The San Francisco Bay Area, with its rolling fog, towering redwoods, and vibrant cityscapes, is home to one of the largest and most diverse Jewish communities in the United States. From the historic synagogues of San Francisco to the bustling cafés of Berkeley and the quiet suburban enclaves of Marin, this region blends culture and heritage with a modern, predominantly secular outlook, making outreach both a challenge and an opportunity.
Amid the hum of farmers’ markets, the laughter of weekend hikers along the Bay trails, and the warm glow of menorahs in shop windows during the holidays, committed Adventists Nick and Grace (last name withheld for privacy) have embraced the challenges of the San Francisco Bay Area by taking active steps to connect with the local Jewish community, blending personal relationships with ministry responses to felt needs.
Through their initiative, Nick and Grace hope to lay the foundation for a lasting, meaningful outreach that extends God’s love and the Three Angels’ Messages to every Jewish individual in the region who seeks or welcomes truth.
A Global Mission with a Local Focus
Nick and Grace, seasoned Adventists who have spent years spreading the Gospel internationally, including in Micronesia and Japan, felt a specific divine calling to focus on Jewish outreach in 2019. Inspired by passages from the Spirit of Prophecy, they began leading Bible studies through the North American Division’s Jewish Adventist Ministries.
“We realized that to best serve this work, we needed to connect directly with those already engaging in Jewish outreach,” Nick said. “That’s why we spent time meeting with East Coast groups and traveling to learn from various ministries.”
Armed with the knowledge they gathered, they are now working to establish a future friendship center in the Bay Area, in collaboration with the Novato Seventh-day Adventist Church. Their outreach, however, goes beyond church walls. They also focus on connecting with Jewish individuals in everyday settings: at restaurants, community events, mountain hikes, and various informal gatherings throughout northern California.
Building Relationships in a Diverse Community
The Bay Area hosts over 350,000 Jewish residents, making it the fourth-largest Jewish community in the U.S. Known as ‘The West Coast Brand of Judaism,’ this predominantly secular and liberal community includes a significant number of Jewish Millennials, with those aged 18–34 comprising 40% of the population. Intermarriage is also prevalent, further complicating outreach opportunities.
David Gardner, the Director of Jewish Adventist Ministries for the Pacific Union Conference, explained the significance of these efforts. “We only have one [friendship center] operating in the Pacific Union Conference now,” he said. “Nick and Grace are volunteering some of their time with the possibility of establishing a center, but at this point, it is just feeling the ground, testing the area. We’re trying to ascertain what exact location would be best.”
Gardner highlighted the success of an existing project in Glendale, California, which serves as a model for future initiatives. “The location in Glendale has proven to be very effective with Pastor Anatoly Gurduiala, and others,” he noted. “The work there is growing in huge proportions. Every meeting they have, the attendance grows. It started with 40–45 attendees then 60 and now has about 100–120 people actively attending.”
Looking ahead, he expressed optimism that the northern California project could achieve a similar impact. “We’re hoping that funding will become available soon for the northern California project so we’ll have a similar project to the one in Glendale, with centers in both the San Francisco and Los Angeles areas. That’s the objective,” Gardner shared.
Personal Connections Lead to Ministry Opportunities
In their efforts to establish a friendship center in the Bay Area, Nick and Grace are passionate about bringing a message of hope to the local Jewish population. “We have real goals and plans to give every Jewish person, and ethnic Jew, here a chance to either accept or reject Jesus as Messiah, and to share the truth with love,” Nick said.
Their approach is personal and relational, focused on meeting people where they are. “We’re joining Jewish community centers and fellowship circles, going on hikes, and establishing friendship circles,” Nick continued. “We also promoted an online meetup where Jews can join us for a meal. As we become more like Christ, we mingle with people, find their needs, and, of course, since they already know us, they might be more open to sharing their backgrounds, their hurts, past experiences, or even health issues. First and foremost, we just become friends.”
Grace reflected on a recent moment that highlighted their approach to Jewish outreach. “Our first real invitation happened just a few weeks ago when we went on a Hanukkah hike with the Jewish Community Center,” she recalled. “We had the opportunity to meet someone new, and they had us speak specifically to people we didn’t come with. We discussed aspects of Hanukkah, like, ‘What miracles have happened in your life?’ and ‘What kind of light do you see in your life?’”
At the end of the hike, a Jewish woman expressed interest in the stories they had shared, prompting Grace to invite her to their Torah study. “I didn’t mention it was at our church, just invited her to the Torah study,” Grace explained. “She replied, ‘I’d love to come,’ and shared that she lived in Novato.”
Now, they gather once a month at the Novato Community Center, in a former school classroom. “She came and was really blessed by the study, saying she learned new things and connected with many of our members,” Grace smiled, recalling the moment. “I told her we’d meet again in a month, and she replied, ‘Great, keep me in touch.'”
Prayer, Patience, and Perseverance
Gardner noted that such moments of connection are the result of patient, long-term effort. “The process of establishing a ministry of this type requires much time and effort,” he said. “It may not be months, not a year, but maybe several years before the interest becomes established [for churches interested in such work] and becomes a part of the project. It’s often the case that churches expect immediate results in three weeks, as seen in past history with our Adventist evangelism. That is not even conceivable in Jewish ministry.”
Nick and Grace are confident that their journey will continue to yield fruit, both in ways that are visible and in ways yet to be revealed.
How to Get Involved
Anyone interested in joining the Jewish outreach efforts in the Pacific Union Conference or learning more is encouraged to contact North Bay Shalom at NorthBayShalom@gmail.com or reach out to David Gardner by phone/text at 805-680-9660. Volunteers will undergo a screening process, and those who qualify will have the chance to help support and grow the Jewish Ministry in California and the greater Pacific Union Conference.
