Inter-America: Communicators participate in special revival press conference with world church leaders

February 16, 2011 – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic…Libna Stevens/lAD

A group of communicators from the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Inter-America participated in a special press conference with Adventist World Church President Ted N.C. Wilson and Inter-American President Israel Leito.

The press conference took place hours after the church officially launched its spiritual revival and reformation called Constant In Prayer on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The launch was broadcast live via satellite.

“I want to thank all of you for joining us during this special day for Inter-America,” said Abel Marquez, associate communication director for the church in Inter-America who moderated the conference. In attendance was a core group of international communicators from throughout radio stations in Inter-America.

“To launch a spiritual prayer revival means the committed effort of our leaders to encourage church members to renew their relationship with God. You will be vital in spreading the information in an opportune, professional way through the different mediums of communication,” Marquez said.

“People down through the ages have promoted revival to hasten the Second Coming,” said Pastor Wilson as he began his statement on spiritual revival.

“We have to recognize that He [Jesus] isn’t here yet. There must be a reason and we don’t want that reason to be that we are not ready to receive His power,” he explained.

This pressing need led the top administrative body of the General Conference to vote an important document and initiative on October 2010 entitled “God’s Promised Gift”. The initiative makes an urgent appeal for revival, reformation, discipleship and evangelism in an effort to prepare the church for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

“This is not just a bunch of propaganda, it is for one purpose and one purpose alone, to focus our attention on our great need of Jesus,” said Pastor Wilson.

Pastor Leito stated the importance for church members to embrace a prayerful life that leads to revival.

“The Inter-American Division has launched this ‘Constant in Prayer’ initiative with the main purpose to lead us to experience the joy of the presence of God,” said Pastor Leito. “To be constant in prayer is not about having a large list of requests but to deepen our relationship with God.”

Questions from gathered media outlets varied from reasons for the revival plan and the use of technology to aid in revival, to the type of music that can go along with spiritual revival.

“In this new [revival] initiative, what are we going to do different so that this may indeed see the Second Coming of our Lord,” asked Justo Castro representing the 17 radio stations in East Venezuela.

“I don’t have all the answers for that,” said Pastor Wilson, “but, if we follow what God has asked and humble ourselves and allow the Lord to truly do what He’s been doing for decades to pour out the Holy Spirit in abundance that we will see the end come. We need to be earnest in prayer, constant in prayer. And just say, Lord why not now? It is a call for each of us to prepare to do the last warning of His coming. And maybe the difference will be you and me.”

Miqueas Fortunato, managing director of Radio Amanecer, the church’s largest radio station in the Dominican Republic, asked how the church plans to massively bring together church media specialists to network and unify efforts in the world church’s revival program.

Pastor Wilson touched on his concern to utilize and make the best us of technology available to allow integrated evangelism among the various departments and ministries of the church.

According to Pastor Wilson, to call a special summit of media specialists of top people from around the Adventist Church to get together for four or five days and decide the most dynamic way we can spread Three Angel’s Message.

“This is the work of the Holy Spirit,” he said. “The people of Australia challenged me with that. The Holy Spirit is moving everywhere and now we have to respond.”

Another question was raised on how the church plans to measure the success of the revival.

“There will be a greater sense of unity on the part of those who are truly engaged in humble prayer,” said Pastor Wilson. “I think there will be a demonstration of true love one for another…there will be a harmony in the church that we have not seen before, an urgency to share with others what God has done.”

As the press conference stretched to nearly two hours, Pastor Leito spoke on how the different church regions in Inter-America have already embraced the initiative. He encouraged the communicators and church leaders present to continue in motivating church members in their territory with creative programs.

“Pray, pray, and pray,” emphasized Pastor Leito. “We encourage you and all who are listening to this [conference] to spend time in prayer and ask the Lord to fill us with His Spirit, that we may be able to be used.”

To view a photo gallery toInter-America’s Revival and Reformation press conference, www.flickr.com/photos/interamerica

For more on spiritualrevival initiative, visit us at www.interamerica.orgas well as visit the following sites:

Resources

Constant in Prayer: http://prayerrevival.interamerica.org


Facebook –

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Prayer-Revival/137873816275961

SpanishResources

Constantes en la Oracion: http://estamosorando.interamerica.org/

Facebook in Spanish

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Constantes-en-la-Oracion/173416709365170