News

This article is intended as a follow-up to the previously published “CSBC churches encouraged to register prayer requests in 2023.” FRESNO – Initially, a handful of prayer requests were received. Christina Acosta, who serves as the Children’s Ministry Director at Thrive Church in Madera Ranchos, reached out with a request that read, “Prayers for our…

In the summer of 2022, the Oak Fire in Mariposa County burned approximately 20,000 acres and destroyed nearly 200 structures. CSBCDR responded, and teams were assembled. I was able to serve on a Personal Property Recovery (PPR) team in which we would search for items in homes destroyed by the wildfire.   For me personally, the fire…

If I had to summarize what we do at CSBC Disaster Relief, it would be that we step forward into difficult situations, giving of ourselves, all while trusting God. As a new SBCDR chaplain, I have been deployed fortunately (or unfortunately) 4 times for disaster relief in the last seven months. What was once theoretical…

In August 2020, the state of California began housing evacuees from the Santa Cruz fires at the Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove. The pandemic brought about changes to every segment of life, and disaster relief was no exception. Suddenly, congregate shelters – shelters set up to house dozens of people under one roof –…

From refugees escaping war in Romania, and hurricanes in the Southern US, to earthquakes, devastating wildfires, and winter storms in our own state, California Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Volunteers continue to bring help and hope to those impacted by disasters. This month we will be featuring some of the exciting kingdom work our disaster relief…

FRESNO – March 28-29 marked the monthly CSBC Staff Week for leaders and staff members. The meeting began much like a homecoming for former CSBC staffer Pastor Greg Sumii. Sumii, who was first introduced to the CSBC ministry 35 years prior, preached at Chapel for the CSBC ministry teams. During his message, he recollected his…

Explore the Rim events began over two years ago when the global pandemic forced borders throughout the world to close and prevented our stateside partners from partnering with us here in the Asia Pacific Rim as we have traditionally partnered in the past via short-term mission trips. Although borders were closed, our partners still had…

Dear California Southern Baptist Family, I am pleased to report that Cooperative Program giving in 2022 was stable. CP gifts in 2022 totaled $5,830,118, which effectively matched the 2021 CP Gifts of $5,836,903. This is an encouraging outcome for California Southern Baptists. Though we did not meet our CP objective of $6,000,000, it is worth…

ALAMEDA – CSBC’s Ignition (NorCal) Student Conference was a resounding success, with rave reviews coming in from 5 students and one leader. The conference, hosted by Gracepoint Church in Alameda, was organized by RJ McCauley, in partnership with SLU’s Lift Tour, and featured a number of dynamic speakers and workshops. The students who attended the…

Interim DOM, Tem Mattox, shares a glimpse of his first experience at the annual Director of Missions Fellowship gathering in Fresno. FRESNO, Ca. – On Sunday, my wife Karen and I checked in to our hotel and lounged for a short while before I received a text from our DOM Fellowship President, John Bohrer, inviting…