W. Floyd Bresee, former Ministerial Association secretary, passes to his rest
Santa Rosa, California, United States
Wilmar Floyd Bresee died on January 7, 2025, at the age of 97. Floyd Bresee was Ministerial Association secretary at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists from 1985 to 1992, when he retired to be with his first wife, Ellen, due to her health challenges.
The Bresees served 42 years together in ministry, beginning with Floyd as the Columbia Academy’s boys’ dean. From there he entered the pastoral ministry, serving in Oregon, Nebraska, and Texas. He also served as an Oregon Conference evangelist for four years. As well as being gifted in evangelism, pastoring, and mentoring young men, Floyd also taught Bible at an academy in Oregon and later taught future pastors at Union College for 16 years.
In 1982 the General Conference called him to the Ministerial Association to begin a continuing education program for pastors. Three years later, he became head of the association.
As befits the pastor’s pastor, Floyd’s great love was preaching. He completed a doctorate in speech education (1971) with an emphasis on the teaching of preaching.
Under Floyd’s leadership some important pastoral resources were developed. One of the most significant items is a comprehensive manual for the training of interns. Floyd’s crowning achievement was the complete rewrite of the Minister’s Manual.
Floyd was preceded in death by his first wife, Ellen Kier Bresee. In 1998 Floyd met his second wife, Dephena Mathews. The two married later that year, sharing a joyful and faith-filled life for 26 years.
[Daniels Chapel of the Rose Funeral Home / J. David Newman, July 1992 Ministry Magazine]
Local churches unite to support victims of Los Angeles fires
Los Angeles, California, United States
In the wake of the devastating fires, churches in Los Angeles, California, have united to provide aid and support to those displaced and affected.
“I am seeing this city come together in a beautiful way,” said Manuel Arteaga, lead pastor of White Memorial Seventh-day Adventist Church. Located in inner-city Los Angeles, White Memorial Church’s proximity to the fires has prompted churches from suburban areas to funnel resources through them.
Another church offering aid and shelter is Valley Crossroads Seventh-day Adventist Church. “We are shifting our worship experience from sitting in church to actually helping people in our community,” said Roscoe Shields, pastor of Valley Crossroads church.
Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Taoists, Muslims, Jews, and more are all raising money and volunteering in many ways to bring relief to their fellow Angelenos. Several Catholic parishes opened their doors to families evacuated from their homes.
Ted Wilson, president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, stated, “Our hearts go out to those who have lost family and property through the horrendous fires. This and other recent developments are signs of the urgency that all of us must feel as we see these developments around us, as predicted by the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, that would come to pass before Christ’s second coming, when the Lord will put an end to the results of sin and its destructive forces. Please join our world church family in praying for those experiencing this terrible tragedy.”
Five truckloads of donated supplies were transported from Sacramento to Glendale, including air purifiers, Vitamin Water, N95 masks, and fresh fruit. The supply-distribution work was led by Royal Harrison, executive vice president and Adventist Community Services director for the Southern California Conference. “We are deeply grateful for the support that has come in, and we are committed to getting the resources in our care to the impacted communities,” Harrison said.
Mark Witas, Mission and Spiritual Care director for Adventist Health Glendale, led hospital chaplains in providing emotional and spiritual care for those affected by the fires. In addition, Adventist Health Glendale provided use of 10 unfurnished apartments for people who have evacuated from their homes, and World Vision donated new furnishings for the apartments.
[Lauren Davis and Angelica Sanchez, ANN; Tavleen Tarrant, NBC; Pablo Kay, Angelus News; Adventist Health]
Walla Walla University theology students intern
College Place, Washington, United States
The North Pacific Union summer ministerial internship is an opportunity for Walla Walla University (WWU) theology and religious studies majors interested in pastoral ministry. Through this 10-week program, students are earning full-time practical experience under the mentorship of skilled North Pacific Union Conference (NPUC) pastors, strengthening their understanding of what pastoral careers look like.
Over the years, Carl Cosaert, WWU School of Theology dean, has received consistently positive feedback not only from students but also from pastors and churches expressing how much they appreciate their interns. According to Cosaert, “It has been such a blessing that we have had students return to the same church for a second summer internship.”
In the summer of 2024, Logan Lennon, a senior theology and religious studies major with a pastoral ministry concentration, completed his internship at the Spokane Linwood Seventh-day Adventist Church in Spokane, Washington. Volody Nesteruk, pastor and Lennon’s mentor, was helpful as Lennon got used to his many new pastoral responsibilities. Like most other ministerial interns, Lennon earned firsthand experience in a little of everything. He helped with Vacation Bible Schools, gave Bible studies, attended weekly prayer meetings, and preached a full sermon on God’s plan for our lives. He also visited church members and volunteered at the local food bank.
Cosaert continues to see tremendous benefits in what the summer internship program offers students. While classroom learning about ministry is helpful, it doesn’t compare to working full-time in the field under the mentorship of a pastor. Interns also have the chance to engage with the entire church community through visiting, preaching, teaching, and participating in various church-life aspects. This diverse interaction provides a very well-rounded experience in ministry. [Hailey Werner, WWU University Relations student writer]
