"And for me?” asked Vallejo Drive Church Associate Pastor Elizabeth Talbot as she spoke to women at the annual Women’s Retreat at Camp Cedar Falls about God’s power for the problems each person faces.

Tracing scriptural references to God’s repeated demonstrations of His power over disease, death and other issues, Talbot affirmed, “His power supply is limitless. He is willing to help each one of us, but we bring our little cup to receive God’s waterfall of blessings. God’s gifts put men’s dreams to shame!”

In her welcome message, Dorothy Means, Southern California Conference (SCC) Women’s Ministries coordinator, invited women to welcome the group in their language of origin. Women representing Filipino, Korean, South African, Spanish, Tongan and Brazilian believers spoke, highlighting the international flavor of the audience.

Denise Johnson shared her personal evangelism experience. An active lay person and member of the Valley Crossroads Church, she quit her job as a claims examiner when she found herself “always thinking of church things.”

It was a bold move for the single mother, but she prayed fervently for the Lord to open a way for her to serve Him full time. “I got a call soon after with the idea to apply at the Adventist Media Center for a job,” she said. “I thought Simi Valley was very far from the San Fernando Valley, but I went there, applied for and got a job. I believe God led me to quit my job.

“I became a Bible instructor for the Discover Bible School, where I developed a desire to encourage each church in the Greater Los Angeles Region to have a Bible school. I went to a region workers’ meeting, and many of the pastors decided to start Bible schools. I began e-mailing each director listed on the registration forms with encouraging messages and devotionals. One director, Michael Johnson of the Antelope Valley Church, responded by asking if we could get to know one another better. We began e-mailing and phoning on a personal level.

“We were married in February 2002 and now have a ministry called, ‘End Times Like These.’ We train churches to become evangelism centers by setting up Discover Bible schools and teaching them how to go door-to-door. My husband is now a member at Valley Crossroads. He is an elder and also the church Bible instructor, and I operate the Bible school. We are truly a team for the Lord!”