Martinique: Church in French territory voice their concerns during Facing the Issues program

July 2, 2009 – Fort-de-France, Martinique…[Libna Stevens/IAD]

An inter-generational focus group of Seventh-day Adventists from the French-speaking regions of the Inter-American Division (IAD) territory talked with Pastor Israel Leito, IAD church president, during a special program called Facing the Issues last month. The program, the fifth in a series of seven, was webcast live from Fort-de-France, Martinique.

The twenty-member focus group was comprised of youth and lay people from French Guiana, Guadeloupe, and Martinique. They talked to Pastor Leito and other IAD church leaders about issues concerning the growth, development, and future of the church in the IAD territory.

“We want to know what we can improve in the division and we are conducting all these focus groups throughout the division, to know from them how we can serve them better, and they want to know from us what can we do better,” said Pastor Leito. “The department directors are taking note and we will listen carefully.”

Hundreds gathered at the Morija Adventist Church in Fort-de-France to watch the program, which was done in French and English. There were more than 2,000 online viewers of the webcast.

Questions ranged from issues about church image, technology, Adventist education, and publications, as well as the structure and plans in place to reach a better vision and mission of the church.

Initial questions dealt with member retention and reaching out to backsliders.

“To keep [members] in the church, we want to have a friendly church so when people come, they feel like they are in the family and we want everyone to have something to do,” said Pastor Leito.

“How can the world church help every single member know, live and feel that the church offers a space for blossoming growth development instead of keeping him or her from growing?” asked Charly Songeons of Guadeloupe.

“If that is happening I am very sorry, because we believe that every member that joins the body of Christ, be free to grow in Christ,” replied Pastor Leito. “The opportunity should be given and the member should feel that they have found something that can free them from sin and they should be willing and able to contribute to the church with their talents with their experience and their knowledge so that we can all grow together. We hope this is happening in every congregation.”

There were several questions on the use of technology in the church.

“Considering the event of technology of today, and its eruption in strength within the church, there is no doubt this is helping the church diffuse the message more efficiently but it is creating a gap between those who are for it or against it,” said Jeremie Belfroy from Martinique.

Pastor Leito responded that the church needs to move faster with technology and encourage young people to use social media programs like Facebook and Twitter.

“Share the message through Twitter and Facebook,” he said. “Have the church become more technology savvy so this will not create a gap but it will move all of us to use technology better.”

In response to Jessica Primerose of Guiana, who expressed concern about the negative impact of technology, Pastor Leito said, “Don't let technology become a hindrance. It is the present and it is the future and so we need to use technology to preach the gospel and if there is a perception that technology is hindering our spiritual life, we must find an answer to that.”

“You have said that technology has helped us to run our crusades and worship services better,” said Silvie Timothee of Guadaloupe. “With the use of technology, what can we do to not leave aside what Christ used to do, to walk and eat with them to get closer?”

“This is one of the problems with technology: It isolates people,” Pastor Leito answered. “But you have a very good point. We must use technology but not allow it to separate us and dilute the personal touch of sharing the gospel. That should never stop.”

There were also concerns about more French-language printed materials, more accessible scholarships to Adventist schools, and the participation of the youth in church.

“Make space for young people,” said Pastor Leito, “to help them feel that the church belongs to them too. They need to be active, so church bear in mind, open up for young people.”

Other questions dealt with challenges Adventist students have with taking their exams on the Sabbath as well as challenges of meeting the spiritual needs of young people studying in non-Adventist institutions, as well as what was available for young people to blossom in the line of moral education.

A few members of the audience were given the opportunity to ask questions which ranged from issues of marrying people who have children out of wedlock, to jewelry, as well as proper music in the church.

Pastor Leito also directed questions to the panelists. One such questions was “How do you think that we as a division can make this church more youth friendly?”

“Train our pastors and leaders to be more into the present age so our young people feel that this is directly for them and help our leaders have the presentation more geared for this new generation,” was one suggestion from the panelists.

For 23-year-old theology student Nicolas Morteau of Martinique, being able to participate and express himself was a good opportunity.

“I feel it was a great exercise for us to express ourselves because it's like the head is listening to us, that in fact the leaders came and listened to us,” said Morteau, who studies at the University of Southern Caribbean in Trinidad.

One of Morteau's concerns was how the influence of New Age music is creeping up in the churches unnoticed. He hopes that the church can provide some guidance as to detecting what music contains New Age influence so that local church leaders can ensure that music and songs that are played in church can be crystal clear as to its lyrical content.

Esmeralda Noncent, of French Guiana, who is pursuing a master's degree in Economics at the University of Cayenne, agreed that the program was much needed.

“It was a great privilege to participate in this program to see that we have a voice in this event,” Noncent said. She was grateful for the opportunity to represent her church, and feels programs like these are “a trend that should be maintained to give more opportunity for the local church to have a voice in what is being done.”

Noncent went on to say that “what impressed me the most is that I found the president very accessible, very close to us, very open, right next us.”

That accessibility is what top church leaders want to maintain with the kind of fast growing church in Inter-America.

“The reality is that [Facing the Issues] has brought our division office closer to the church so that it can see it is not an expensive faceless organization that doesn't do anything,” Pastor Leito said. “We are with them and working alongside them.”

With the fifth completed dialogue program, leaders have taken note as they will soon start the next cycle of strategic planning to ensure that the church throughout Inter-America is headed in the right direction.

“We have taken notice of the concerns, questions and suggestions from our focus groups, and will revisit our strategic plan and define new strategies designed to fulfill the needs of the church.”

“In order to make this program successful, we need to continue listening to our church,” said Pastor Braham, organizer of the program and special assistant to Pastor Leito.

“Leadership is a two-way process,” said Pastor Braham. “It is not just a presentation. It involves participation. It is an integrative process where those that we lead also have insights and vision, aspirations and desires. When we listen to them it helps us to put things into perspective and it also helps them to classify and determine how they will be involved in order to ensure that a shared vision is implemented.”

To view the Facing the Issues Martinique program on-demand, go to http://dialogue.interamerica.org

The next Facing the Issues program will take place in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on July 27, 2009. The program will be webcast in French and English. For more information, visit www.interamerica.org