January 30, 2011 – Miami, Florida, United States…[Libna Stevens/IAD]
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Inter-American Division (IAD) is jumpstarting the year with an aggressive spiritual revival and reformation program which is expected to last for decades.
The IAD has enjoyed tremendous growth, ending 2010 with over 3.3 million members and having expanded its unions or church regions to 21. Beginning in 2011, the IAD seeks not only to embrace the General Conference’s call for spiritual reformation, but to ignite its territory with a vigorous and comprehensive revival program.
That comprehensive spiritual revival and reformation program includes a number of special satellite events and unified initiatives focused on prayer and consecration throughout its churches, institutions, and schools throughout Inter-America.
“We are looking to have a consecrated, rededicated and revived church during 2011, opened to the workings of the Holy Spirit so that the Lord can use us again for the furtherance of His cause and experience a closer relationship with Jesus now and until He comes,” said Pastor Israel Leito, president of the church in Inter-America.
Not only is spiritual revival planned for 2011, but church leaders voted during the recent executive committee meetings to include spiritual revival and reformation among its top four strategic issues for the next five-year period.
Pastor Roberto Herrera, Religious Liberty and Public Affairs director for the church in Inter-America and organizer of the comprehensive initiative, answers some questions on what the church in Inter-America will be involved in with spiritual revival and reformation.
Question: What is the spiritual revival and reformation all about for Inter-America?
HERRERA: The spiritual revival and reformation program of the IAD is entitled “Constant in Prayer”. It is basically a strong call to the church at all levels so it can recognize the importance of the spiritual life of the church and the spiritual life of the church members. Through this program we want to create an appropriate environment of revival that can be specially dominated by a spirit of worship designed to put first the spiritual health of all levels of the church.
Question: How did this revival and reformation plan come to be?
HERRERA: During the church’s General Conference Session in July 2010, top world church leaders gave a strong emphasis on the need for spiritual revival in the church. Because of that, decisions were made for initiatives to take place regarding a true revival in the church around the world. Immediately following the session, Pastor Leito, along with IAD leaders, began to re-evaluate the strategic plan for the church territory and began to draft some initiatives that could impact all of ministries of the church and the large sectors of the church as well. This is where Inter-America takes a hold of spiritual revival, and not just because there is such a plan in place worldwide. It’s because we are such a large, fast-growing church. It is so important for us to keep the spiritual health of our church, the spiritual focus of our leaders so that the Lord can continue doing what He’s done in this territory.
Question: Ok so what does revival and reformation really mean?
HERRERA: These two words have been frequently used together, but there is a clear distinction in them. When we speak of reformation, we are talking about concrete changes that can be verified, that can be seen in the lifestyle of the people who experienced it. We also want to see concrete changes in how we work for God by our priorities, and in the way we use our time and resources. Reformation is a synonym of change and of course we are talking about positive changes.
We know that these changes are not going to effectively take place unless these are not propelled by a renovation of the spiritual life of individuals. Thus, in this sense it is where we talk about revival and reformation. Revival is the engine, the cause, and reformation is the effect, or the result of what we want to finally see.
Question: Reformation usually has to do with returning back to our roots. Is this the reformation you mean?
HERRERA: This reformation doesn’t have so much to do with going back to our roots. We are not saying that the past was better than now and that we should return to the past. But yes we want to think in terms of returning to our roots as far as putting great importance on the study of the Bible and value of prayer, and that always had soul-winning as its principal mission. So in that sense it is proper to say so. When we talk about the reformation of today, with the people of today who love and serve God in their countries and communities, it is not happening outside the church, or against the church, but inside it.
Question: What plan is there to reach each church and small congregation in Inter-America?
HERRERA: The program is based in three great columns that shape the initiative: (1) prayer, (2) worship, and (3) praise and gratitude.
We in Inter-America want to see prayer as our only source of power. Prayer is something that we recommend that every church leader and member engage in regularly. We want to do everything in prayer and we want to be known as a church that is very excited about God and offers praise and honor to Him. We don’t want for a moment to think that the great and wonderful things that happen in Inter-America are the work of our leaders. We want to be really conscious of giving praise to God. Gratitude is the natural response of a people that has a God as mighty as we have. Then these three elements we believe will not build a revival but create an environment. That is what we are looking at in Inter-America: Constant in Prayer, a church that spends its time not talking about itself but of its God, a church that demonstrates gratitude to God in all possible ways. We believe that a church in constant revival will be a healthy, friendly and a growing church.
The program to reach each local congregation involves a prayer initiative based on the number of local conferences and missions since this is the level of the church that is closest to the church. Thus, for more than 120 days we will be praying each day for a local field. We have asked each one of these territories to inform us of their special projects and challenges, and also what they are most thankful for. This prayer program has been published into a special magazine called Constant in Prayer.
The program is explained and includes a detailed list of all of its churches, schools and local families and members to be prayed for every day. Each union and local field will have a permanent commission dedicated to promoting revival and reformation throughout the territory.
Question: When will the IAD launch its version of Revival and Reformation?
HERRERA: The official launch of the IAD Spiritual Revival and Reformation will take place through a special satellite event that will be carried live on Feb. 12, 2011 from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Guest speakers will include Pastor Ted NC. Wilson, president of the Adventist World Church, as well as Pastor Leito.
This is a project that will take hold territory-wide by July, and continue permanently. Constant in Prayer is the first stage of the initiative. Later, more programs will be in place. This initiative will have no expiration date, because the church has been called to do this while we are here on earth.
Question: Can you name some specific initiatives within the church will be involved in spiritual revival within the IAD Constant in Prayer program?
HERRERA: The General Conference has began an initiative called 777 which is to say 7 million Seventh-day Adventists around the world praying 7 days a week, at 7 a.m. or 7 p.m. In Inter-America we are aiming for at least one million of those participating in the 777 initiative to be from our territory. We have called it 177, that is to say at least one million church members in the IAD praying at 7 a.m. or 7 p.m.
On March 12, there will be special program emphasizing prayer among children and young people throughout the Division. Special worship services will emphasize prayer and what children and young people can do to care for the spiritual life of the church. There will be a special program held in Trinidad and Tobago.
On April 26, all of the educational institutions of the IAD will also receive a spiritual impact through their campuses and schools. All faculty, staff, and students at all Adventist universities and schools will hold a special day of worship, praise and prayer. The local churches, union offices, and the division office will join in. A special prayer program will be held in the Adventist University in Costa Rica where Pastor Leito and the education director will be in attendance. IAD leaders will also be spread throughout universities and schools in the territory.
On April 30, there will be spiritual meetings for district pastors all throughout the Division. One such special program will be held in Haiti with the IAD president and the IAD ministerial association while other IAD leaders will be spread throughout the different union territories meeting with district pastors.
On June 10, we are planning for more than 100,000 homes throughout Inter-America to be praying while worshiping and praising God. The plan is for all Adventists to invite their neighbors for praise and worship service in their homes to pray and to share God’s love and His Word. All leaders will also be spread throughout the region. The following day, June 11, will be a day of baptisms throughout churches and congregations.
On July 23, we will celebrate with prayer, praise and re-dedication to God with a satellite program from San Salvador, El Salvador, where thousands of members and leaders from Central America will testify of God’s blessings.
Question: Why it is important for the church and every member to have a permanent revival throughout its territory?
HERRERA: First of all because we are a church. When you are part of a church, your life is your spirituality. If we are not careful it doesn’t matter what else we do, we will have a problem with the condition of being a church and that could cause major damage and make us regress. As spiritual leaders we are the first to be responsible for the care of the church. Revival and reformation should begin with leaders, not against it or stand beside it. This is not a fad, this is not just an emphasis, this is the life of the church. We must breathe it and take good care of it.
We must take each moment into account and make our spiritual life a priority, because looking at this world we see how soon Jesus return is. What could be more important than for the church to fulfill its mission and prepare each member for the second advent? It is so wonderful to see the excitement in the IAD church administrators and department directors. This initiative will bring much strength to the church and I am thankful for the vision given to leaders in this endeavor.
As the church in Inter-America begins its revival and reformation throughout its territory, information, resources, logos, posters, decals, and an event calendar is available to download at http://prayerrevival.interamerica.org/
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For more news on Inter-America’s Spiritual Revival and Reformation program, visit us at www.interamerica.org
