Blog


Signs of Autumn

By Pastor Mitch Williams
September 05, 2024
The most colorful time of year is almost here! Amid the falling leaves and changing temperatures, we are greeted by amazing colors that feast our eyes. This is the season when the weather is pleasantly balanced, neither too hot nor too cold. Autumn is also the time of harvest. In...

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Beautiful minds

By Pastor Mitch Williams
August 29, 2024
How is your mental health? Almost everyone experiences occasional bouts of sadness or varying degrees of anxiety. But recent studies are showing a greater percentage of people, young and old, feeling overwhelmed, persistently down, anxious and emotionally unstable. Whether it is ...

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Back to school!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
August 22, 2024
Do you remember getting ready for the first day of school?  When I was in elementary school, I attended La Sierra Adventist Academy, and I remember fondly those first days back to school. The routine was always the same. My parents purchased some new clothes, shoes, and sch...

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Perry Mason

By Pastor Mitch Williams
August 15, 2024
If you are over 50 years old, you may remember the television series called Perry Mason, the 1960s TV series about a criminal defense attorney. On the other side of the defense, is a prosecuting attorney, who seeks to convince a jury to find the defendant guilty of a crime. ...

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Camping in Wyoming

By Pastor Mitch Williams
August 01, 2024
Next week, over 60,000 individuals from over 100 countries will gather for the International Pathfinder Camporee in Gilette, Wyoming. This is the single largest gathering of Adventist young people in the world, and it happens once every five years. The Hill Pathfinder Club, ...

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Summer Fun!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
July 25, 2024
Summer is a beautiful time of year to spend with family and friends, take a vacation, and enjoy a change of pace between school years. Summer is also a time of transition. Students move up to the next grade or the next Sabbath School class. Young adults leave home and head o...

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Troubling World

By Pastor Mitch Williams
July 18, 2024
When my father was in high school, he remembers vividly the school principal abruptly announcing that President Kennedy had been shot. When President Reagan was shot, I learned of it while walking between classes at Fresno Adventist Academy. When something tragic happens, we neve...

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Timing Is Everything

By Pastor Miguel Verazas
July 11, 2024
The temperature is hot, vacations are being taken, and camp meeting sessions are upon us. The summer is well underway. With all the summer "busyness," I have lately been reflecting on time. Contrary to what many may think, you cannot buy time, you cannot borrow time, and ...

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Happy 4th

By Pastor Mitch Williams
July 05, 2024
Two hundred and forty-eight years ago today, the vision of the United States of America was brought to life. Established by those who sought religious freedom and new opportunities, this remarkable experiment endures to this day. While America may have its imperfections, it conti...

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Third Pastor!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
June 27, 2024
For nearly a year and a half, Pastor Miguel and I have been praying for the Lord to lead us in our search for a third pastor. Those prayers were answered on Monday evening when the church board voted unanimously to hire Candice Tuazon. Pastor Candice will begin serving as our thi...

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In Remembrance

By Pastor Miguel Verazas
June 20, 2024
Nothing is more special than when families come together at the dinner table. The food, fellowship, and memories created around that table are truly unforgettable. Did I mention the food?  It’s no wonder Jesus gave one of His most important messages when He and His ...

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Baptized Into Christ

By Pastor Miguel Verazas
June 13, 2024
My favorite scene in the movie Jesus Revolution is when Greg Laurie decides to give his life to Jesus and be baptized. In the early part of the film, young Greg has been in search of all the right things in all the wrong places—until he encounters Jesus. I was mov...

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Summer Is Here!

By Pastor Miguel Verazas
June 06, 2024
If you have not realized it yet, summer is here, and the temperature outside matches this reality! Let me remind you that one of the highlights of summer—Vacation Bible School—will be happening June 24-28, with our annual VBS Sabbath on June 29. Soon, you will begi...

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Congratulations, Class of 2024!

By Pastor Miguel Verazas
May 31, 2024
The days are getting warmer, which can only mean one thing: It's that time of year again when graduations happen! Many graduations will occur over the next few weeks, and we are very proud of the 2024 class graduates. We pray that God's blessing be upon you during this important ...

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The Most Important Goal!

May 23, 2024
As a parent, what is the most important goal for raising your child? Is it their academic foundation? No doubt, we certainly want our child to have the academic prowess to attend and graduate from college in order to serve in a professional career. But is that the most important ...

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High Sabbath!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
May 16, 2024
This Sabbath, we have several elements to make our worship service extra special! Baptism – Pastor Miguel is privileged to be baptizing Sienna Sanders, this Sabbath! Sienna, an 8th grader, will be sharing her testimony where she heard the voice of God speak to her...

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Alumni Sabbath!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
April 12, 2024
Since 1952, Pleasant Hill Adventist Academy (PHAA) has been serving the East Bay, providing Adventist Christian education to generations of families. PHAA has provided students (K-12) not only with a strong academic foundation, but much more importantly, a Christ-centered en...

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Showers of Blessings!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
April 05, 2024
Two years ago, we prayerfully cast a vision of the possibility of purchasing our very own shower trailer to help bring dignity and care to the homeless in our community. The Lord has seen fit to raise more than enough funds to purchase a brand new shower trailer!  This Sa...

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He Is Risen!

By Pastor Miguel Verazas
March 28, 2024
One of the greatest experiences of my life was traveling to the Holy Land several years ago. One of my favorite and most memorable experiences on that trip was visiting The Garden Tomb. Although this is one site where Jesus is believed to have been laid, the fact that I was ...

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Spring Has Sprung!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
March 21, 2024
My body always knows when Spring is upon us because my allergies ignite. This week, I had to take my first Zyrtec of the season to help relieve my symptoms. As it turns out, Spring officially began on Tuesday of this week.  Spring is an exciting time of year as we leave t...

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Never Forget!

By Pastor MITCH WILLIAMS
March 14, 2024
How do Christians remember what Jesus did for them on the Cross? One way is through the periodic practice of Communion. This Sabbath we take a fresh look at the most symbolic meal ever consumed. We will take our place at the table in the Upper Room, and observe some of what Jesus...

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The Final Week

March 07, 2024
No week was more pivotal in world history than the final week in the life of Jesus Christ. Jesus knew His time had come to fulfill His primary missional goal. He readied himself and returned to Jerusalem, lodging with his good friends Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. On Sunday, Jesus m...

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REVIVE OUTREACH!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
February 29, 2024
10 years ago, Gertie Warnick, Director of our Food Pantry Ministry, dreamed of bringing showers to the unsheltered community. Today, with over 400 people receiving food on a monthly basis, a portion of those individuals actually live in their cars. When you live in your car, you ...

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His Children

By Pastor Mitch Williams
February 22, 2024
 Last November, I had the chance to visit Washington DC, along with students from Pleasant Hill Adventist Academy. We toured the various memorial sites, including the most recently built, Martin Luther King Memorial. This was the first memorial ever erected in our Nation&rsq...

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Hearing God's Voice

By Pastor Mitch Williams
February 16, 2024
A few weeks ago, I drove my daughter Olivia, 17, to downtown San Francisco for an early 8 AM appointment. As we navigated the rush hour traffic, we were cutting it close to being on time. Fortunately, we arrived with 5 minutes to spare. After parking the car in the underground ga...

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Men of God

By Pastor Mitch Williams
January 26, 2024
On Wednesday evening of this week, 18 men gathered in the youth chapel to begin a journey to the heart of God. We were reminded that every strong family and every strong church has strong men of God. The Bible tells us, “iron sharpens iron,” and Godly men are called t...

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Experiencing God!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
January 18, 2024
 Many years ago, while attending Andrews University Theological Seminary, I became friends with one of the professors, Dr. Joseph Kidder. He initially studied to be an engineer, but after becoming a Christian, he felt the call to be a pastor and eventually a professor. Dr. K...

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21 Day Challenge!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
January 12, 2024
Last Sabbath, our guest speaker, Pastor Martin Kim, preached about the Biblical practice of prayer and fasting. Most of us know what it means to pray, but few of us understand the spiritual value of fasting.  I have found fasting to be a very crucial companion to prayer i...

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New Beginnings!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
January 05, 2024
What kind of year will 2024 be? Blessings and bounty, or hardship and loss? Of course none of us knows what type of year we will experience. But one thing is certain, we need the Lord to help navigate us through unchartered waters. As we recommit ourselves to the Lord, what new b...

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BLESSED NEW YEAR 2024!

December 28, 2023
On behalf of your pastors and church staff, we want to wish each one of you a Happy and Blessed New Year!  "Dear God, Thank you for new beginnings. What an incredible day this is with a fresh year's potential stretched out before us. We want to be found faithful this ye...

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Merry Christmas

By Pastor Mitch Williams
December 21, 2023
As the Christmas holiday season soon comes to a crescendo on December 25, this coming Sabbath, we celebrate the birth of Jesus with a carefully planned Christmas service. Through congregational singing, various special music, and the reading of the Christmas story in chronologica...

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Bethlehem Birth!

By Mitch Williams
December 14, 2023
I’ll will never forget the first time I had the privilege of visiting Bethlehem. My wife and I were there together. As we entered the ancient town, we eagerly anticipated seeing the most famous little village in all of the world.  Upon arrival, our tour guide led us...

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A Special Place!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
December 07, 2023
I marvel at how the Lord is growing our church! For example, the general contractor who was instrumental with our church renovation has been bringing his wife and children to our church. Or the couple who first took a tour of Messiah’s Mansion back in early August and has s...

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Tis the Season!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
December 01, 2023
The most wonderful time of year has just begun! The time to remember what our Creator did 2,000 years ago. The time of year when we recall with wonder how the Lord gave us the greatest display of His love by becoming one of us. The ultimate gift bestowed upon humanity sets the...

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Happy Thanksgiving!

By Pastor Mitch and Pastor Miguel
November 21, 2023
On behalf of your pastors and church staff, we want to wish each one of you a Happy Thanksgiving! As you gather with your loved ones may we all remember to give thanks to our Lord for He is good! "I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your won...

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Time To Be Thankful

By Pastor Mitch Williams
November 17, 2023
Thanksgiving is almost upon us, and with it, the anticipation of family, friends, and food around a bountiful table. Our family, like many others, has a Thanksgiving tradition of going around the table and allowing each person to say one thing that they’re thankful for. Lik...

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Home Builder

By Pastor Mitch Williams
November 09, 2023
The home is very important to God. In fact, He created families before He created the Church. When God created Adam and Eve, He placed them in relation to each other and to their children. He established the family as the pattern for all mankind because He wanted us to live toget...

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LORD, HELP!

By Pastor Miguel Verazas
November 02, 2023
There is a saying in Spanish that states, “If you want to make it into heaven, you must learn to speak the language of heaven, which is Spanish.” Quite frankly, I am a little partial to this statement for obvious reasons. The Spanish Bible translation does a very good...

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Outreach Sabbath!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
October 26, 2023
Our annual Pathfinder Food Drive happens this Sabbath! Your donated food will help resupply the inventory of our Food Pantry (Adventist Community Services), where we provide food to over 400 individuals each month. The demands for food has increased 100% in the past few years. Th...

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Sharing Your Surplus

By Pastor Mitch Williams
October 19, 2023
 As we soon enter the season of Thanksgiving, it is our church tradition to solicit food donations from our community. The collected food will be distributed by our Food Pantry in the following year. This Sabbath, our Pathfinder Club and other volunteers, will be dropping...

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Miracle On The Mountain

By Pastor Mitch Williams
October 12, 2023
The tallest mountain in the lower 48 states happens to be Mt. Whitney, California, reaching an elevation of 14,505 feet. The trailhead begins at 8,330 feet and is 22 miles to the summit and back. Most will take two or three days for the hike. Each season, from May 1 through Novem...

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Lord Of The Harvest

October 06, 2023
Melita had never opened the Bible before in her childhood. Her father was not a Christian, and her mother was absorbed in Taoism. After graduating from high school, she entered college, not having any affiliation with any religion.  Research shows that 85% of people who b...

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Aaron Shust Concert

By Pastor Miguel Verazas
September 28, 2023
Aaron's fascination with music-with unique sounds, melodies, progressions, and techniques has always been a salient part of who he is. From an early age, Aaron has felt most at home in front of a piano. Just as innate to Aaron is his love of God's Words, wrestling with the Script...

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Autumn Colors

By Pastor Mitch Williams
September 21, 2023
The official first day of fall arrives this Sabbath. The signs of autumn are beginning to show, with the leaves turning and the evenings cooling. How wonderful it is to see God’s handiwork in the changing seasons. This Sabbath, we resume our series entitled: Lessons from...

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Church Retreat 2023!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
September 14, 2023
 Harold Alomia was a pastor for almost two decades and had not yet understood the foundational truth of The Gospel. Yes he believed that Jesus loved humanity, and that God saved humanity, but there was a key component missing.  During our Church Retreat at Leoni...

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Philippine's Love

By Pastor Mitch Williams
September 07, 2023
This Sabbath, we celebrate the work of our church missionaries, who went to the Philippines this summer to serve. Pastor Miguel and Ms. Bonnie Gottke led the group of approximately 17 high school students from various local schools.  The target of the mission trip was to ...

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Testing Time

By Pastor Mitch Williams
September 01, 2023
With Autumn soon approaching and the new school year underway, 2023 has proven to be a blessed year for The Hill. We have enjoyed a full church Sabbath after Sabbath, baptisms throughout the year, as well as outreach events such as VBS, Messiah’s Mansion and Concerts. We ar...

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Summer of Baptisms!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
August 24, 2023
What does Carol Paulino, Diana Bodnaryuk, Andrew Kiel, Christina Kiel, Andrea Kiel and Kenneth Kiel, Josie Gottke and Nicolas Alvarado have in common? They were all baptized this summer!  This Sabbath, Grace Dadula also joins this distinguished group of born-again followe...

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The Story of Joy

By Pastor Mitch Williams
August 17, 2023
 You may have heard the news about the experienced hiker who fell 150 feet to their death on August 11 at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. What makes the story even more personal is that the hiker, Joy Cho, was a close family member of our church member, Dr. John Cho. M...

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Light of the World

By Pastor Mitch Williams
August 10, 2023
 I hope you were able to join the approximately 2,300 people who toured the (Messiah’s Mansion) replica of the Old Testament Sanctuary from July 29 to August 6. We had guests coming to our campus from all over northern California, from Sacramento to San Jose, from...

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Tour the Sanctuary

By Pastor Mitch Williams
August 03, 2023
Since last Sabbath, just about 800 people have toured the Old Testament replica of the portable sanctuary used by the Children of Israel for nearly 500 years. The replica sanctuary is called Messiah’s Mansion, located on the campus of Pleasant Hill Adventist Academy.  ...

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Tabernacle Replica

By Pastor Mitch Williams
July 14, 2023
Approximately 3,000 years ago, God asked Moses to build a sanctuary in the Sinai desert so He could dwell among His people. That portable, tent-like structure was the place of God’s Shekinah glory. It was the place of animal sacrifices, blood, and flames. Each element insid...

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Remembering Back

By Pastor Mitch Williams
July 07, 2023
This Sabbath, we have two important events that take our minds back: Communion Service: This Sabbath, we remember the power of the blood that Jesus shed for us at Calvary. Please come to church ready to worship the One who bought you for the ultimate price and offers eternal ...

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Church Retreat 2023!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
June 30, 2023
Our annual Church Retreat held in the Sierra Nevada Mountains (Leoni Meadows Camp) is coming this Fall! This is always a weekend of fun, fellowship and spiritual rejuvenation! The Church Retreat is a great time for the whole family! Being in God’s nature is both relaxing...

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Goodbye Elder Roderick

By Pastor Mitch Williams
June 23, 2023
For over 45 years, Dick and Althea Roderick have been faithful members of The Hill. Year after year, you would find them at church, in their pew, upfront, on the right-hand side. But a few weeks ago, Dick was not at church. A few of us went to visit the Roderick’s that same...

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STELLAR VBS!

By Pastor Miguel Verazas
June 08, 2023
Get ready to BLAST OFF with us on another fun-filled VBS Adventure! On June 12 -16, 2023, we will launch off your kids on a cosmic quest where they will have a BLAST shining Jesus's Light to the World. It will be a spectacular five days of activities, inc...

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Graduation Time!

June 01, 2023
As the school year is coming to a close, no doubt you’ve likely received an invitation to a graduation. Whether it is for preschool, kindergarten, eighth grade, high school, or college, all graduations are important milestones in a young person's life!  This week an...

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Celebrating Christ!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
May 25, 2023
This Saturday, your church will host two special events for your family and friends. Here’s the line-up: Tad Worku Concert – 6:30 PM After graduating from college in Northern California, Tad Worku was offered a pop contract by a record label, offering to fund hi...

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Celebrating Youth!

May 19, 2023
For approximately 70 years, Pathfinder Clubs all over the world have helped young people develop practical skills, enjoy outdoor activities, make new friends and most of all, learn more about Jesus. You may not know it, but our church has a Pathfinder Club with over 30 young peop...

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Messiah's Mansion!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
May 11, 2023
How would you like to travel back 3,000 years to the ancient portable sanctuary built by the nation of Israel? God told Moses, “Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them.” Exodus 25:8  This summer, your church is bringin...

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If My People!

By Mitch Williams
May 04, 2023
It’s one of the most potent promises in all of the Bible, yet often neglected. We have memorized the promise but have forgotten it. It’s a promise that speaks of God’s power to hear and to heal! What is that promise? It’s a promise found in the Old Test...

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Footsteps Of Paul

By Mitch Williams
April 29, 2023
This Sabbath, the Bible comes to life as we go back two millenniums to another continent and another world. Just over 30 days ago, Pastor Miguel and I returned from an epic trip to Turkey and Greece. We were privileged to visit the cities where the Gospel was first preached, wher...

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Faith & Science

By Pastor Mitch Williams
April 20, 2023
Have you ever wondered how science and faith can fit together? Does science deal only with evidence and faith built on something else? Did you know many people lose their faith because they become convinced that science has disproved their belief in God and the Bible?&n...

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Alumni Sabbath!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
April 13, 2023
Since 1952, Pleasant Hill Adventist Academy (PHAA) has been serving the East Bay, providing Adventist Christian education to generations of families. We even have children currently attending whose mother or father also attended PHAA. For over 70 years, PHAA has been helping chil...

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Garden Tomb

By Pastor Mitch Williams
April 06, 2023
I’ll never forget the time we gathered together for a worship service in a garden. It was no ordinary garden. It was surrounded by high cliffs, with a particular cave. In front of the cave was a very large round millstone. It was surreal to be in the place that changed huma...

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Remember

By Pastor Miguel Verazas
March 30, 2023
If there is something that I enjoy, it is food! Who doesn’t love a great meal?  I’m what you might call a “foodie.” I love trying new foods, especially when fused with different culinary cultures. Along with smelling and tasting the food, I enjoy t...

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Revelation Simplified!

March 24, 2023
Which book of the Bible most intimidates you? Which book is most often misunderstood? If you answered the book of Revelation, then perhaps this Sabbath is for you! This Sabbath, we are blessed to have guest speaker, Shama Stock, present from the book of Revelation. But here&rs...

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Paul's Footsteps

By Pastor Mitch Williams
March 16, 2023
Since March 6th, Pastor Miguel and I, along with 90 other pastors and their spouses, have been visiting the many Biblical sites found in the countries of Turkey and Greece. Most notably, we toured the seven churches of Revelation, including Ephesus and Laodicea. We also visited T...

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Pan De Vida Tours

By Pastor Mitch Williams
March 09, 2023
You may have heard The Hill is planning a Holy Land Tour next year! Originally, we set a goal of 50 of our church members to attend the trip, but less than a week after the tour announcement, we currently have 56 signed up! We don’t want to turn anyone away, so a second bus...

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Holy Land Pilgrimage!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
March 02, 2023
Have you dreamed of taking a boat ride upon the Sea of Galilee, or visiting the site of Jesus’ baptism, or walking the streets of Jerusalem, or seeing the cave where Jesus was born in Bethlehem? Next Spring your church will be taking a tour of the Holy Land. This tour will ...

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Black History Sabbath

February 25, 2023
She was known as the “Moses of her people,” She was enslaved herself, escaped, and then helped others gain their freedom as a leader in the Underground Railroad. Over a course of years, Harriet Tubman not only led hundreds of abused slaves to freedom in the north, but...

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Ministry Engagement

By Pastor Mitch Williams
February 18, 2023
Last Sabbath we were reminded that a healthy church cannot function effectively with only a few persons doing the work of ministry. Not even Peter, along with the other apostles, could keep up with the demands of the Acts church. There came a time to delegate and empower the memb...

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Disaster In Turkey

By Pastor Mitch Williams
February 11, 2023
The aftermath of one of the deadliest earthquakes to strike this century is being experienced in Turkey and Syria this week. The 7.8 earthquake has been followed by over 100 aftershocks, some as massive as 7.5. Nearly 6,000 buildings have collapsed in Turkey. Hundreds of thousand...

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Looking Back and Forward

By Pastor Mitch Williams
February 02, 2023
One of my favorite Ellen White quotations is this: "We have nothing to fear for the future except as we shall forget the way the Lord led us, in our past." Earlier this week, your church held a Business Meeting reviewing how the Lord has blessed us in 2022. If you misse...

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The Power of Connection

By Pastor Mitch Williams
January 28, 2023
Last Sabbath we examined the book of Acts and rediscovered one of the secrets of the first-century Christian church! We saw that the first church was connected! They were first connected with the Holy Spirit and then they were connected with one another! The way they grew closer ...

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Coats and Shoes

By Pastor Mitch Williams
January 21, 2023
When was the last time you were without a proper coat or shoes? Yet that is the case for many people living on the streets all around us. How can we make a difference? By giving from our plenty! If you have an extra coat or shoes in your closet, please bring them to church thi...

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Goodbye Friend

By Pastor Mitch Williams
January 14, 2023
Most of us are still reeling from the shocking news that our sweet sister, Sally Nam, has fallen asleep. The always smiling, always friendly and always serving Sally touched each one of us in ways that we will never forget. She exemplified Jesus with an attitude of love, kindness...

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Welcome To 2023!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
January 07, 2023
Happy new year! As we proceed into the unchartered territory of a new year, have you reflected upon 2022? How has the Lord shown His grace, by bringing you through trials, challenges and disappointments? In what ways has the Lord shown you His favor? Taking inventory is a he...

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Prescription for Immunity

By Pastor Mitch Williams
September 08, 2022
The past two and half years has reminded us of an indisputable truth: Our health cannot be taken for granted. With a pandemic that has recently swept the world off its feet, everyone knows that excellent health is foundational for fighting chronic diseases and infections. Whi...

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Fall Plans

By Pastor Mitch Williams
September 01, 2022
The excitement is building for our upcoming fall Church Retreat, at Leoni Meadows Camp, on September 16-18. With approximately 170 registered, it promises to be a great event! We also have additional people coming up for Sabbath. If you have any questions or want to confirm y...

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Get Ready!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
August 25, 2022
What in the world is going on? Have you had a family member, friend or co-worker ask you such a question? With the plethora of unprecedented events taking place, many are wondering what is happening to our world? As Adventists, we recognize the birth pangs of a world soon com...

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Back to School!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
August 18, 2022
It’s hard to believe that we are entering back into the season of school. This week, Pleasant Hill Adventist Academy (PHAA) began classes with its highest enrollment in many years. Under the leadership of our new principal, Dr. Philip Williams, the Lord has brought a fl...

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High Sabbath!

August 11, 2022
It’s hard to believe, but exactly six years ago this month, Pastor Miguel began as our Youth Pastor for The Hill. In those six years, Pastor Miguel has served in many ways, baptizing countless youth, leading praise music, overseeing our AV expansion to live-stream, over...

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Work Bee!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
August 04, 2022
All are invited to roll up their sleeves and prepare Pleasant Hill Adventist Academy for the new school year. This Sunday, August 7, from 7:30 AM to Noon, we have a great opportunity to help clean up and beautify the campus in a major way. Our work bee will not only focus...

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Thank You Pastor Miguel!

By Reena Cho
July 28, 2022
Over the past years, Pastor Miguel has shared his talents, his gift of music, and most of all his love for Jesus with our church family. He is charismatic, passionate and genuine. He wears his heart on his sleeve and when being in the same room with hi...

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Mountaintop Experience

By Pastor Mitch Williams
July 22, 2022
Have you registered yet for our upcoming Church Retreat, scheduled for September 16-18, at Leoni Meadows Campground? If not, please don’t delay. We have a limited number of lodge rooms and cabins. Meals will be served in the cafeteria. Many fun activities are planned for...

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Committed in Concert

By Pastor Miguel Verazas
July 14, 2022
Committed is an a cappella singing group comprised of five educated young men who love creativity, music, and God. The group began in 2003 at Forest Lake Academy and solidified their sound while at school at Oakwood University in Huntsville, AL. Committed has grown to be a ...

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Summer Recess

By Pastor Mitch Williams
July 07, 2022
I trust you are enjoying a wonderful summer with your family and friends.   Just to keep you in the loop, many exciting developments are taking place at Pleasant Hill Adventist Academy (PHAA)! We have hired a new principal, Dr. Philip Williams, and he and his wife...

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Bread that Speaks

By Pastor Mitch Williams
June 30, 2022
In a world filled with strife and divisiveness, the church offers us peace and unity. As Christians, we have the opportunity to escape the chaos of this world and instead experience the stability of the church. The church is indeed the body of Christ. So when we gather togethe...

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Get Ready for Christ Because He is Ready for You!

By Gene Valdez
June 23, 2022
Church Family, I want to tell you in preparing my sermon I have reflected on the past 9 years that I have been elder and how special that time has been on my spiritual growth and seeing the growth and triumph of our church in face of much adversity. I can tell you one thing, ...

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Mountain Top Experience!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
June 09, 2022
Thanks to the pandemic and wild fires, our annual Church Retreat has been cancelled the last two years. But finally we are scheduled to return to Leoni Meadows Camp this fall, September 16-18! The Church Retreat is a church-wide event and everyone of all ages is invited. L...

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Incredible Stories!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
June 02, 2022
Sometimes, when we read the Bible, it can feel like those kinds of miracle stories just don't happen in 2022. Yet I’m here to tell you, this Sabbath we have three individuals that are proof positive, God still does perform Bible-sized miracles in our time. The first ...

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Two Funerals!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
May 26, 2022
This weekend we especially remember the many soldiers who gave their lives in defense of our nation. The Bible tells us there is no greater love a person can show than to give their life for another. May we pause this weekend and reflect upon the incredible sacrifice of those ...

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Celebrations & Farewells

May 05, 2022
This Sabbath we celebrate a new member and say goodbye to others. First, we rejoice over the baptism of Michael, son of Ken and Gilda Kreider. Michael, who is just finishing the 4th grade at Pleasant Hill Adventist Academy, has been studying the Bible with Pastor Miguel for t...

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Showers of Blessings!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
April 28, 2022
Spring showers brings May flowers – or so goes the promise! What a beautiful spring we’ve have experienced, and the rain has been a special bonus! This Sabbath, we will be blessed with more showers, in particular, the rain of the Holy Spirit! The Lord will bles...

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Reconnecting!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
April 22, 2022
Loneliness was a problem in America before the pandemic. But now after two years of shutdowns, closures, isolation, social distancing, and masking, the trauma of protecting our health has significantly affected our connectedness. With the pandemic losing steam, we see lif...

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Season of Hope!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
April 14, 2022
We live in a time when good news seems to escape us. Whether it be a persistent pandemic, relentless inflation, random shootings, wars and threats of world war, or degrading morals, we live in troubling times. It was troubling times 2000 years ago on a Friday, when the foll...

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Alumni Sabbath!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
April 07, 2022
This Sabbath we celebrate how the Lord shapes and matures our youth through Adventist education. Our guest speaker, Dr. Lindsay Bautista Gammenthaler, will present the message. All alumni of Pleasant Hill Adventist Academy (PHAA) are invited to our service. We will especially ...

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Spring has Sprung

March 31, 2022
Hope you have enjoyed the budding trees, blooming flowers, and longer days. The spring showers have also prolonged the green hills all around us. After a long and dormant winter, who is the One the who wakes up nature? Through him all things were made; without him nothing was ...

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Photobomb

By Pastor Miguel Verazas
March 24, 2022
Never in this bride's dreams would she have imagined Tom Hanks photobombing one of her wedding pictures. Everyone is talking about actor Tom Hanks surprising Grace Gwaltney on one of the happiest days of her life. She and her bridesmaids were getting into the limo from their ...

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Cheerful Benevolence

By Pastor Mitch Williams
March 17, 2022
Earlier this week, an Adventist Church in Nikolaev reported that a Russian missile landed just 25 feet from their structure. With God’s help and protection it did not explode, but was half buried in the ground. Upon impact there were people in the church basement see...

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Optimize Your Brain

By Pastor Mitch Williams
March 10, 2022
How would you like to improve your EQ (emotional intelligence)? How about improving your mental performance, including your capacity to learn, retain, and apply knowledge? Would you like to learn how to increase your motivation, creativity, and ability to set and achieve goal...

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Helping Ukraine!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
March 03, 2022
Many are wondering what can be done for our Adventist brothers and sisters in Ukraine. With nearly 800 churches, and over 43,000 members, the need is great as Ukraine tries to deal with the recent Russian invasion. Many are living in basements and shelters. Others have see...

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SALT Outreach

By Pastor Mitch Williams
February 24, 2022
Perhaps you have been wondering how you can make a tangible difference for those hurting in our community? This Sabbath, SALT Outreach, a Florida-based SDA ministry specializing in serving the homeless, will be our special guests. Their founder, Eric Camarillo, will share how...

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God's Perfect Timing!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
February 17, 2022
Over six months ago, Blessings Robertson-Winn, along with her two children, Sadia and Shannon, began attending our church. During the pandemic, Blessings began to sense God calling her back to church. Since then, she and her children have been doing Bible studies and this Sab...

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Sharing His Light

By Pastor Mitch Williams
February 10, 2022
Beginning this Sabbath, a new class begins on the powerful keys to personal evangelism. Ely DeGracia and Lena Williams will facilitate this 13 week study that will cover, among other things: How to be the most effective witness for Jesus. How to surrender yourself m...

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War Zone

By Pastor Mitch Williams
February 03, 2022
Earlier this week I received a text from a good friend. It’s the kind of text you never want to receive. He informed me that a mutual friend named Joe was hit by a drunk driver while riding his motorcycle and was instantly killed. His wife Martha, who was riding with him...

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Coming Up!

By Pastor Mitch Williams
January 27, 2022
This Sabbath our sermon will be given by guest speaker, Jim Lorenz, former pastor at The Hill and currently the Ministerial Director for the Northern California Conference. His sermon is entitled: Appreciating the Creator and His Creation Here’s a sermon teaser: Ma...

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