More than 2,000 people gathered May 11–14 at Camp Berachah in Auburn, Wash., to celebrate the 30th annual North Pacific Union Conference (NPUC) Regional Convocation. The theme was “Time: Growing Closer, Faith: Getting Stronger.”
The idea started as a women’s retreat and grew into a 30-year tradition of families meeting for faith, fellowship and fun. This annual convocation has changed a lot since then. For a time, families gathered at the Gladstone, Ore., camp meeting grounds before outgrowing the facilities and finding new venues in Hope, British Columbia, and now in Auburn, Wash.
“We have people from all over the U.S. coming now to our convocation,” said Alphonso McCarthy, NPUC assistant to the president for regional affairs.
The weekend celebrations included a number of well-known inspirational preachers, soul-lifting music, and history lessons on how the Black work in the Northwest began to take shape in 1945.
Programming for children and youth was also included. The speaker for the youth was Oliver Archer, Pioneer Memorial Church youth pastor. When he made a call for baptism, 12 young people came forward.
Since 1977, the convocations have consistently advanced and guided the ethnic work in the Northwest. Today, the NPUC is home to 10 Black churches, one company, and two groups with one group being an Ethiopian fellowship.
Ed White was the first NPUC regional department director. He was followed by Wayne Shepherd, Roscoe Howard and the current director, Alphonso McCarthy.
“I like every minute of [convocation],” said Lula A. Martin, a member of the Emerald City Church in Seattle, who has attended the convocation for 30 years. “I like the spiritual part, the food, the fellowship. It just lifts you up and makes you want to do more with life.”
Jan Paulsen, General Conference president, speaking for the Sabbath worship hour, said, "Faith is the ingredient that compels us... to complete the journey. It is a gift of God."
Alvin Kibble, North American Division vice president, gives a historical presentation on the growth and development of the regional work in the U.S. and its effect on the West Coast.
Wayne Shepherd, former NPUC regional and youth director, gives the devotional Friday morning.
Roscoe Howard, North American Division executive secretary and former NPUC regional director, gives the Friday evening sermon.
The Kirkwood family from Port Orchard, Wash., shares their story of receiving a new, mold-free home from the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition TV show last winter.
J. Abraham Francois, Othello/Pasco Ephesus district pastor in the Upper Columbia Conference, is surrounded by his fellow pastors as he is ordained. Jan Paulsen gave the ordination prayer.
"Remnant," a choral group from Baltimore, Md., under the direction of Fabian Morrison, gives a Sabbath evening concert.
The annual convocation is a time to gather for family fellowship and inspiration.
Clinton Valley, Walla Walla College associate vice president for academic administration, gives Alphonso McCarthy, NPUC director of regional affairs, a plaque of support from the Black faculty and students.
Part of the tradition of the convocation is a mass choir, made up of singers from all over the Northwest, who perform for the Sabbath morning worship hour.
Serving in the Northwest for 28 years, Alphonso McCarthy's family has grown up here. From left, son Damian, wife Judith and daugher Daniella.
Michele Charity, from the Breath of Life Church in Seattle, is honored by Alphonso McCarthy for her years of service as the convocation music coordinator.
