Inter-America: Leadership to connect with church elders during virtual council

February 1, 2013 – Miami, Florida, United States…Libna Stevens/IAD

Image by Abel Marquez/IAD

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Inter-America is preparing to hold its second virtual council on Saturday, Feb. 9, when it plans to connect thousands of ministers and church elders throughout the territory via the internet. The event will take place from the church’s headquarter office in Miami, Florida.

“This is a very significant virtual council because it will highlight the important role of the church elder in partnering with pastors as they minister in more than 11,000 churches and congregations throughout Inter-America,” says pastor Hector Sanchez, ministerial secretary for the church in Inter-America and one of the main organizers of the event.

The virtual council is part of Inter-America’s Year of the Laity, which is actually part of the church’s ongoing spiritual revival and reformation initiative which began in 2011. The initiative emphasizes daily prayer, in-depth study the Bible, and witnessing of the gospel.

According to Pastor Sanchez, church elders are being organized throughout each local church to view the live program and take part in addressing questions and concerns to top church leaders. “We estimate that we have some 30,000 assisting our 3,000 local pastors throughout the territory,” said Sanchez.

Nearly one hundred regional church leaders, including the ministerial secretary, the personal ministries director, plus one pastor and one elder from each of Inter-America’s 22 unions, will witness the live program.

The two-hour event will accentuate the work of the elder as a fundamental element in the advancement of the gospel, highlight upcoming activities which integrate ministries to reach out to the community, and focus on health initiatives.

The virtual event will also stress the close tie between pastors and church elders in fostering an environment of spiritual revival and reformation in order to guide the membership toward a deeper relationship with Jesus, leaders said.

Also scheduled is a short message from Adventist World President Pastor Ted N.C. Wilson, a spiritual message from Inter-American Division President Pastor Israel Leito, several running initiatives taking place division-wide, a Q&A section, music, prayer and more.

Inter-America’s virtual ministerial council will begin Sabbath, February 9, 2013 at at 10:00 a.m. Miami Time and is scheduled to conclude at 12:00 noon Miami Time.

To view the live program, click here

For information and resources during Inter-America’s 2013 Year of the Laity, visit 2013.interamerica.org