Northern California Adventists in Action

08/31/2026

Get connected with your churches and schools. Sign up for Northern Lights, our monthly email of Northern news. https://nccsda.com/northern-lights/

08/27/2026

A New Chapter of Ministry Begins at Immanuel Temple

The Immanuel Temple Seventh-day Adventist Church welcomed James Willis as their new pastor during a special installation service in June, celebrating the beginning of a new season of ministry together.

Church members, family, friends, and Northern California Conference leaders gathered for worship and prayer as they affirmed God's calling on Willis' life and committed to partnering with him in ministry.

Rudy Peters, African American Ministries coordinator, emphasized the importance of unity between pastor and congregation.

“There is a spirit of hope and expectation at Immanuel Temple,” Peters said. “I believe God has brought Pastor Willis to this congregation for such a time as this, and I look forward to seeing how God will use this partnership to strengthen the church and expand its ministry.”

We invite members throughout the conference to pray for Willis, his family, and the Immanuel Temple church family as they begin this new chapter of ministry together.

08/26/2026

Are you a communicator for a church, school, or ministry? Whether you manage social media, write newsletters, capture photos, or want to communicate more effectively during a crisis, ClearVoice is for you.

Created by the Northern California Conference Communication and Development Department, ClearVoice webinars and podcasts provide practical training in storytelling, crisis communication, trauma-informed communication, ethics, organizational health, cultivating generosity, and more.
Grow Clarity. Earn Trust. Transform Engagement. Cultivate Generosity.
Visit www.nccsda.com/communication or listen to NCCSDA ClearVoice on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

08/25/2026

Meet Our New Principals! Dana Van Hook, Chico Oaks Adventist School.

Dana decided in grade 3 that she wanted to become a teacher. More than 17 years later, it appears her third-grade self chose wisely.

Van Hook brings experience teaching every grade from kindergarten through grade 8 in both public and private schools. She has worked in single-grade and multigrade classrooms, served as a school administrator, and helped schools implement programs to strengthen their curriculum. She holds a bachelor’s degree in speech-language pathology and audiology and has training in differentiated instruction, advanced instructional strategies, assessment tools, and kindergarten-readiness evaluations.

She also had the privilege of team-teaching with her mother, adding a special family connection to the profession she chose so many years ago.

Hands-on learning is central to Van Hook’s approach. Her classroom projects have included starting seeds beneath grow lights and hatching salmon eggs. Yes, every educator talks about helping young minds grow—but Van Hook occasionally has the seedlings to prove it.

These experiences reflect her desire to create a safe, engaging environment where children can explore, ask questions, and reach their full potential. Above all, Van Hook’s greatest desire is for the students of Chico Oaks Adventist School to know and personally experience the love Jesus has for them.

08/24/2026

You are part of something bigger. Stay in tune with what's happening in the Northern California Conference. Join our monthly email and be up on the latest! Read the latest and sign up here: https://nccsda.com/northern-lights/

08/22/2026

Put Redwood Campmeeting on your summer schedule next year!

08/21/2026

What is the most important step in cultivating generosity? It starts with clarity.

The Establish Clarity session helps pastors and church leaders define why generosity matters, align their message with mission, and create a consistent culture of stewardship.

When people understand the mission, they are more likely to invest in it.
Start your journey today:

www.nccsda.com/cultivate-generosity

This is not another stewardship course—generosity is not a transaction; it is transformational, shaping both disciples and mission. Welcome to a flexible, learner-led training designed to help you grow a culture of joyful giving in your church or school. This course combines short instructional vi...

08/20/2026

Meet our New Principals: Karen Wiechmann.

Most principals welcome parents from the front sidewalk. Karen Wiechmann welcomed them holding a shovel.

As Alumni Weekend approached at El Dorado Adventist School, there were still piles of wood chips waiting to be spread before families arrived. Rather than simply checking on the progress,

Karen grabbed a shovel and rake, joined the students and volunteers, and got to work. She wanted to encourage the team, keep everyone moving forward, and remind them that no job is beneath anyone. By the time parents arrived for pickup, they found their principal dusty, smiling, and working right alongside everyone else.

Honestly, that tells you a lot about Karen.

Long before becoming principal, Karen was an El Dorado Adventist School student herself. Years later, God led her back—not just to teach, but to serve in nearly every corner of school life. From kindergarten teacher to coach, recruiter, marketing, enrollment, development, and now principal, she's become the kind of leader who believes the best way to encourage others is to stand beside them.

For Karen, Adventist education is about much more than strong academics. It's about helping every child know they are loved by Jesus, discover the gifts God has given them, and grow into young people of faith, character, purpose, and service.

When she's away from school, Karen enjoys taking the scenic route, capturing God's beauty through photography, spending time with family and friends, exploring with Juni, her rescue dog, and—wunderschöne Fotos is a phrase she knows well—she also happens to speak fluent German.

We're excited to welcome Karen as principal of El Dorado Adventist School and look forward to seeing how God continues to lead the Eagles through her ministry.

08/19/2026

Are you a communicator for a church, school, or ministry? Whether you manage social media, write newsletters, capture photos, or want to communicate more effectively during a crisis, ClearVoice is for you.

Created by the Northern California Conference Communication and Development Department, ClearVoice webinars and podcasts provide practical training in storytelling, crisis communication, trauma-informed communication, ethics, organizational health, cultivating generosity, and more.
Grow Clarity. Earn Trust. Transform Engagement. Cultivate Generosity.

Ray Tetz Webinar: https://vimeo.com/1193742554?fl=pl&fe=sh

Visit www.nccsda.com/communication or listen to all NCCSDA ClearVoice on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.