“Leadership is not confined to a position, it is a mindset, it’s a relationship,” said Balvin Braham, vice president of the Inter-American Division (IAD) in charge of leadership development training. “We must go from here to lead by example in our various portfolios to inspire those around us.”

Braham challenged the more than 1,700 administrators, department directors, pastors, church elders, institution administrators, and professionals at this year’s Segment Leadership Development Conference (SeLD) to use the additional insights they gained after three days of prayerful training and fellowship, to better fulfill the mission God has granted them in their various responsibilities in the Seventh-day Adventist Church organization throughout the territory.

Close to 500 leaders took part in the dozens of keynote speeches, presentations, and seminars in person, while more than 1,200 leaders connected online during the annual event held July 22-24, 2024, in Miami, Florida, United States.

Growing in Leadership

Pointing to the conference’s theme, “Growing in Leadership,” Braham reminded leaders that the focus this year was intended to help them “grow in the character of Christ, which means growing in love and justice and fairness, in humility, empathy, in servanthood, compassion, righteousness and mercy and forgiveness to name a few.”

“When all is said and done, what matters most is how well I [as a leader] am fulfilling the mission that God has given me,” said Braham.

The “how well I am fulfilling the mission” struck a chord deep in the heart of Eduardo Roche, 61, from Cuba. This was Roche’s, communication, and culture director of the East Cuba Conference, first time attending the 8th-year running SeLD Conference. He took in every word, every moment with eyes-wide open to learn new leadership skills and rub shoulders with other peers and leaders from the IAD territory. “I’m taking every devotional, every presentation, every seminar, every prayer session back to my team,” he said. He oversees a team of directors at 103 organized churches and 30 companies in Holguin, in the eastern part of the island some 734 kilometers from Havana, the capital city.

Amid Leadership Challenges

“It’s been so amazing to see how the General Conference and the IAD moves to fulfill the mission and how we need to continue working hard throughout our churches to awaken a spirit of urgency before Jesus comes,” said Roche. For Cuba it’s a challenge, he says, because during the past two years church leaders have left the island in droves, and training new, young leaders to take their place is a constant. With all the challenges, Roche manages to meet via text messaging and gather leaders for a few days of training when funds are available to transport them for in person training like the last one he led in February. “I know that it’s about using the tools the best that I can in the context where God has placed me to serve,” said Roche.

At times during the conference, Roche said he felt like an “extraterrestrial.” “I could see their eyes get so wide and their jaws drop as I expressed how things are back home and how we move about to lead in our ministries.” For many it is hard to understand the way the church runs and how the work grows amid the situation, explained Roche. In the end, he said, it’s as practical as the messages, seminars, and presentations he heard during SeLD. It’s all about letting God take a hold of your ministry in favor of the mission.

“Serving God means putting the talents He has given us to his service wholeheartedly and share and help others for His work,” Roche said.

Listening and Learning

Three weeks before SeLD began, Adriana Guillén, 38, began working as the treasurer of the Azteca Mexican Conference, in Mexico City, Mexico. She became the first woman to hold the administrative position in the country and said she was delighted to attend her first SeLD Conference. “I came eager to learn from every presentation, seminar and the experience of others,” she said. “I’m like a sponge, listening and learning.” She’s been reminded that her work is not to benefit the world but to impact others so they too can know God, she said.

For Guillén, who directly oversees five in her team at the conference and 30 across the conference, said she was moved by the pressing challenges that the church faces not only in her city, country, and the IAD but the whole world, on losing members. “I worry when looking at statistics and feel the urgency in retaining members today and as a church what are we doing? We need to work hard at funding the mission to share the gospel and retain members,” she said.

Guillén listened intently during a panel discussion where church leaders discussed ways to get members involved, especially young people.

She is very clear about one thing: how the conference has emphasized why God has called her to serve. “God chose me with a purpose. I’ve been so happy to serve Him wherever He has led me; from working at Gema Editors, as an accountant in an Adventist school, as comptroller in the conference and as assistant treasurer in the union, and I see God wants to use me to lead as Jesus led,” said Guillén. She loves sharing everything she learns in her financial responsibilities, and as she assists in ministering in the five churches her husband pastors back home.

“Everything I’ve learned here will help me in my work and how to best implement the right procedures and improve to best complement the mission of the church,” she said.

Influencing in Leadership

It was the first time that Carolyn Smith, vice president of student services at Northern Caribbean University in Jamaica, attended SeLD. She had connected last year online but is thankful for the in-person conference and the connections she made. Smith used to be an accountant, a school principal in two schools but in recent years was appointed to her new position at the university overseeing 11 department and 25 employees, as well as hundreds of students on campus and at extension campuses.

“Sometimes you get bogged down with so much work and personally taking part in seminars here is very encouraging,” said Smith. Taking time to be present in the moment, making sure to prevent burnout, making time for self-care were good practical reminders that are important in her leadership position, she added.  “I enjoy the opportunity to help students in particular solve their problems and influence them to see their career and calling as part of my ministry,” she said.

One presentation on the need for proper training of new board members, the importance of mission, defining roles and responsibilities, deciding on skills and competencies of your board was crucial, she said.

The deliberate and intentional approach to make mission the main focus of your purpose in serving the organization is something that Smith is taking to heart. “Working for the church is to prepare others for the soon return of Jesus and we must continue on that path as we grow in the leadership we have been called to.”

Depending on God

For Gelder Gamboa, 45, youth and public campus ministries director of the Belize Union, being at SeLD touched on many things he wants to improve in his leadership ministry, not only for himself but for his family and the church. “This took me to understand clearer that I need to be a mindful leader, recognizing my wider responsibilities and being able to cooperate with the development of the church better,” he said. It’s about having God give him the insight he needs to serve Him better, said Gamboa. “I cannot be self-sufficient thinking that my skills are all I need, but I must depend on God,” he said.

It was clear for Gamboa to be self-aware, guard his ministry and the organization, know the policies, be on the lookout for conflict of interest, and so much more, he said. “At the end of the day, it’s about reaching the people inside and outside of the church.” He is more aware of the pressing needs of being more relevant in reaching young people where they are and helping them through their struggles and helping them find a spiritual revival in their personal life. “God has placed us where we are to serve the church and the community better and I go back excited to be a mindful leader advancing the mission.”

Pressing on and Growing

Part of this year’s SeLD Conference explored the factors and pointers on how to address some of the challenges of dormant or declining Adventist institutions across the IAD territory. Church leaders were also encouraged to reflect and plan for when their retirement comes, took part in a Q&A session as well as dozens of break-out seminar presentations during the three-day conference.

“We hope that the time together here will help you personally and your organization, whether at the conference, mission, church, or institution level, so all will benefit from the knowledge you acquired or were refreshed here as you fulfill God’s,” said Elie Henry, president of the IAD. “Press on as you grow in grace and be witnesses everywhere you go for your church in the IAD, being instruments to grow this great movement and that we can continue to prepare people to meet Jesus soon.”

The original article was published on the Inter-American Division website.