Jose Briones – Denver, Colorado … The Rocky Mountain Conference’s (RMC) Hispanic Ministries department launched the new year with a strong emphasis on equipping local church leaders, hosting two Spanish‑language lay leadership training events that drew more than 250 attendees across consecutive Sabbaths. The seminars, held January 17 at Denver South Hispanic Seventh‑day Adventist Church and January 24 at Grand Junction Seventh-day Adventist Church, brought together deacons, elders, treasurers, clerks, ministry coordinators, and pastors for a full day of practical instruction and hands-on learning.
Designed to strengthen every level of local church leadership, the training covered a wide range of responsibilities from financial stewardship and church governance to pastoral care, worship coordination, and community engagement. Pastors from across the conference partnered with departmental leaders to teach the sessions, ensuring that participants received both theological grounding and real‑world guidance tailored to the needs of Hispanic congregations.
For many attendees, the investment in leadership development was deeply appreciated. Rafael Subervi, treasurer of the Denver South Hispanic Church, expressed gratitude for the department’s commitment to keeping leaders informed and empowered. He noted that the training offered “cutting‑edge information” that helps congregations operate more effectively and ultimately “thrive” in their mission.
The impact of the seminars was immediate for some churches. Moises Juares, a leader from the Aurora Hispanic Church, shared that after conversations with Julio Diaz, lead pastor of Denver South Hispanic Church, their church board had already begun implementing several of the ideas introduced during the sessions. “We didn’t want to wait,” he said. “These tools are practical, and we knew they would help our ministries right away.”
One of the most talked‑about segments of the training was the communion bread‑making class, led by Michael and Alicia Shannon. The workshop blended tradition, reverence, and practice, giving members the opportunity to learn how to prepare unleavened bread for their local services. The class proved so popular that the Shannons found themselves running out of supplies. Laughing afterward, they remarked, “We’ll have to bring more next time,” a sign of both the enthusiasm in the room and the growing desire among members to participate more fully in the life of their churches.
For Hispanic Ministries, that enthusiasm is exactly the goal. By offering accessible, high‑quality training across the conference, leaders hope to ensure that every member—regardless of their role—feels equipped, confident, and supported. With strong turnout, positive feedback, and immediate application in local congregations, the January seminars marked a promising start to a year focused on strengthening lay leadership throughout the Rocky Mountain Conference.
—Jose Briones is the RMC Media and Content creator. Photos supplied.
