Story by V. Michelle Bernard
At today’s Columbia Union Conference Executive Committee meeting, delegates voted Jose Vazquez to be the new vice president for Ministries Development.
Vazquez served as the vice president of Administration for the Potomac Conference for the last six years.
“Jose is a great fit for our office,” says Marcellus T. Robinson, Columbia Union president. “He is a people person and, professionally, he has the skill set necessary for the job. … We need somebody [skilled] not only with ministry development, but also in Adventist Community Services, in working with young people and various other ministries. … He’s also very organized, a good administrator and also a great pastor at the same time. He’ll fit right in with our team here at the Columbia Union."
Among his new responsibilities, Vazquez will partner with Columbia Union’s local conferences in developing and supporting outreach ministries designed to transform and evangelize the communities within the union’s territory. He will also work to secure and process funding for homeland mission projects and initiatives, including church plants.
Vazquez will also serve as a liaison between the many North American Division departments and ministries and local conference departmental and ministry leaders. He will provide connection and support; facilitate training; convene and chair advisory meetings; coordinate partnerships for organizing union camporees; respond to natural disasters; and address other needs.
“I want to thank God for leading us up to this point. Secondly, I want to thank my wife, [Sonia], who is a great support. I also thank Potomac Conference for the opportunity to work there for 11 years,” said Vazquez at the executive committee meeting. “We are looking forward to working at the Columbia Union. … We want to serve [others] and serve His church and be a support to all the conferences in this great union. Praise God for that!”
Vazquez will also serve as the union ministerial director, representing the union at division wide ministerial meetings and partnering with conference ministerial directors to plan the union’s quinquennial ministerial training event.
Vazquez fills the vacancy left when Frank Bondurant retired earlier in November.