by Gladys Neigel with Denis Sand
“Our call [overseas] has been and continues to be a miracle,” says Pastor Denis Sand from Westchester Spanish Church in Miami, Fla., “and knowing that, we are moving forward trusting that the One who has called us will also equip us for this challenge.”
Speaking fluent Spanish and English, one would expect Sand to accept a call to a place where these languages are spoken. Instead, he has started learning Russian even as he awaits departure for Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan in the Euro-Asia Division (ESD) where he will direct the School of Pioneers.
Here, Sand will train tentmakers (self-supporting missionaries) who, in turn, will be challenged to plant churches among indigenous people of five countries: Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. The school’s goal is to train 140 tentmakers over the next seven years. Sand has also been asked to direct the School of Evangelism for Southern Union Conference of ESD where he will train and inspire pastors to organize small groups to reach their communities, especially among indigenous people.
Sand relates that in the past few years, “the Lord has led us at Westchester Spanish Church to develop a program to train youth as small group leaders and reach their friends for Christ.” The program began with one Growth Group in August 2008, and multiplied into three by October. By January 2009, there were six groups, and in September 2009, a birthday party was celebrated for twelve groups. “By the grace of God, we now have 21 groups with each being led by two trained leaders,” says Sand.
The training program for group leaders basically covers what they need to know, be, and do. Sand also covers the practical side as trainees practice and lead in all parts of regular group life and meetings.
In 2009 and 2010, Southern Union Conference of ESD invited Sand to teach two classes at the School of Pioneers: the first was Seventh-day Adventist Church history, and the other covered small groups. He was also the Conference’s main speaker for an evangelism congress this past May. The delegates were excited about the Growth Groups program and how it could help reach people in the region known as the 10/40 Window.
“Stretching from North Africa, through the Middle East, and into East Asia, the 10/40 Window is home to more than two-thirds of the earth’s population, many of the world’s major religions, the largest and fastest growing cities, some of the world’s poorest people, and the fewest Christians.” *
Sand will be joined in this new ministry adventure by his wife, Ingrid, and his sons, Adriel, four; Mattias, two; and newborn baby (October 28), Josiah. The family has made a commitment to serve five years in Kyrgyzstan and are awaiting their departure date from the General Conference.
* “A Dream on the Brink of Coming True,” www.adventistmissionary.org
FLORIDA PASTOR BECOMES 10/40 MISSIONARY
