Some 150 years after the Seventh-day Adventist Church established a regular, systematic study of the Bible for believers, a new strategic, intentional plan has begun for the Sabbath School Department of the church in Inter-America. The goal is to equip Sabbath School leaders and teachers with the proper tools to teach the adult classes every Sabbath. So far, the new plan has brought much success, according to Pastor Luis Fajardo, Sabbath School and personal ministries director for the church in Inter-America.

Fajardo explains that many Sabbath School workshops have been available for leaders and teachers of the children’s divisions, and because of its success, special emphasis for Adult Sabbath School training for teachers has begun in Inter-America.

“This is something that has been needed for years,” he says. He goes on to explain that some years ago, a survey was done by the world church headquarters which found that a high percentage of Sabbath School teachers had no training. For this reason, a series of classes was created to educate adult Sabbath School teachers. The classes cover general history and information of the Sabbath School, the study of the Bible and teaching methods, reaching absent Sabbath School members, missionary work, testifying, evangelizing, and more.

Pastor Miguel Presuel, Sabbath School and Personal Ministries director for the church in South Mexico, states that as a result of this leadership training, he expects more than 20,000 laypeople will receive training in Sabbath School leadership with the help of Sabbath School directors throughout the region.

Earlier this year, more than 8,000 attended Sabbath School training in the Inter-Oceanic region in Mexico. In 2002, 9,000 teachers also received training in Venezuela.

In addition, the Caribbean region, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, North Mexico, Puerto Rico, and West Indies have also initiated leadership training.