Stabenow, Paulo (1935–2015)

Paulo Stabenow, pastor and administrator, was born March 11, 1935, in Laranja da Terra, in the old district of the city of Afonso Cláudio, state of Espírito Santo, Brazil.¹ He was the son of Carl Stabenow (1895-1980) and Guilhermina Krüger Stabenow (1895-1974).² His ten siblings were: Germano (1916-2002), Lydia (1917-1996),³ Alberto (1919-1992), Floriano (1921-1950), Martinho,⁴ Holdina (1924-2014),⁵ Elza (1927-1946), Zeferino,⁶ Samuel⁷ and Waldemar.⁸

Paulo grew up in an Adventist home where his parents taught Christian principles to their children. He was encouraged to study the Bible and to keep the Sabbath.⁹ He was baptized in September 1946 in the city of Laranja da Terra. Paulo attended elementary school at a local Adventist school and completed high school at the Petrópolis Adventist Academy.¹⁰ From an early age he wanted to become a merchant and open a chain of stores. However, in 1956, while studying at the academy, he participated in the Youth Congress of the South American Division held at Hotel Quitandinha in Rio de Janeiro. When he heard the sermon by Pastor Rodolpho Belz, Paul felt the desire to become a pastor.¹¹ With this purpose, in 1957 he went to the Brazil College where he studied theology, graduating in 1961.¹² That same year he married Iracilda Rodrigues Stabenow (1940-).¹³ She worked as a teacher¹⁴ and served as director of Youth Ministries in the Vale do Paulista Mission.¹⁵ From this union were born Elizabeth (1963-) and Paulo Roberto (1970-).¹⁶

After his graduation from the seminary Paulo did not immediately receive a call, so he provided for his family by selling natural products at a São Paulo fair. Two months later he received two calls. One was to be an administrative assistant at the Silvestre Adventist Hospital in Rio de Janeiro, and the other one was to be a district pastor in the city of Nanuque, state of Minas Gerais. Because he had the desire to be a pastor, he accepted the second invitation.¹⁷ He stayed in that position until 1966, when he was ordained to the ministry in the local newly dedicated church.^{18 19}

From 1967-1969 he served as a district pastor in the city of Vitória, state of Espírito Santo.²⁰ During this period he sought to prepare himself to better serve the denomination by taking a theology specialization at River Plate Adventist University in the city of Libertador San Martín, province of Entre Rios, Argentina.²¹ In 1970 he was appointed director of the Stewardship Department of the former East Brazil Union Conference. He moved to the city of Niterói in the state of Rio de Janeiro and stayed there until 1973.²² In 1974 he was elected president of the former Minas Gerais Mission.²³ Between 1974 and 1975 he worked as director of the departments of Stewardship, Public Relations, and Temperance.²⁴ He held that that position for nearly ten years²⁵ and, in 1983, he was appointed director of the office responsible for food companies operated by the South American Division, where he remained until 1988.²⁶

In 1989 he was invited to be director of the Stewardship Department of the Central Brazil Union Conference, in the city of Artur Nogueira, São Paulo. He stayed there until 1990.²⁷ In 1991 he was elected president of the Paulista Leste Conference, where he stayed until 2001.²⁸ The following year the São Paulo Paraiba Valley Mission was organized and he was invited to be the first president. He continued in this position until the end of his active ministry.²⁹

Paulo retired in July 2006 after nearly 44 years of service to the Adventist church.³⁰ In the years following retirement, he faced some cardiac problems,³¹ but he still responded to invitations to preach and lecture when he could.³² He died of pneumonia at the age of 80 on April 2, 2015, in the city of São José dos Campos, state of São Paulo. He was buried in the city of São Paulo.³³ He made a significant contribution to Adventist organizations in the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Minas Gerais, besides managing Adventist food companies for the South American Division.

Sources

Carlos Stabenow Family Data in the History of the Adventist Church in Espírito Santo. In: Collection of the National Center of Adventist History/Ellen G. White Research Center: UNASP-EC, Engenheiro Coelho, SP. Shelf 2. Rack 14. Folder Stabenow, “Carl Herman Franz.” Accessed October 24, 2017.

“Cinco Templos São Inaugurados na APL – Penha.” Revista Adventista, year 86, n. 1, January 1990, 20.

“Holdina Stabenow Marrochi Kloss.” Revista Adventista, year 108, n. 1269, February 2014, 41.

Hothon, Mairon. “Nota de falecimento-Pr. Paulo Stabenow.” Notícias Adventistas, April 2, 2015, accessed October 18, 2017, http://noticias.adventistas.org/pt/noticia/institucional/nota-de-falecimento-pr-paulo-stabenow/.

“Lídia Augusta Luiza Stabenow Kloss.” Revista Adventista, year 93, n. 1, January 1997, 30.

Monteiro, Maria Eliana. “MPV Organiza seu 1° Encontro de Adolescentes,” Revista Adventista, year 100, n. 11, November 2005, 35.

“Paulo Stabenow.” Revista Adventista, year 110, n. 1297, May 2015, 32. Rodolfo Belz. “Nótulas do Este – Inauguração.” Revista Adventista, year 61, n. 61, June 1966, 29.

Paulo Stabenow’s Theology University Degree. In: Collection of the National Center of Adventist History/Ellen G. White Research Center: UNASP-EC, Engenheiro Coelho, SP. Shelf 11. Rack 23. Accessed October 24, 2017.

Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook. Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, various years.

Stabnov, Paulo. “Breve relato de minha vida.” In: Minha vida de pastor: cinquenta e três pastores jubilados falam de sua vida e de seu ministério, edited by Tercio Sarli, 397-403. Campinas, São Paulo: Certeza Editorial, 2007

Notes

1. Paulo Stabnov, “Breve relato de minha vida,” in: Minha vida de pastor: cinquenta e três pastores jubilados falam de sua vida e de seu ministério, ed. Tercio Sarli (Campinas, São Paulo: Certeza Editorial, 2007), 397.↩

2. Zeferino Stabenow, interviewed by Maria Júlia A. P. dos Santos, Ellen G. White Research Center, Engenheiro Coelho-SP, October 3, 2016.↩

3. Carlos Stabenow Family Data in the History of the Adventist Church in Espírito Santo (Collection of the National Center of Adventist History/Ellen G. White Research Center), 1; Zeferino Stabenow, interviewed by Maria Júlia A. P. dos Santos, Ellen G. White Research Center, Engenheiro Coelho-SP, October 3, 2016; and “Lídia Augusta Luiza Stabenow Kloss,” Revista Adventista, year 93, n. 1, January 1997, 30.↩

4. Carlos Stabenow Family Data in the History of the Adventist Church in Espírito Santo (Collection of the National Center of Adventist History/Ellen G. White Research Center; UNASP-EC, Engenheiro Coelho, SP), 1; and Zeferino Stabenow, interviewed by Maria Júlia A. P. dos Santos, Ellen G. White Research Center, Engenheiro Coelho-SP, October 3, 2016.↩

5. Zeferino Stabenow, interviewed by Maria Júlia A. P. dos Santos, White Center, Engenheiro Coelho-SP, October 3, 2016; and “Holdina Stabenow Marrochi Kloss,” Revista Adventista, year 108, n. 1269, February 2014, 41.↩

6. Carlos Stabenow Family Data in the History of the Adventist Church in Espírito Santo (Collection of the National Center of Adventist History/Ellen G. White Research Center; UNASP-EC, Engenheiro Coelho, SP), 1; and Zeferino Stabenow, interviewed by Maria Júlia A. P. dos Santos, Ellen G. White Research Center, Engenheiro Coelho-SP, October 3, 2016.↩

7. Carlos Stabenow Family Data in the History of the Adventist Church in Espírito Santo (Collection of the National Center of Adventist History/Ellen G. White Research Center; UNASP-EC, Engenheiro Coelho, SP), 1; and Zeferino Stabenow, interviewed by Maria Júlia A. P. dos Santos, Ellen G. White Research Center, Engenheiro Coelho-SP, October 3, 2016.↩

8. Carlos Stabenow Family Data in the History of the Adventist Church in Espírito Santo (Collection of the National Center of Adventist History/Ellen G. White Research Center; UNASP-EC, Engenheiro Coelho, SP), 1; and Zeferino Stabenow, interviewed by Maria Júlia A. P. dos Santos, Ellen G. White Research Center, Engenheiro Coelho-SP, October 3, 2016.↩

9. Stabnov, 398, 400.↩

10. Iracilda Stabenow, interviewed by Maria Júlia A. P. dos Santos, Ellen G. White Research Center, Engenheiro Coelho-SP, October 13, 2016.↩

11. Stabnov, 399.↩

12. Iracilda Stabenow, interviewed by Maria Júlia A. P. dos Santos, Ellen G. White Research Center, Engenheiro Coelho-SP, October 13, 2016; and Paulo Stabenow’s Theology University Degree (Collection of the National Center of Adventist History/Ellen G. White Research Center: UNASP-EC, also known as Brazil College, Engenheiro Coelho, SP).↩

13. Iracilda Stabenow, interviewed by Maria Júlia A. P. dos Santos, Ellen G. White Research Center, Engenheiro Coelho-SP, October 13, 2016.↩

14. “Espírito Santo Conference,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1963), 181.↩

15. Monteiro, Maria Eliana, “MPV Organiza seu 1° Encontro de Adolescentes,” Revista Adventista, year 100, n. 11, November 2005, 35.↩

16. Iracilda Stabenow, interviewed by Maria Júlia A. P. dos Santos, Ellen G. White Research Center, Engenheiro Coelho-SP, October 13, 2016.↩

17. Stabnov, 399.↩

18. Belz, Rodolfo, “Nótulas do Este – Inauguração,” Revista Adventista, year 61, n. 61, June 1966, 29.↩

19. “Directory of workers,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1967), 679.↩

20. “Espírito Santo Conference,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1968), 202, 659; and “Espírito Santo Conference,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1970), 215, 702.↩

21. Iracilda Stabenow, interviewed by Maria Júlia A. P. dos Santos, Ellen G. White Research Center, Engenheiro Coelho-SP, October 13, 2016.↩

22. “East Brazil Union,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1971), 224, 715; and “East Brazil Union,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1973, 1974), 228, 655.↩

23. “Minas Mission,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1975), 234.↩

24. “Minas Mission,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1975), 234; and “Minas Mission,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1976), 250.↩

25. “Minas Mission,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1983), 293.↩

26. “South American Division-World Food Service,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1984), 17, 287; and “South American Division-World Food Service,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1989), 19, 247.↩

27. “Central Brazil Union Conference,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1990), 260; “Central Brazil Union Conference,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1991), 263; and “Cinco Templos São Inaugurados na APL – Penha,” Revista Adventista, year 86, n. 1, January 1990, 20.↩

28. “East São Paulo Conference,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1992), 269; and “East São Paulo Conference,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 2002), 267.↩

29. “São Paulo Paraiba Valley Mission,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 2003), 249; and “São Paulo Paraiba Valley Mission,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 2006), 250.↩

30. Stabnov, 401-402.↩

31. Mairon Hothon, “Nota de falecimento-Pr. Paulo Stabenow,” Notícias Adventistas, April 2, 2015, accessed October 18, 2017, http://noticias.adventistas.org/pt/noticia/institucional/nota-de-falecimento-pr-paulo-stabenow/.↩

32. Iracilda Stabenow, interviewed by Maria Júlia A. P. dos Santos, Ellen G. White Research Center, Engenheiro Coelho-SP, October 13, 2016.↩

33. Mairon Hothon, “Nota de falecimento-Pr. Paulo Stabenow,” Notícias Adventistas, April 2, 2015, accessed October 18, 2017, http://noticias.adventistas.org/pt/noticia/institucional/nota-de-falecimento-pr-paulo-stabenow/; and “Paulo Stabenow,” Revista Adventista, year 110, n. 1297, May 2015, 32.↩