Inter-America Trains Thousands of Church Elder Across the Territory
Honored Church Elder Jean Bernard Isidor of Haiti stands after being pinned as one of two dozen outstanding elders during an online event in celebration of thousands completing special certification program, in Miami, Florida, Feb. 17, 2018. Phillip Extract (left) ministerial secretary of the Haitian Union and its President Pierre Caporal stand behind Isidor. Image by Libna Stevens/IAD
February 21, 2018 | Miami, Florida, United States | Libna Stevens/IAD
Thousands of local church elders across the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Inter-America celebrated their completion of a special certification during an online program held at the Inter-American Division (IAD) Headquarters in Miami, Florida, on Feb. 17, 2018.
The event was part of a comprehensive certification training strategy aimed at equipping church elders to better nurture and disciple members throughout the more than 22,000 churches and congregations in the IAD.
IAD President Pastor israel Leito reminds viewers the important role church elders play in the growth of the church. Image by Libna Stevens/IAD
Pastor Israel Leito, president of the church in Inter-America, reminded church elders of their important role as spiritual leaders and discipleship responsibilities in the congregations they lead.
“We want for every leader and member to understand that the role of the church elder and the pastor is similar,” said Pastor Leito. “The elder is the spiritual leader elected by the church board and the pastor is the spiritual leader sent by the world church.”
“You must understand God’s Word, defend it and let your disciples learn that you can take your Bible from Genesis to Revelation speaking the truth,” said Pastor Leito. “God expects us to be truthful in presenting the church’s doctrines wherever we are as well.”
The membership in the IAD stands at 3.7 million and growing, but there are only 3,200 pastors. That means the work of the more than 30,000 church elders is vital in discipling members and reaching more people with the Bible truths of salvation, said Pastor Josney A. Rodríguez, ministerial secretary for the church in Inter-American and main organizar of the event.
“The only way for the Adventist Church to continue as an organization at all levels is for the team of extraordinary pastors and church elders to be committed and trained to shepherd and guide the flock day by day in the life of the church,” said Rodríguez.
Pastor Josney Rodríguez, ministerial secretary for the church in Inter-America. Image by Libna Stevens/IAD
That’s been the goal: To get church elders having a clear vision of their task of motivating, empowering and nurturing the future generation of leaders alongside pastors, he added.
Coined as Every Elder Involved, the comprehensive certification program is on its second of three levels of training and development skills. This level was focused on empowering and training elders to accompany the district pastor in caring individually for the sheep of the flock while keeping follow-up records of church members, explained Rodríguez.
The training program will conclude in 2019 and will constitute a total of 60 hours of training in doctrine, unity of the church, family, music, and post-modernism, among other topics.
Pastor Rodríguez, who has been visiting training sessions across the 24 unions, reported that more than 20,000 church elders have registered for the training program since last year and more are expected to complete the certification by the end of year.
Priscila Mosquera (left) of South Colombia stands with Pastor Juan Caicedo after being pinned an honored church elder. Image by Libna Stevens/IAD
“We are excited to see how committed our church elders are to the mission of the church,” said Pastor Rodríguez. It’s about strengthening churches, keeping members active and understanding their ministry in reaching out to their communities.
Ricardo Correa of Belize was among the two dozen church elders recognized during the online event. He has been a church elder for 44 years has led more than 800 people in accepting Christ through baptism.
“It is very exciting to see this level of training and that elders are learning how to manage the membership, how to manage our stewardship, and how to form small congregations at such a time as this,” said Correa. “Involving all the elders to get members involved in finishing the work God has appointed to us will hasten the coming of Jesus.”
Correa, 70, is a full-time manager of a furniture store. After work and on the weekends he assists in the Belmopan District made up of nine congregations in Belize City. Correa leads in the Alpha and Omega Adventist Church in addition to three groups as well as train young people to become strong spiritual leaders and more involved in community outreach.
Ricardo Correa (right) a church elder from Belize shares his experience during the online program as Pastor Leonard Johnson (center), associate ministerial secretary for the church interviews him. David Velez (left) translates on stage. Image by Libna Stevens/IAD
Erich Hernández of East Venezuela was among the outstanding church elders also honored during the live program. Hernández assists as church elder in the Oropeza Castillo Guarenas Adventist Church in Caracas which is part of an eight-church district. He works for a private company in a country going through difficulties. Hernández sees how important the certification has helped elders continue supporting the work of the pastors.
“I know God is leading the church to reach more people who are in need of Jesus, in need of hope,” he said. In the 10 years he has been a church elder, Hernández has led some 700 hundred people to Christ with a team of active church members who are committed to doing their part in sharing the gospel. It’s about getting church members to understand their role in discipling others and preparing young people as future leaders of the church, explained Hernández.
“This is a new stage in our church,” said Pastor Rodríguez. Rodríguez challenged church elders to better care for the membership and disciple 51 percent of the members to reach the mission. He also challenged them to reach at least two new believers at every local church across Inter-America and lead them to baptism, as well as mentoring young people as part of the world church’s Pass it On youth-mentoring initiative.
Thousands of church elders viewed the online program and received completion certificates at churches, local fields and union offices across the IAD. The live online program drew some 2,085 connections in 34 countries around the world.
A group of 50 church elders from Jamaica hold their certificates at the Union’s headquarter’s office in Mandeville, Jamaica. Image by Nigel Coke
The program also included interviews with honored local church elders, presentations on transparency in church finances, on keeping membership books up-to-date, on available resources, and more.
View the online program as follows:
English: HERE
Spanish: HERE
French: HERE
For in formation on the Every Elder Involved certification program visit everyelderinvolved.com
To view a photo gallery of the online program, click HERE