Pastors Learn the Art of Leadership
In March, a group of 65 pastors gathered on Crosswalk’s main campus in Redlands. The event, planned by the Ministerial Department of Southeastern California Conference (SECC) and entitled “The Art of Leadership,” was designed as an optional learning community for pastors. Instead of inviting guest speakers to come and lecture, a platform was created for pastors to share with each other. There were three segments of seven-minute Ted Talk-style presentations from 10 pastors from diverse backgrounds. Pastors were able to take the conversation deeper and discuss questions about the presentations at their round tables.
Many of the pastors asked to present felt they weren’t experts on what they were asked to share. They felt capable but still very much a work in progress. This was exactly what the ministerial department wanted to showcase—a view of leadership in pastoral ministry that borrowed from Max DePree’s classic, Leadership is an Art. They wanted to highlight a relational understanding of leadership that is empowering and shared.
Hearing from peers in this unique setting shifted the conversations around the table. Costa Mesa Pastor Christine Pitt shared how she organizes and prepares her sermons around the Growing Together curriculum so that the children in the church can easily follow the sermon and respond. Joey Oh, Loma Linda church executive pastor, discussed taking small steps each day to problem-solve and handle responsibilities instead of falling prey to the temptation to look for the perfect solution.
Pastors cheered as Didier Noriega, pastor at Escondido Spanish church, worked through his first public presentation in English, reminding pastors how love must be at the heart of everything they do in evangelism. Many were so captivated they couldn’t leave because each presentation was so meaningful. There will be more Art of Leadership events. The intention is to continue to highlight the many talents and gifts SECC pastors and churches have that God wants to unleash and shine into the world!
By Will Penick
San Diego SHIFT Youth Group Goes to La Vida Mission for Mission Trip
In late March, the San Diego SHIFT youth ministry program offered the opportunity to go on a mission trip to La Vida Mission in New Mexico, a self-supporting Adventist boarding school dedicated to serving Navajo Nation youth. Organized by Steven Sigamani, Paradise Valley church’s youth and young adult pastor, the trip was a collaborative effort to bring youth to serve during their spring break. Twelve students and five chaperones represented six churches on this trip.
The youth group led a week of prayer every morning. “My favorite part about the mission trip was the week of prayer because I got to see my friends give sermons,” said Paula Hernández, who joined the mission trip for her first time this year. “Seeing how genuinely the kids loved what we prepared for them and getting to feel the Spirit was such an awesome experience.”
The other service activity was working at the greenhouses on campus. After the week of prayer meeting, the group split into a few teams to work on different projects. Josue Flores, a student who has been going on the mission trips for a few years, said, “I loved the hands-on activities because I was using my skills and my talents to help make other people’s lives better and easier, and I honestly just enjoyed doing the work.”
“The mission trip was really fun. I had a lot of bonding experiences with the people that went, I met new people, got to preach, and got closer to God, which was all really impactful,” said Kenny Carrillo, a first-timer to the mission trip.
On the last day, there were two week of prayer services, and the second one ended in the baptism of La Vida student Talise Mescal. After the service, the San Diego group had a debrief in which they went over the day and what they liked. Multiple kids described how impactful the ending service had been for them. Two youth volunteers from the mission trip even decided to get baptized: Savanna Samatua and Katie Barry. “The baptism was really impactful and powerful for me and that, along with the week of prayer, really helped me make my decision to get baptized,” said Barry.
By Savanna Samatua
Kids Konnect
The Real Treasure
Miss Glenda was the neighborhood’s most loved neighbor. Sure, she didn’t always hear you right, but she made the best cookies. So when she posted a $100 reward to find her lost pearl necklace, Jacob began immediately hunting the front yards of every house on the street. He was going to win that money AND become Glenda’s favorite neighbor. Jacob wasn’t the only one after that reward though. He saw plenty of other kids—and even grown-ups!—outside with their heads bent toward the ground.
No matter, thought Jacob. I’ll find that necklace first!
But after hours of searching, the precious pearl necklace had still not turned up. Jacob sat on the curb, his back aching. A kid he didn’t know sat next to him in similar exhaustion, his skateboard clattering to the ground. “I don’t even know what this necklace looks like,” he huffed. Jacob was surprised. “Miss Glenda is always wearing that necklace. How do you not know what it looks like?” The boy shrugged. “I just moved here a few days ago." Jacob perked up. “Have you been to the skate park yet? It’s the best in town.” The boy’s eyes lit up. “No! Do you skate too?” Jacob jumped up. “Yes! Let me run home and grab my board, and I’ll take you!”
It turned out that Miss Glenda’s pearl necklace had been in her jewelry box the entire time. But even though Jacob didn’t get $100 that day, he did get something even better—a friend!
By Megan Jacobs
