President's Report: Spring — An Exciting Time!

With half of the year almost gone already, I am reminded of just how amazing Spring is. This moment that God has chosen to visibly remind us of newness and life. It is exciting!

As a conference, this spring has also been an exciting time. Foremost has been the significant work happening among our Spanish-speaking churches. 

Through a collaboration between Pastor Walter Pintos, UCC director of Hispanic ministries, and Pastor Peter Simpson, vice president for Hispanic ministries at North Pacific Union, the “Prueba con Jesus” evangelistic caravan was conducted from April 17-25. This caravan is essentially a mobile outreach movement, traveling from city to city with a team of pastors, evangelists, musicians, and volunteers, who conducted evangelistic meetings in nine different locations throughout our conference.

From Spokane to Hermiston, Othello to Yakima, and Wenatchee to the Tri-Cities, this traveling caravan was used mightily by God to change lives and invite people to make decisions for Jesus. The result was that more than 240 individuals were baptized through this amazing outreach event. In fact, on April 25 at the closing event in Pasco, more than 1,500 people were in attendance and there was a long line of people who answered the call to come forward for baptism. Praise God! 

The caravan has also had significant success in the Idaho conference in early April, and next it moves through Washington Conference, and it is our hope that it is as successful there as it has been in both the Idaho and Upper Columbia Conferences. 

Our Pathfinder Clubs have also experienced an exciting Spring this year as well. Did you know that three of our UCC Pathfinder Clubs excelled at the Pathfinder Bible Experience? These young people spent a huge amount of time learning and remembering whole sections of the Bible and throughout the year had their knowledge and their memories tested at the NPUC Pathfinder Bible Experience, which brought Pathfinder clubs together from across the Union. We had three Pathfinder clubs that qualified from the NPUC event to move on to the North American Division Pathfinder Bible Experience held this spring in Florida. So, I would like to share my congratulations to our Pathfinder Clubs in Goldendale, Otis Orchards, and Yakima for finishing in first place at the NAD PBE event. You have certainly represented our Conference well. 

Finally, I want to give a report on our Convocation in Walla Walla on May 1-2. Dr. Tim Madding, director of the NAD evangelism institute, and musician Jamie Jorge shared powerful messages and music to all who attended. Over and over again we heard how many people were blessed by this area-wide event. WWU students and church members also banded together for four Serve One More activities, including free oil changes and automotive repairs for more than 34 individuals and families, bringing flowers and cookies to show appreciation for nurses and staff at St. Mary’s hospital, a community fair at the Village Church youth center providing resources and fun activities for children and families, and planting trees and property cleanup at Milton Adventist School. What an exciting Spring!

This article is from the President's Report from June 2026. The original report includes actions from the recent Executive Committee meeting. To view the report, see news.uccsda.org/president626.