The Atlantic Union Conference Adventist Community Services Inter-conference Convention was held April 13-16 in Trumbull, Connecticut. The organizing committee chose “Empowered” as the theme for the convention that included seminars, panels, worship sessions, and an award ceremony. Its purpose was to train, empower, and inspire Adventist Community Services (ACS) leaders throughout the Atlantic Union territory.
Organizers felt the convention was necessary after the isolation and stress from serving during three years of the COVID-19 pandemic. “ACS has fundamentally changed since COVID-19,” said Mario Augustave, Northeastern Conference ACS director. “It woke us up to the necessity to work together and also to access outside resources.” Augustave wanted the convention to allow leaders an opportunity to share what they’ve learned and experienced.
The convention was the vision of Mario Augustave, Northeastern Conference ACS director, and it was supported by Atlantic Union Conference administrators Pierre E. Omeler, president; Ted A. Huskins, executive secretary; and Elias F. Zabala, Sr., treasurer. The organizing committee included Dora Baker, Bermuda Conference ACS director; Everett Samuel, Greater New York Conference ACS director; Judi Eells, New York Conference ACS director; Keisha Gosling Vilafina, Northeastern ACS associate director; and Frankie Vasquez, Southern New England Conference ACS director, along with ACS volunteers and lay leaders from throughout the conferences.
“The goal for the convention was manifold,” said Samuel. “We wanted to empower and train [ACS] leaders,” she said, in addition to bringing people together to network. “It’s in our name, ‘community;’ it calls for togetherness. You can’t build community in a silo . . . and you can’t make change unless you work together.”
Attendees from the Bermuda, Greater New York, New York, Northeastern, Southern New England, and Texas conferences chose from a range of training options, including disaster preparedness, grant writing, emotional and spiritual support, older members’ ministry, risk management, how to balance compassion and fairness, and warehouse management.
Presenters included W. Derrick Lea, North American Division Adventist Community Services director; Wynelle Stevens, NAD ACS assistant director; Colette Newer, NAD ACS associate director; Derek Lane, Washington Conference Outreach Ministries director; Bianca Madanat, Adventist Risk Management, Inc., customer care representative; Lloyd Scharffenberg, Greater New York Conference Corporation secretary; Walter Harris, founder of “Power in a Shower;” Judi Eells, New York Conference ACS director; Earnest Flowers, EF3 Consulting, LLC director; and Barbara Hall, Northeastern Conference Risk Management director.
Newer said, “When churches shut down [during the pandemic], ACS did not.” With needs skyrocketing while other services shut down, “It’s been stressful,” she added. “These teams have been working so hard and faithfully.” She hoped the convention provided a time for volunteers “to step back . . . and make sure they are whole and healing. I hope they are encouraged in what they do.”
Multiple people were recognized for their commitment to service. During the Sabbath morning worship, Pierre E. Omeler, Atlantic Union Conference president, received a proclamation from the City of Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim. Organizers also recognized Carolyn Nah, former president of the Greater Bridgeport NAACP. During an evening ceremony, lifetime achievement awards were given to those with 10 years or more of service with ACS in local churches. Several attendees also received service citations from their respective conferences and elected officials.
Feedback from the conference has been overwhelmingly positive. “Overall, everyone felt the training was superb. They all gained something,” Augustave said. There were many takeaways for attendees.
Nordia Hoff, ACS leader at the Friendship church in Elmira, New York, appreciated the chance to meet other leaders and administrators face to face. “As leaders, sometimes you think you’re the only one with a problem,” she said. “When you come together, you realize you’re not alone. With teamwork, you can come up with a solution.”
The convention was “an eye-opener” for Keisha Marshall, ACS team member at the Shalom church in the Bronx. She said the seminars helped her learn about the various branches of ACS and the importance of building relationships with donors. “You can’t do it alone; you need additional resources.”
Marie Henry, ACS assistant leader at the Maranatha church in Brooklyn, looked forward to taking what she learned back to her church and community to empower them, particularly in the area of disaster preparedness.
“We needed this” was a recurring refrain during the weekend, Samuel said. “People are hungry for tools to do ministry better and differently.”
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Kaara Baptiste writes for the Greater New York Conference, with contributions from Mario Augustave, Northeastern Conference Adventist Community Services director.
We were encouraged to go and meet the people where they are, the conference was a success. New Rochelle SDA Church.