ence
o f
Seventh-day
Adventists
NCC Constituency Session
Sunday, May 6, 1984
Rio Lindo Adventist Academy
Not having a natural
constituency of churches to
appeal to when needs are
evident, Rio Lindo Adventist
Academy must appeal to the
only constituency it has—
which just happens to be the
entire constituency of the
Conference. Elder John Collins, the principal of RLAA, reports that
there is a new vitality on the campus—a pride in the quality of
education that is being offered. But he has also noted that there are
needs on the campus that should be addressed now before they
become critical and much more expensive to care for in the future.
There are no plans to assess churches for the necessary funds, but it
has been proposed that one half of the necessary $370,000 be raised
by personal pledges and the balance be funded from the
Conference’s Academy Redevelopment and Expansion Fund (ARE).
This fund was originally established to build a second boarding
academy in the Northern California Conference, but available
student projections later showed that such a step would not be
advisable. Consequently, the funds were placed in a separate
account by the Northern California Conference Constituency in
session with the interest designated to benefit equipment purchases
for church schools in the Conference. The principal in the Academy
Redevelopment and Expansion Fund can only be spent with the
authorization of the Constituency of the Conference.
Rio Lindo
Adventist Academy
and Church Structure
Are Top Items for
NCC Constituency Session
At the 1983 NCC Constituency Session, delegates made a recom-
mendation that a “Church Structure Committee’ be established in
this conference to study the organizational structure of this
conference.
The Conference Executive Committee took an action on July 11,
1983, to appoint the following persons to the Northern California
Conference Church Structure Committee, with the understanding
that they will also serve as the Northern California Conference
representatives on the Pacific Union Conference Church Structure
Committee:
Marion Williams. ........... Layperson (Committee Chairperson)
Halvard Thomsen.................. Pastor (Committee Secretary)
Frank Graves ................... Layperson, Pleasant Hill Church
Richard Schwartz............... Conference Ministerial Director
Ed Stockton ........ cc. Layperson, Eureka
The Committee’s interim report will be presented to the
Constituency delegates along with recommendations for suggested
action to be taken at the session. These include a recommendation
for the Conference Executive Committee to implement a system of
pastoral evaluation and to create a personnel office. Other recom-
mendations concern education and “performance review”
committees to monitor conference objectives and programs.
There are two new approaches to evangelism presently
being employed in the Northern California Conference
that show great promise. Truth for the End Time video
seminars and the Revelation Seminar are being utilized
very successfully in many churches.
The Revelation Seminar has proven to be a very effective
way of attracting the public to Adventist churches to study
the Bible. The Texas Conference, which originated the
concept, states that for every one thousand brochures that
are sent out to communities, about three persons will
respond. In this conference responses are about twice that
figure and, in some cases, three times greater.
The Northern California Conference is giving strong
encouragement to pastoral, lay, and youth involvement in
Revelation Seminars as well as Truth for the End Time video
seminars. Both approaches allow for small-group seminars
in homes, inexpensive meeting places, and
churches. Instead of trying to attract large numbers of
people to a few big evangelistic crusades, the seminars are
successful because more people can be exposed to the
Church’s messages through laypersons participating and
leading out.
A BIBLE PROPHECY ADVENTURE
Individuals wishing to know more about evangelism
opportunities in Revelation Seminars may attend a training
session near them during the month of May. These will be held at the
following locations:
Vallejo Central Church............... May 19 — 2:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Carmichael Church............. May 20 — 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Redding Church .................... May 20 — 3:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Bring a sack lunch to the Vallejo and Redding training sessions.
Adventist Retirement Estates,
located in Yountville, has
now been in operation
nearly 3%2 years. During that
time it has provided a lovely
home for some 150 residents, whose golden years are much more
pleasant because of it.
Napa Valley Adventist
Retirement Estates
Administrator’s Report
At the present time the 80-unit facility houses 82 residents.
Among the most common questions asked when inquiring about
living at Adventist Retirement Estates are “What will | do with my
time? Won't | be terribly bored?” Some of our residents tell us they
are all too busy. Our bus takes them to St. Helena twice each week
and to Napa twice each week. There are periodic all-day trips to
Santa Rosa, Concord, Fairfield, and various other shopping mall
centers. The Napa Adult Education Service offers many pleasurable
hours with courses which include needlecraft, painting, travel,
exercise, storytelling, etc. Musical, lecture, and travel programs
every Friday and Saturday night make quite a full program.
Napa Valley Adventist Retirement Estates has been a blessing to so
many senior Seventh-day Adventists, and the demand for one-
bedroom apartments is such that we are expanding. We are at
present adding 10 more one-bedroom apartments in the adjacent
existing medical building, which are due to open June 1, 1984.
So many have commented that here they find such a lovely Christian
atmosphere in which to start each day.
Charles Todd, Administrator
the Continuing Joys of Ministry
PACIFIC UNION RECORDER /APRIL 30, 1984
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