A Gathering of Purpose and Praise: Hispanic Women’s Retreat Inspires Hundreds
By Laurie Trujillo
More than 400 women gathered at Leoni Meadows for the annual NCC Hispanic Women’s Retreat—a weekend filled with worship, prayer, laughter, healing, and connection. From the first note of music to the final prayer of dedication, the peaceful mountain setting became a sanctuary of reflection, restoration, and renewed purpose.
Some came seeking hope, others companionship, and many simply longed for space to reconnect with God. They found a community of women united in faith, pouring into one another with grace and love. One attendee beautifully captured the spirit of the weekend: “Seeing so many younger women this year was excellent. I think all left with a renewed sense of purpose—to God and to one another.”
NCC Hispanic Women’s Ministry Coordinator Florinda Guevara reflected on the experience: “Being part of a group of 400 women meeting in one place, enjoying each other’s companionship, praising God, and being prepared for the return of Jesus has been a joyful experience and a great source of inspiration.”
Under Guevara’s leadership, the Hispanic Women’s Ministry team continues to empower women locally, nurturing leaders who serve with compassion, conviction, and courage. This annual retreat is more than an event—it is a movement of spiritual renewal, leadership development, and sisterhood rooted in the love of Christ.
As the women returned to their churches and homes, they carried with them treasured memories and a deepened commitment to walk faithfully with Jesus and lift one another up in love. The message was clear: Heaven draws near when women gather with intention and unity.
Hundreds of Adventurers Navigate “City Streets” at Annual Bike Derby
By Ken Miller
This year’s NCC Adventurer Bike Derby took young riders on a new adventure—through the streets of a kid-sized city at Safetyville USA in Sacramento. Designed to resemble a real city, complete with stoplights, stop signs, railroad crossings, and left-turn lanes, Safetyville provided the perfect setting for children to practice bike safety and learn the rules of the road in a fun and realistic environment.
Children from more than 25 Adventurer Clubs participated, riding for hours through the miniature city while parents and children enjoyed delicious food and snacks sold by dedicated club volunteers.
In previous years, the Bike Derby was held on the track at Sacramento Adventist Academy, where children focused on completing as many laps as possible. This year’s venue shift was a new experiment, emphasizing practical skills like traffic awareness, decision-making, and safe riding in a city-like setting.
The response from club directors was overwhelmingly positive. Many appreciated the educational value and excitement the new location offered. As a result, future Bike Derbies may alternate between the traditional track and Safetyville to provide a well-rounded experience for all types of riders.
Teachers and Pastors Engage in Engagement
By Ken Miller
In April, 200 NCC educators and 130 pastors gathered at Gracepoint Church in Rocklin for the annual Mark Blue Lecture Series. This year’s theme advanced the NCC’s commitment to organizational health by concentrating on active engagement between employees, church members, and students. Keynote speaker Berit von Pohle, Pacific Union vice president of education, highlighted the value of positive leadership and offered many practical tools to help education and ministry professionals strengthen engagement.
Also highlighted was the need for collaboration between schools and churches to inspire future leaders. Presenters and audience discussed ways to engage young people in learning and service, creating a seamless connection between educational and spiritual development. With these strategies, schools and churches can build stronger, more unified teams, ultimately leading students and members to a more significant impact in their communities.
PUC Hosts Academy Music Festival
By Ken Miller
Over 200 students from nine academies—including NCC schools Lodi, PUC Preparatory, Paradise, Pleasant Hill, Rio Lindo, and Ukiah Junior Academies—met at Pacific Union College for the 2025 Music Festival.
The participants included high school musicians from choir, strings, and band. Rachelle Berthelsen-Davis, Pacific Union College music department chair and orchestra director, exclaimed, “This weekend saw some excellent music making, and everybody had so much fun!”
Musicians met for breakout sessions that included improving skills and techniques and practicing the music selected for the Sabbath evening concert. One concertgoer, a student from PUC, shared, “I am just impressed at the quality of music presented.”
Berthelsen praised, “Bravo to Becky St. Clair, administrative director, who made this event come to life, all the academy performers, teachers, parents, and my co-directors, Will DeWitt for the band, and Ronnie Zanella, who directed the choir.”
