Pacific Union Conference Regional Ministries hosted its first training for lay officers on Jan. 16 at Los Angeles Adventist Academy. “Effective Leadership for the 21st Century” featured more than 26 workshops for church officers.

Drawing 440 individuals from Arizona, Southeastern and Southern California conferences, and two churches in Las Vegas, Nev., the conference launched a series of training initiatives for lay members that will be sponsored by Regional Ministries.

“If we want to see our members take hold of the gospel and personally evangelize their world, then we must train and equip them for service,” said Bobby Mitchell, director of Regional Ministries.

The use of pastors and several laity to facilitate workshops proved to be a good resource.

“I appreciated so many pastors taking out time to conduct these meetings on behalf of the laity,” said Isabelle Dickens, University church. “It exposed us to their versatility and knowledge base.”

“One of my members couldn’t wait to call and let me know the results. She said the conference was wonderful—on a scale of one to 10, it was a 10 in her book,” said Lorenzo Paytee, interim pastor, Normandie Avenue church in Los Angeles.

Mitchell and the six African-American coordinators, Don Edwards (Arizona), Joseph Jones (Central), Kingsley Palmer (Nevada-Utah), Virgil Childs (Northern California), George King (Southeastern California) and Adolphus Garnett (Southern California), are thinking progressively about ministry in the 21st century. Several steps are being taken to link church ministries, build stronger bonds between churches, and encourage laity to take leadership beyond the church walls.

“We are also rethinking our commitment to Christian education and developing an initiative to better support our inner-city schools,” said Mitchell.