February 26, 2011 – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic…Libna Stevens/IAD
Just three months ago, Vanston Archbold was appointed as president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Colombian Islands region. Overseeing a church of more than 1,400 members spread out in 10 churches within three districts in two languages is something he is excited about yet humbled to take on.
Archbold, who is just 32 years old, gained a bit of confidence thanks to a leadership training session, which gathered more than 200 newly appointed church administrators throughout Inter-America earlier this month in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Born and raised in San Andres Island, Colombia, Archbold, had been serving as a district pastor for seven years at the Lake Union Conference in Michigan, United States. He is in the process of moving back on the island with his young family, and tackling the challenges ahead.
“We as new leaders are hit with so many responsibilities right away that it can be overwhelming, to have the right skills to lead the church where we are,” said Archbold as he completed the intense three-days of training. Archbold, who found the training to be so important and beneficial, said a key message resonated in his mind.
“As president, I bear ultimate responsible for everything good or bad that happens in the field and in the office, so it is such an awesome responsibility,” he said. Challenged by some slight cultural bilingual divisions in the three islands he is overseeing in San Andres, Providencia, and Santa Catalina, he is optimistic to serve the church and work towards bettering the church schools there.
Archbold was joined by Alvaro Linero, a minister who is working alongside him as executive secretary for the mission. Appointed three months ago to the new position, Linero, had been serving as district pastor in Medellin, Colombia, for nine years. The leadership training has opened his eyes to the vast organization of the church structure.
“I have been so impressed with the leadership of our [division] church organization, the humility they transmit their charisma and their excitement for the mission of the church and this concern for a new young generation like us who carry the church in our hearts” said Linero, who recently turned 30.
Newly elected or appointed administrators like Archbold and Linero from throughout the 21 church regions in Inter-America were briefed on leadership theories and practices, essentials of effective leadership, ethics, administrative functions, effective communication, managing different leadership styles, human resources and more.
“I want you to be the best Seventh-day Adventist leaders in the world,” said Pastor Israel Leito, president of the church in Inter-America, as he spoke to the more than 200 leaders. “This is why the Inter-American Division invests so much in bringing you here, so you can learn effective functions as leaders, become better leaders where you are, share that knowledge with your local church leaders and avoid leadership mistakes that can have serious effects in the church territory.”
Investing in leadership development training is not a new thing in the IAD. It’s an annual session that brings leaders in newly elected or appointed positions at the end of each year. Because the church launched a series of programs focused on spiritual revival and reformation during its special satellite event on February 12 in the Dominican Republic, the training was moved from December 2010.
“What better time to bring our leaders together for a special spiritual dimension on revival and reformation, than now” said Pastor Leito. “Our training is not just reaching goals, we want leadership to be real, in the sense that members can perceive spiritual leaders as they [leaders] manage the vast number of responsibilities at hand.”
Managing a vast number of responsibilities is what is on the work plate for Plinio Vergara who was recently appointed as associate director for the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Inter-America. The training development was especially beneficial said Vergara, who has served the church for 22 years and currently works as ADRA director and communication director for the South Central American Union, headquartered in Costa Rica.
“This was an excellent opportunity to get training and orientation on the responsibilities of department and the relationship of the work with the different levels and administration,” said Vergara, who was among a group of new departmental directors recently elected at the IAD Headquarter office to receive training.
Pastor Balvin Braham, field secretary and leadership development coordinator for the church in Inter-America, stated that servant leadership can effectively produce high performance Christian leaders in the Adventist Church today.
“The expectations of church members, employees and other stakeholders and onlookers summon directors and administrators at all levels within our organizational structure in the IAD territory, to behold and model servant leadership as it is in Jesus,” said Pastor Braham.
“Despite the challenge we have to face, remember it is not as important what we begin but what we complete,” said Braham as he challenged leaders to continue in sharing their knowledge with their constituents. “Fulfill was most important first, depend on the Holy Spirit , satisfy to the best the church, lead like Jesus and be a servant leader.”
Leadership development training speakers included IAD officers who led in core group sessions and general session seminars and spiritual messages: Pastors Israel Leito, president; Elie Henry, executive secretary, and Filiberto Verduzco, treasurer, as well as Past Balvin Braham, field secretary and leadership development coordinator. In addition, Elder Lowell Cooper, general vice president of the Adventist World Church, Dr. Gene Brewer, educational development specialist of the Southern Union Conference, and Daniel Fider, associate professor of leadership in graduate education at the Northern Caribbean University.
Newly elected church administrators this year from throughout the IAD territory will have the chance for leadership training on Nov. 27-30, 2011.
For more information on IAD’s Leadership Development Training program, visit us at https://recursing-golick.147-182-135-0.plesk.page.
To view a photo gallery of the recent leadership training in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, go to www.flickr.com/photos/interamerica.
