In December 2023, Miguel Crespo, president of the New York Conference, was appointed volunteer chaplaincy director for the Atlantic Union. With a vision to provide spiritual and emotional support to individuals in crisis, Crespo aimed to establish a network of volunteer and lay chaplains across the Atlantic Union.
To bring this vision to life, Crespo assembled a leadership team. He appointed Shervin Evans, a lay pastor, as New York Conference Chaplaincy Ministries coordinator, with Jennifer Adjodha-Evans, as curriculum advisor. Together, the team founded the Adventist Lay Chaplains Association (ALCA), which trains and credentials individuals who are not ordained clergy, to offer spiritual and emotional care. The inaugural ALCA training and graduation session took place October 11-13, 2024, at the New York Conference headquarters in Syracuse, New York. Fifty participants from the Greater New York, Northeastern, and New York conferences attended the level one training session.
ALCA emphasizes ongoing learning for its chaplains. A level two training session is scheduled for May 23-26, 2025, for individuals who have completed the first level. Another level one training session will be offered October 10-13, 2025. Registration is available on the ALCA website, alcasda.org.