action: A Story About Families and Healing

(También español) Losing one parent when you’re an adolescent is devastating, but human words fail to describe the pain of losing both parents nearly back-to-back. Yet that was the harsh reality Fiona and Gared Lin faced at the ages of 13 and eight, respectively, when they lost both of their parents three years apart, in 2016 and 2019.

The Powerful Name of Jesus

(También español) “If I’m successful I’ll be happy.” A recent article in the Harvard Business Review begs to differ. One study finds that 72% of successful CEOs and entrepreneurs are depressed and suffering with mental health issues.

THE BULLETIN - March 3, 2023 Special Report

Alan Reinach Opinion Article in Newsweek Magazine Alan J. Reinach, Esq., has been the executive director of the Church State Council, the religious liberty educational and advocacy arm of the Pacific Union Conference, since 1994.

Sharing Christ No Matter Where He Leads

(También español) When I’m asked why I chose to become a pastor, I’m not sure how to answer. It's not something that I chose; rather, it chose me. Up until a certain point in my life, I had never dreamed or even thought of being a minister.

Black Adventist Women Clergy Advancing the Gospel, Part 1

Part 1 Republished - Women have worked to advance the gospel from our earliest days as an organized church, yet when discussing their role, an important sub-group is often excluded from the story. White women are often overrepresented, while the accomplishments of Black women and other trailblazing women of color are less recognized.

Countdown Time

LEA ESTE ARTÍCULO EN ESPAÑOL There was a mountain waiting for me to climb, and I decided it was my time to try. At 14,505 feet, Mount Whitney is the...

THE BULLETIN - February 3, 2023

Union News Pacific Union Camporee: Hundreds of Pathfinders Give Their Hearts to Jesus Approximately 3,700 Pathfinders descended on Lake Skinner near...

All God's People

January 2023 begins with our 263rd episode of All God’s People, the video blog launched in May 2017 as an experiment in weekly, short, newsy, inspirational...

Important Rules

I am a compulsive list-maker. To-do lists cover my refrigerator and are stuck on my laptop via Post-it Notes. There is always a grocery list and various...

All God's People

January 2023 begins with our 263rd episode of All God’s People, the video blog launched in May 2017 as an experiment in weekly, short, newsy, inspirational...

Family Ministries: Helping Families and Marriages Thrive

My first exposure to what we would call family ministries was observing my father conducting pastoral visits when I was a young boy in Venezuela. Sometimes a...

Executive Committee Focuses on Mission Initiatives

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them Matthew 18:20, KJV The Lord’s presence was felt as leaders...

The Comrades: Running the Race Together

Somehow, the marathon, that iconic race of 26.2 miles, hadn’t been enough. I was running in the Comrades, the oldest ultra-marathon in the world. This...

All God's People

January 2023 begins with our 263rd episode of All God’s People, the video blog launched in May 2017 as an experiment in weekly, short, newsy, inspirational...

Pacific Union Camporee: Hundreds of Pathfinders Give Their Hearts to Jesus

Approximately 3,700 Pathfinders descended on Lake Skinner near Temecula, Calif., for the Pacific Union Conference Pathfinder Camporee the first weekend of...

The Priceless Bargain

Jesus told two little stories in Matthew 13:44-46 about men who unexpectedly discovered something, which they then gave up everything to obtain—a treasure...

We Have Seen His Star

Ah, the holidays! Cookies, pies, pine trees, jingle bells, presents, garlands, mistletoe, nativity scenes, Christmas lights, and caroling! Christmas is usually all of these things. Somehow, they all remind me of home—of all the houses I have called home.

Bringing Sweetness to Church, Home, and the Kingdom of God

A church without children is like a buffet without dessert—not very fun. Through their energy, curiosity, and laughter, children bring life to any church...