May 10, 2021 | Miami, Florida, United States | Libna Stevens, Inter-American Division News

The Office of Adventist Volunteer Service (AVS) in the Inter-American Division (IAD) wants to keep encouraging church members young and old to serve in many capacities across Inter-America and around the world church. The appeal came as IAD church leaders praised the work of active volunteers currently serving in the territory and in different parts of the world during a special live virtual program held on May 8, 2021.

Adventist Volunteer Service is an official program of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists that matches volunteer skills with opportunities all over the world.

The online event, coined as Adventist Volunteer Service Day, featured presentations on serving in different cultural contexts, testimonies from active volunteers, Q&A sessions, current available opportunities for service and more.

Cecilia N.(left) Adventist Volunteer Services coordinator in the Euro Asia Division shares volunteer opportunities as Irene Jimenez (right) of Montemorelos University in Mexico, who  is currently serving in that region, looks on before sharing her experience. Dozens of leaders and members met during an online event on May 8, 2021, to celebrate Adventist Volunteer Service Day and learn of service opportunities across the Inter-American Division and around the world church. [Photo: IAD Screenshot]
“We are pleased and proud to host this program and reaffirm volunteers of the precious ministry that you are providing throughout the Inter-American Division and the world,” said Pastor Leonard Johnson, executive secretary for the church in Inter-America overseeing AVS.

“There is a great privilege in what it means to be a volunteer in mission for God,” he said. Being involved in mission means being prepared with the skills, language, education skills as well as  maintaining and developing a deeper connection with God, said Pastor Johnson. “Cross cultural preparation is key in being equipped, sensitive and effective to reach other cultures,” he said.

The event was meant to keep the dream of volunteer service alive within the Inter-American Division, said Janelle Scantlebury-Smith, AVS coordinator for the church in Inter-America.  “We wanted to engage more volunteers who may not have considered a life of volunteer service,” she said. “The program was also a forum for all future IAD volunteers to connect directly with AVS coordinators in the countries and divisions where volunteer opportunities are available.”

Janelle Scantlebury-Smith, Adventist Volunteer Services coordinator for the church in Inter-America, hosts the four-hour event on Zoom on May, 8, 2021. [Photo: IAD Screenshot]
Even though organizations had to close doors to volunteers last year because of the pandemic, many are easing up on restrictions for service opportunities around the world soon, said Scantlebury-Smith.  “In Inter-America there are options for volunteers to serve in an online capacity,” she said. Currently, there are 21 Adventist volunteers from Inter-America serving the world church and 60 are awaiting assignment to serve outside of the IAD territory.

Cecilia N., who coordinates AVS in one of the unions in the Euro Asia Division, shared with the audience the many opportunities to learn and grow where she has been arranging for service in Russia and other countries. Irene Jimenez from Montemorelos University, Mexico, who has been volunteering in the region, says that it was difficult adjusting to the culture but that her experience has brought many rewards in her work as a volunteer so far from home.

Several AVS organizations in the IAD are currently recruiting volunteers on a virtual setting right now in Panama and Colombia, as well as a few face-to-face opportunities elsewhere.

Pastor Kevin Costello, associate secretary of the Southern Asia Pacific Division, showcases opportunities available for volunteer service during his presentation.[Photo: IAD Screenshot]
AVS coordinators from the Southern Asia Pacific Division, Euro-Asia Division, South American Division and West Africa Division, as well as Middle East and North Africa field, presented service opportunities and answered questions for those interested in volunteering.

Volunteers and potential volunteers were given tools to better serve in a Muslim or Chinese context.  Serving volunteers also shared short experiences where they serve and encourage viewers to dedicate time in reaching others for Christ.

Many of the opportunities currently available include teaching English as a second language, said Scantlebury-Smith, but there are others that will be opening up soon.

Edmund Cao, AVS coordinator of the Chinese Union, speaks on the do’s and don’ts of serving in countries in Asia during his presentation. [Photo: IAD Screenshot]
“We want mission to be intentional for you,” said Scantlebury-Smith. “It’s not just about traveling somewhere else only but it’s about reaching others with the gospel.”

To learn more about signing up as a volunteer in the IAD and the Adventist world church, contact your local union’s AVS coordinator, and visit adventistvolunteers.org