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Adventist Community Service Leaders Participate in Training Event
n January 29th, 2023, the Adventist Community Services (ACS) of the Southeastern California Conference (SECC) conducted an in-service training event for 65 ACS leaders. Held at the SECC offices in Riverside, the event's purpose was to discuss how best to engage with the community’s needs. Robert Edwards, the SECC ACS director, hosted the event. He partnered with North American Division (NAD) ACS Director Derrick Lea, and Associate ACS Director Colette Newer, providing vital insight and guidance. Multiple items were on the agenda for the in-service training event, such as familiarizing leaders with the SECC Community Services web page and sharing information with the leaders on what the NAD ACS has to offer through grants and other funding. However, the central goal was to facilitate a productive discussion on how to expand the reach of ACS beyond its traditional outreach of food and clothing distribution. Attending leaders were encouraged to engage in creative ways to address the needs of the community and to think outside conventional means of outreach to become more effective. Though new methods were discussed, leaders were asked to remember the core mission of ACS. The desire to reflect Christ in the community is the focus. ACS has led many successful outreach events, each a testament to the gospel. The number and variety of active ministries under ACS have resulted
Lea dives deeper in discussion with a small group.
48 Pacific Union Recorder
Southeastern California Conference
Newer gives her insight to an attentive audience.
in some efforts going unnoticed and unappreciated on a broader scale. As such, the training event was intentional in expressing appreciation for all outreach efforts, educating the participants on certain ministries, and committing to unity. ACS held a call to action for the leaders, inviting all members of ACS to work together for the focused effort of God’s glory. It is through unity and assembling to testify to the blessings of God that leaders are reminded of their purpose and pursue their calling to be the hands and feet of Christ. “When it was all said and done, the participants were able to leave the in-service with a greater awareness of ways God has not only blessed their ministry but also the ministries of other ACS outreaches,” said Edwards. ____________________ By Nicole Dominguez