In March Hispanic church leaders from across the Kansas-Nebraska Conference gathered in Junction City, Kansas, for a time of learning, collaboration and encouragement. This training weekend provided tools and support for lay leaders committed to serving their congregations. “This annual event is an affirmation of all that our lay leaders do in their congregations while providing relevant tools to advance the work,” said Alejandro Dovald, Multilingual Ministries director.
One of the most impactful sessions came from Pastor Ignacio Goya, whose presentations challenged attendees to rethink the purpose of community service. Rather than viewing outreach as a strategy to gain members or recognition, Goya emphasized that service should flow naturally from a transformed heart. “We don’t serve because we want something in return—we serve because Jesus has changed us, and our natural response is to do good for others,” he urged. His dynamic approach sparked meaningful conversations on how churches can engage their communities with authenticity and compassion.
Another key aspect of the weekend was the Alive in Jesus training for children’s ministry leaders, facilitated by the North American Division Children’s Ministries team. These sessions equipped leaders with creative ways to help young children grow in their faith. “The children’s leaders from our churches were deeply blessed by the team from NAD who facilitated the sessions,” said Miriam Dovald, Children’s Ministries director. “We will also be offering Alive in Jesus training in English at the Lincoln camp meeting, and we encourage leaders who are passionate about serving our children to plan on attending.”
In addition, treasury leaders participated in training to prepare for a transition to a new treasury software system. Jim Jensen, the conference’s vice president for finance, introduced the platform and answered initial questions, while Abner Castañon, the conference auditor, provided a broad overview via Zoom. The training helped local church treasurers become familiar with the new system, ensuring smoother financial operations in the future.
From worship to hands-on training, the weekend provided leaders with both spiritual encouragement and practical tools. As the event concluded, participants left inspired—not just to lead their churches more effectively, but to serve their communities with the love and generosity of Christ.
