For 15 months, administrators, pastors and lay leaders of the Northern California Conference planned an event that would bring together thousands of conference members of various ages, genders and ethnicities for a time of spiritual blessing and bold vision-casting. That signal event, the 2007 NCC Convocation, took place on Sabbath, Sept. 15, with the theme, “Be Bold For God.” It drew over 5,000 Adventists to the Sacramento Convention Center.
“I came to be blessed with lots and lots of Adventists all in the same spot,” said Sue Aikin, of the Clearlake church. “It is nice to be in a big family.”
Sabbath School, which began at 9:30 a.m., was filled with music—from the opening song service, given by the praise team from the Sacramento-Capitol City church, to the special music by Christian Edition, an Adventist men’s chorus from Southern California, whose music is heard worldwide. Then Dick Duerksen, assistant to the president for Maranatha Volunteers International explained three new opportunities to be bold for God.
The first project that the NCC family is undertaking is partnering with Maranatha in the construction of 25 buildings in Mozambique, to be used as churches on Sabbath and schools during the week. The second project is planting a church in the greater Folsom/El Dorado Hills area to reach the quickly growing population that lacks an Adventist presence. The third project will provide a youth pastor to minister to children attending the conference’s small schools. Duerksen said this will provide quality spiritual programming that has been unavailable in the past.
“The youth pastor idea is good,” said Carolyn Cottrell, former member of the Grass Valley church who now lives in Arizona. “It is good to have a mixture—projects here, and something abroad.”
To accomplish these plans, the NCC hopes to raise $1 million before the end of 2008. The offering collected at the convocation, Duerksen said, would go toward these three projects and would provide a start toward the goal of $1 million.
“The offering appeal gave us something to think about,” said John Kizziar, from Hayfork. “The $1 million doesn’t seem so daunting.”
Once the Sabbath School programs had finished, all the children and adults gathered together in the main auditorium for the 11 o’clock worship service. Once again music was interwoven throughout the worship hour. In addition to the opening song service and hymn, there was special music given by Pedro Trinidad, pastor of the Lodi and Concord Spanish churches, and by the Orangevale school girls’ choir, who also performed the offertory.
Jim Pedersen, NCC president, delivered the main message. He challenged the members of the NCC to act with boldness for God as Caleb did, both through his words as a young man and his actions as an old man in inspiring a hesitant Israel to conquer the giants of Canaan. Pedersen emphasized that it is no longer acceptable to be satisfied with the status quo, to talk without action, or to merely look as if we are doing God’s business—the time has come to actually rise up with boldness to accomplish the work of God.
“Hopefully the sermon helped to motivate the Church,” said Barry Fox, member of the Rancho Cordova church. “Pedersen was very committed and concerned about being bold.”
“Pedersen’s sermon was awesome,” added Stockton-Mayfair church member Dorothy Childs. “I liked the challenge to go forward; it was much needed.”
In the afternoon, a concert of great Christian hymns featured 23 hymns performed by the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra and a diverse choir of over 450 Adventists from across the conference and around the state. The program was under the direction of Ralph Carmichael, the legendary Christian music composer and conductor, who arranged each note of the music.
“More than 20 church choirs worked intensely on their own through the summer to make the ambitious dream into a glorious reality,” said Michael Spencer, who coordinated the choir efforts. “What a joy it was to see so many of my old friends singing shoulder to shoulder with our students—the voices of tomorrow.”
“It is not often that I am this touched by music,” said Julie Wetherell, of the Healdsburg church, “but the concert actually gave me a glimpse of what I imagine heaven will be like.”
Children’s Sabbath School
Over 400 children participated in either the beginner, kindergarten, primary, junior or earliteen Sabbath School classes, which met in rooms on the second floor of the convention center.
“The kids’ program was fun,” said 9-year-old Molli Creason, from the Gridley church. “I liked the creation story. They passed out a whole bunch of candy and toys.”
The children’s divisions were planned and led by lay people from across the conference. There were songs, prayer time and stories for the kids to enjoy.
“We had no idea how many children to expect, but having hundreds in attendance showed me how much our church is supported by young families,” said Alice Merrill, NCC children’s ministries associate director. “And none of the programs would have been successful without the hard work of all the volunteer leaders from around the conference.
Youth Program
The ballroom on the second floor housed the worship program for the more than 750 youth who attended. The room was set up to reflect a mechanic’s garage, which matched their theme of “Get Out of the Garage.” The program was about what happens when God is allowed to work in one’s life.
“The youth program was really fun,” said 13-year-old Miguel Henson, from Stockton Central church. “The good speakers got us involved. I liked the atmosphere and everyone was pretty nice.”
Eddie Heinrich, NCC’s youth director, worked with the NCC youth pastors to plan a full day of activities. Their program not only lasted for the Sabbath School hour, but they continued to have their own church program and a community service project in the afternoon. Hundreds of youth participated in the daylong program.
“It was fun,” commented Cesar Barroga, a 14-year-old from Stockton Fil-Am. “There were good speakers and it was very lively.”
“It was very interesting,” added 13-year-old Adrew Afanasyuk, from Sacramento Central. “I met a lot of friends from other Adventist schools.”
Concert Friday Evening
Christian Edition, under the direction of Calvin Knipschild, launched the convocation on Friday night with a sacred concert at the Carmichael church. Over 800 people attended the concert, hearing songs and stories focused on Christ’s love.
“It was very spiritually inspiring,” said Daisy Martin, from the Rancho Cordova church. “It freshens your feelings in Christ’s soon coming.”
The group even sang a special song dedicated to the children, whom they invited forward to join them on stage.
“I thought it was inspiring,” said Sacramento Central church member Tim Jones. “I feel that the music was really anointed and I was really blessed by it.”
A Spiritual Blessing
Many people, both those who organized the convocation and those who attended, declared the event a spiritual blessing.
“The concert was wonderful,” said Deeba Iftikhar and Jennifer Sarkar, both from the Antioch church. “It was all wonderful.”
It had been over a decade since an event of this magnitude had brought together the members of the NCC, but the feedback was so affirming that conference leaders were thinking of having another conference-wide convocation in 2009.
“The Spirit of God was so evident at this event, and reports of blessings received are still coming in,” said Pedersen. “I sincerely believe that we as Seventh-day Adventist Christians are to act with boldness for God. And, as we work together as a conference family on these three bold projects, I would love nothing better than to come back in 2009 with a report of success and even bolder plans for God’s work in Northern California and around the world.”
For information about the NCC's three bold projects visit the conference website at ncc.adventist.org. To make a gift, click on the Make a Gift link on the NCC homepage and follow the instructions. For DVDs of the convocation’s morning services, e-mail info@ncc.adventist.org with your name and complete mailing address.
