Rufino S. Arismendi: Expanding the Message Among Indigenous People in Venezuela
February 3, 2022 | Venezuela | By Ney Julián Devis
This story was taken from The Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists (ESDA) which freely accessible at encyclopedia.adventist.org.
Rufino Serapio Arismendi was an important figure in the expansion of the Adventist message among the indigenous people of the territory of Gran Sabana during the twentieth century. He served as a pastor and administrator in the Colombo-Venezuela Union Mission.
Early Years, Education, and Marriage
Rufino S. Arismendi, born April 22, 1915, in Río Caribe,1 Estado Sucre, Venezuela, spent his childhood spent on the family’s farm. In 1923, he learned about the Adventist message through family members.2 Baptized at age 13, he joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Estado Sucre.3 When he was 18, he entered the publications ministry and started traveling throughout Venezuela, sharing the Adventist message.4 By 1938, at 23, he had earned enough selling Christian books to study in Medellín, Colombia,5 entering the Colegio Industrial Coloveno (Coloveno Industrial College).”6
Rufino S. Arismendi and wife Elva Mujica. [Photo courtesy of Haroldo Arismendi]
Administrative Work
In 1943, Arismendi began working as a dormitory dean and instructor at Coloveno.10 The next year he served as an associate pastor in Caracas, Venezuela, and contributed to the organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Catia.11 While in Estado Táchira, he founded an Adventist village called “Rafael López Miranda” along a school of the same name.12 In 1954,13 in the City of Carúpano, he established Colegio Libertador in the eastern part of Venezuela.14
Pastor R. S. Arismendi became president of the West Venezuela Mission in 1958.15 From 1960 to 1966, he served in one of the departments of the Colombo-Venezuela Union Mission.16 He also became president of the East Venezuela Mission in Caracas. When he visited Gran Sabana during that period, he confirmed the existence of four Adventist villages in the territory. Years later, the church established several Adventist schools in the region.
Work in Gran Sabana
In 1972, leadership assigned Arismendi as a pastor in Gran Sabana to support the construction of a college. He also organized six new churches, nine groups, and built four church buildings as well as various primary schools in the region.17
Retirement and Dedication
When he retired in 1979, he started doing missionary work among Gran Sabana’s indigenous communities, determined to establish a boarding middle school for the their youth.18 His hard work came to fruition on October 8 of the same year with the start of Gran Sabana Adventist Academy (COLGRANSA) as the region’s boarding high school.19 He stayed in Gran Sabana until 1985. Beginning to have health issues, he moved with his wife to Victoria, Estado Aragua. In 1995, together with members at El Limón, he started the building of a community church.20
When he was 90 years old, he returned to Gran Sabana in order to continue to strengthen COLGRANSA’s educational program and to help finish the construction of its church building. From 2005 to 2010, Pastor Arismendi dedicated himself to share the message with the Gran Sabana community and church members.21 He dedicated a total of 18 years to missionary activity in the region. He always said that “God chose me from childhood to do this work.”22
On December 2, 2013 he traveled to the United States for a family reunion, and on May 10, 2014, a Saturday afternoon, he passed away.23 Part of his ashes were deposited in La Victoria cemetery in Estado Aragua in his wife’s grave. In 2015, to commemorate what would have been his one hundredth birthday, the rest of his ashes were taken to Gran Sabana and deposited at the foot of Roraima Mountain, Estado Bolivar, near Pastor Ovid Elbert Davis’ grave.24 The words in his obituary declare: “Known for being adventurous, always ready to share his faith, not afraid to live, and always having God present in his life.”25
For Sources and Notes, view HERE