MINNESOTA

Two Pastoral Transitions in the Minnesota Conference

(left) Jiwan, Rebecca, Hannah, Isabella and Jessica Moon

(right) Abner and Kara Aguilar

Courtesy Moon Family

Minnetonka Church

We are happy to announce that Pastor Jiwan Stefan Moon has accepted the position of senior pastor for Minnetonka Church. The Minnesota Conference Board of Trustees extended the call after the Personnel Committee and the Church Search Committee interviewed him. Pastor Jiwan started with the Minnesota Conference on Aug. 1.

Communication

Department:How long were you in your current position?

Pastor Jiwan: I have been at the General Conference in my current position since 2014 serving as the inaugural director of Public Campus Ministries, a ministry which grew exponentially on a global perspective during my six-year tenure. I come with 25 years pastoral experience with a special emphasis on youth and young adult ministry. The world church is experiencing budgetary constraints, and as a result many positions are being eliminated.

Courtesy Aguilar Family

CD: What do you see as your major role in a church that has a school?

PJ: I am convicted that we as a church must raise the next generation of leaders. We must raise a new generation of Joshuas and Calebs who will finish the gospel work. The following is a quote from Ellen White that has guided me over 25 years of youth and young adult ministry: “With such an army of workers as our youth, rightly trained, might furnish, how soon the message of a crucified, risen, and soon-coming Saviour might be carried to the whole world! How soon might the end come, – the end of suffering and sorrow and sin!” (Messages to Young People, p. 193).

I see myself working closely with the school board, church board and the board of trustees to see that “our army of workers” are rightly trained by giving them quality Adventist education. We must create a symbiotic and collaborative partnership between the church and school. This can be realized when we work together as a team; working together with parents, teachers, church leaders and administrators, and even students, all as stakeholders invested in the well-being of not just one, but two important organizations that will serve our Minnetonka community.

CD: In most cases church members see the pastor’s family as partners in ministry. How do you see your family doing ministry in the church and school environment?

PJ:I am the son of the first missionary sent by the Korean Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. My wife, Jessica, is a teacher by profession and currently a full-time home school teacher busy preparing our three daughters for a life of mission and service for God and others. She majored in French and speaks four languages: Portuguese, French, Spanish and English. She loves children and enjoys teaching them about the love of Jesus and the importance of serving Him. Our three daughters, Hannah (13) and Rebecca (10) both were baptized on their tenth birthdays, and Isabella (9) is preparing for her baptism as well.

Hannah wants to be a pastor, and Rebecca a missionary doctor. Isabella is still deciding what she should do. They all play violin and piano, and love to sing as well. It is a joy to our family to use our musical talents for God.

Our family motto is, “Serving God and others in reverence and humility.” As a family that is what we want to do. Living in a mission field sparked the missionary spirit in me, and I want our family to be remembered one day as a missionary family—heart and soul.

Please join us in praying for the Moon family as they transition to the Minnetonka Church.

Hutchinson Church

Pastor Abner Aguilar has been the pastor of Cambridge and The Edge Christian Fellowship churches for nearly four years. We’re glad to announce that Pastor Abner and his wife, Kara, have accepted the call to serve as pastor of the Hutchinson Church.

Communication

Department: We are excited, Pastor Abner, that you accepted this call. We believe you will be able to connect well with the Maplewood Academy community. What do see as your major role?

Pastor Abner: I am looking forward to pastoring in a church that is supportive of Adventist education. As the pastor, I would like to be involved with the Hutchinson community and especially Maplewood Academy's spiritual and recreational activities because I desire to connect with the student body and the staff. I also hope I can visit with faculty and students at the Northwoods Elementary School and get to know staff, students and their families while I minister to the Hutchinson congregation and their needs.

CD:In most cases, church members see your wife as a partner in ministry. How do you see your family doing ministry in a church and school environment?

PA: My wife is not the pastor, but she has a lot of experience working in an academy setting, so I have no doubt that together we will be able to have a positive impact on the student body. We look forward to attending activities and creating opportunities to minister as a team to the entire Maplewood community.

Please keep Pastor Abner, Kara, the Hutchinson Church, Northwoods Elementary and Maplewood Academy in your prayers. Also, remember in prayer the congregations which the Aguilar family is leaving.

Hispanic Ministries Presses Ahead Despite coronavirus challenges

These last several months have been some of the most unique and challenging times in ministry. Our nation and our world have been submerged in a pandemic, our way of life has been altered, our economy is in tatters and our churches have been closed. What else can we ask for a challenging time?

Nonetheless, here in our country the American culture is recognized for its resilience and never-give-up spirit. In the middle of the suffering, hospitals and medical personnel have provided outstanding care for the ill, corporations have donated services and food to the unemployed, the government has issued income reimbursements to families most affected due to layoffs and unemployment and businesses have received financial support.

What has the church done during this time besides closing its doors in solidarity to prevent spreading the virus? Certainly, the safety and well-being of our members has been a priority for our conference. But this situation has forced our churches to find other means to carry on their functions and mission in light of the cancellation of public gatherings.

The platform of virtual technology has saved the day for our church. Even those congregations less prone to technology are broadcasting their services to an audience beyond the limits of their walls. Jesus’ vision for His church (Matt. 16:18) is

becoming a reality.

We have carried out our evangelistic mission by launching two virtual evangelistic series lasting two weeks each entitled Vislumbres de Esperanza (Glimpses of Hope) and El Heroe del Fin del Mundo (The Hero at the End of the World). We praise God that 20 people have been baptized as a result!

We have continued our departmental agenda holding a virtual Hispanic women’s retreat with an audience of more than 1,200 viewers. We held virtual youth programs every Sabbath organized by the FESJA (Youth Federation). We also conducted our Hispanic camp meeting in a virtual setting, and recently held our virtual family retreat. Each and every program was designed to keep our mission before our eyes so that this pandemic does not distract us from the fulfillment of our responsibility.

Also, in the middle of high unemployment in our communities, churches have pulled together to support those in need by launching food bank initiatives and delivering food baskets to people who need them most. The amazing thing is that the church has continued to confront this challenge and overcome it without losing the financial support of its faithful members.

Jesus’ words are truly fulfilled, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matt. 6: 21). Let’s continue to strive until we ultimately overcome the situation and complete our mission.

Eduardo Jacobo is Hispanic Ministries coordinator for the Minnesota Conference.