The Corona church hosted a private service on Nov. 4 to remember Daniel Hoover-Najera, one of five firefighters who died tragically in the Esperanza Fire on Oct. 26. Najera, 20, was the youngest member of Engine 57’s crew. A public service the next day attracted 10,000 mourners and personal condolences from U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

As a boy, he was known affectionately to his grandparents as “Linchi” and grew up in their home. His grandfather, Patrick Najera, has been a long-time member of the Corona church; his grandmother, Linda, died several years ago.

Young Najera attended elementary school at La Sierra Academy, Desert Adventist School, and Hilltop School, and sometimes traveled with his grandfather, who has helped build churches both in the Southeastern California Conference (SECC) and on overseas mission trips with the Quiet Hour.

“Daniel was always a very good boy,” his grandfather says. “We miss him, but we believe we will see him again. He died trying to help others.”

Mike Porter of the Quiet Hour and Sandra Roberts, executive secretary of SECC and former associate pastor of the Corona church, officiated at the memorial service.