PELC 2022: “CELEBRATING THE PROMISE, LIVING THE HOPE”

host pastor, Jesse Wilson, PELC Director, and Leslie Pollard, Oakwood University President. Tricia Wynn-Payne, a pastor in Lake Region Conference, was the opening night speaker. Monday and Tuesday included full days of activities, such as worship services, seminars, break-out sessions, and vendor visits. Attendees also had opportunities to tour updates to the Oakwood University campus, as well as the newly constructed Office of Regional Conference Ministries, building also located on the campus.

PELC

Evolution

Each year the PELC experience evolves

The Oakwood University Church and campus in Huntsville Alabama welcomed over 573 in-person pastors, chaplains, ministry leaders, ministerial spouses, and vendors from all over North American and beyond, and 166 online viewers. “Celebrating the Promise, Living the Hope” was the theme for the 2022 Pastoral Evangelism and Leadership Conference, which highlighted the second coming of Jesus in multiple ways.

PELC WARM-UP

Singing ensemble, Steve Manders and Decree opened the PELC festivities on Saturday evening with a concert at the Oakwood University Church. Sunday evening’s tradition of honoring stalwart leaders in the regional work continued with a special honoree program. The 2022 honorees included Byron Dulan, who served in the Pacific and North Pacific Union for over 50 years; Ricardo Graham, who mostly recently served as president of the Pacific Union Conference with close to 50 years of ministry experience; Melvyn Hayden, Jr, who recently retired from over 50 years of ministry in Allegheny East Conference; and James Lamar, Sr, who served Northeastern Conference for over 50 years.

THE PELC OVERVIEW

The opening service featured inspiring music, welcoming remarks from Debleaire Snell, to meet current ministry needs. One change at this year’s conference was that there was no noon worship experience. This allowed for musicians and media teams to recalibrate between services, and provided attendees more time for fellowship. Another shift was the use of predominantly Adventist musicians for the musical selections, as well as taking time to affirm the PELC praise team, wh ich celebrated 10 years as a group.

PELC

Seminars

The seminars tackled subjects related to the theme. One of those was a super session entitled, “How Social Justice Prepares Us for the Second Coming,” presented by Claudia Allen, lay pastor for A llegheny East Conference and a Community outreach Supervisor at Howard County Office of Human Rights & Equity. She believed the topic was important for pastors to effectively minister to t he felt needs and systemic inequities of those they serve. “Black pastors are always seeking to serve and preach to a people whose physical and social being is in a constant flux between access to opportunity and oppression. And you cannot tell someone about an invisible God when they are struggling with visible inequities,” Allen shared.

O ther seminar topics included, “How to Communicate the Second Coming to Youth and Young Adults,” “Best Practices for Evangelism Today,” and “Conspiracy Theories and End-Time Preaching.”

Pelc Breakout Groups

Within the schedule several groups also came together such as the Spanish ministries, ministerial pastors, bible workers and local elders. The members of the Black Adventist Youth Directors Association (BAYDA) also met.

T he Spanish Ministries held their program in Moran Hall’s chapel. Speakers a nd messages ranged from a variety of topics:

•M anuel Moral: contemporary religious movement.

•Ciro Sepulveda: the background of Adventist theology in today’s evangelism.

•M ichael Castro: How to work with young people and disciple and integrate them into the work of evangelization

•Roger Hernandez: Pastoral leadership and American myths.

•M inervino Labrador: North American Division’s evangelistic program s forthe next five years.

Speaker/Sermon Title Rundown

• Tricia Wynn-Payne: “Laundry Day”

•Keith Goodman: “Keep Calm and Carry On”

•A manda Hawley: “It’s Okay if It’s Unclear”

•John Faison: “When Blessing You Burdens Me”

•Joseph Ikner: “Whatcha Looking At?”

•Greg Fontus: “A Singing Preacher”

•C arl Byrd: “Don’t Miss the Party”

•C arl Ming: “It was a Move of God”

“I enjoyed the spirit of unity, the motivation, as well as the tools shared to reach new generations,” shared Sergio Romero, multicultural director for A llegheny West Conference.

The ministerial spouses gathered in the Bradford Cleveland Brooks Leadership Center. Gianna Snell, one of the presenters reflected on her experience, “The time with the spouses was transformational. Many times, as a pastor’s spouse, we feel the need to hold our deepest pains and heartaches in because we are taking care of everyone else. It felt good to have a safe space to cry, to share and to pray.” speakers, PELC leaders choose a prayerful and democratic process. “We seek to be mindful of what the person can bring to the theme, gender inclusivity, generational diversity, and conference representation,” says Orville Brissett, PELC committee member.

Between the morning service and the evening service,

Pelc Impact

PELC has a way of meaning different things to different people, but common threads include touches of inspiration, restoration and revitalization.

William Christopher Dykes, chaplain in Special Operations Command Airborne in Fort Bragg, North Carolina shared, “PELC 2022 was refreshing to my soul! I was able to connect and reconnect with ministry colleagues from Andrews University and Oakwood University, senior leaders, and even myself. Community is everything.”

R ichie Halverson, who serves as the Director of Church Growth and Revitalization at Southern Union College, attended PELC in-person for the first time and felt

Snell also prayed over the women to conclude her session, something she has benefited from in the past. “I’m still here in ministry because other pastors’ spouses ministered to me, prayed for me and encouraged me when I was going through [experiences]. I was humbled to be able to encourage and pray for the spouses on this occasion. I believe the Spirit fell down and bonded us i n an unforgettable way.”

Michelle Young, a pastoral spouse from Lake Region Conference, shared similar sentiments,” I appreciated having an opportunity to meet and connect with spouses from other parts of t he country.”

Pelc Messages

The sermons delivered on the PELC stage remain one of the most anticipated features of the conference. In selecting the difference, “PELC was incredible. Every aspect of the conference was done with excellence. I’ve attended virtually for the past few years, but there is absolutely nothing like being there in person.”

A couple from Portsmouth, VA who were also attending for the first time were surprised by all that PELC had to offer. The husband, Willie Scott, who is currently working on completing his Masters of Divinity degree at Liberty University wanted to experience PELC before graduating. “I thought it would be a great time to network and establish relationships will fellow ministers,” he said.

His wife, Dr. Donesha Scott, thought she was just coming along to support her husband since it was their anniversary week, but she soon discovered that there was something in store for her. “When I stepped into the first worship service, I knew this experience was for me.” She also noted that it had been a rekindling of their marriage and even lowered their blood pressure.

Medgine Bonzil, pastor of the Agape Haitian American Church in the South Central Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and the only Haitian female lead pastor i nstalled in a Haitian Church in the United States enjoyed her PELC experience, as well. “It was refreshing reconnecting with many pastor friends and colleagues. I was doubly blessed to meet many who are faithfully and diligently working for the Lord’s cause, especially in the Haitian community.”

Ultimately, attendees were able to reflect on the promise of the Savior’s return while learning, worshipping, and connecting with other ministry leaders from all over the world.

Seminars and sermons from PELC2022 can be accessed at pelcpower.com. t