District Assistant Superintendent’s Report
Dr. Samuel M. Huddleston
Many of you are aware that I have been journaling in one form or another since I was 17 years old. This morning I opened one of my fifty-plus journals. I opened to the one that said, ”First Official Day.” It was my first day as the newly elected District Assistant Superintendent. Allow me to take you to that day and share with you here what I wrote 20 years ago:
Today is my first official day as the District Assistant Superintendent of Northern California/Nevada Assemblies of God. The following are my direct marching orders in this new role from the spirit: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude, Samuel, should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:3-5.
The second day Linda and I drove to Sonora to spend the day with my spiritual father, Pastor G. Lee Thomas. He has since gone home to be with Jesus. I wrote that the visit with G. Lee and Lady (the name people affectionately referred to his wife as) was good. He is still one of my heroes.
It wasn’t long before I drove to Santa Rosa where I spent the day with Rev. Norman Arnesen. He was one of my professors at Bethany. Time spent with him always refreshes my soul. I want both he and G. Lee to know how much I appreciate them in my life and how much I will need them in the days, months, and years to come. They both laid hands and prayed over me. They seem to know what my challenges will be better than I. I miss them and my father dearly, especially their wisdom.
A few days later, Daryl from Sonora spoke these words to me, “You have a tough job dealing with pastors of small churches. Many are in places they do not want to be in.” I told him I understand. I spent 5 years in a place I did not want to be in, but I learned, HIS PRESENCE, was, is and will be ENOUGH.
At my first staff devotion, Superintendent James Braddy shared the following expectations:
1. We are a team…be loyal.
2. Remember why we are here…to serve.
3. What we do must be done with excellence and integrity.
Why have I shared with you these comments from my first few days and weeks in this office? The answer is perspective. No person can lead without the wisdom and support of others. The boards and teams I have been a part of: Executive Presbytery of the AG USA, U.S. Missions, Chi Alpha, Teen Challenge, District Missions, Ethnic Fellowships, District Presbytery, and Convoy of Hope, were and still are filled with men and women who walk in His presence and much wisdom. I have ALWAYS been grateful at how freely they share both with me. I have never felt like I had to carry the load alone. Some are in the grandstands as witnesses cheering me on to the finish line, I feel that as well.
In this report, you will read about the challenges and praises of the past year. However, I want to be clear that each year is built on the ONES before it. From day 1 in 2004 to the present we have attempted to be true to those first words and receive with gratefulness the challenges set before us.
Please know that everything in this report is made possible because of YOU. First and foremost your prayers, your pastoral and individual support, your presence at events, your words of challenge, and of course your financial support. Not once have I felt left out on a limb by God or by you, my dear friends. So here we go with this report. I hope you are encouraged as you see what the Lord has done in the NCN District Council.
OUR CHURCHES and PASTORS
We congratulate these new lead pastors that were installed in our District Affiliated churches as well as a new District Affiliated church in 2023:
New District Affiliated Pastors
· Calvary Assembly of God of Ely, NV // Pastor Jared Elrod
· Tehama Assembly of God, CA // Pastor Scott Thomson
· Calvary Worship Center Assemblies of God of San Andreas, CA // Pastor Jeff Green
· Valley Springs Assembly of God, CA // Pastor Jeff Green
· Redwood Valley Assemblies of God, CA // Pastor Eric Pace
New District Affiliated Churches
· The Good Shepherd Church of the Assemblies of God of Antioch, CA // Pastor Joel Bakhsh
· Full Gospel Christian Assembly of God of Sacramento, CA // Pastor Petero Koroiveibau
We are grateful to God for them serving their church and community. Pray for them and welcome them to the family. Send them a note of welcome and maybe even a Starbucks card.
District Churches / District Missions
Thank you, Pastor Bret, for the awesome privilege and honor it is to serve our Lord beside you. Thank you, Valerie, for always making us feel welcome in your home. Pastor Bret, you honor me and Dr. Jay in many ways. I hope our pastors are learning from your example. Dr. Jay, I can’t tell you how grateful I am to be your, “Second” oldest A/G friend. Ask Dr. Jay; he will fill in the gaps. Teri, when you are in the office the atmosphere changes. Keep writing; you are an incredible communicator.
Thank you to our Presbytery for the honor of serving with each of you. You have made me a much better leader. Thank you for sharing not just your wisdom, but areas you felt I could do better in. Your grace through the years has been humbling.
Natalie, my Administrative Assistant, you have not wasted that expensive degree you earned from Pepperdine University. My dear friend, Dr. Norvel Young, and his wife Gloria who built that University would often say to me, “Samuel, your future is as bright as the promises of God.” I say those words to you. You are a blessing to this District Council. Our General Superintendent, Pastor Doug Clay, refers to you as, “a rock star.” He is grateful for your service to me.
Thank you, Dennis, for all your help over all things Intercultural and your help to me.
Last my family. You’ve heard me say it and you see it often when I post on, Facebook #iamablessedman because of my family. My personal values are my Faith, my Family, my Friends, and lastly my Future of Legacy. I have tried to live my life in that order. With the prayerful help of my bride of 47 years, our children, and 13 grandchildren God is making this possible. Thank you to my entire family.
To God be the glory for all he has done, is doing, and will do in the future. I am still a country boy from Livingston, California who used to ride pigs…But God.
Intercultural Ministries Report
Director Rev. Dennis Conrad
Lynda and I have been serving in NCN Intercultural Ministries for 14 years! I am glad that our ethnic cultures respect and value gray hair, as we continue to be blessed by the honor of working alongside our incredible cross-cultural leaders and churches.
We enjoyed many opportunities to reconnect throughout the year, not only as guests in Sunday services, but also at NCN Ethnic Fellowship conferences, seminars, and holiday, birthday, and life celebrations.
A highlight of the year was an ethnic leadership summit with Dr. Jay speaking to our Ethnic Fellowship Officers and Church Ministries Director, Char Blair sharing with the officers and ethnic youth leaders.
Our focus in 2023 was on building and restoring relationships. Rather than planning several district-wide events, we spent more time in ethnic churches, out in the field, striving to learn more about how to “be there” for our second-language friends.
I continue to be thankful for and personally benefit from the relationships of Dr. Sam, the IMAC Team (Intercultural Ministries Advisory Committee), and especially my ever-supportive partner in ministry, Lynda Conrad.
This year, my goal is to follow the example of Caleb, who, as an Israelite elder, fought alongside the next Israelite generation as they possessed their Promised Lands. My “Caleb” dream is to work with the “Joshua” second-language church pastors to encourage and develop the ministries and leadership of the next generation.
Thank you for your prayers and support as we continue to serve.
This year, at Teen Challenge NorWestCal Nevada (NWCN), our 2024 Teen Challenge graduates are “Shining” at our annual graduation ceremony. This year’s ceremony will showcase the following achievements:
· 14 eighteen-month graduations
· 27 twelve-month completions
· 1 high school graduate
Thank you again to Teen Challenge NWCN for reaching the lost for the cause of Christ.
What an incredible year of advancing the kingdom of heaven on university campuses! We experienced continued growth on the 11 campus ministries in our district during 2023 with a 62% increase in students committing their lives to Christ this year as 117 stepped through the gates of surrender to Jesus! Students also experienced 63 water baptisms, 59 Holy Spirit baptisms, 59 physical healings/miracles, and 23 deliverances! Your 28 NorCal/Nevada Chi Alpha Missionaries are currently discipling over 436 students every day (a 45% increase from one year ago), and we want to thank you for sending us to reach the nations right here on our university campuses!
Active Chi Alpha ministries in Northern California/Nevada
Stanford University
University of Pacific
University of California, Davis
University of California, Merced
University of California, Santa Cruz
Sacramento State University
Stanislaus State University
Chico State University
College of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas
Modesto Junior College
Merced College
