Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,

As we continue to see the devastating results of the fires that burn in Southern California, our hearts go out to all the families displaced by this horror. Over 500,000 people have had to leave their homes in San Diego County; it is difficult to imagine the fear and loss that these people are going through.

Here at La Sierra University, our hearts are filled with sympathy, even as we seek to find an appropriate response to show our concern. I have spoken to Riverside Mayor Ron Loveridge this morning, assuring him of our interest in our community's welfare, and our willingness to be of any assistance that might be needed. I also spoke with Pastor Sandy Roberts, Vice President of Southeastern California Conference. Pastor Roberts informs me that a number of their pastors, as well as church families, have been displaced by the fires in San Diego. Ms. Chris Bartholomew, La Sierra's Director of Risk Management, will be meeting with their executive team this afternoon as they work with leaders from the Adventist Development and Relief Agency to coordinate our church's efforts. Ms. Bartholomew is also working with the city as they plan to welcome large groups of evacuees; we have offered campus facilities and resources as needed.

Several of our campus organizations are beginning to work with Councilman Steve Adams on a food and clothing drive. You will hear more about this opportunity from Spiritual Life; if you are interested in participating, please call ext. 2090/option 7.

If you are aware of someone who needs special assistance at this time, please contact Student Life at ext. 2100. If you have any special class needs, I encourage you to speak with your professors. Also, if you suffer from any kind of respiratory problems, our Health Services have free allergy masks for you to pick up. Finally, if you would like to talk with someone about any anxiety you may be experiencing due to these events, please do not hesitate to speak with one of our counselors in our Counseling Center, ext. 2011.

I invite you as you go through your day, to take time to pause, pray, and remember those who at this time are being affected by this tragedy. We know that some of our students and staff have been impacted by these fires, and they, too, need our support. It is our sincere prayer that God's loving embrace will be felt by our families, friends, and community neighbors, and that His strength, coupled with our care, will help to carry them through these difficult times.

Randal Wisbey
President

Pastor Roy Ice
Pastor Roy Ice is a natural public speaker and storyteller.

He has explored the rain forests of Panama, Australia and Costa Rica, and has plunged into the freezing waters of Finland. He has toured internationally as the drummer for Big Face Grace, and has played in arenas across the U.S.

Ice taught English to an Olympic Gold Medalist ice skater, was mistaken for a major Hollywood producer for an entire day at Sony Picture Studios, and has climbed to the top of the Continental Divide.

He has been a teacher and a pastor for more than fifteen years. Ice and his good friend John Gilley co-founded a conversational English language school in Odessa, Ukraine in 1992 with an enrollment of over 750 students. Because of the overwhelming success of the program, Ice traveled a second time to the Ukraine in 1994 to create another conversational English language school with an enrollment of over 1800 students.

Ice has been invited to speak to young people nationally as well as internationally including Finland, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Panama, and the Ukraine.

He is currently the chaplain of Pacific Union College in the Napa Valley where he lives with his wife, Dyna, and son, Riley.

Information taken from Pastor Roy Ice webpage.

Ron and Lindsay Pollard Pastor Ronald Kenneth Pollard—a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. He accepted Christ as his Savior at a young age. Responding positively to God’s leading, he completed his undergraduate education at Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama. Continuing his academic preparation for service at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, he earned a Master of Divinity degree. Additional certifications were subsequently completed in the areas of peer-to-peer counseling, clinical pastoral counseling, and addictions and recovery.

Pastor Pollard’s education and professional training have prepared him for a career that has included teaching, pastoring, and conference administration. A year on the faculty of San Diego Academy in the Religion Department was followed by pastorates of three Southern California Conference congregations—University Church and Berean Church in Los Angeles and Bethel Church in Pomona. He currently pastor’s the Philadelphian SDA church in Long Beach, Ca.

In 1996 Pastor Pollard transitioned to the position he now holds as Youth Coordinator of the Greater Los Angeles Region Youth Department. Since assuming this challenging assignment, he has expanded the ministries and activities of this department by envisioning and pursuing diverse opportunities, including: publication of SAAAY! (Southern’s African American Adventist Youth newsletter), conducting Youth Specialties seminars and Enhancing Relationships retreats, planning and executing Generation Excellence Initiatives, and organizing Heritage Missions Initiatives that have provided young people international service opportunities in Zimbabwe, Kenya, South Africa and Ethiopia. And recently he just completed production of the exciting “New Horizons” DVD resource highlighting youth in missions and nurture.

Energetic! Enthusiastic! Empowered by the Spirit! These apropos descriptors characterize Pastor Pollard not only professionally but also personally. He has energetically assisted dozens of churches in the Greater Los Angeles Region Youth Department in his role as key resource person for youth ministries. He has enthusiastically spoken for scores of Youth Days and for Weeks of Prayer around the globe. Additionally, he has enlarged the borders of his influence through publications in various journals and as a contributor to the Cornerstone Youth Resource Magazine, Collegiate Sabbath School Quarterly and Message Magazine. And he has represented the interests of Southern California Conference youth across the North American Division. His achievements have been recognized and honored as he was named “Pacific Union Pastor of the Year for Small Churches” and “Youth Federation Pastor of the Year, and as he was included in Who’s Who Among Young Professionals.

Empowered by the Spirit, he believes that the mandate for youth ministries must focus not only on holding young people but must also include molding young people. His fervent desire is to be a flesh-and- blood model demonstrating that “with Christ our future is brighter than out past.”
Pastor Pollard is joined in ministry by his wife, the former Lindsay Barron. They were married in 1989. The family circle is completed by their two children, Cidny and Cerron.

Ron and Lindsay Pollard Pastor Ronald Kenneth Pollard—a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. He accepted Christ as his Savior at a young age. Responding positively to God’s leading, he completed his undergraduate education at Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama. Continuing his academic preparation for service at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, he earned a Master of Divinity degree. Additional certifications were subsequently completed in the areas of peer-to-peer counseling, clinical pastoral counseling, and addictions and recovery.

Pastor Pollard’s education and professional training have prepared him for a career that has included teaching, pastoring, and conference administration. A year on the faculty of San Diego Academy in the Religion Department was followed by pastorates of three Southern California Conference congregations—University Church and Berean Church in Los Angeles and Bethel Church in Pomona. He currently pastor’s the Philadelphian SDA church in Long Beach, Ca.

In 1996 Pastor Pollard transitioned to the position he now holds as Youth Coordinator of the Greater Los Angeles Region Youth Department. Since assuming this challenging assignment, he has expanded the ministries and activities of this department by envisioning and pursuing diverse opportunities, including: publication of SAAAY! (Southern’s African American Adventist Youth newsletter), conducting Youth Specialties seminars and Enhancing Relationships retreats, planning and executing Generation Excellence Initiatives, and organizing Heritage Missions Initiatives that have provided young people international service opportunities in Zimbabwe, Kenya, South Africa and Ethiopia. And recently he just completed production of the exciting “New Horizons” DVD resource highlighting youth in missions and nurture.

Energetic! Enthusiastic! Empowered by the Spirit! These apropos descriptors characterize Pastor Pollard not only professionally but also personally. He has energetically assisted dozens of churches in the Greater Los Angeles Region Youth Department in his role as key resource person for youth ministries. He has enthusiastically spoken for scores of Youth Days and for Weeks of Prayer around the globe. Additionally, he has enlarged the borders of his influence through publications in various journals and as a contributor to the Cornerstone Youth Resource Magazine, Collegiate Sabbath School Quarterly and Message Magazine. And he has represented the interests of Southern California Conference youth across the North American Division. His achievements have been recognized and honored as he was named “Pacific Union Pastor of the Year for Small Churches” and “Youth Federation Pastor of the Year, and as he was included in Who’s Who Among Young Professionals.

Empowered by the Spirit, he believes that the mandate for youth ministries must focus not only on holding young people but must also include molding young people. His fervent desire is to be a flesh-and- blood model demonstrating that “with Christ our future is brighter than out past.”
Pastor Pollard is joined in ministry by his wife, the former Lindsay Barron. They were married in 1989. The family circle is completed by their two children, Cidny and Cerron.