Smyrna Church Celebrates 45 Years of Love and Faith, Awaiting Jesus’ Return
BY ARAYA MOSS
Smyrna church’s 45th anniversary celebration brought together friends, visitors, and members from near and far. With the theme “45 Years of Love and Faith, Awaiting Jesus’s Return,” the celebratory day focused on reflecting on God’s faithfulness of the past and looking forward to how He will continue to lead in the future.
Although the church is currently experiencing a transition in pastoral leadership, that didn’t hinder the celebrations. During the service, several members were honored for their dedicated service in ministry. The church was also recognized by several city and state government officials, such as Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass; Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, representing the 55th district; California Secretary of State Shirley Weber; and Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove.
Representing the Southern California Conference, Danny Chan, executive secretary, and Lawrence S. Dorsey II, Greater Los Angeles Region (GLAR) director, shared remarks. Adolphus Garnett, who previously pastored Smyrna church and served as GLAR director from 2004 to 2011, was the guest speaker.
“The church is extremely unique in that its proximity to other churches is very close, and yet it has its own culture, worship experience, and presence in GLAR,” Dorsey said. “My hope is that they can grow during this time of transition while at the same time keeping the unique characteristics that make them so special. They are a church that some would consider small, but the impact of their worship and their ministries goes beyond their walls.”
“As we celebrate Smyrna’s history we want to take time to reflect on the blessings that God has provided to Smyrna these past 45 years and the community impact that has shaped the church,” said Carol Faciane, Smyrna church first elder. “May this anniversary celebrate the faith that unites, the hope that inspires, and the love that binds us as a family in Christ.”
Enduring Faith in Jesus: For Such a Time as This
BY ARAYA MOSS
This fall, Tamarind Avenue church celebrated 60 years of ministry in Compton.
The congregation can trace its roots as early as 1957 from a seed planted by R. Hope Robertson, then pastor of the Philadelphian church in Long Beach. The former Baptist Church of Compton came the location of Tamarind Avenue church under Robertson’s leadership when the Tamarind congregation was officially organized as a church in 1965.
Leading up to the jubilee celebration were weeknight services from guest speakers whose messages highlighted different attributes of Jesus. James Kyle II, pastor of Living Hope church and former Tamarind pastor (2006-2013), was the speaker on Sabbath morning, with a message entitled "What Has He Done for Me Lately?"
Various people and groups significant to Tamarind's history participated in the service in meaningful ways. Music was provided by The Ambassador Chorale, a group conceived by Elder Herman Clements in 1986, who traveled from Arkansas to be at the celebration. The Compton Samoan church, for whom Tamarind was the mother church, gifted Tamarind with a check. City of Compton Mayor Emma Sharif and a representative for California Assembly member Mike Gipson also shared letters of gratitude for the church's contributions to the city.
The church has celebrated the anniversary throughout the year with community events, including a weekend of service for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, food give-aways for Easter and Thanksgiving, and a food scarcity resource workshop in July.
“For 60 years, Tamarind has been a lighthouse in Compton; not perfect, but faithful; not always full, but always alive,” said Justino Jorge, Tamarind associate pastor. “We honor the past not to stay there but to declare that the same God who started this work is not finished yet. May your next 60 years be filled with revival, reconciliation, and with power.”
Santa Monica Church Hosts Anti-Aging Luncheon & Lecture
BY BETTY COONEY
Anticipation ran high for the “Anti-Aging Nutrition Luncheon and Lecture” held Sabbath, September 20, at the Santa Monica church. Participants learned about the “Blue Zones” and their cultures of longevity where people live to be over 100 years old in good health. Weeks in the planning, the event was organized by a small team of members led by Kammy Burnett with presenter John Westerdahl, Ph.D., RDN, lifestyle medicine and anti-aging nutrition expert.
Participants filled the church dining room, eager to sample a meal featuring recipes from The Blue Zones Kitchen cookbook. Members who helped with cooking found that ingredients in some of the exotic recipes were not available in the area, so they made substitutions suggested in the cookbook.
“I found the food amazing and really interesting,” said Donna Marcus, a member of the congregation.
As for guests who sampled the large variety of foods offered for the meal, Joyce Manson summed up reactions neatly: “Some I liked; some I didn’t.”
The meal featured dishes from the five Blue Zones in the world: Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; nearby Loma Linda, Calif.
In the lecture following the luncheon, people took notes and asked questions, reflecting keen interest in learning how they could benefit from and practice Blue Zone guidelines for better health and longer life. They learned that common health problems such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis, and others were preventable and potentially reversible with a healthy whole-food, plant-based diet.
Westerdahl pointed out that Blue Zoners commonly were not smokers, family relations were important to them, they had regular social engagement, and they were usually engaged in spirituality and religion.
“As far as their diet,” Westerdahl noted, “they have moderate caloric intake, vitamins, and a plant-based diet, such as the one featured in today’s luncheon.”
Two subsequent events were planned in the months immediately following the introductory session. Visit santamonicaca.adventistchurch.org for details.
