Inter-America: Children’s leaders and teachers challenged to seek out children who have left the church

Pastor Israel Leito, president of the church in Inter-America, speaks to hundreds of leaders during the territory-wide Children’s Ministries Leadership Convention on Saturday morning, July 14, 2012, at King’s Chapel in Camp Kulaqua, High Springs, Florida. Image by Libna Stevens/IAD

July 16, 2012 – High Springs, Florida, United States….Libna Stevens/IAD

Pastor Israel Leito, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Inter-America, urged children’s leaders and teachers to actively seek children who have left the church and offer comfort to their parents during his Sabbath address at the Children’s Ministries Leadership Convention held last week at Camp Kulaqua in High Springs, Florida.

“Your responsibility as children’s ministries directors and leaders is not only to save children, but to console and be there for the parents when one of their children strays from church,” said Pastor Leito to the more than 500 gathered for the convention.

“If a child leaves the church, let us not blame parents, we [as a church] also bear that responsibility,” said Pastor Leito. “We must love, embrace and do what we can to offer comfort and seek the lost.”

In driving his message, Pastor Leito quoted from Leviticus 10, and reflected on Aaron’s loss of his two sons. “The children in our churches are our children too, so as a church we have to do everything possible to rescue them when they stray,” he said.

Image by Libna Stevens/IAD.

“How can we celebrate and participate in church activities, when we well know that our children have left the church?” asked Pastor Leito.

“There is nothing more valuable than the salvation of our children in our congregations,” he added. “I hope you understand the seriousness of our responsibility when it comes to the salvation of our children,” Pastor Leito continued.

“It is what the church expects from us as leaders and teachers and one day, you will see the fruits of your labor.” Pastor Leito’s message resonated as leaders nearly ended five days of seminars and presentations focused on strengthening church families during the Children’s Ministries Leadership Convention, held in Adventist-owned Camp Kulaqua, in High Springs, Florida July 10-14, 2012.

For Inter-America’s Children’s Ministries Leadership Convention resources, visit http://cmconvention.interamerica.org/

To view a photo gallery of the event, visit www.flickr.com/photos/interamerica

For updates on Inter-America’s Children’s Ministries Leadership Convention, visit us at www.interamerica.org