In the Dominican Republic, hundreds of ministers compete during territory-wide Bible competition

Finalists pose with their certificates and church leaders after the very first pastoral Bible competition was held at the Piantini Adventist Church in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, May 17, 2015. Images courtesy by Dominican Union.

May 29, 2015 | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | Bernardo Medina/IAD Staff

The Seventh-day Day Adventist Church in the Dominican Republic crowned three of its ministers as top winners of their first nation-wide Bible boom competition last week. The event, which gathered 12 finalists from across six of the church’s regions, climaxed with a special grand finale program at the Piantini Adventist Church in Santo Domingo on May 17. Contestants were tested on 1 and 2nd Timothy and Titus, as well as the church’s Bible Commentary on those books.

Top winners from left to right: Pastors Oscar Garcia (3rd place), Dorian Santana (first place), and Awaldy Almonte (2nd place winner) pose with their award certificates.

Finalists answered some 50 questions using the same computer program employed during Inter-American Division’s (IAD) Bible Boom youth ministries initiative held across the territory every year, organizers said.

“This was a wonderful activity which helped our ministers deepen their understanding of the pastoral counsel that was effective in the times of Paul, Timothy and Titus as well as today,” said Teofilo Silvestre, ministerial secretary for the church in the Dominican Republic and organizer of the program.

Top winners included Pastor Dorian Santana of the Paraiso District in the South Dominican Mission, followed by Pastor Awaldy Almonte, publishing ministries director of the North Dominican Conference, and Pastor Garcia of the Matas District in the South Dominican Mission. The three top winners were awarded with cash prizes during the event.

More than 200 ministers across the island took part in the six month study of the assigned books of the Bible and participated at regional district competitions until competing at the conference/mission level events.

Pastor Teofilo Silvestre, ministerial secretary of the Dominican Union presents certificates to the participating finalists during the Bible boom event.

“Many pastors have expressed the renewed vision of their ministry by this initiative and church congregations have been blessed to hear messages based on these selected books,” said Silvestre. “Pastors jumped at the opportunity to be part of a historic activity

Pastor Silvestre said that the event was planned with the Adventist world church’s Revived by His Word—Bible reading initiative and in the context of the church celebrating the Year of the Pastor across Inter-America this year.

The church is serious about the importance of the Scriptures in the lives of every believer, said Pastor Cesario Acevedo, president of the church in the Dominican Union.

“As a remnant church we have the commitment to be more than hearers of the Word, we must be live it daily and teach our church’s and pastors to appreciate and love the Word of God,” said Acevedo.

The church took an action to put the initiative into effect during its end of the year business meetings last November, and with the success of the initiative, leaders announced that another pastoral Bible boom would be organized to highlight the upcoming pastoral ministerial council next year, said Pastor Silvestre.

For more on the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Dominican Republic, visit Adventistasrd