October 18, 2018 | Miami, Florida, United States | Libna Stevens/IAD
Thousands of local church pastors throughout the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Inter-America will take part in an online certification program held at the Inter-American Division (IAD) Headquarters in Miami, Florida, on Oct. 24, 2018. The event is part two of a comprehensive certification program to better equip pastors as they shepherd the fast growing church memberships across the territory.
“We want to reaffirm the great ministerial commitment to reach more souls amid the big challenges that the church faces in the modern world today,” said Pastor Josney Rodríguez, ministerial association secretary for the church in Inter-America. The five hour program will highlight the vision of the ministerial association has for more than the 3,200 pastors who lead in 22,000 churches and congregations in Inter-America.
“Our pastors must be properly equipped to tend to, disciple, and multiply congregations bursting with nearly 4 million members,” said Rodríguez. “Having an empowered and inspired team of leaders will help us move forward together in a pastoral leadership that will be more spiritual and bible-based ministry closer to the church.”
Part of the comprehensive strategy of the department is to train its pastors and church elders to help shepherd the congregations more efficiently, said Rodríguez. Already, nearly 30,000 church elders have been undergoing a certification program since last year.
This online training for pastors follows up 10 hours of training held regionally in each country and territory, added Rodríguez.
The online program will include topics on strengthening the church, evangelism chanllenges, small groups and missionary couples ministry, managing resources and more. The live program will also show appreciation for the work of ministers who have been pastoring churches for decades.
To watch the live program on Wednesday, October 24, 2018, from 10:00am to 12:30pm and 2:30 to 4:30pm Miami Time, visit us at webcast.interamerica.org