Representatives of the Seventh-day Adventist Church's global ministerial and publishing ministries held separate advisory sessions at the world church headquarters the week of March 13, sharing strategies and plans for the next five years.
These sessions bring together departmental leaders from the Adventist church's 13 world regions for a time of fellowship, instruction and sharing. Strategies are considered and discussed, visions shared and accomplishments are noted.
Pastor Jan Paulsen, in remarks before the Ministerial Association advisory, told pastoral leaders that local church pastors sometimes feel disconnected from church initiatives that "come down from above" without their involvement. He encouraged those leaders to work towards making local pastors feel more connected with the global efforts of the church.
James A. Cress, ministerial secretary for the world church, said he agreed with Paulsen's remarks and noted that the group is seeking more and better ways of integrating church priorities with pastoral ministry.
The ministerial sessions combined the attendance of pastoral leaders from the world regions with the women responsible for the church's Shepherdess International program, which involves ministry to pastoral families. Shepherdess directors from each of the regions were in joint attendance at the ministerial sessions.
The church's publishing ministries -- primarily responsible for distribution of church literature in many nations around the world -- were equally well represented during their separate advisory meetings. An estimated 40,000 literature evangelists -- formerly known as "colporteurs" -- are involved in sales and distribution of literature worldwide; according to Pastor Howard Faigao, publishing secretary for the world church, there will be an effort to add 15,000 more literature evangelists to the ranks during the next five years.
In addition, he said, a "Literature Ministry Seminary" program will be established in each national or regional church area, as well as the 13 major regions. The program will focus on one week of annual training over three or five years for all literature evangelists, whose work involves ministry to the people with whom they work, and not just sales.
Publishing branches will also produce books for readers at all levels of society, and more books in local languages. In addition, Faigao said, local publishing houses will unite with Adventist media ministries for cross-promotion: the ministries will refer people to the publishing house products that support their broadcasts, he said.
"I'm very encouraged," Faigao told Adventist News Network. "I think the response of our publishing directors is encouraging."
According to A. J. Tito, publishing director for the Southern Asia church region, "These initiatives are very challenging and [we] plan to introduce them in our [region]. We need to produce more publications in various languages to reach the people."
Other departmental advisory meetings are planned for the world headquarters in coming weeks.
Silver Spring, Maryland United States,
Mark A. Kellner/ANN
These sessions bring together departmental leaders from the Adventist church's 13 world regions for a time of fellowship, instruction and sharing. Strategies are considered and discussed, visions shared and accomplishments are noted.
Pastor Jan Paulsen, in remarks before the Ministerial Association advisory, told pastoral leaders that local church pastors sometimes feel disconnected from church initiatives that "come down from above" without their involvement. He encouraged those leaders to work towards making local pastors feel more connected with the global efforts of the church.
James A. Cress, ministerial secretary for the world church, said he agreed with Paulsen's remarks and noted that the group is seeking more and better ways of integrating church priorities with pastoral ministry.
The ministerial sessions combined the attendance of pastoral leaders from the world regions with the women responsible for the church's Shepherdess International program, which involves ministry to pastoral families. Shepherdess directors from each of the regions were in joint attendance at the ministerial sessions.
The church's publishing ministries -- primarily responsible for distribution of church literature in many nations around the world -- were equally well represented during their separate advisory meetings. An estimated 40,000 literature evangelists -- formerly known as "colporteurs" -- are involved in sales and distribution of literature worldwide; according to Pastor Howard Faigao, publishing secretary for the world church, there will be an effort to add 15,000 more literature evangelists to the ranks during the next five years.
In addition, he said, a "Literature Ministry Seminary" program will be established in each national or regional church area, as well as the 13 major regions. The program will focus on one week of annual training over three or five years for all literature evangelists, whose work involves ministry to the people with whom they work, and not just sales.
Publishing branches will also produce books for readers at all levels of society, and more books in local languages. In addition, Faigao said, local publishing houses will unite with Adventist media ministries for cross-promotion: the ministries will refer people to the publishing house products that support their broadcasts, he said.
"I'm very encouraged," Faigao told Adventist News Network. "I think the response of our publishing directors is encouraging."
According to A. J. Tito, publishing director for the Southern Asia church region, "These initiatives are very challenging and [we] plan to introduce them in our [region]. We need to produce more publications in various languages to reach the people."
Other departmental advisory meetings are planned for the world headquarters in coming weeks.
Silver Spring, Maryland United States,
Mark A. Kellner/ANN
