The Inter-American Division (IAD) will celebrate the culmination of this year’s territory-wide certification training program for Seventh-day Adventist local pastors during a live streamed event on Oct. 23, 2024. The annual event is part of a comprehensive certification program to better equip pastors as they minister in more than 24,000 churches and congregations across the territory.

The annual pastoral certification program follows a continuing education recommendation from the General Conference which includes 20 hours of training each year, says Josney Rodríguez, Ministerial Association secretary of the IAD.  “As a division, we provide 10 to 12 hours of certification hours and leave room for the unions to fill the rest according to the particular needs in their territory,” he says. “Our purpose with this certification program is to boost and consolidate for pastors to be united in not only completing the necessary training each year but making sure that their churches can focus on its members.”

A church cannot just function with events and activities alone, says Rodríguez. “We are in a process to change the paradigm from a church that centers around a program to a church that focuses on its members, discipleship, training, and much more.”

The new paradigm ensures that each church elder works closely with its two deacons and two deaconesses to minister to at least 50 members, and work to oversee the small groups which are usually composed of 10 members, explains Rodríguez. “This is the kind of structure that will help ensure that each member is cared for and discipled and the church can grow stronger.”

Local fields will gather their district pastors during the live program and will award pastors and their spouses who have completed this year’s certification training program as part of a special program certified by the Inter-American Adventist Theological Seminary.

The live event falls on a month when church congregations across the territory are taking time to honor and appreciate the ministry of their pastor and his family. Most pastors in the IAD territory lead anywhere from two, five, 12, or even 30 congregations, says Rodríguez.

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