Seventh-Day Adventist Church

Southern Tanzania Union Mission - STU

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MINISTERIAL SECRETARY


Pastor Herbert Nziku
Ministerial Secretary - STU

MISSION STATEMENT OF THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH

Our Mission—The mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is to call all people to become disciples of Jesus Christ, to proclaim the everlasting gospel embraced by the three angels’ messages (Revelation 14:6-12), and to prepare the world for Christ’s soon return.

Our Method—Guided by the Bible and the Holy Spirit, Seventhday Adventists pursue this mission through Christ-like living, communicating, discipling, teaching, healing, and serving.

Our Vision—In harmony with Bible revelation, Seventh-day Adventists see as the climax of God’s plan the restoration of all His creation to full harmony with His perfect will and righteousness.

IDENTITY AND MISSION IMPLEMENTATION STATEMENT

Our Identity—The Seventh-day Adventist Church sees itself as the remnant Church of end-time Bible prophecy. Members of the Church, individually and collectively, understand their special role as ambassadors of God’s kingdom and messengers of the soon return of Jesus Christ. Seventh-day Adventists have enlisted as co-workers with God in His mission of reclaiming the world from the power and presence of evil, as part of the Great Controversy between Christ and Satan. Therefore, every aspect of a Church member’s life is influenced by the conviction that we live in the last days described in Bible prophecy and the return of Jesus Christ is imminent. Seventh-day Adventists are called by God to live in this world. Every action of the Christian life is done “in the name of Jesus” and to advance His kingdom.

Implementation of Our Mission—Seventh-day Adventists affirm the Bible as God’s infallible revelation of His will, accepting its authority in the life of the Church and of each believer, and its foundational role for faith and doctrine. Seventh-day Adventists believe that the Holy Spirit is the power that transforms lives and equips people with abilities to advance God’s kingdom in this world. Called by God, guided by the Bible, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, Seventh-day Adventists, wherever we live in the world, devote ourselves to:

1. Christ-Like Living—Illustrating the lordship of Jesus in our lives by moral, ethical, and social behaviors that are consistent with the teachings and example of Jesus.

2. Christ-Like Communicating—Realizing that all are called to active witness, we share through personal conversation, preaching, publishing, and the arts, the Bible’s message about God and the hope and salvation offered through the life, ministry, atoning death, resurrection, and high priestly ministry of Jesus Christ.

3. Christ-Like Discipling—Affirming the vital importance of continued spiritual growth and development among all who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, we nurture and instruct each other in righteous living, provide training for effective witness, and encourage responsive obedience to God’s will.

4. Christ-Like Teaching—Acknowledging that development of mind and character is essential to God’s redemptive plan, we promote the growth of a mature understanding of and relationship to God, His Word, and the created universe.

5. Christ-Like Healing—Affirming the biblical principles of the well-being of the whole person, we make healthful living and the healing of the sick a priority and through our ministry to the poor and oppressed, cooperate with the Creator in His compassionate work of restoration.

6. Christ-Like Serving—Following the example of Jesus we commit ourselves to humble service, ministering to individuals and populations most affected by poverty, tragedy, hopelessness, and disease.

MINISTERIAL SECRETARY DUTIES:

The Ministerial Secretary's duty is to equip pastors and those involved in ministry to achieve their highest:

(1)Spiritual Personal Growth

(2)Professional Growth & Ministerial Resources Achievement

(3)Pastoral Evangelism, Nurturing Ministry & Church Growth

(4)Pastor’s Interrelationship Growth

(5)Interfaith fellowship Growth

(6)Recruitment of pastors, and church co-workers

(7)Pastor’s Family Support

MINISTERIAL SECRETARY'S DUTIES:

Spiritual Personal Growth:

  1. To encourage individual pastors to grow in their relationship with God so as to strengthen sense of self-worth, and reach their highest pastoral call and mission.
  2. Promote spiritual life of ministers and their families and help them develop a balanced plan of work, personal devotions, family time, and recreation.
  3. To affirm the high calling of pastoral ministry in the eyes of laity and leadership.

Professional Growth & Ministerial Resources Achievement:

  1. Promoting the professional growth of pastors in the study and practice of the ministry by giving them exposure to education opportunities available at a given time.
  2. To make sure each English-reading minister is provided Ministry magazine or, for non-English-reading pastors, its local magazine of the same kind.
  3. To emphasize and encourage Ministerial students and field-based ministers to learn to read English, since it a language of most current theological and practical resources.
  4. Produce resources according to the needs of the territory, and be in familiarity with the resources available through the division, and General Conference and have the ability to knowledgeably share this information with pastors.
  5. Running and sponsoring seminars for pastors, and encouraging  unprivileged pastors with minimal education, to enroll themselves in evening classes within their territories, or in continuing education, to upgrade their education.
  6. Training conference Ministerial Secretaries and fostering a balanced ministerial program in every field.

Pastoral Evangelism, Nurturing Ministry & Church Growth:

  1. Keeping the pastors ever-conscious that their first calling is for the communication of the Word to the church and the world, presenting Jesus as Savior and Lord to all people regardless of their race, gender, nationality, tribe, or economic status.
  2. Helping ministers, especially during their internship, to develop effective soul-winning methods that best suit their own talents and situations.
  3. Provide evangelistic initiatives and tools for soul winning, and promote evangelism environment that is emphasizing nurturing and discipleship.  

Pastor’s Interrelationship Growth:

  1. Eagerly but not blindly, support denominational structure, policies and the leadership of higher levels of the church, and thus discourage divisiveness.
  2. Visit the ministers in their homes and in their churches, taking time to discuss with them issues of encouragement, appreciation, and programs of the church.
  3. Identify individuals whose methods are successful and share this expertise with others, first in the local field and then—through the union, division, or General Conference.
  4. Serves as adviser and counselor to the administrators in planning Workers’ Meetings, Ministerial Councils, Spiritual Retreats, and Ordination Committees.
  5. Keep the welfare of pastors and their families at the forefront by counseling, seeking solutions for their challenges, and build interest in the activities of their territories.

Interfaith fellowship Growth:

  1. Work to achieve appropriate interaction between Adventist pastors and ministers of other denominations, e.g. by hosting professional growth seminars.
  2. Hosting Professional Growth Events, which offers special opportunities to interact, and opening avenues of discussion between denominations on specific theological topics unique to Adventists, as well as those which are held in common with other groups.
  3. Provide relevant pastoral resources for the ministerial community e.g. sponsoring Ministrymagazine (or its local adaptation) for clergy of other denominations.

Recruitment of pastors, and church co-workers:

  1. To help the local church elders, deacons and deaconesses in their leadership role, as they assist their pastors, in serving their congregations, through training, motivating, and equipping.
  2. To conduct seminars to elders, deacons, and deaconesses, focused on preaching, worship, leadership skills, evangelism, nurturing, visitation, church organization and administration, doctrinal competence, organizational loyalty, and pastor-elder team ministry.
  3. Organize several annual events in which pastors and elders are practically taught to lead effectively in their local churches, and are provided with planning skills, and resources for effective nurturing.
  4. Mentoring junior pastors and attract young people into the ministry, by showing a good conduct to his fellow ministers.   

Pastor’s Family & Spouse Support

  1. Promote husband - wife team ministry as supported with Scripture and the Spirit of Prophecy, and encourage pastor’s spouses and kids to join and become active members of Shepherdess and PK.
  2. Assist and provides necessary support and resources to spouses (Shepherdess) and pastors’ kids (PKs) who have chosen to serve as paraprofessionals in a team ministry, by recognizing and utilizing their spiritual gifts as they serve the local church.