Henrique Gomes
Courtney Herod
Becky Carpenter
Henrique Gomes
Courtney Herod
Looking back to the beginnings of the early Christian church, the Bible shows a practice through which believers acknowledged the calling God had placed upon certain disciples. Paul and Barnabas were serving in Antioch when the Lord called them to a special work. The Bible says that, as believers ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them,” Acts 13:2, NKJV.
Today, this setting apart is recognized in ordination, often accompanied by the laying on of hands. Similar services are held for elders, deacons, and deaconesses, yet Scripture also teaches that not everyone is called to the same role. Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,” Ephesians 4:11, NKJV.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church continues to honor this biblical structure of leadership by training and equipping pastors for ministry. That training often begins in the local church, and many later continue through undergraduate and graduate studies. Yet formal education is only part of the preparation. Practical experience, spiritual maturity, and evidence of God-given gifts are also carefully observed in intern and unordained pastors as they prepare for the important work of evangelism, discipleship, and church administration.
In the first part of 2026, Carolina Conference administration and ministerial leaders recognized God’s calling in the lives of five pastors: Bryan Arvelo, Mauricio Schiavenin, Cory Reeves, Eddie Galarza, and Nick Wanovich.
Bryan Arvelo, a Charlotte, N.C., native, grew up in the Charlotte Spanish Church, where his parents actively served the Lord. While studying film production at Southern Adventist University, Arvelo came to understand that God was calling him to pastoral ministry. Arvelo was ordained January 31, 2026, at the same church where he grew up. He and his wife, Carolyna Arvelo, a teacher at Adventist Christian Academy Charlotte, now serve at Charlotte Sharon Church.
Mauricio Schiavenin is originally from Brazil. At age 17, Schiavenin served as a literature evangelist and eventually studied journalism in college. A year later, he married Karine Schiavenin, who had prayed that she would marry an Adventist pastor. Neither Mauricio nor Karine Schiavenin realized at the time how the Lord would answer that prayer. At age 29, Schiavenin received his first pastoral call. He was ordained February 21, 2026, at Rocky Mount, N.C., Church, where he serves as district pastor for the Rocky Mount and Roanoke Rapids-Roanoke Valley churches.
Cory Reeves’ journey to ministry began differently. Although Reeves grew up in the Church, his faith deepened after a friend at summer camp invited him to study the Bible. There, Reeves fell in love with Jesus. Although he sensed the Lord might be calling him to ministry, the door seemed closed. He pursued a career in finance, and served for many years through the ministry of AdventHealth. During his years in health care, Reeves remained active in the Church. Eventually, the Lord opened the door for him to enter pastoral ministry near where he was living and where his children were attending school. Reeves was ordained February 28, 2026, at Mills River, N.C., Church, where he and his wife, Amanda Reeves, have served.
Eddie Galarza is from Ecuador. Although he immigrated to the United States at age 21, Galarza came to know Jesus before leaving his home country. Through the faithful witness of a classmate, he met Jesus and gave his heart to Him. Galarza sensed a call to ministry almost immediately, but when doors seemed to close, he dedicated his life to academia and planned to become a professor. The Lord continued working, including through his wife, Lori Galarza, who encouraged him to consider the call to full-time pastoral ministry. In May 2022, Galarza graduated from seminary and accepted a call to serve in Carolina at Outer Banks, Elizabeth City, and Manteo. Galarza was ordained March 28, 2026, at SALT Church in Elizabeth City, N.C.
Nick Wanovich grew up in Minnesota with Christian parents. At age 18, Wanovich was invited to attend meetings with Shawn Boonstra in Minneapolis, Minn., where he fell more deeply in love with Jesus and His eternal truths. Wanovich initially attended the meetings to make a friend happy, but by the end he had surrendered his life to Jesus, requested baptism, and asked the Lord, “What do You want me to do with my life?” He sensed God calling him to be an evangelist. Wanovich enrolled at Southern Adventist University and eventually received a call to Carolina Conference. A few years into his ministry, Wanovich met Kelly Wanovich, and the couple recently welcomed their first child. Wanovich was ordained April 11, 2026, at Summerville, S.C., Church, and has recently accepted a call to join the pastoral staff at Collegedale Church in Collegedale, Tenn.
As Arvelo, Schiavenin, Reeves, Galarza, and Wanovich continue in ministry, their ordinations serve as a reminder that God still calls people to serve His Church. The prayer of Carolina Conference is that each pastor will continue faithfully serving the Lord and His people, and that each member will also answer the calling God has placed on his or her life.
Carolina | September 2026
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