GROWING TOGETHER
Growing Together is a multigenerational Sabbath School and church curriculum for Seventh-day Adventists, rooted in faith and grace. Our curriculum brings families together in worship by having each family member, from children to adults, study the same Bible story each week, tailored to their developmental age group.
Growing Together is a ministry of the Southeastern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Our curriculum is developed through two key approaches: the creation of original content and the adaptation of existing materials through thoughtful and rigorous development and enhancement.
The Beginner and Young Adult curricula of Growing Together are entirely original, thoughtfully developed, and expertly crafted by a dedicated team of pastors, teachers, and creative professionals from the Southeastern California Conference. This team works collaboratively to ensure every aspect of the curriculum is engaging, spiritually enriching, and carefully tailored to meet the needs of each age group.
Two standout elements of the Growing Together ministry are the creation of a unique blend of original music and reimagined versions of timeless public-domain classics for the Beginner's line. Additionally, every graphic and visual element utilized in every age group of Growing Together is created by Growing Together’s graphic design team to inspire and captivate young minds, fostering a strong foundation for their spiritual journey.
Daily devotional materials for Junior High students and older age groups are authored by our pastors and refined by Adventist educators and copy editors. This process ensures that the content is both theologically sound and relevant to the unique needs of today’s youth.
For the Pre-K through High School and Parent Sabbath School teaching guides, the team starts with licensed content from FaithWeaver Now © by Group Publishing, Inc., a trusted resource recognized for its comprehensive, field-tested, non-denominational material. From that foundation, pastors and teachers enrich each lesson with a distinctly Seventh-day Adventist perspective, incorporating Adventist theology and practical classroom content to reflect our church’s understanding of Scripture.
The curriculum development process is both collaborative and rigorous, guided by a team of over 30 Seventh-day Adventist pastors, educators, and creative professionals. These experts, who work closely with their respective age groups, bring a wide range of ministry experience to the table. This approach ensures that each element is infused with grace-based beliefs while maintaining our commitment to educational and spiritual excellence.
Growing Together is dedicated to creating more than just a curriculum; we seek to develop a spiritual resource that deeply engages, educates, and strengthens faith. Our goal is to foster a sense of belonging within the Adventist community, empowering every student, teacher, parent, and pastor to grow together in their faith, knowledge, and love for God.
Samantha Angeles Peralta
Samantha serves as the Director of the Growing Together Sabbath School Curriculum for the Southeastern California Conference. She leads a diverse team of over 30 pastors, educators, designers, musicians, and creatives in developing resources that equip churches and families for intergenerational discipleship. Dr. Peralta holds a Doctor of Ministry degree in Family Discipleship from Fuller Theological Seminary, a Master of Divinity from Andrews University, and a double bachelor's degree in theology and communication from Pacific Union College. She has served as a children's pastor and youth and young adult pastor in churches throughout SECC since 2013, as well as elementary chaplain at Loma Linda Academy. She is married to fellow pastor Wally Peralta, and together they have two children, Olivia and Orion.
Mark Ricalde
Mark currently serves as the Youth Pastor at Crosswalk Church in Redlands. He is passionate about the church of today and the future, and has had the joy of working as pastor, church planter, camp director, and academy chaplain. Mark holds a religious studies degree from Burman University (yes, he’s Canadian) and a Master of Divinity from La Sierra University. He loves the ways that Growing Together Curriculum leads churches into a more intergenerational and relevant ministry, and leads GT's video media team along with developing new projects. Mark is married to the love of his life, Alina, a pediatric dentist, and they enjoy going on walks, exploring outdoors, and hanging out with their cats Daisy and Hamilton.
Andre Dos Santos
Andre is the Business, Web, and App Manager for the Growing Together Sabbath School Curriculum, where he leads web and app development and contributes significantly to core operations as part of the leadership team. He's a successful entrepreneur, bringing a wealth of experience in media, technology, and business strategy to the curriculum's mission. Andre's passion for discipleship, innovation, and family ministry has been a driving force behind the development of Growing Together’s digital infrastructure and user experience. Outside of his work with Growing Together, Andre owns and operates several businesses in the media, technology, and food and beverage sectors, and he generously mentors others in creative entrepreneurship. He and his wife, Arlene, are the proud parents of their daughter, Alana.