Southern Tidings Southern Tidings
  • STORIES
    • Vantage Point
    • AdventHealth
    • AdventHealth University
    • Carolina Conference
    • Florida Conference
    • Georgia-Cumberland Conference
    • Gulf States Conference
    • Hispanic
    • Kentucky-Tennessee Conference
    • Oakwood University
    • South Atlantic Conference
    • South Central Conference
    • Southeastern Conference
    • Southern Adventist University
    • Southern Union
  • PRINT VERSIONS
    • 2025
    • 2024
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
    • 2009
    • 2008
    • 2007
    • 2006
  • CONTACT
    • Submit Content
  • ADVERTISE
    • Display Ads
    • Classified Ads
Southern Tidings Southern Tidings
  • STORIES
    • Vantage Point
    • AdventHealth
    • AdventHealth University
    • Carolina Conference
    • Florida Conference
    • Georgia-Cumberland Conference
    • Gulf States Conference
    • Hispanic
    • Kentucky-Tennessee Conference
    • Oakwood University
    • South Atlantic Conference
    • South Central Conference
    • Southeastern Conference
    • Southern Adventist University
    • Southern Union
  • PRINT VERSIONS
    • 2025
    • 2024
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
    • 2009
    • 2008
    • 2007
    • 2006
  • CONTACT
    • Submit Content
  • ADVERTISE
    • Display Ads
    • Classified Ads
Oct 01

Chaplaincy Ministry Assistants Earn Certification

BY laura cruz

Chaplaincy ministry assistants celebrate a successful training with Southeastern Conference officials and leaders of the International Alliance Chaplains & Law Enforcement. These volunteer ministry assistants received intensive training in the dynamics of providing spiritual support in secular settings.

Laura Cruz

Thirty-four men and women of all ages and religions came together July 7, 2018, to graduate as chaplaincy ministry assistants under the International Alliance of Chaplains Law Enforcement organization. Seeing the program for the first time in New York, Lieutenant Colonel Freddy A. Sanchez, D.Min., introduced the idea of starting a satellite program in Florida to Arnaldo Cruz, pastor of Pilgrim Hispanic Church in Miami Springs, Fla., and Roger Alvarez, Southeastern Conference Hispanic ministries director. Shortly thereafter, they began to contact pastors in both the Florida and Southeastern conferences to find recruits.

To earn their certifications, the future chaplaincy ministry assistants had to participate in a 10-hour training that was held at Pilgrims Hispanic Church. Their education consisted of six major subjects: (1) evacuation, (2) natural disasters, (3) emergencies, (4) spiritual support, (5) hospital and general chaplaincy, and (6) security and terrorism.

Officiating the ceremony on Sabbath was Luis Paniagua, D.Min., commander in chief of the alliance. Also lending support to the event was Hiran Ruiz, director of the Inter-American Division chaplaincy ministry; David Peay, assistant to the president of the Southeastern Conference; Roger Alvarez; Arnaldo Cruz; and Freddy A. Sanchez, director of the alliance for Florida.

The graduates marched into the sanctuary in their uniforms, followed by the officers of the alliance. A short ceremony highlighted the work of chaplaincy, and then the graduates received their certificates and motivation from the commander in chief. Later, Paniagua and Peay received a medal for their service to Southeastern Conference and the community.

Each graduate exited the sanctuary with new responsibilities. From that moment, they would be required to be available through the Church to help the community in cases of natural disasters or emergencies. They must dedicate their time and effort to serving the community in any way possible; provide spiritual support to those they see in need, collaborate with law enforcement to ensure the safety of others; and carry joy, hope, and love into jails and hospitals — and most importantly, to lift their voices in prayer for their brothers and sisters in Christ, and ask for heavenly wisdom and courage to carry out these tasks as soldiers in God’s army.

Southeastern | October 2018

  • News, Southeastern, Southeastern News
  • Facebook
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • E-Mail

Comments are closed.

Recent Articles

  • South Central Conference Launches Innovative STEAM Camp for Students
  • Honoring Legacy: Celebrating Black History at New Jerusalem Church
  • Hispanic Camp Meeting Celebrates Unity, Growth
  • Weekend to Remember: A Lifeline for Pastoral Marriages
  • Southern Partners with GNTC for Adult Learning

The Southern Tidings is the official publication of the Southern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISE
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • SUBMIT A STORY

Recent Posts

  • South Central Conference Launches Innovative STEAM Camp for Students
  • Honoring Legacy: Celebrating Black History at New Jerusalem Church
  • Hispanic Camp Meeting Celebrates Unity, Growth
  • Weekend to Remember: A Lifeline for Pastoral Marriages

Southern Tidings

P.O. Box 923868
Peachtree Corners, GA 30010-3868
770.408.1800
© SOUTHERN UNION CONFERENCE OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS