Jonathan Peñate, 25, and Janeyri Martínez, 24, never thought they would walk down the aisle again. But they found themselves at this moment–she wearing her white gown and veil, he, wearing his suit–much like they had done a year and a half ago with family and friends in their home country of El Salvador. This time, they walked down the long aisle in front of more than 600 pastoral couples just like them to take part in a marriage vow renewal ceremony. The event was the crowning moment as the Inter-American Division (IAD) was concluding its third and final ministerial retreat in Acajutla, El Salvador, on Sep. 18, 2024.

“We are about to celebrate one of the most significant ceremonies,” said Pedro Iglesias, family ministries director of the IAD, as he addressed Peñate and Martínez and the hundreds of pastoral couples represented in the convention center. “It is so exciting to take part in this moment here and now,” he said. On stage, Iglesias introduced six pastoral couples as part of the wedding party on stage, who had anywhere from 10 to 30 years of being married.

Unity, Availability, and Exclusivity

“We can sum up wedding vows in three words: unity, availability and exclusivity,” said Iglesias. “Unity because when we decide to become one, it means in every circumstance. Availability because that means that I will be next to you always in sickness and in health for richer, for poorer. And exclusivity because we promise to only be with each other [intimately] while we both are alive.”

As Iglesias zeroed in on the word exclusivity, he explained that it is not about being aware of whether you are going to commit adultery or not but about being aware of each other to satisfy all the needs, importantly the sexual needs, he said. “It’s saying ‘the best of me is yours, no one else.’”

“The devil is going to try to destroy your marriage, your ministry,” said Iglesias. “He’s going continue tempting you to violate the many areas that get you to break that exclusivity, but as you’re here together, ask the Holy Spirit to anoint you every day, put on the shield of faith and to honor God in your commitment to each other and to Him,” he said.

It was a message that echoed throughout the historic ministerial retreats that saw more than 3,000 couples, mostly district pastors, across the IAD territory who gathered in September for a three-day respite in either Mexico, the Dominican Republic, or in El Salvador.

Peñate and Martínez welcomed the retreat joyfully because it gave them precious time to spend together, reconnecting with friends and peers from Central America as well as renewing their commitment to each other as they minister to the eight churches in their district of San Salvador, the capital city.

Managing it All Can be Hard

Martínez works as a math teacher for 4th to 7th graders at the Adventist school and assists in leading women’s ministries and children’s ministries on Sabbaths alongside Peñate who juggles church services, visitations to sick members, or any other visitation needs, oversees church boards, and ministers to the more than 250 members in his congregations.

“Sometimes managing it all can be hard,” said Peñate. In the year and a half that they have been a married couple, they have faced many of the same challenges that pastoral couples face throughout the IAD. “Jesus needs to be the center of the home. That’s been very clear here,” he said.

The ministerial event has taught them to be more supportive, understanding, and open to seek counseling assistance if they should ever need it, added Peñate.

Taking a few a few days away from their full pastoral schedules was meant to provide a few moments to reconnect with God and their spouse, said Josney Rodríguez, Ministerial Association secretary of the IAD.

Renewing the Ministerial Call

“Pastors are the first line of defense out there in our thousands of Seventh-day Adventist churches and it was important to have a space to retreat and gain spiritual anointing amid so many challenges and responsibilities,” he explained.  It was all about renewing their commitment to their ministerial call, their families and have a deep connection with God as they continue to fulfill the mission, added Rodríguez.

The retreat featured spiritual messages, presentations, and dozens of seminars for pastors and their spouses in plenary sessions and separate rooms from church leadership experts and psychologists. In addition, private online sessions were offered to pastoral couples who chose to benefit from counseling sessions from Adventist psychologist from the North American and South American Division.

“We retained the services of seven psychologists who were available to provide 120, one-hour sessions to our pastoral couples,” said Iglesias. “It may have been the first step for many of the pastoral couples who shied away from seeking marriage counseling for whatever reason back at home.”

There were 90 sessions used as counseling during the month of September, said Cecilia Iglesias, associate family ministries director. “We are glad that many took the opportunity to take part in this helpful marriage resource,” she said.

Honoring Their Service

Hundreds of pastors and their spouses from Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala were also recognized for their committed service during a special ceremony where they received certificates, plaques, and gifts.

Hernán Pedrol of Panama was among the hundreds of pastors who were honored on the last day of the retreat in El Salvador. He oversees 20 congregations in the western region where hundreds of Ngäbe indigenous ethnic groups live. He travels by car and by foot every Sabbath to lead two or three congregations each Sabbath, visits members in need, shares Bible studies, and engages members and young people in sharing the gospel in their communities.

Pedrol and his wife Celideth were honored for their 21 years of service and received a special plaque for their commitment to spreading the gospel and baptizing more than 100 persons so far this year. “He holds the record with the most baptisms across the union for several years,” said Panama Union President Jose De Gracia.

The retreat has been a real treat for Pedrol and his wife. “I take back with me so much motivation, spiritual strength, and joy in seeing a church and its pastors committed to fulfill the mission,” said Pedrol. He goes back with new tools to encourage and especially equip more young people to lead in the life of the church and engage them more in mission initiatives and community projects.

Unwavering Dedication

Elie Henry, president of the IAD, thanked the pastoral delegation for their unwavering dedication and commitment to nurturing and expanding the church in the Inter-American Division territory. “I have seen joy in many of the faces of the pastors, encouraged to continue their labor for God,” said Henry.

“God brought us here bring us more opportunities to be anointed and be committed to your spouse and the church in the mission He has left before us,” he said. “God wants to start a new journey. The road will not be easy because there is much work ahead, but God can give us the victory and the joy in serving Him,” Henry said.

Ramon Canals, ministerial association secretary of the General Conference, who brought his team of associates, Dr. Antony Kent, Dr. Jeffrey Brown, and Auroral Canals, to the three ministerial retreats, encouraged ministers to continue serving God. “Remain strong in your devotion to the Lord,” he said. Have the mind of Christ, live like Christ, and that the church may see Him in you and your ministry.”

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