We are excited to have Dr. Gilbert Valentine as our guest speaker!

Dr. Valentine is a respected Adventist scholar and educator who, even in retirement, continues to teach occasionally at the H.M.S. Richards Divinity School at La Sierra University in California.

Originally from New Zealand, Dr. Valentine has served the Adventist Church in pastoral ministry, youth leadership, and higher education around the world—including in Pakistan, England, Thailand, Australia, and his home country.

He is widely recognized for his work in Adventist history and Ellen White studies. His writings include several major biographies and books exploring the development of Adventist thought, leadership, and prophetic identity. His forthcoming biography of theologian Edward Heppenstall is expected to be released by Pacific Press this summer.

Dr. Valentine is also a beloved member of our Azure Hills Church family. He and his wife, Dr. Kendra Haloviak Valentine, live in Riverside, where he enjoys cycling through the citrus groves near their home.

The title of Dr. Valentine's message this is “Beware the Travel Brochure." Here's a preview: "Sometimes our experience at a destination does not match what the glossy travel brochures promised. What do we do when that reflects our experience in the church? The assurance that Jesus is the builder of the church assures us that though the development process might at times be messy and uncomfortable, the community being built is strong. Jesus is an experienced builder. What can we learn from Jesus' confidence in the future of the church?" - Dr. Gilbert Valentine