RMCNews – Ward, Colorado … Leonardo Jimenez-Chale was publicly affirmed and ordained into ministry, September 5, at the 2026 Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) Hispanic Camp Meeting at Glacier View Ranch in Ward, Colorado. Ordination in the Seventh-day Adventist Church follows a process of ministry experience, evaluation, and approval by conference and union leadership.
Leonardo Jiménez-Chale was born in Batey 6, Province of Bahoruco, in the Dominican Republic. He is the youngest of four brothers and was born to parents who instilled in him values of respect, honest work, and faith in God.
His faith journey began when he was baptized at 10, giving his heart to Christ at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in his local community. His call to full-time ministry was realized as he served as a deacon in various ministries and earned his bachelor’s degree in theology in November of 2015 at the Dominican Adventist University (UNAD).
During his studies and prior to graduation, Jiménez-Chale completed several pastoral internships in the Dominican Republic including the churches of Los Transformadores (Bonao), San Cristóbal, and the church of Batey 6. He also served in the United States during this time as a literature evangelist, or colporteur, in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2013, and as a Bible worker in Seattle, Washington, in 2014.
After graduation in 2015, Jiménez-Chale served as a colporteur, volunteer pastor, and evangelist in Atlanta, Georgia, a Bible worker from 2017 to 2018 in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, and a Bible worker and volunteer pastor in Colorado from 2018 to 2022.
Jiménez-Chale has been an employed pastor in the RMC since March 2022 pastoring the Denver, Montrose, and Glenwood Springs districts in Colorado. He currently serves in the Denver Central district, preaching, teaching, and providing pastoral care in times of crisis having just completed a Master’s in Family Counseling at UNAD in November. He is pursuing a Master’s in Pastoral Ministry (MAPM, Hispanic Track) at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, and began Clinical Pastoral Education in 2026.
The Candidate for Ordination was introduced by Hugo Guillén, RMC Ministerial associate director and lead for Multicultural Ministries, and Ruben Rivera, retired RMC Hispanic Ministries director, traveled from where he now resides in Mexico to provide the Ordination Sermon. The Ministry Affirmation was given by Nathaniel Gamble, RMC vice president for Administration.
The Ministry Charge was presented by Sean Lee, RMC Ministerial director, and Tyrone Douglas, Mid-America Union Conference (MAUC) Church Ministries director, and the Ordination Prayer and Welcome into Ordained Ministry was offered by Dave VandeVere, RMC president.
“Joining a pastor in their ordination is one of the great joys and privileges of serving the Rocky Mountain Conference. It is deeply meaningful to witness someone publicly answer God’s calling to a life of service to Christ and His church. I am always grateful for the opportunity to stand alongside them, pray over them, and celebrate the beginning of this important new chapter in their ministry,” remarked VandeVere.
Guillén also presented the Ordination Certificate and Bible. “He’s a great pastor,” praised Guillén. “I hope he continues to grow here and that the Lord continues to bless him in his ministry and on a personal level. I hope these blessings can flow through him to our churches and to other [local church] leaders that he’ll be working with in the future.”
The ceremony also featured special music and remembrances from personal acquaintances and a special music offering from Michelle Matius, a Christian singer-songwriter and recording artist from the Dominican Republic and the invited musical guest for the camp meeting.
Jiménez-Chale is married to Wendy Medina, who has been a help and ministry partner, and to whom, after God, he owes much of his ministry success. He speaks Spanish and English, with some knowledge of French and Haitian Creole. His life and ministry reflect a deep commitment to discipleship, restoring those who have drifted away, and the holistic care of the church.
—RMCNews. Photos by Liz Kirkland.
