On December 9, 2023, 80 delegates and guests gathered for the Golden West Conference [GWC] Quadrennial Conference Session at the Iglesia Emmanuel Pentecostal Holiness Church in Bloomington, California. Rev. Fila and Kathy Solis pastor Emmanual PHC. This church was so proud to host this Conference Session and went out of their way to make the day memorable – including serving a full breakfast and a lunch menu that featured ham, turkey, and all of the traditional American [Thanksgiving/Christmas] sides in addition to some of the best home made tamales I have ever eaten. They were gracious and kind hosts.
I was honored to recognize Conference Superintendent, Bishop Timothy Yoo and his wife, Esther. Bishop Yoo serves as the Conference Superintendent of the Korean American Conference. Former Conference Superintendent of the GWC, Bishop Bill Kennedy, was also present. Bishop Terry also invited Rev. Jon Campbell, WMM Missionary to attend and address the conference.
Clergy Credentials were issued/approved as follows:
Minister’s License (3) – Rev. Maria Cecelia Mata, Rev. Josue Ayala, and Rev. Amgad Ghaly
The much beloved pastor Rev. Norman Cluck led the Conference in memorializing and honoring the lives and ministry legacies of the following Conference ministers and spouses in the Memoirs Report:
Bishop Terry’s State of the Conference Report highlighted the dramatic turnaround that the Conference has made in a short period of time: from Executive Council Meetings that are correctly reported/minuted, to providing financial reports that are transparent, factual, and prepared by qualified financial experts, and a School of Ministry that is functioning again and thriving under the leadership of Director Amgad Ghaly, along with Conference–hosted missions’meals thanks to the leadership of Conference CMD’s Bruce and JoAnne Balcombe, and the Conference’s DRUSA response to the Bakersfield floods led by Rev. Billy Woods and his team of men. These efforts prove, as John Maxwell said, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.”
Rev. Anthony Archuleta reported on Discipleship Ministries’ “Faith and Family Initiatives” and its potential impact in the GWC. Rev. Lorenzo Archuleta gave an update on how the ‘Right Now Media’ resources have transformed his ministry and his church. Bishop Terry talked about the “Small Churches Can make a Big Difference” training initiative that the Conference is launching in January 2024.
Bishop Terry has also made a special connection with the pastors of the Conference, and his love and admiration for them is evident and reciprocated as they recognize what transformational servant leadership looks like.
Bishop Bill and Rita Terry are anointed and seasoned leaders. They have a proven track record of resuscitating a Conference. The trajectory of the Golden West Conference is headed in the right direction.
It is always an honor to serve this part of our faith family. They are wonderful, faith–filled members. I wish you had the privilege of getting to know them like we have.
Believing that the ‘best is still to come’ for Bill and Rita Terry and the Golden West Conference.
-Tal-
