The Veg Hub Restaurant Closes Its Doors
On March 31, The Veg Hub restaurant ceased its operations. Owned by the NCC and operated by Chef G.W. Chew, the restaurant prepared delicious vegan food, provided healthy cooking classes, and served as a center of influence in Oakland’s Dimond District for more than four years.
Many people expressed their thanks to the restaurant and The Veg Hub team (including Sarah Bellot, pictured on the final day).
“We will miss you so much,” wrote one customer on social media. “How much we loved being treated like family every time we came there.”
“I'm sad to hear that the restaurant is closing!” wrote another. “Thank you for serving our community.”
“We are grateful to Chef Chew and his team for providing this unique ministry for so many years,” said President Marc Woodson. “Although the restaurant has closed, we plan to build on the positive relationships that The Veg Hub developed with the local community. Our outreach ministry in that part of Oakland will continue to move forward with oversight from the NCC evangelism committee. Please pray that the Lord will continue to bless the efforts begun by The Veg Hub.”
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Easter Ministry to Placerville Church Seniors
Recently, the Placerville church women’s ministry spearheaded a project to bring cheer to the senior members of their congregation by preparing and hand-delivering 34 Easter baskets.
“Whole families got involved with the selection of goodies, making cards, filling, and delivering baskets,” said Daisy Stephens, women’s ministry leader. “It's been so long since we've all been together, and some of our seniors have been housebound for over a year. This project bridged the generation gap. Many of the people delivering baskets didn't even know the seniors. But now new friendships have been made.”
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Sal Alvarado Engages His Calling to Ministry
NCC Adventist Book Center Manager Sal Alvarado is a leader with a servant’s heart. “When people come to the store, my goal is to treat them well,” he said.
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When Alvarado was first hired in 2016, then President Jim Pedersen gave him a tour of the ABC stores located in Pleasant Hill and Sacramento. “He told me: ‘Sal, just pretend that the stores are your churches and the employees are your members,’” said Alvarado. “I keep that advice as a jewel in my heart. I pray every night for the ministry.”
Since then, the two stores have combined to form the Roseville store, which has remained open throughout the pandemic thanks to the efforts of Alvarado (pictured with his wife, Sonia) and his five staff members.
For the past year, Alvarado has made far-ranging trips throughout the NCC and into Nevada to deliver prepaid orders that people pick up at local churches and schools. “We’re able to reach elderly people, busy people, and others who aren’t able to come to Roseville,” he said. “It’s a blessing to serve them.”
A true “people person,” Alvarado finds many ways to engage with his customers – church members and others who come for the vegetarian food and Christian books. Sometimes he notices people having a difficult time. “I pray with them and give them encouragement, and when they come back, they ask for more prayer,” he said.
As he fulfills his multiple responsibilities, Alvarado never loses sight of his ultimate mission. “My goal is to keep telling people how Jesus Christ loves us,” he said, “and to let them know that He will come soon.”
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Teacher In-service Meeting
On March 29, NCC teachers attended online in-service training regarding the Measure of Academic Progress (MAP), a computerized adaptive test. Beginning this school year, NCC students are taking the test three times a year. Each test shows how much a student has grown since the last test and what he or she is ready to learn next.
“The teachers had insightful questions to ask the trainers,” said Associate Superintendent Lynal Ingham. “They were very excited about what the data shows them about their students.”
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Pastor Chuck Jenson Retires
Hayward church Pastor Chuck Jenson recently retired after 40 years of service to the Adventist Church. He and his wife, Cathy (pictured on their farewell Sabbath), have moved to Arkansas.
Jenson began his career as an instructor at Spicer Memorial College (now Spicer Adventist University) in India. He later served as a church pastor in the Iowa-Missouri, Kansas-Nebraska, and Southern California conferences before working as the field director in Nepal. He had pastored the Hayward church since 2017.
“We are thankful for the many lives that Chuck and Cathy have touched through their decades of ministry,” said Ministerial Director Jim Lorenz. “Like ripples in water, the impact of their efforts will be felt until Jesus comes again.”
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Jovan Ilijev Moves to New District
Jovan Ilijev is the new pastor of the Lockeford/San Andreas/Sutter Hill district. He formerly served as pastor of the Petaluma/Sebastopol district. Last Sabbath, Ilijev led his first worship service at the Lockeford church (pictured).
“I’m passionate about sharing the authentic love of Jesus, which is the single antidote to the loneliness and meaninglessness that pervade our society,” said Ilijev. “My vision for these churches is to create opportunities for people to reconnect with God and build relationships through fellowship and service.”
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At Rest
We are very sorry to let you know that retired NCC Pastor Myron Tait passed away in Harper, Texas, on March 31. He and his wife, Mary Jane, have many friends throughout the NCC.
After working in the Wyoming and Colorado conferences at the beginning of his ministerial career, Tait was called to be youth pastor at the Carmichael church. He went on to serve as pastor of a number of NCC churches, including Hayfork, Antioch, Gridley, Lockeford, and Sutter Hill.
Together, the couple volunteered as longtime area four Pathfinder coordinators. In 2016, Youth Director Eddie Heinrich surprised Tait with an award for 50 years of service to Pathfinders. Read Pastor Tait's full obituary.
“We will never forget Myron and the many ways the Lord used him during his ministry,” said President Marc Woodson. “We are praying for Mary Jane and their entire family as we all look forward to the resurrection.”
A memorial service will be held this Sunday in Texas. Find the Zoom information on the NCC Ministerial page.
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Upcoming Events
Join church members from around the NCC for prayer and a short devotional every Thursday morning from 7-8 a.m. Find out more.
NCC Religious Liberty will be hosting another online event this Sabbath, April 10! Don’t miss Religious Liberty in the Workplace, a conversation with Alan Reinach, Church State Council executive director and general counsel.
All are invited to attend Don’t Forget Me, a prison ministries rally and training day on April 24.
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ABC
The book Rediscovering the Glory of the Sabbath examines the Sabbath through all the books of the Bible. Find it for $22.99 at our NCC ABC.
During April, the NCC ABC will be making prepaid drop-off deliveries in California and Nevada. The Livermore church will be a new stop on April 20!
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NCC Headquarters Closed
Because of the pandemic, the NCC headquarters building is closed, and staff are working from home. You can still reach them.
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Northern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
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