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Jella Greaves & Ashley White: Finding Home at Last
The son of a musician and a Secretary of “Minister of Tourism” and one of six siblings, Jella began his life in Guyana. At age seven, he moved to Delaware with his mother and older brother. He discovered God at twelve, attending a thriving church his mother's old friend had started. This led to his baptism at fourteen and a deep involvement in music, media/arts, and children's ministries. After studying film production at the Art Institute of Philadelphia, Jella moved to Hollywood in 2016 to pursue his career in the film industry. Despite his professional success, he struggled to find a church home in Los Angeles that resonated with him as his Delaware church had.
Ashley was adopted shortly after birth by her Seventh-day Adventist paternal grandparents, who instilled in her a strong faith. She was baptized at ten. Though she loved her adoptive parents, a deep yearning to connect with her biological mother persisted. At age thirty, she finally found her, forging a wonderful relationship that now includes newfound half-siblings.
Ashley pursued a nursing career, which eventually brought her to Long Beach, California, and later to various hospitals in Los Angeles, including UCLA Medical Center, where she continues to work today. Early in her time in LA, she sought an SDA church but didn’t find a good fit and felt that it might not be for her anymore. "I thought that in order to belong, you had to do certain things, subscribe to a certain lifestyle... I could not do that, so I never belonged," she reminisces. This led her down a path of exploring other religions and philosophies, even dabbling in New Age practices. Yet the biblical truth that "the dead know nothing" (Ecclesiastes 9:5) resonated deeply, sparking a burning question that started her journey back to God.
Their paths converged at a friend's wedding in 2015, where Jella noticed Ashley. Months later, at a gathering in Delaware, they reconnected. Jella approached her with a playful "Hello, you probably don’t remember me." She didn't, but they talked all night, and a whirlwind romance followed. They began dating in October 2015, Jella moved to LA in February 2016, and they married in July 2017.
Their journey to Vallejo Drive was prompted by a seemingly random suggestion from a financial counselor: "You should go to Vallejo Drive Church." Initially, they were hesitant, but they had a clear list of what they sought in a church: Sabbath observance was crucial for Ashley, and Jella needed a place where they could genuinely connect with God and a relatable pastor.
About a year later, they ventured to Vallejo Drive. Arriving early, they found the praise team practicing and eventually discovered the Fellowship Hall Sabbath School class. The topic? Demons. Ashley was immediately captivated; this was an important subject she felt the SDA church completely avoided. This initial experience opened the door. They were further intrigued by the life story of Matt and Kristina featured in "Attitude of Gratitude.” When Matt mentioned needing a drummer, Jella, a talented musician, stepped forward.
During the service, they were impressed by the sermon and the blend of classical and contemporary music. They felt this wasn't the legalistic church Ashley had experienced in the past. Soon, they were regular attendees, finally feeling they had found their church home. Jella even shared the news with his childhood pastor, who wished his own church was Sabbath-keeping.
Jella and Ashley are profoundly grateful that God put together all the "bruised pieces" of their lives, guiding them to Him and to the Vallejo Drive Church family. Praise the Lord for His loving care and His guiding grace in our lives!
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