Church leadership commits to furthering spiritual revival as Year of the Laity begins

Seventh-day Adventist leaders at the Inter-American Division Headquarters in Miami, Florida, launched its Holy Convocation gathering Jan. 18-19, 2013, to begin the church’s Year of the Laity throughout the territory. Images by Libna Stevens/IAD

January 20, 2013 – Miami, Florida, United States…Libna Stevens/IAD

Pastor Abner De Los Santos (left), vice president of the church in Inter-America, speaks to church leaders from throughout Inter-America on the importance of a special gathering to continue promoting spiritual revival and reformation in the 3.6 million membership territory. David Poloche (right) of Venezuela translates during the segment.

Propelled by a spiritual revival initiative set in motion two years ago throughout the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Inter-American Division (IAD), top church leaders launched the start of the territory-wide Year of the Laity this weekend. The event, held at the IAD’s headquarter office in Miami, Florida, gathered church leaders from throughout Inter-America’s 22 church regions and included a communion service and challenge to continue in a lifestyle of daily prayer, study of the Bible and sharing the gospel everywhere. Organizers called the event its first “Holy Convocation”.

“We want to begin the activities for the Year of the Laity, setting aside a time to come together, praying, studying the Bible and planning witnessing strategies to implement throughout our vast territory,” said Pastor Abner De Los Santos, vice president for the church in Inter-America overseeing membership retention and spiritual revival and reformation.

“What our primary focus is inviting its entire top leadership to participate in an encounter, reflect on what has taken place, to be inspired, motivated and challenged to continue promoting a spiritual revival lifestyle during the year focused on celebrating the work of the thousands of our laypeople,” said De Los Santos.

Pastor Israel Leito, president of the church in Inter-America, urged leaders to remain committed to living in spiritual revival and motivating members to lead a life of constant prayer, study of the Bible and witnessing in their communities.

Pastor Israel Leito, president of the church in Inter-America, challenged the leadership to hold the banner of revival and reformation high as the church founders and pioneers did, during his keynote address, Saturday Jan. 19.

“We must answer the call for revival and reformation, to trust God, to fix our gaze upon Him, as so many did in the past,” said Pastor Leito. “What the Lord needs today is a people who are trusting, people who are relying on His Spirit, who are willing to totally commit to Him.”

It’s about a consecrated life, enriched with a purpose, not basing life in the past, but in the times of today, emphasized Pastor Leito. “God wants us to live in a state of revival and reformation, looking forward with anticipation, in expectation because He is soon to come.”

Pastor Leito urged leaders to do their job living in spiritual revival and reformation and motivating members to do the same, in keeping with the Constant in Prayer, Heeding the Word, So that the Word May Know on-going initiatives throughout the territory.

“Revival and Reformation is accepting the challenge of here and now, trusting a timeless God, taking the past as a reference and living the Christian life in today’s circumstances, moving forward for He will guide you as He led you in the past,” Pastor Leito said.

Pastor Eliseo Bustamante, president of the church in South Colombia, prays during Holy Convocation launch, Jan. 19, 2013.

Prayer sessions highlighted the launch and a discussion segment was led by organizers during the launch program to review past activities and initiatives held throughout the territory during the last two years, and plans for thousands of local church convocations to be held Jan. 25-26, 2013, throughout Inter-America.

More than 160 Seventh-day Adventist leaders from each of the 118 conferences/missions offices throughout the region will gather this week at the IAD headquarter office in Miami, Florida.

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For upcoming activities during Inter-America’s 2013 Year of the Laity, visit 2013.interamerica.org