3 NCC Projects Presented at Convocation
Over the course of the next 15 months, the Northern California Conference is working toward three special mission projects: creating an Adventist presence in the Folsom/El Dorado Hills area, helping students in our schools create a permanent bond with Christ, and working with Maranatha to construct 25 buildings to be used for churches and schools in Mozambique.
In order to accomplish these three projects, we have set a goal of raising $1 million. We have created the budget so that the student fund will receive $250,000, the church plant will receive $350,000, and the Mozambique project will receive $400,000. Every single dollar of the funds collected will go towards these projects. We want the Convocation to be a new start for the people in Northern California in making a difference.
Consider today what you can contribute to the Lord’s work. We want to spread the gospel message to our youth, new areas in Northern California, and locations across the world. Thank you for helping to advance God’s kingdom! Please read on to find out the exciting plans in each of these three areas.
Mission Trips to Mozambique
 The country of Mozambique has approximately 208,000 Seventh-day Adventist members, and the number is growing due to successful evangelistic efforts. Unfortunately, there are only 13 permanent church structures for these hundreds of thousands of people in which to worship. Many members gather together in houses, rented buildings, or simply under a tree. The worship facilities are lacking to such a degree that it is very difficult to maintain a high level of member retention.
Additionally, the citizens of Mozambique are in dire need of education. The literacy rate is under 40 percent for the general population, and only 17 percent of women are literate. The people need to be taught their language, as well as numerous other skills that are necessary to thrive in life.
Maranatha Volunteers International has recognized the need for quality church buildings and education in Mozambique. To help meet these needs, they have determined to build 1,001 structures that will serve as churches on Sabbath and schools during the week. The Northern California Conference has decided to partner with Maranatha in the construction of 25 of these much-needed buildings.
Much planning has already gone into this project; teams are already driving around the country and meeting with various chiefs and officials to determine the locations at which to erect the buildings. Because Mozambique is severely lacking even the most common of resources, the construction plans call  for the importation of everything from trucks to water. Since water, which is extremely scarce, cannot be used to make traditional bricks, Maranatha will be using special interlocking bricks that require no water to make. Due to the water shortage, Maranatha also plans to dig wells in Mozambique to provide the people with such a desperately needed resource.
The NCC is glad to be helping Maranatha with this important mission project. Please join us in advancing the work of God in Mozambique.
Plant a Church in the Folsom/El Dorado Hills Area
 When Christ gave His disciples the Great Commission, He emphasized the need to go and make more disciples. As God has designed all healthy organisms to grow, so does He expect His Body to increase in size. As Seventh-day Adventist Christians, we continue to share the early Church’s mission of making new Christian disciples. One of the ways that the Northern California Conference works to accomplish this goal is by ensuring that those who live within our territory will have access to an Adventist congregation.
With all of the population growth that has been taking place in the greater Folsom/El Dorado Hills area over the past several years, it has become evident that there are areas that are in great need of an Adventist presence. The NCC, with the help of the Rocklin-Sunset Oaks church, has decided to help fulfill the Great Commission by planting a church in the area with the most need.
There is much work to be done. In the last 20 years, most church plants were started by an individual leader. Today, we want to work through a church that will take on the responsibility of planting another church. Thus, our first steps will be to train a growing church on how to multiply their effective ness in reaching their community for God. When church plant work is done by a church, instead of an individual, the new group has a better safety-net and the effort becomes a blessing to both congregations.
After a church family is ready, a competent and experienced leader must be found. Then a team of lay Adventist members needs to be trained on how to lead out in small/home groups. Next, a place for these groups to join together in monthly worship needs to be secured. Finally, after the new believers have a solid Adventist foundation, a centralized location must be found for weekly Sabbath services. It is our goal to have the small groups together, functioning as a church of mainly new Adventists, by the fall of 2008.
Many in the NCC are excited at the possibilities this new church plant offers. We ask that you partner with us in advancing God’s kingdom in an area that is not presently served by one of our churches.
 Education Pastoral Project
In Matthew 19, Jesus told the disciples to “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” As children were important to Christ during His time on Earth, the Seventh-day Adventist Church places a high value on them as well. The Northern California Conference ministers to children in many different ways, one of which is through our schools. Education is an integral part of the gospel ministry in our territory. Every day, teachers and administrators share the love of Jesus with students, which reinforce the lessons taught by their parents and pastors. These individuals work together to lead students in developing a relationship with Jesus Christ and surrendering their lives to Him.
 Nearly half of the 41 Seventh-day Adventist schools in NCC are small schools, having only one, two or three teachers. Because many of these schools are located in somewhat isolated communities, the students do not have many opportunities to interact with other young people who can reinforce their faith. The churches that most of these students attend are frequently not able to offer immersive programs in which they may participate. The pastors in the communities where these small schools are located are limited to the point where the pastor is often responsible for multiple congregations and they carry responsibilities that do not allow them to have frequent interaction with the students.
As the NCC sees each child as a precious blessing, we have seen that special attention needs to be given to students who have limited opportunities for spiritual programs. Therefore, we have determined to provide a youth pastor/chaplain specifically assigned to small schools. This individual would travel from school to school providing Weeks of Prayer, youth rallies, service and outreach opportunities, and other formal programming. Additionally, this individual would form relationships with students and point them to the ultimate relationship with Jesus Christ.
We have set this goal to provide our students in the NCC with a pastor who will intentionally minister to them. We invite you to help us in increasing the opportunities they will have to come to Jesus.
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