This five-session training experience is designed to spiritually ground, practically equip, and missionally inspire local elders for faithful and effective service. Beginning with the divine call and sacred responsibility of the elder, participants will grow in leadership, preaching and teaching, compassionate visitation, and personal evangelism. Each session provides biblical instruction, hands-on guidance, and resources to help elders serve in unity with their pastors. Utilizing their God-given gifts, they will continue to nurture members through care and teaching and advance the church’s mission through intentional evangelism and discipleship. Together, these sessions form a clear pathway for strengthening local church leadership and fostering lasting spiritual growth.
Session 1
The Divine Call of the Elder
March 8, 2026 | In Person
Speaker: Anthony Kent
Explore the sacred role of the local elder, rooted in a vibrant personal walk with Christ. This training highlights the elder’s spiritual life, healthy relationships with pastors, leaders, and members, and their responsibilities to the pastor, church, and conference. A focused session on preaching will equip elders to prepare and deliver biblically sound, Christ-centered messages that support and advance the mission of the church.
Session 2
Gift-based Leadership
April 26, 2026 | Via Zoom
Speaker: Shawn Shives
This session focuses on gift-based leadership, helping elders identify and use their God-given gifts and talents as part of a unified leadership team. It also addresses the elder’s role in board and business meetings, offering practical guidance for effective participation. Elders will learn how to work closely with the pastor to develop a strategic plan and clearly cast vision that inspires and aligns the local church with its mission.
Session 3
Lay Preaching and Teaching
July 19, 2026 | Via Zoom
Speaker: Christian Ekoto
This session equips elders to become confident, spiritual, biblical, and compelling speakers. Participants will learn how to build, write, and preach, Christ-centered sermons, give effective Bible studies, and train others to do the same. Practical guidance on organizing and leading small groups will also be shared, empowering elders to nurture disciples and strengthen the teaching ministry of the local church.
Session 4
Effective and Compassionate Visitation Ministry
September 20, 2026 | Via Zoom
Speaker: David Hartman
This session provides elders with coaching and guidance in effective visitation skills which will lead to impacting lives. Participants will explore the different types of visits—members, former members, interests, shut-ins, the bereaved, and those in hospitals or nursing homes. Through interactive exercises, elders will gain practical skills for each setting and learn how to thoughtfully respond to common challenges, offering Christ-centered care and hope.
Session 5
Personal Evangelism and Discipleship
November 15, 2026 | Via Zoom
Speakers: Lillian Torres and Stewart Lozensky
This session equips elders to confidently and effectively share the gospel in everyday life. Participants will learn how to lead and organize evangelistic efforts, understand and implement the cycle of evangelism in the local church, and establish a clear discipleship structure that nurtures new believers and strengthens long-term spiritual growth.
Finale Celebration
Elders’ Commitment Banquet
February 21, 2027 | In Person
Join us for a special banquet to reflect on all we’ve learned, give thanks for the ways we’ve seen God bless as we’ve grown as elders, celebrate completing the training, and deepen our commitment to Christ and service together.
Meet our Speakers
Pastor Anthony Kent is an associate ministerial secretary of the General Conference. Originating from Australia, some of his responsibilities include continuing education for pastors, developing interns and intern supervisors, and serving as editor of Elder’s Digest. His 39 years of ministerial experience include local church pastoring, church planting, and evangelism. His greatest passion in ministry is leading people to a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Elder Gary Gibbs is the Pennsylvania Conference president. Prior to this, Elder Gibbs was a founding vice president of the General Conference’s global television network, Hope Channel. Gary was the executive vice president of Amazing Facts ministry for ten years, where he founded the Amazing Facts Center of Evangelism. He is the author of several books, including The New Winsome Witnessing and Prophecies of Hope Bible study guides, as well as numerous GLOW tracts. He has served as a church administrator, television and media pioneer, pastor, evangelist, and church growth consultant.
Elder Shawn Shives is the Pennsylvania Conference Executive Secretary. He has also served in the Georgia-Cumberland Conference including pastoring an 800-member church and day academy which he founded prior to returning to Pennsylvania to serve as Assistant to the President and pastor of the Reading Hampden Heights Seventh-day Adventist Church.
David Hartman has spent over 30 years as a pastor, evangelist, and church planter. He is the professor of evangelism and church ministry at Southern Adventist University, Collegedale, TN, and the author of the book Winning Ways to Witness.
Christian E. Ekoto, PhD is a Cameroonian Seventh-day Adventist believer, pastor, educator, researcher, and administrator with 19 years of ministry, currently serving the Stroudsburg, Pocono Grace, and Mount Pocono Haitian Seventh-day Adventist churches as a Senior District Pastor for the Pennsylvania Conference, since June 1, 2022. His life goal is Christlikeness.
Lillian Torres has served in full-time ministry since 1994 and brings more than three decades of experience in evangelism, discipleship, and church revitalization. She currently serves as Assistant Evangelism Director and Assistant Church Regeneration Director for the Pennsylvania Conference and is an elder at the Pottsville Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Pastor Stewart Lozensky has served as the Pennsylvania Conference Church Regeneration director since 2021, in April, he will transition to pastor of the Erie Seventh-day Adventist Church and assistant ministerial director. He has served more than 27 years as a pastor in the Dakotas and Kentucky. His passion for evangelism and helping churches grow is evident in every conversation and every congregation he serves.
2026 Elders Training
The Biblical Ideal Elder
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The Biblical Ideal Elder – Anthony Kent
Growing Protecting Essential Connections
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Growing Protecting Essential Connections – Anthony Kent
Hold Fast in a Slippery World
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Hold Fast in a Slippery World – Gary Gibbs
Spiritual Leadership
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Spiritual Leadership – Shawn Shives
Resources
Best Practices – Ministry Ideas from Pennsylvania Church Elders
“As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend” (Proverbs 27:17).
- This verse emphasizes that we are not meant to grow in isolation, but through active, intentional relationships that encourage us to be our best.
- Meaningful relationships help us sharpen character, intellect, and spiritual growth. Like two metal blades, it can help refine each other’s wisdom, strength, and leadership.
Sharing best practices among local church elders fosters a collaborative culture in which all can benefit from learning creative ministry methods that have proven to work. This valuable internal knowledge base helps local church elders strengthen one another in ministry.
“Therefore, take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.”
Acts 20:28-29 NKJV