May 4, 2011 – Miami, Florida, United States…Libna Stevens/IAD
Pastors across the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Haiti gathered to pray for spiritual revival, reflect on God’s Word and focus on their mission as ministers during a special April 30th program. The program was part of “Constant In Prayer,” an initiative launched by the Inter-American Division (IAD) this year that stresses the need for constant prayer and study of the bible to bring about spiritual revival and reformation.
“You must pray under every circumstance, good or bad,” said Pastor Israel Leito, president of the church in Inter-America as he addressed the more than 200 pastors and retired ministers in the headquarter building for the church in Haiti, based in Port-au-Prince. “I challenge you to be fearless as you pray and renew your spiritual connection with God.” Pastors in Haiti are leading 359,000 church members in churches still devastated by last year’s earthquake.
“If the pastors can catch the vision and lead the church in a life of constant prayer, great success will be achieved,” said Pastor Leito.
That message was echoed throughout the IAD territory as top church leaders emphasized the importance of pursuing a prayer revival as shepherds to a growing flock of believers.
“Without a doubt, our pastors face many challenges,” said Pastor Hector Sanchez, ministerial association secretary for the church in Inter-America. “The greatest challenge is for ministers to inspire each church member to a closer connection with the Lord and a greater commitment to Him through the Holy Spirit in order to fulfill the mission of sharing the good news of salvation.”
The IAD has a pastoral force of nearly 3,000 among a growing membership of 3.4 million, which means each pastor in the territory has an average of six congregations, or about 1,000 church members, to which to minister. But Sanchez said no matter what the minister to church member ratio is, a pastor’s job is still about inspiring each member for a total commitment to God–which is only possible through a consecrated ministry active in a prayer revival lifestyle.”
Church leaders are working to lower the pastor to church member ratio in the IAD.
Elsewhere in the IAD, thousands of pastors retreated to feast on spiritual nourishment through seminars, prayer and special presentations.
In Costa Rica, dozens of pastors participated in seminars, worship, prayer sessions and a pinning ceremony. In North Mexico, some 100 pastors went on a spiritual retreat to the Morita campsite in Montemorelos for a full day of prayer, music, seminars and testimonies. In Guatemala, more than 130 pastors gathered for a special day of worship, prayer and seminars, and retired pastors were honored for their pioneer work for the church in the country. In eastern Venezuela, dozens of pastors and their spouses spent a day in prayer, fellowship and committed to a prayer revival lifestyle.
“It was such a blessing to see the prayers, the worship in songs and the message that a pastoral family dedicated to God will be a blessing for the church,” said Sanchez.
Sanchez said leaders may plan to make a special prayer revival day for pastor an annual event. “Our ministerial body expects it and needs it,” he said.
Since February, the church in Inter-America, through its Constant in Prayer initiative, has held special programs geared towards promoting a prayer revival for children and young people in the church, as well as for students and teachers in its schools throughout the territory. In addition, a special family emphasis day will take place in thousands of homes next month.
For more information on the special prayer revival throughout Inter-America, visit www.praying4revival.org and www.estamosorando.org
For updates on the upcoming on the Constant in Prayer initiative throughout the IAD, visit us at www.interamerica.org
Resources
Constant in Prayer: http://praying4revival.org
Facebook – click here
Spanish Resources
Constantes en la Oracion: http://estamosorando.org
Facebook click here
