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Minner Labrador Accepts Call to North American Division

June 23, 2021

Pastor Labrador will serve as the NAD vice president for multi-cultural ministries.

On Monday, June 21, Minner Labrador Jr., president of Upper Columbia Conference, announced that he has accepted a call as vice president for multi-cultural ministries for the North American Division. What follows, is his letter to Upper Columbia Conference membership.


A Time of Transitions

I have been so blessed by the messages of Camp Meeting. It has been extraordinary to see how our heavenly Father speaks through these preachers and how the power of the Holy Spirit is sensed even when viewing. The seminars, the singing and the children’s program have been amazing.


Our Father has truly blessed the work of the Upper Columbia Conference. May He Send the Rain!


Yesterday, I spent the day with my father, in what may likely be his last Father’s Day. When I first wrote you a month ago about the health challenges my father was facing, I knew that it was my duty as a son to serve and care for my father, as he did for me when a boy.


In my years working in men’s ministries, I have always underscored how important it is to care for your family — your first church.


It is now clear that my father needs me to be closer to help him as he finishes his final days on this earth. This is particularly challenging to me, as I desire to continue in ministry serving God’s people. I truly felt the Holy Spirit telling me that I needed to be with my father, but what of serving others through ministry?


Only through God’s grace did an answer suddenly appear. The Lord opened an opportunity for me to continue caring for my father while also serving His people throughout the North American Division (NAD). Alex Bryant, president of the NAD, extended me a call to serve as the vice president for multi-cultural ministries. After much prayer, I accepted the call. Evelyn and I expect to make the transition in August.


It has been such a privilege to see how God has worked in this conference.


Praise God, for He has special plans for Upper Columbia, and I can’t wait to see His Rain poured out!


As I prepare for this transition, I want to thank our pastoral and educational teams for all they have endured and persevered through this COVID crisis. As we continue to move towards our new “normal,” I challenge our conference to unite in spreading the Good News of the character of God to a world in turmoil.


I ask for your continued prayers for John Freedman, president of North Pacific Union Conference; Rodney Mills, UCC vice president of administration; Allee Currier, UCC vice president of finance; Brian Harris, UCC vice president of education; and our department directors and staff.


May we continue to push forward with One More Bible study, One More community outreach program, One More prayer walk, One More student in school, One More evangelistic meeting until we all make One More move to our heavenly home, where we will never part.


Minner Labrador Jr.


You can read his full letter at news.uccsda.org/minner62321.



Tiempo de Transición

He sido muy bendecido por los mensajes del Campestre. Ha sido extraordinario ver cómo nuestro Padre celestial habla a través de estos predicadores y como el poder del Espíritu Santo se siente incluso al mirar en línea. Los seminarios, los cantos y el programa infantil han sido sobresalientes en gran manera.


Nuestro Padre verdaderamente ha bendecido la obra de la Conferencia de Upper Columbia (UCC). ¡Que envíe la lluvia!


Ayer pasé el día con mi padre, en lo que probablemente haya sido su último Día del Padre. Cuando les escribí por primera vez, hace un mes, sobre los problemas de salud que enfrentaba mi padre, supe que era mi deber como hijo servir y cuidar de mi padre, como él lo hizo conmigo cuando yo era niño.


En mis años trabajando en ministerios masculinos, siempre he enfatizado lo importante que es cuidar de nuestra familia - nuestra primera iglesia.


Ahora está claro que mi padre me necesita más cerca de él para ayudarle a terminar sus últimos días en esta tierra. Esto es particularmente desafiante para mí, ya que deseo continuar en el ministerio sirviendo al pueblo de Dios. Realmente sentí que el Espíritu Santo me decía que necesitaba estar con mi padre, pero ¿qué de servir al prójimo a través del ministerio?


Solo por la Gracia de Dios de repente apareció una respuesta. El Señor me abrió la oportunidad de seguir cuidando a mi padre y al mismo tiempo servir a Su pueblo en toda la División Norteamericana (NAD). Alex Bryant, presidente de la NAD, me extendió un llamado para servir como vicepresidente de ministerios multiculturales. Después de mucha oración, acepté el llamado. Evelyn y un servidor esperamos hacer la transición en agosto.


Ha sido un gran privilegio ver cómo Dios ha trabajado en esta Conferencia.


¡Alabado sea Dios, porque Él tiene planes especiales para la Upper Columbia, me cuesta esperar ver Su lluvia derramarse!


Mientras me preparo para esta transición, quiero agradecer a nuestro equipo pastoral y educativo por todo lo que han soportado y perseverado durante la crisis de COVID. A medida que continuamos avanzando hacia nuestra nueva “normalidad,” desafío a nuestra conferencia a unirse para difundir las Buenas Nuevas del carácter de Dios a un mundo en confusión.


Les pido que perseveren en oración por John Freedman, presidente de la Unión del Pacífico Norte; Rodney Mills, vicepresidente de administración de UCC; Allee Currier, vicepresidente de finanzas de UCC; Brian Harris, vicepresidente de educación de UCC; y nuestros directores departamentales y personal de UCC.


Que podamos seguir avanzando con un estudio bíblico más, un grupo pequeño más, una caminata de oración más, un estudiante más en las escuelas, una campaña evangelística más, hasta que todos nosotros hagamos una mudanza más a nuestro hogar celestial, donde nunca más nos separaremos.


Minner Labrador Jr.


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