Honoring a Legacy of Service: Ron Rasmussen to Retire After 44 Years of Ministry

CLOVIS, CALIF., — April 20, 2025, Ron Rasmussen has announced his retirement

effective June 1, 2025. He will have been employed with the Central California

Conference of Seventh-day Adventists for nearly 44 years (43 years and 11 months).

Rasmussen started pastoral ministry in July 1981, serving as Assistant Pastor of the

Bakersfield Hillcrest and Arvin Seventh-day Adventist Churches. After seminary training,

he served as Associate Pastor of the Sunnyvale Seventh-day Adventist Church from

September 1984 to January 1988. From February 1988 to September 1991, Rasmussen

was the Pastor of the Chowchilla Seventh-day Adventist Church. From October 1991 to

June 2002, he served as Pastor of the San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay Seventh-day

Adventist Churches. From June 2002 to January 2011, he was the Pastor of the Modesto

Parkwood Seventh-day Adventist Church. On January 16, 2011, Rasmussen became the

Executive Secretary of the Central California Conference. He functioned in that capacity

for 14 years, having the honor and privilege of being the longest-serving Executive

Secretary for the Central California Conference. During that time, he also served in

various roles such as Interim President, and for some months he coordinated the

Communication Department and, more recently, the Human Resources Department.

Rasmussen received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Loma Linda University, majoring in

Ministerial Studies and with an emphasis in Educational Ministry. He obtained a Master of

Divinity degree from Andrews University. Rasmussen earned a Doctor of Ministry degree

from Fuller Theological Seminary, concentrating on Church Health and Growth, Church

Leadership, Marketing and Mission, Church Management, and Conflict Management.

The Central California Conference expresses heartfelt appreciation to Elder Ron Rasmussen for his unwavering dedication, spiritual leadership, and Christ-centered service. His legacy of faithfulness and excellence has blessed countless lives and strengthened the mission of the Church. We wish him God’s richest blessings in his retirement.