Driving onto the campus of Camp Berachah near Auburn, Wash., gave a feeling of anticipation and excitement during the 28th Regional Convocation "Bringing Home the Harvest" in May.
Organized by the North Pacific Union Conference (NPUC) regional convocation planning committee with Alphonso McCarthy, NPUC assistant to the president for regional affairs, and Pattric Parris, administrative assistant, the event is made special each year by meeting old friends, making new ones, attending workshops, and enjoying incredible preaching and music.
Among the many Sabbath morning highlights was the giving of the NPUC Humanitarian Award to individuals for their exemplary service to people and their communities.
Carl Parker, director of the Community Learning Center in Portland, received one of the awards. The Community Learning Center is an outgrowth of a program to provide tutoring to elementary students in math and reading. The Community Learning Center opened in 1991 with 13 students. Today it serves students from pre-kindergarten through the second grade. Once each quarter, the center sponsors a wellness check-up program and provides health-related classes and services to address the health issues of the inner city.
Derrick Foxworth, Portland's chief of police, was honored for his 20 years of service to the city of Portland and his work with youth groups and churches.
Also honored was LeEllen Bradshaw founder of Adventist Adoption and Family Services. Bradshaw began informally matching available infants with couples seeking to adopt in the 1950s while her husband was in the Air Force. After their move to Pasco, Wash., she continued to help young expectant mothers find families for their infants. Many mothers stayed in the Bradshaw home until their children were born. From this beginning, Bradshaw founded Adventist Adoption and Family Services in 1958, which is now known as Christian Family Adoptions and is headquartered in Portland.
Plan now to attend next year's regional convocation, scheduled for May 12–15 again at Camp Berachah, for more inspiration, music and fellowship.
Camaeron Candies, accompanied by his sister Ariel, both from the Cloverdale Church in Boise, provided Friday evening's special music.
The regional convocation was not just for the adults. These children were happily involved in their Sabbath School activities.
Continuing in the convocation's tradition, a mass choir, with members from all around the Northwest, provided the offertory meditation during the worship service.
The gymnasium at Camp Berachah was filled to capacity on Sabbath morning.
Jere Patzer, NPUC president, and Alphonso McCarthy, NPUC assistant to the president for regional affairs, presented the Humanitarian Award to Carl Parker, Community Learning Center director, and his wife, Audry .
Derrick Foxworth, Portland chief of police, stood with his wife, Linda, as he received the NPUC Humanitarian Award from Patzer and McCarthy.
Receiving the Humanitarian Award from Patzer and McCarthy was LeEllen Bradshaw, founder of Adventist Adoption Agency, now called Christian Family Adoptions, pictured here with her husband, Robert.
Abraham Jules, New York's City Tabernacle Church pastor, encouraged the audience to be faithful in their witness.
The featured speaker for the youth meetings, Lanston Sylvester, pastor of the Mayfair and Arlington, Calif., churches, challenged the youth to live Christ-like lives.
The Lloyd Mallory Singers, under the direction of Lloyd Mallory, presented a concert Sabbath evening.
Charles Joseph, Breath of Life's NET 2004 field secretary for planning and promotion, encouraged the people to support the satellite evangelistic meetings scheduled for this fall.
Linda Johnson from Portland presented a mime workshop for the youth called "God In Charge."
Marvin Warren, Oakwood College provost and first vice president, presented a workshop about how to preach the fundamental doctrines of the Adventist Church.
