Inter-American Adventist Leaders Sign Agreement to Train Pastors for Community-Based Ministry

On March 31 in Miami, Florida, leaders from the Inter-American Division (IAD) and Andrews University (AU) formalized a new partnership through a signed memorandum of understanding. The agreement is designed to strengthen pastoral mentorship and expand community-based ministry across the territory.

The initiative is supported by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Inter-America and its country directors, who have committed to helping implement the program at the local level. Abner De los Santos, IAD president and chair of the IAD ADRA Board, stated that the agreement will help strengthen the training of church leaders and create opportunities to connect ADRA’s work more closely with the life and mission of the church.

The partnership centers on a structured mentorship program developed by AU’s Center for Community Change. The goal is to equip pastors to lead healthier congregations and strengthen community engagement. Ignacio Goya, director of the center, described the initiative as a transformative mentoring process based on Christ’s method, intended to move ministry from theory into practice.

Goya explained that the program systematizes a transformation process combined with academic and professional certification. He noted that this approach helps make Christ’s method a practical reality for those serving in local communities.

The mentorship program spans approximately nine to 24 months and represents an investment of about US$10,000 per participating pastor. This cost is covered by donors supporting the initiative in partnership with AU, allowing selected pastors across the territory to participate at no cost to their local fields.

Pilot programs have already begun in the North Mexican Union, where 36 pastors are currently engaged in the mentorship process. Goya reported strong early interest, with expectations that additional territories will soon join. He anticipated that 20 to 30 pastors in Puerto Rico alone could take part, with similar numbers expected in other regions as the program expands.

The initiative builds on progress already seen in the North American Division, where hundreds of pastors are currently engaged in the program. The goal there is to reach 1,000 trained pastors by 2028. Goya stated that if the initiative is adopted broadly across Inter-America over the next three to four years, reaching 1,000 pastors in the territory is a realistic goal. This focus on practical neighbor-love and community service reflects the biblical call to care for those in need, as seen in Matthew 25:35.

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