Tony Anobile was elected president of the Arizona Conference on Jan. 29. After prayerful consideration, he accepted the position Feb. 1. Anobile replaces Duane McKey, who accepted the position as vice president for evangelism for the Southwestern Union in Burleson, Texas.
Anobile is a graduate of Glendale Adventist Academy and Elementary School. He attended Montemorelos University in Mexico where he received a B.A. in theology. He later earned a master's degree in religion from Loma Linda University.
Anobile worked as Pathfinder director and the associate youth ministries director for the Southern California Conference. He spent a year as associate pastor of the Camarillo church.
From 1990-1994, Anobile was associate pastor of the Eagle Rock church, working closely with his friend Jim Pedersen, now president of the Northern California Conference. When Pedersen left, Anobile became senior pastor, a position he held from 1997 until 2002. He then became assistant to the president of the Southern California Conference.
Orville Parchment called Anobile to the Arizona Conference in August 2003 to be youth director and family ministries director. He was elected executive secretary in October that same year.
Anobile is married to Lisa, who has master's degree in special education. The Anobiles have three teenage children — Tony, Aurianna and Andrew.
As president, Anobile says that his vision, hopes and dreams are based on four passages of Scripture. The first two are in the Gospel of Matthew and tell us "what," and the second two are found in the book of Acts and tell us "how."
Matthew 24 and 28 give Christians a work assignment — the Gospel Commission. Believers are to go, preach, baptize and teach everything Jesus taught. "That is what the Seventh-day Adventist Church is all about," says Anobile, "sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, living the reality of His saving grace, and looking forward to the day when He will come back and take us home."
The book of Acts describes how believers are to accomplish the work assignment. In Acts 1:8, Jesus talks about the work of the Holy Spirit in helping His people accomplish His goals.
"Our number one priority," says Anobile, "is to make sure that every member of the Arizona Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, from the youngest child to the oldest adult, is ready for Jesus to come. I am excited about kingdom growth in all aspects. In the coming months, we will be talking about what that kingdom growth looks like. It is an honor and a privilege to serve as the president of the Arizona family. Our theme for the next four years is, 'The World for Jesus!' Let's get the job done together and go home!"
