Biographical information for presenter Julius Nam, “Ancient Neighbors, Present Gospel”
December 14, 2024
Below are two bios for Julius Nam, one written this year for the 2025 “Eradicate Hate Summit” website which concentrates on his career as an attorney, one written a decade or more ago concentrating on his prior work as a pastor and religion professor:
Julius Nam is an Assistant United States Attorney in the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section of the U.S. Attorney Office for the Central District of California. Between January and October of 2024, he was detailed to the U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service as a Senior Counsel Performing the Duties of the Deputy Director. In addition to his work in CRS and as a federal civil rights prosecutor in Los Angeles, he has served as a senior policy counsel and a senior legislative counsel, respectively, for the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Policy and the Office of Legislative Affairs. A graduate of UCLA Law School, Nam clerked for Magistrate Judge Sheri Pym and District Judge Virginia A. Phillips of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California and for Judge Arthur L. Alarcon of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Prior to his legal career, Nam worked as a Christian minister in South Korea, Michigan, and Los Angeles, and as a religion professor at Pacific Union College and Loma Linda University. He holds a PhD in American Religious History from Andrews University.
Biography
Nam received a BA in religion from Andrews University in 1990, followed by a MA in systematic theology in 1992, from the same institution. He served as a church pastor in Korea, Michigan and Southern California.
From 2001 to 2005 he was the editor of Compass, a monthly magazine for Korean Adventist youth and young adults in North America. He taught at Pacific Union College for three years, teaching a broad range of Christian subjects. In 2005 he received a PhD in Church History/Adventist Studies, also from Andrews University. His thesis is entitled, "Reactions to Seventh-day Adventist Evangelical Conferences and Questions on Doctrine (1955, 1971)" (Chapter 4 available online) and was completed under the guidance of George Knight. His thesis served as a catalyst for the October 2007 conference commemorating the 50th anniversary of the publication of Questions on Doctrine.
In 2006 the Pacific Union Conference "commissioned" him to ministry in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He chose to be commissioned, rather than ordained, as an expression of solidarity with women ministers who are currently barred from ordination in the Adventist church. Women ministers are "commissioned" instead. The same year, Nam moved to Loma Linda, California when he accepted a teaching position at the university.
Nam was one of the organizers of the 2007 Questions on Doctrine conference marking the 50th anniversary of the publication of book. The conference was largely precipitated by his doctoral thesis. The book represented major interactions between Adventists and other conservative Christians, yet has been very controversial. The conference was unique in that it gave people with widely differing views opportunity to present a paper, and "no prominent players in the controversy... were left out". It was considered a great success by the attendees, and a time of some healing of longstanding tensions. Nam presented the paper, "The Questions on Doctrine Saga: Contours and Lessons".
Nam co-edited World Religions for Healthcare Professionals with his Loma Linda colleagues, Siroj Sorajjakool and Mark Carr, published by Routledge in 2009.
Nam was one of the main organizers of the "Ellen White Project" (2009), which has brought together 65 scholars of varying backgrounds to write a scholarly work, possibly to be published by Oxford University Press. citation
Bio for Special Guest Jim Shipp
Jim Shipp, a retired Redlands School District teacher, taught third grade and embraced the area history and wrote curriculum following State Standards for Bryn Mawr Elementary School. Shipp spent nineteen years on the City of Loma Linda Historical Commission. Today he is the current president of the Loma Linda Area Parks and Historical Society. He produced with Arcadia Publishing Images of America a book on “Loma Linda.” The information led to tours for students and other groups. Jim is the guiding light that created the Mission Heritage Park with saved Victorian homes and interpretive signs on Native American sites and the Mill Creek Zanja Loma Linda has a Zanja Trail from the Heart Surgical building to California Street with extension plans to the park. citation
Prior to working in the fields of education and historical conservancy Jim trained as a pastor and completed a M.A.in Religion at Loma Linda University. He completed a fine thesis on the New Testament book of Revelation, guided by Niels Erik-Andreasen and Walter Specht.
Douglas Morgan, Author of Change Agents and Presenter November 16-30, 2024
Douglas Morgan, PhD, is a graduate of Union College and the University of Chicago. He served on the faculties of Washington Adventist University and Southern Adventist University and is an assistant editor of the Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists.
Presenters on September 14, 2024
Chapter 7: Salvation and the Atonement: Dr. John Testerman, M.D., PhD Dr. Testerman taught Biology at Loma Linda University, Riverside Campus, with a PhD from University of California, Irvine. He then attended Loma Linda University School of Medicine and earned his M.D. and specialized in Family Practice. He was director of the Family Practice department until his retirement. He continues in retirement as an associate clinical professor at both LLU School of Medicine and the School of Behavioral Health. This is from the LLU website: “Current interests post-retirement from clinical and administrative duties are volunteer teaching of medical students and residents, teaching whole person care and physician resilience and well-being for medical students, residents and attendings. I am also teaching mindfulness for medical and university professionals, leadership, staff and students.”
Chapter 8: The Holy Spirit: Paul Priest, PhD. Paul Priest earned an Ed.D. from Loma Linda University with emphasis in science education. He taught for 22 years in Adventist academies, and 22 years in public school. He lives in southern California.
Frances Priest, M.A Taught English and Literature in secondary schools in the Moreno Valley Unified School District.She writes the weekly liturgy for Sabbath Seminars.
Chapter 9: The Church will be presented by Robin Butler, MS, Psych Nurse Practitioner for many years at Loma Linda VA Hospital. She has focused on integrated spiritual-mental holistic healing throughout her career. As a teen, she thought she might be a nun if she were Catholic. She worked first 18 years as LLUMC Director of Education in the psych-social-spiritual area for undergraduate and graduate students. She was a consultant for psychiatric emergency services
Presenter for September 7, 2024
MIGUEL ANGEL MENDEZ
1247 Pinehurst Dr. Calimesa, CA 92320 (951) 880-3047
OBJECTIVE
TO PARTNER WITH GOD IN LEADING COMMUNITIES THROUGH A FORMATIONAL JOURNEY THAT SEEKS TO RESPOND RESPONSIBLY TO THE REALITY OF GOD’S GRACE THAT MOLDS US INTO CHRISTLIKENESS FOR THE SAKE OF THE WORLD.
PASTOR FOR SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT JULY 2014- PRESENT
SECC-Loma Linda University Church
Prompt spiritual health and discipleship maturation through communal worship, Bible study, prayer, and service. Create and implement a discipleship model that promotes relevant ministry in a metamodern context. Resource the pastoral staff in the areas of research and worship. Assist Senior Pastor in planning and preaching several sermon series throughout the year
ADJUNCT PROFESSOR
Loma Linda University, School of Religion SEPTEMBER 2022-PRESENT
Prepare and deliver lectures for classes in the areas of theology, ethics, and Biblical studies
HOST & EVANGELIST
Loma Linda Broadcasting Network MAY 2017-PRESENT
Plan and implement evangelistic sermon series for broadcast, host a weekly show focused
on preaching and how to better interpret Scripture
MISSION CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT JUNE 2018-JULY 2019
Adventist Health West
Develop a missional curriculum to educate, inspire, and empower health care executives and
the teams they lead.
SOLE PASTOR APRIL 2013- JUNE 2014
SECC-Calexico SDA
Create a model of ministry that promotes community while fostering partnerships with local government and other faith groups. Design a worship space that reflects the church’s sense of mission, and facilitates encounters with God and each other, develop an ecclesiological environment that fosters dialogue across theological lines, promote evangelism as a tool to share the gospel with our community as well as an instrument to mobilize laity to have an experiential encounter with Jesus.
DISTRICT PASTOR JULY 2011- APRIL 2013
SECC- El Centro Spanish, Brawley & Brawley Spanish District
Develop an appealing ministerial model in an economically depressed area, plan and execute a remodeling and rebranding project that creates a meaningful worship experience for a small multicultural church. Promote and coordinate an evangelistic platform that coalesces intergenerational dialogue in a church setting.
ASSOCIATE PASTOR MARCH 2010- JULY 2011
SCC-Spanish American SDA
Promote the Senior Pastor’s vision for the Church, identifying and implementing strategies that will foster an environment of growth within a multicultural/postmodern context. Participate in Conference wide evangelism efforts for youth and young adult evangelism; create cross regional/ministerial events aimed at energizing youth. Partner with NGO’s and ministerial associations enacting social and communal projects aimed at restoring communities.
ASSOCIATE PASTOR OCTOBER 2007- FEBRUARY 2010
SCC – Long Beach SDA Long Beach, California
Assist Senior Pastor in daily operations of church management, preach, manage and resolve conflict within the church, visitation of members; lead worship service geared towards young adults, promote and carry-out fund raising activities, develop programs that appeal to inner city youth, promote spiritual growth in multi-cultural setting.
SITE COORDINATOR/TEACHER SEPTEMBER 2009 – MARCH 2011
ABC Phonetic Reading School Rialto, California
Work with an NGO in developing and implementing learning plans, which equip low income
students with the necessary tools for success in school and life.
YOUTH PASTOR (ONE YEAR INTERNSHIP) SEPTEMBER 2006–SEPTEMBER 2007
SECC - Ontario Spanish SDA Church Ontario, California
Lead the youth in creating an environment that fosters spiritual, social and intellectual growth.
RESEARCH ASSISTANT SEPTEMBER 2003-JULY 2008
La Sierra University - Stahl Center Riverside, California
Conduct research on development of Religion in South America. Compile, edit and translate information on the growth of Adventism in Latin America.
EDUCATION
DOCTOR OF MINISTRY JUNE 2019 – MAY. 2023
Portland Seminary at George Fox University Portland, Oregon
Program foci is Congregational Leadership and Spiritual Formation; dissertation- “Sanctified; a Formational Approach to the Sanctuary in Seven Reflections
MASTER OF THEOLOGICAL STUDIES JANUARY 2016 –JUNE 2019
La Sierra University Riverside, California
Courses focused on practical theology, Biblical Archeology and Religion and Society.
MASTER OF ARTS – OLD TESTAMENT & ETHICS SEPTEMBER 2007–JUNE 2009
La Sierra University Riverside, California
Graduate alumni award, conducted research in the areas of Hebrew Bible, Church development and planning, and ethics; wrote several papers on issues ranging from Jewish mythology to the relationship between religion and science and their relationship to justice in a postmodern context.
BACHELOR IN ARTS - RELIGIOUS STUDIES SEPTEMBER 2002-JUNE 2007
La Sierra UniversityRiverside, California
Theta Alpha Kappa, Religious leader for On-Campus Ministries. Preacher for Hispanic Ministries, Junior High and High School Bible Camp Leader, president of Organizacion Latina Estudiantil, volunteer tutor for underprivileged children, presented on poignant issues facing a postmodern society
MINOR – BIBLICAL LANGUAGES
La Sierra University
Greek and Hebrew languages. On-site classes in Greece.
Presenter Curriculum Vitae
Sabbath Seminars
Room 3208
Centennial Complex of Loma Linda University Sabbath Morning 10:30-12:30