The Northern California Conference is excited to announce the recent ordination and commissioning of three pastors into the ministry. Mike Thompson, Bruce Blum and Sherilyn O’Ffill have each accepted the call of ministry as a life commitment.

At the age of 22, Thompson relinquished dreams of pursuing a rock music career in order to become a Seventh-day Adventist. Born in York, England, Thompson eventually entered the York School of Nursing, where he received his RN license and met his wife, Helen. After graduating, Thompson and his wife moved to Newbold College where he studied theology until 1978. They then worked in various ministries, such as providing medical and health education in Belize, Central America, England, and the United States for the next 19 years.

Thompson was ordained at Sacramento Central church on Sept. 10, 2005, where he has been pastoring since 1998. “It’s been a real blessing serving at the Sacramento Central church,” said Thompson. “It’s been a joyful path of service and satisfaction. I couldn’t think of anything better to do in my life than be a co-worker with Jesus.”

Blum also feels gratitude for where he is today. Initially planning on becoming an engineer, Blum did not realize that God had slightly different plans for him. Over four years of his academy experience, Blum gradually established a growing relationship with Christ. Through the influence of his mentors, he realized that ministry seemed to call him.

“I still assumed that I was going to be an engineer, but I had given God permission to tell me otherwise,” recalls Blum. “Only after praying this did I hear God’s call that had first come to me many years before.” Today, Blum and his wife, Coreena, minister at Alturas/Surprise Valley and have been there since 2002. On Oct. 8, 2005, he was ordained at the Alturas church.

O’Ffill, on the other hand, realized early that she wanted to minister to others. At the age of 12, she was asked to be a primary Sabbath school teacher, and throughout her adolescence, O’Ffill continued to use her leadership skills as a Pathfinder and as a counselor at Leoni Meadows Camp. Recognizing O’Ffill’s gift, her mentors encouraged her to go into pastoral ministry. For extra assurance, O’Ffill graduated from Southern Adventist University with a bachelor's degree in religion and a minor in education and a secondary teaching certification because she wasn’t sure she could trust God to find her a pastoral position.

O’Ffill would soon realize God’s leading. After marrying her husband, Mark, O’Ffill pursued her master of divinity degree with her husband at Andrews University. She eventually realized that she wanted to commit to ministry full time.

“Being able to work with the wonderful team of pastors and church members at Napa has been a dream come true,” said O’Ffill. “The church family is also amazing. They have been willing to let me try new things.” On Nov. 5, 2005, O’Ffill was commissioned at the Napa church and is the first woman to be commissioned within the Northern California Conference.

"Here in Northern, we are so pleased to see the calling of God in the lives of our pastors,” said Jim Pedersen, executive secretary of the NCC. “And we're thrilled to be able to publicly confirm, on behalf of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the ministry of Mike Thompson, Bruce Blum and Sherilyn O'Ffill."