Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries Training Seminars NSD Territory
July 5 2009, NSD Territories, South Korea
Adventist Chaplaincy began a series of professional seminars in Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan. Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries of the Northern Asia-Pacific Division and the General Conference Chaplaincy Ministries team Dr. Mario Ceballos and Pastor Gary Councell arrived in Hong Kong to begin a series of presentations for campus ministries and spiritual pastoral care chaplains. 16 Chaplains met at the Chinese Union Mission office under the leadership of Pastor Daniel Jiao, CHUM ACM director.
Gary Councell began his presentation by giving a chaplaincy overview in which he defined chaplaincy as a ministry inside institutional settings that provides for religious needs and cares for the spiritual well-being of people associated with that institution, whether denominational or public.
Dr. Mario Ceballos gave a presentation on the Spiritual Master plan for Campus ministries. According to him, the campus chaplain is the main spiritual advisor for the leadership of the institution and one who is responsible to develop a spiritual master plan under the leadership of a principal, dean or president of the institution. The main core of values for a spiritual master plan includes doctrines, principles and values based on the Scriptures. In this context the mission of a spiritual master plan for campus ministries is creating the environment and opportunities for the students and school/college/university staff to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ and in support of the church.
Continuing with the seminars, the ACM team moved to Seoul, South Korea on June 23 to have a series of presentations related to campus ministries. The team arrived at Deer Mountain Retreat Center, a beautiful natural environment where 41 chaplains, mainly from schools, met for three days of intensive training. Pastor Hong Sung Sun, Korean Union Conference Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries Director, coordinated the event.
Dr. Miguel Luna made the introductory remarks during the meetings presenting a message found in Mark chapter 5 where a woman touched the cloth of Jesus and was healed. He stressed the opportunity to explore the needs of people regardless of their religious identity and offer them solutions and services.
Chaplain Gary Councell presented an overview of chaplaincy ministries and suggested that ministry is a service of discipleship, “Christ in you through the efficacy of the Holy Spirit to be and make disciples of Jesus Christ”. According to him a minister is a disciple of Jesus Christ called to be a spiritual, servant-leader and equipped by the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit to fulfill the calling. A Chaplain is a pastor with specialized preparation who is called to minister in specific organizational settings.
Coming to Tokyo, Japan on Friday June26 presented a very good opportunity to share the principles and values of Chaplaincy among faculty and students at Saniku Gakuin College. On Friday Evening Pastor Councell and Dr. Ceballos taught faculty and students the meaning of the holistic view of humanity in all dimensions of life such as physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, volitional and sexual. Students and faculty appreciated the ACM presentations very much. On Sabbath morning the three ACM directors visited Tachikawa church, Tokyo International church and Yokohama International church. Finally, on Sabbath afternoon Dr. Ceballos and Pastor Councell concluded the ACM seminars at Tokyo Central Church.
Pastor Gary Councell gives a presentation at
Tokyo Central Church 
