
South Central Venezuela Conference
Photo courtesy of South Central Venezuela Conference.
South Central Venezuela Conference
By Antonio Ramón Peña
Antonio Ramón Peña Muñoz, B.A. in theology (Venezuela Adventist Theological Seminary) and M.A. in pastoral ministry (the Adventist Theological Seminary of the Inter-American Division), began his ministry in 1999 in the Central Venezuela Conference where he served as a pastor and vice-president. He later served in the East Central Venezuela Conference as a pastor and director of Stewardship Ministries then, in the South Central Venezuela Conference as pastor, vice-president, executive secretary, evangelist, Personal Ministries, Sabbath School, Special Ministries, and Religious Liberties director. Antonio Peña Muñoz currently serves as president of the South Central Venezuela Conference President. He is married to Ana Da Rocha and has two daughters.
First Published: May 15, 2021
South Central Venezuela Conference is part of the Interamerican Division of the Seventh-day Adventists.
South Central Venezuela Conference’s territory consists of the State of Aragua and other municipalities found in the State of Miranda: Carrizal, Cristóbal Rojas, Guaicaipuro, Independencia, Lander, Los Salias, Paz Castillo, Simón Bolívar, and Urdaneta. By 2015, the population in the conference’s territory was estimated to be 3,291,176.1 In 2019, the statistics reported 96 active congregations and 19,717members,2 one radio station, one medical center, one educational institution, seven ordained ministers, and 13 licensed ministers. The headquarters are located at Avenida Bolívar Oeste Num. C-20, Urbanización La Romana, Maracay, Estado Aragua, Venezuela. South Central Venezuela Conference is part of East Venezuela Union Mission, and it is under the governance of the Inter-American Division, which in turn is under the governance of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
South Central Venezuela Conference Institutions
Unidad Educativa Privada Adventista “Andrés Bello”
On September 1, 1948, the school began operations where El Limón Adventist Church is now located. The land was given to the church by the City Municipal Council.3 From September 1962 to present day, it has been located at Calle Nueva Number. 35 Sector Caja de Agua, El Limón, Aragua state, on a piece of land donated by a generous Brother José Lamas. It started as an elementary school, and to this date, it offers primary education, six primary grades, intermediate and general secondary education in two parts or sections. There are a total of 39 employees, 24 of whom are teachers, and 15 are administrative and service employees.
Radio Station Vida 104.1 FM
On November 9, 2009, Vida 104.1 FM was inaugurated. It is located in the conference headquarters. It broadcasts 24/7 in the city of Maracay, and can also be found on social media, on Facebook as Vida Emisora Adventista Maracay, on Instagram as Vida 104.1 FM, and on Twitter @vidacercadeti.4
Adventist Youth Campground
On October 19, 2017, 11.12 acres of land were bought at a place called “Finca Campamento Adventista”, dividing the States of Sabana Larga, Camatagua, and Aragua. The property has a five-bedroom house, a pool, and a multi-purpose-sports court.5
Origins of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Central Venezuela Conference Territory
Aragua State
Aragua was the first state to witness the early stages of the proclamation of the Adventist message in the territory of the South Central Venezuela Conference. In 1940, Pastor José Alberto Acosta, who was one of the first pastors to be ordained in Venezuela, retired and moved to Maracay, Aragua’s capital, and the conference’s present headquarters. He started a small group in his home with people interested in learning about the Bible. This was the beginning of the Maracay Central Church. In 1942, the believers bought a colonial house on Calle Santos Michelena, where to this day, the members of the Maracay Central Church meet. On May 9, 1942, the group was officially organized. In 1953, Pastor Oscar Soto was named the first official pastor of the Maracay church. He worked in that district on three other occasions.6 Educational work started in this church with leaders who promoted education, and they built the Andrés Bello Academy in the municipality of El Limón.7
Miranda State
By 1970, a group of members from the Caracas Adventist Paraíso Church who lived in Carrizal, decided to meet at the González family home with the Mago, Diaz, Salas, and Acosta families. Pastor Eduardo Escobar organized the Carrizal group in December 1975.8
In 1972, Central de los Teques Church was organized in the State of Miranda, La Matica sector. Since Paraíso, the closest church, was in Caracas, Brother Luis Síbulo and his wife Elizabeth, who had come from the State of Táchira, opened the doors of their home for meetings. During those years, Teques was becoming a very attractive place to live in because of its good weather, its serenity, and its proximity to Caracas. Among the families who moved to this place and met at the home of the Sibulo family were Marrero, Jaureguí, and Alfonzo, who were the founders of the Adventist church in that area. After moving the meetings to different places over the years, they finally founded a church in Ayacucho, Calle Principal, sector El Tambor9 the actual location of the church today.
In Valles de Tuy, Brother Dionisio Zambrano learnt about the Advent Message while getting dental work done at the Adventist Clinic located at the Concordia Seventh-day Adventist Church. Both he and his wife María were baptized in the Concordia church. In 1980, the Zambrano couple decided to offer their home in San Francisco de Yare to start group meetings with Brother Erasmo Garcia and his family and sisters Ana Luisa Gómez and Dora de Parra. The house where they met was next to the Yare Central Church, which used to belong to the Concordia District of Caracas.10
Events crucial to the organization of the South Central Venezuela Conference
As a result of the Central Venezuela Conference reorganization, the union voted to organize the South Central Venezuela Conference. When the conference was formed, there were 12 districts, 51 churches, and 32 groups with a total membership of 11,797. It was originally named South Central Venezuela Mission.11 It was part of the Venezuela-Antilles Union Mission located in Barquisimeto.
On November 24, 2002, in a special session meeting organized at El Limón Church, Aragua State, administrators of Central Venezuela Conference, the president, Pastor Jorge Barboza, secretary, Pastor Félix Zambrano, and Treasurer Edgard García, together with the administrators of the Venezuela-Antilles Union Mission and 79 delegates, voted to create the South Central Venezuela Mission.12 The first elected administrators were Pastor Orlando Rosales, president, and Teovaldo Castillo, secretary-treasurer. The headquarters were originally located in the Andrés Bello Academy auditorium in El Limón. A few months later, they bought a property at Quinta “Q27” located on the Second Avenue of the San Jacinto development between Calle 12 and 13, the South-North lot “Q” in Maracay, Aragua State.
After four years, and as a result of a vote taken in an ordinary session meeting of the Venezuela Antilles-Union Mission Committee, on September 2006, the South Central Venezuela Mission changed its status from mission to conference.13 Later, the administration thought it was strategically better to sell the property and start the process of buying a new place more accessible to the church’s membership and office personnel. They experienced God’s blessings when the project got approval and they were able to purchase an excellent property. On May 1, 2007, and after some remodeling, the offices moved to the new building located at Quinta C20 of Urbanización La Romana, Avenida Bolívar, West of Maracay City. Later that year, at the Quadrennial Session on October 22 and 23, 2007, attended by the administrators of the East Venezuela Union Mission and Pastor Israel Leito, then Inter-American Division president, the offices of the South Central Venezuela Conference were officially inaugurated.14
Due to the accelerated growth of the church and because of its extensive territory, it became necessary to reorganize the territory again. On March 29, 2016, the East Venezuela Conference Executive Committee met and took a vote for the territory to be divided and for a new mission, the Central Llanos Venezuela Mission, located in Calabozo to be created effective June 1, 2016. The purpose was to create favorable conditions and to be able to take better care of the growing church. The East Venezuela Union assigned Pastor Amado Marcano as president, Pastor Janier Puerta as secretary, and Saúl Brito as treasurer, who at the time was also carrying out the same functions in the South Central Venezuela Conference.15
Presently, the territory of the South Central Venezuela Conference serves the territories of the State of Aragua and its municipalities: Carrizal, Cristóbal Rojas, Guaicaipuro, Independencia, Lander, Los Salias, Paz Castillo, Simón Bolívar, and the State of Urdaneta of Miranda. The South Central Venezuela Conference began with 14 districts, and by July 2019, 16 districts are recorded.
South Central Venezuela Conference’s Mission
Despite the present conditions facing the country, in 2019, and even with the exodus of a large portion of the population including many church members, the enthusiasm, fervor, and commitment to advance the work of God in the South Central Venezuela Conference is still intact. The program “Towards Leadership for Growth”, biblically founded in Matthew 28:19, 20; Mark 16:15, 16; Luke 24:47, 49; Acts 1:8, was implemented. These verses summarize the mission and vision of the missionary work as “Disciple, Preach, Baptize, and reach a new territory, until the end of the world”.
Therefore the growth perspectives are focused on developing new congregations in cities and municipalities where there is no Adventist presence, or in those where Adventists presence is minimal. Due to the country’s present condition, the challenge seems very difficult, but considering the wonderful way in which God has directed His work in the past, it gives confidence and trust to look forward to the future with faith and desire to say “Let’s Go for More!” and “Without Fear of the Future”. The commitment exists to continue working toward revival and reformation, a strong church in small-group ministry, partners in discipleship, and stewardship. A major growth challenge for 2019 to 2021 is to seek the addition of a new administrative unit in the municipalities in the State of Miranda.
Among the significant events that stand out in the past years that positively influenced the church membership’s disposition and commitment to the church’s mission are:
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The celebration of victory day- It is a celebration held at the end of the year to honor God for all the miracles and blessings bestowed during the year.
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Church leaders’ meeting- This meeting takes place at the beginning of the ecclesiastic year to launch and train leaders in the specific church department they lead.
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Elder’s certification- Training in different areas is held during the year for church elders and together with the Inter-American Division, recognition and a certificate is given to each elder who completes the requirements.
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Small group leaders’ meeting-This meeting has become an essential tool for motivating and inspiring new leaders to focus on winning souls for Christ and discipleship.
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Discipleship in pairs- These pairs are the answer to the need not only to evangelize but also to lead new church converts into discipleship.
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Close to you-This is a journey to massively impact the local community and the social media. It is an opportunity to unite the efforts of all churches and to reach people in different areas of the city through diverse activities.
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Vacation Bible Experience-This program is offered to all children during summer vacation utilizing churches, community spaces, and colleges as a missionary tool with the purpose of spreading the gospel message to the homes in a creative and enjoyable way.
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Territory reorganization-In 2015, due to a reorganization of the conference, the Central Llanos Venezuela Mission was established. It provided new focus to the church’s vitality as a result of giving better attention to church members and evangelistic initiatives.
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New districts-After the creation of the new Central Llanos Venezuela Mission, churches were also reorganized and two new districts established, resulting in better care of the membership and strengthened evangelism.
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Purchase of land for a youth campground-In 2007, 11.1197 acres of land with a five-bedroom house, a swimming pool, and a sports field was purchased. This property is the site of youth camp meetings as well as other recreational and spiritual activities.
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Bread of Life program-A permanent program to take care of low income and homeless adults and children is ongoing in different areas of the conference. Thanks to donations of those living abroad, prepared meals are distributed among these people. Also, medical and spiritual attention, haircuts, and the reintegration to family, society and a productive life are among the services provided.
The evangelical strategies are focused on establishing new congregations in the cities and municipalities where there is no Adventist presence and in the ones where Adventists presence is minimal. There are four municipalities with no Adventist presence. Another great challenge for 2019 to 2021 is the development of a new mission in the municipalities in the State of Miranda. Nevertheless, looking at ways in which God has guided in the past provides the security to look to the future with faith and confidence.
List of Presidents
Orlando Rosales Morillo (January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2005); Benirde Almerida (January 1, 2006 to September 30, 2009); Osmar González Brazón (October 1, 2009 to August 31, 2014); Luis Paredes Martínez (September 1, 2014 to August 31, 2018); Antonio Peña Muñoz (September 1, 2018 to present).
Sources
Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas. Accessed March 3, 2019. http://www.ine.gov.ve/.
Executive Committee, November 9, 2009. South Central Venezuela Conference Archives Maracay, Aragua State, Venezuela.
García, Natanael. Sin Temor al Futuro. Caracas: Talleres Gráficos Litobrit C.A. Venezuela, 1990.
Executive Committee, October 19, 2017. South Central Venezuela Conference Archives. Maracay, Aragua State, Venezuela.
Executive Committee, November 18-19, 2002. Venezuela-Antilles Union Mission Archives. Barquisimeto, Lara, Venezuela.
Executive Committee, September 25, 2006. West Venezuela Union Mission Archives. Barquisimeto, Lara, Venezuela.
Executive Committee, March 29, 2016, East Venezuela Union Mission Archives. Maracay, Edo. Aragua, Venezuela.
Espinoza, Marina. Nuestra historia: Iglesia Adventista de Maracay Central, Maracay, Venezuela, 2012.
Notes
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Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas, accessed March 3, 2019, http://www.ine.gov.ve/.↩
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ACMS, accessed March 3, 2019, https://www.acmsnet.org/.↩
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Natanael García, Sin Temor al Futuro, (Caracas: Talleres Gráficos Litobrit C.A. Venezuela, 1990), 41↩
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Executive Committee, November 9, 2009, 19, South Central Venezuela Conference Archives.↩
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Executive Committee, October 19, 2017, 59, South Central Venezuela Conference Archives.↩
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Espinoza, Marina, “Nuestra historia”. Iglesia Adventista de Maracay Central, May 2012, 4-11.↩
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Ibid.↩
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Arcadio Acosta, who was Elder at the San Antonio Church, one of the founders of the Carrizal Church, August 8, 2019.↩
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Reina de Guzmán, Esther Jauregüi, Alejandrina de Marrero, interview by Antonio Ramón Peña Muñoz, Teques S.D.A Church, October 8, 2019.↩
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Erasmo Garcia, interview by Antonio Ramón Peña Muñoz Yare S.D.A Church, August 8, 2019.↩
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Executive Committee, November 18-19, 2002, 80, Venezuela-Antilles Union Mission Archives.↩
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Raíza Estanga de Arias, interview by Antonio Ramón Peña Muñoz, South Central Venezuela Conference, Maracay, Venezuela, February 20, 2018.↩
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Executive Committee, September 25, 2006, 36, Venezuela-Antilles Union Mission Archives.↩
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Raíza Estanga de Arias, interview by Antonio Ramón Peña Muñoz, South Central Venezuela Conference, Maracay, Venezuela, February 20, 2018.↩
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Executive Committee, March 29, 2016, 7, Central Venezuela Union Mission Archives.↩