District Assistant Superintendent’s Report
Dr. Samuel M. Huddleston
The Songwriter Andre’ Crouch put to music the words of David found in Psalms 103:1, “Bless the Lord oh my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name.” Then Andre’ adds, “for He has done great things.”
When I think of all the souls touched and ministered to within the 200,000 square miles called the Northern California/Nevada District I am compelled to lift my hands and join both David and Andre and say the same thing, “Bless the Lord oh my soul for in the NCN He has used the lives of his followers to do great things.”
Part of the reason I am able to bless the Lord all of these years is the power of prayer. Since day 1 in the district office, I have had a small group of prayer warriors who meet Linda and me in our home and at times in the office on Fridays when it is closed to pray with and for us. I believe every pastor and every district official in our nation needs a small group of prayer warriors.
Our small group has met with us and I have never been in charge of the meeting. I am a participant while a 100-pound lady who loves to pray leads us. We have laughed, cried, buried our loves ones prayed for our children and grandchildren, and rejoiced in our victories. Some of them have beat us to heaven but they are still with us in our hearts.
Bless the Lord oh my soul and all that is within me, bless his holy name. When I think of what our Chi Alpha is doing in over 12 college campuses; they are literally touching the world. Reaching young people with the gospel of Jesus. Leading them into the power/baptism of the Holy Spirit is just awesome. What about our Teen Challenge Centers, which we have 12 centers in NCN. The men and women leading these ministries are a very special part of the body of NCN. Bless the Lord.
I have found what holds it all together is not our wisdom although it helps, not our strength, not even our leadership ability…it is prayer.
Prayer causes me to be grateful to the group of Pastors/District leaders who have joined me every Sunday at 7 am for a brief time of touching heaven. We ALWAYS begin by praying in tongues. We pray for all of our District and churches/Pastors throughout the nation. We pray for our national leaders in Government (no matter their party affiliation). We pray for our AG leaders in Springfield. We pray for the persecuted church and about wars and tragedies such as the fires in Southern California. We pray; it’s a quick 10 to 15 minutes. I’m humbled by the consistency of these prayer warriors. You too can join us; the information is included to the left.
Here are a few pictures of pastors, churches, and leaders I have had the honor of being with this past year. There are too many to mention and insert their pictures, but I am grateful and I bless the name of the Lord for each of them.
We have had to close a few of our DA churches. Some became PAC’s, and a few have become General Council. All of them need our prayers. I am so proud of our DA pastors. Most of them work another job that allows them to Pastor our small churches. Many of their spouses work as well. I bless them in Jesus’ name. What an honor to serve alongside them.
I didn’t know what God was doing, allowing me to be reared in a small Baptist church. Or later to plant a church in Benicia and again, shepherd and love a small group of people. Washing the restroom floors on my knees or Linda detailing cars to support our growing family, but I found out as I visited our DA churches and Pastors. I understand them, I really do.
We will list some new DA Affiliated churches below. We will add the new individuals who have accepted the role of Pastoring these small churches.
A special thanks to the churches and Pastors in the state of Nevada who together raised enough funds for our new Pastors in Overton. They together raised enough funds for the pastor’s salary and to lease a home for the next 18 months. Pastor/Presbyter Dean Sanner and Pastor/ Executive Presbyter Dave Childers personally called Pastors seeking support for a small church that had been without a Pastor for over 3 years. Thank you, my brothers and all of you Pastors in Nevada. You did it.
And thank you to each of you who prayed, blessed, and celebrated Linda and me in celebrating 20 years at the District serving and loving you. God has been so good to us.
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 2024:
New District Affiliated Pastors
· Christian Life Assembly of God of Gridley, CA // Pastor Ed Melton
· First Tongan Assembly of God of Oakland, CA // Pastor Viliami Teu
· New Hope Christian Center Assemblies of God of Overton, NV // Pastor Jeremy Artis
New District Affiliated Churches
· Springs of Life Assemblies of God of Valley Springs, CA // Pastor Chris Burson
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
I again want to say thank you to Pastor Bret and Dr. Jay for the privilege and honor of serving alongside them with their spouses. Thank you District Presbytery. Thank you Men’s Ministry Team for walking with me. Thank you to all of the wonderful people who serve us at the DRC. I’m especially grateful for my executive admin, Natalie Aspenlind. A special thanks to Dennis Conrad who has served our office and me by serving the Ethnic Churches/leaders for the past 15 years. I will definitely miss him. But, I still have his cell number.
Last, I want to thank Linda. I did not truly realize what a blessing she is to me until my father passed a few years ago. She is one special lady and I am so privileged and honored to be called by her Samuel, and only she can say it.
To my children and grandchildren. Thank you for the flowers you have sent to my office for me on a monthly basis. You remind me by honoring our family name that #iamablessedman. I bless God for each of you daily by name at 4:13. We are 4 married couples and 13 grandchildren.
From a country boy from Livingston, California who used to ride pigs as a child, I say again, to God be ALL the glory for the great things he has done. I will always bless Him with everything within me. Thanks, AGNCN for the honor and privilege of being your Assistant District Superintendent and friend.
Intercultural Ministries Report
Director Rev. Dennis Conrad
Lynda and I have very much enjoyed serving in Nor-Cal-Nev Intercultural Ministries for over 15 years! It has been an honor to minister in the many incredible second-language or multi-cultural churches that bless our district.
My last day at the District Resource Center was December 31, 2024; so, when you have NCN Intercultural Ministries concerns, please contact Natalie Aspenlind, Dr. Sam Huddleston’s executive admin, at NAspenlind@agncn.org.
Lynda and I highly value the wonderful relationships that we have built across our district over the years, and we will continue to be available to personally serve where needed. District positions and titles are always appropriate and certainly appreciated, but relationships are what ministry is all about.
Thank you so much for your gracious and generous support over the years.
Again last year, we enjoyed many opportunities to reconnect, not only as guests in Sunday services, but also at conferences, seminars, and life celebrations.
It is always a wonderful time to connect at our Ministers’ Retreats at Monterey and Las Vegas.
I will always be thankful for the relationships of Dr. Sam, the IMAC Team (Intercultural Ministries Advisory Committee), and especially my ever-supportive and patient partner in ministry, Lynda Conrad.
This year, at Teen Challenge NorWestCal Nevada (NWCN), our 2025 Teen Challenge graduates are “Shining” at our annual graduation ceremony. This year’s ceremony will showcase the following achievements:
· 12 eighteen-month graduations
· 42 twelve-month completions
Thank you again to Teen Challenge NWCN for reaching the lost for the cause of Christ.
We are celebrating another year of the increase of God’s government and peace on our college campuses in 2024! Thousands of students have received gospel witness and hundreds of lives are being transformed by His divine love and power! In addition to impactful ministry and milestones on our current universities, like Sacramento State University that just celebrated 30 years on campus! We continue to move forward in the great commission with missionary teams like UC Santa Cruz, that just launched two new ministries at San Jose State University and Monterey State University! We are deeply grateful to be a part of this district and for the prayers and support we received as we seek to enlist, equip, and engage missionaries to reach the lost, disciple the saved, and send out revivalists who advance God’s kingdom from the universities to the nations!
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
San Jose State University
Stanislaus State University
Chico State University
Monterey Junior College
Modesto Junior College
Merced College
STANISLAUS STATE FALL RETREAT