The-Accountant-Sep-Oct-2017-Final

Information technology
to an individual as an inner longing or
yearning (https://www.yaaka.cc/unit/
the-pastoral-minister-vocation-androle/).The
Bible in Matthew 28:19-
20, says “Go ye therefore, and teach all
nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe
all things whatsoever I have commanded
you: and, lo, I am with you always, [even]
unto the end of the world. Amen”.
This was Christ’s parting massage for
His immediate followers, the disciples,
who later become the Apostles [which
means sent ones]. He gave this ministry
to them. This ministry can be summed
in what is called pastoral ministry.
Pastors are to teach, preach, counsel,
and meet other pastoral needs of their
congregations. From the Seventh-day
Adventist prospective, the pastor is the
spiritual leader and adviser of the church,
who ranks above all local church officers
and is chairman of the church board
by virtue of his appointment as pastor
(SDAChurch Manual, pp. 99, 163.) It
is the duty of the pastor to instruct the
church officers in their duties and plan
with them for all lines of church work and
activity (SDA Church Manual, pp. 162,
163). Before the overabundance of 21st
Century technology, Church Ministry
was well-managed with a strategy of
Pastor-Member relationship. Church
leaders used the pulpit, accurately, in
effectively relating with, managing, and
leading their congregation. All necessary
information was disseminated through
the pulpit and church bulletin.
Today, there have been radical
changes in the above strategy due to
the unprecedented impact of I.C.T.
There is no doubt that the introduction
of Information and Communication
Technologies (ICTs), which has
become a worldwide phenomenon, is
suffusing in every part of human life.
ICT is in all areas of human activities
and this has given it a leading edge in
development and globalization. Pastors
can call to check on members, use
projectors to project their messages,
and social media to reach out among
others. Information and communication
technologies (ICTs) is considered
an umbrella term; that includes any
communication device or application,
encompassing radio, television, cellular
phones, computer and network,
hardware and software, and satellite
systems. The advent of the computer
and the other attendant compliment
like internet has led congregations using
computer technologies to enhance and
promote traditional ministries: worship,
fellowship, pastoral care, education,
mission and community outreach,
evangelism and communications.
The role of Seventh-day
Adventist Church Pastoral
Ministry
The Seventh-day Adventist Church
(SDA)
The Seventh Day Adventist church
(SDA) root can be traced to William
Miller (1782-1849) of Low Hampton,
New York. In 1816, Miller converted
from a deism belief system to Christianity
and became a Baptist Preacher.
Pastoral Ministry of SDA
Pastors
Every professional has a certain task to
perform based on the nature of their
profession. The pastoral ministry as a
profession has its tasks assigned to it. In
other words, when someone is called a
pastor, there are certain things that are
expected of the person. The pastor is the
spiritual leader and adviser of the church,
appointed to this po¬sition by the
conference com¬mittee and responsible
to that committee in all his work. He
ranks above all local church officers and is
chairman of the church board by virtue of
his appointment as pastor (SDA Church
Manual, pp. 99, 163.).It is the duty of
the pastor to instruct the church officers
in their duties and plan with them for all
lines of church work and activity (SDA
Church Manual, pp. 162, 163).According
to the SDA Ministers Handbook (2009),
the function of pastor falls primarily into
three categories:
• The Pastoral ministry provided both
for individuals and for the church body.
• Evangelistic witness and proclamation
of the gospel.
• Administrative leadership in the
church structure.
In addition to the above, the following
are some of the specific roles of a church
pastor:
1. Teaching/preaching of traditional
doctrine
2. Care giving, such as visitation,
counseling, comforting, and taking care of
the needs of people
3. Performing rites of passage, such as
baptisms, weddings, and funerals
4. Administration, such as taking care of
meetings, putting together a bulletin, and
developing programs for the church and
evangelism
5. Serving as ambassador of the church to
the community
From the biblical point of view, church
pastors carry out the following roles:
1. Evangelism (“making disciples of all
nations” – Matthew 28:19)
2. Administering the sacraments
(“baptizing them” – Matthew 28: 19)
3. Teaching (teaching them” – Matthew
28”19; 2Timothy 4:2)
4. Preaching (2 Tim4:2; Ezekiel 34:2)
5. Pastoral care and healing (Ezekiel
34:4)
6. Social outreach (Ezekiel 34:4)
From the above mentioned role of pastors,
especially SDA Pastors, one can conclude
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