Meet your team of ministry leaders. Motivated and eager to serve, our Youth Ministries team is composed of diverse and skilled individuals dedicated to glorifying God through their respective ministries. Our team is comprised of unique talents to partner with you in your ministry. Click their profiles to read more about them.
Aren Rennacker was born and raised in Sacramento, CA. He became an Adventist as a teenager thanks to the incredible influence of his church and academy. After graduating from Pacific Union College with a degree in Journalism, he served as a youth and young adult pastor at two wonderful SECC churches, Calimesa and Oceanside, while completing his Masters of Theological Studies from La Sierra University. In 2019, Aren became Director of Youth Ministries for the SECC, a position he cherishes.
Aren loves connecting with pastors, speaking to young people, and serving the youth ministries leaders of our conference. His greatest passion is to empower youth and young adults to live the Gospel in new and relevant ways. Aside from ministry, Aren also enjoys basketball, stories, and a fresh bowl of oatmeal. He and his lovely wife Paige were married in 2020.
Pastor Manuel (Manny) Vitug had his roots beside the famous U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay in Olongapo City, Philippines. His family later migrated to Glendale, California where his parents accepted the Lord and became Seventh Day Adventist. Graduating from Loma Linda University/La Sierra University with a BS in Accounting, he began his professional career as a CPA. Later, the Lord called him to ministry and he studied for his Masters in Divinity at Andrews. He was blessed to teach Outreach/Witnessing and Bible for Andrews Academy and Loma Linda Academy and eventually took a call to be the Young Life Pastor for Loma Linda Filipino Church. In 2003, Pastor Manny was invited to serve as the Summer Camp and Children’s Ministry Director at the Southeastern California Conference, and later transitioned to his current role as the Family & Children’s Ministry Director. Pastor Manny’s greatest joy in life has been spending time with his wife Faye of over 30 years and having family time with his son and daughter, Alexander & Tabitha. His smiling personality and “Tazmanian” drive have allowed him to lead an amazing group of Children’s Pastors to develop VBS curriculum such as “Kidsville” and “Sea of Miracles” for the North American Division. Most recently, he has been part of the team that launched the first Adventist Family SS program entitled, “Growing Together,” where children & parents study the word of God together with a focus on developing their personal relationship with Jesus. Pastor Manny’s personal mission is to help revitalize family connection and prepare them for the soon coming of God.
Pastor Patty Marruffo is originally from Santa Barbara, California. She’s a graduate of UC Riverside and Andrews University. Patty served as the Children and Family Pastor at several congregations prior to joining the Southeastern California Conference Youth Department team. She currently serves as Associate Director for Youth Ministries where her area of focus is Club Ministries. Patty is passionate about partnering with volunteers, families and parents to embrace all kids, nurture their spirit and help guide them toward discovering and developing a passion for Jesus. She also loves to explore creative and meaningful ways of helping the church step into the community with empathy and compassion to share the hope and love of Jesus. Additionally, she serves as Chaplain for Riverside County Fire Department. Patty loves hanging out at the beach, reading a good book and trying new recipes. But what she loves most is spending time with her husband Pastor Dante, and two young adult kids, Daniel and Jessica.
Pastor Carmen Ibáñez felt called to pastoral ministry when she was around 15 years old and has been in ministry for 27 years. She had served as an associate pastor for 16 years at four different churches before being called by God to Pine Springs Ranch and the Youth Department over 11 years ago. She last served as pastor for children and families at the Azure Hills Church. She loves to cook but is not fond of cleaning up after cooking. Her favorite sports teams are the Lakers, Dodgers, and Rams. Something that might come as a surprise to many is that she has walked a marathon and has hiked Mt. Whitney. Above all she loves children and young people and feels blessed that God has called her to a ministry where she gets to work with both.
Judi Jeffreys has been a part of the SECC Youth Ministries for 20+ years serving as the office manager and working alongside the team to keep youth ministries thriving in SECC. Judi uses her positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others and is inspired daily by those with whom she serves.The gospel message became real to her as a young adult when she accepted the Adventist message and truly grasped the love of God.
Judi’s motto is, "Change brings growth, growth brings growing pains, and growing pains brings change."
Originally born in Colorado, Judi was raised a Southern California girl and loves all types of foods, but her taste buds fancy Asian foods, especially Thai and Indonesian. Judi married her high school sweetheart, Greg, and is proud of their adult children, Leigh, Mark, and Megan. When not working, Judi can be found riding a motorcycle, scuba diving, relaxing with yoga, taking long walks, or just spending time with her family.
Liz Adams has served as a secretary for the SECC Youth Ministries Department since 2008. Working specifically with leaders and pastors of Family, Children’s, Senior Youth, and Young Adults Ministries, she has had the honor of witnessing how God uses young people to create change in the church. Born and raised in American Samoa, she moved to California with her family when she was 13 years old and has since lived in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Florida, and Hawaii. She is an active member of her community through church work at Yucaipa Samoan SDA Church and through community groups such as Be the Bridge, Le Mafutaga, and the Two Percent. She is passionate about a number of things, but none more than making it abundantly clear to young people that God is full of grace, love, and understanding. She is happiest when she’s holding a baby, listening to good music, eating delicious food, and sharing belly aching laughs with her lively family.
As the newest addition to the Youth Ministries team, Taji began his ministry journey in our conference as a summer camp staff member in 2018. Originally from Apple Valley and a member of Victorville SDA Church, his worldview was shaped growing up Adventist and learning that there was more to discover. As a kid, inspired by movies such as Nemo and The Lion King, he was interested in making movies himself, allowing him to view the world from a unique and creative perspective. Traveling with the University Choir and Orchestra and leading worship while a student at California Baptist University while pursing a Bachelors in Film Studies and Graphic Design and Digital Media is what helped make his faith more real to him. When not devising a plan to make the next million-dollar blockbuster, he enjoys playing with his dog, relaxing, and finding the perfect YouTube video to watch while enjoying a snack.
