Inter-America to launch live online training program for its church elders

February 23, 2017 | Miami, Florida, United States | Libna Stevens/IAD

A special program to honor the work of thousands of church elders across the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Inter-America will take place this Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Miami Time. Themed Committed to God, the two-hour online event will will also provide training for church elders, who assist pastors in leading in over 21,000 churches and congregations in the Inter-American Division (IAD) territory.

“Our ministers cannot care for everyone of our congregations nor cover all pastoral visit, organize and promote all evangelistic programs every week,” says Pastor Josney Rodríguez, associate ministerial secretary for the church in the IAD.

Church elders and local leaders will be honored throughtout the day for their important role and service in their local congregations.

According to Rodríguez, a pastor in Inter-America has an average of eight or more churches to ‘shepherd’ and “without the leadership involvement of church elders it would be impossible to maintain the spiritual growth of our members,” he explains.

The online program will launch a comprehensive certification program for the over an estimated 30,000 church elders and leaders who tirelessly volunteer during the week and lead and motivate members to take part in the mission of the church.

“Church elders are key to better care for the ‘flock’” says Rodríguez. “That’s why we have developed the ‘Every Elder Involved’ program to provide knowledge, develop abilities and skills that can reach church congregations so our IAD territory can count on competent spiritual and ecclesiastic leaders.”

To view the live online program in English, Spanish, and French, tune in Feb. 25 at 3:30 p.m. Miami Time at webcast.interamerica.org