Samuel Mwebaza, Director
East Central Africa Division
Pr. Mwebaza Samuel is the firstborn child in the family of Mr. George William Ssekulya and Ruth Musoke Ssekulya. He originates from Uganda. He is married to Lydia Kisakye Mwebazaand together they have three children two girls, Lisa Nakiregga, Lesley Nanyonjo, and one son Lemuel Paul Zziwa.
Mwebaza is very passionate about empowering young people with Leadership skills that will equip them to be zealous for God’s work and prepare many for the soon return of our risen Lord. Prior to joining the East-Central Africa Division Youth and Campus Ministries leadership, he had the privilege of spending his longer years of service working with the young people in his country Uganda as a Youth and Public Campus Ministries director and served as a Union Communications director. He has served as a District pastor in several places and as a Chaplain in Colleges. Has also served as a Field President for at least seven years.
Mwebaza graduated from Bugema University in Uganda with a Bachelor of Theology degree. He then graduated with a Master of Arts degree in Leadership from the Adventist University of Africa, Nairobi, Kenya in 2009. Currently, he is pursuing a Doctoral of Philosophy degree at the Adventist University of Africa. He is inspired by the words of Apostle Paul in Ephesians 3:17–18. “Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.”
Pr. Mwebaza is a lover of Christian music, enjoys gardening, traveling, and adventuring
Roman M. Chisakov, Director
Euro-Asia Division
Roman M. Chisakov was born on November 30, 1984, in the south of Moldova. Together with his wife Tatiana, he is raising three daughters: Vlada, Eva, and Eliana. After graduating from the Theological Institute in Romania, he began his active pastoral ministry, continuing his studies in the master’s (2012) and doctoral programs (2020). Roman values education and the Church, and believes that the Adventist worldview is a vector of hope intended by God for modern man.
Jonatan Tejel, Director
Inter-European Division
Jonatán Tejel Subirada was the 7th Pathfinder Director of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist Church. The son of Andrés and Josefina Tejel, Jonatan is use to changes. As is common for many PKs (pastor’s kid), the family frequently moved until they settled in Madrid, Spain, where he spent his adolescent years.
He was baptized by his father, Pastor Andrés Tejel, on December 26, 1981. In 1990 he began his studies in Theology at Sagunto Adventist College. He attended that institution for the first three years, and then moved on to Collonges (France) where he completed his degree in Theology in 1995. In 1992 he obtained an Official Certificate as Free Time Activity Coordinator, a title that is only granted by the Department of Education of the Spanish Government. He is married to the former Daniela Sciarabba. They are the parents of two daughters, Astrid and Édera.
Jonatán now serves as the Youth Ministries Director of the Inter-European Division.
Al Powell, Director
Inter-America Division
Pastor Al Powell was elected to serve as the Youth Ministries Director of the Inter-America Division of Seventh-Day Adventists on July 9, 2015. Pastor Powell will now be responsible for supervising the youth activities of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in the 42 countries that comprise the Inter-American Division, which has 3.7 million members. Pastor Al Powell was born in the beautiful Cayman Islands. He is a third generation Seventh-Day Adventist. He has been married for over 20 happy years to nurse and teacher, the former Zoraida Giraldo, who greatly supports his ministry, especially in the areas of health and evangelism. The Lord has blessed this union with two sons, Daniel and Felipe.
Pastor Powell attended Northern Caribbean University located in Mandeville, Jamaica for three years and studied Business Administration. However, he responded to the call of gospel ministry and shortly after transferred to the Central American Adventist University located in Alajuela, Costa Rica. There he learned Spanish and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theology. He went on to earn an MBA with an emphasis in Leadership from the University of Liverpool in England. He is currently a candidate for the Master’s in Science Degree with an emphasis in Family Therapy from the Adventist University in Peru.
Tracy Wood, Director
North American Division
Pastor Tracy has a passion for helping young people become leaders for Jesus. Over the years he has served as a pastor, a lay-youth leader, a conference youth and young adult ministries director. He now serves as an Associate Director for Youth & Young Adult Ministries, Public Campus Ministries, and Teen Leadership Training at the North American Division. Pastor Tracy is married to Angelina and they have young adult children with grandchildren.
Armando Miranda, Associate Director
North American Division
Armando Miranda Jr comes from a ministerial home where He learned to love ministry in all its ways. He graduated from Southwestern Adventist University with a BA in Theology. He received a Master’s degree in Divinity from Andrews University in 2007. He worked as a youth pastor, senior pastor and Conference Club ministries leader in Texas before being called to the North American Division to serve as associate youth director. He is happily married and has 3 beautiful children.
Vandeon Griffin, Associate Director
North American Division
Pastor Vandeon Griffin was born in Greenville, MS. Pastor Griffin served as the Youth Pastor of the Ephesus SDA church in Greenville, MS for 4 years afterwards he was extended an invitation to serve as a pastoral intern at the NEW LIFE SDA church in Chattanooga, TN. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theology from Oakwood University in May of 2001.
Pastor Griffin was extended a call to the South Central Conference in May of 2001 upon graduation at Oakwood College. He matriculated to Andrews University Theological Seminary of Seventh-day Adventist by way of Berrien Springs, MI where he completed the requirements for the Masters of Divinity degree in July 2003.
Pastor Griffin served as a Pastoral intern while at Andrews University at the Highland Ave. SDA Church, Benton Harbor, MI. Upon completion of Andrews University, Pastor Griffin was assigned to the Ebenezer & Mt. Olive SDA Churches in Gadsden & Anniston, AL.
Pastor Griffin served as the Youth Director of South Central Conference for 10 years and President of BAYDA (Black Adventist Youth Director Association) for 7 years. He also served as the Director of Sabbath School/Personal Ministry and Prison Ministry of South Central Conference.
Currently, Pastor Griffin serves as the Associate Youth/Young Adult Director of the North American Division—Columbia, MD. He covets the prayers of the saints in this new assignment.
He has not made this journey in life by himself; he is married to the former Kimberly Tinson, who is an accounting graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS. The Griffin’s love for each other can be seen through the eyes of their precious angel Kalin K. Griffin.
Pastor Griffin has a passion to see people on fire for the Lord, doing what he has called us all to do “be a witness unto all nations and then shall the end come Matt. 24:14.”
HoYoung Choi , Director
Northern Asia-Pacific Division
HoYoung Choi started his ministry in 1995 at the Middle West Korean Conference in Korea where he pastored several churches. He also served as Middle West Korean Conference Youth Director, then Director of National Service Organization, and Director of Spirit of Prophecy over two sessions, from 2007-2011. After that he served at the Korean Union Conference as Youth Director for four years. He is married Myung Hwa Cho and they have two sons, Yire and Yisaem. He currently runs the YouTube ministry channel, Covenant Keepers. He is a minister who loves the Word of God and is known for having long studies and deep insight into the Covenant. In particular, he influences many Adventist youth in Korea through various ministries of the Word, such as the Bible Reading camps that he developed and operated.
Carlos Campitelli, Director
South American Division
Pastor Carlos Campitelli was born in Paraná, Entre Ríos, Argentina. He studied at the Adventist University of Plata, where he graduated in Pastoral Theology, Religious Education and Social Assistance.
In 2010, he graduated in the Master in Pastoral Theology from the Adventist Faculty of Bahia. In 2016 he obtained the Master’s in Leadership from Andrews University. He is married to Lislei Freire, a native of Brazil, a graduate in Psychology and Music from Adventista do Plata University.
Carlos began his pastoral ministry in Barreirinhas, Maranhão, Brazil. He was then transferred to the capital, São Luís do Maranhão, where he also worked as a district pastor. In the same field, he was called to be director of the YouthMinistry of the Maranhense Association. Subsequently, he was called to be director of the Youth Ministry of the Western Amazon Association. He then worked as director of the Youth Ministry of the Northeast Brazilian Union and the Argentine Union. Campitelli is currently the director of the Youth, Music and University Ministry of the South American Division.
| Facebook: Carlos Campitelli Twitter: @prccampitelli Instagram: @carloscampitellioficial |
SAD – Social Media (Portuguese): fb.com/jovensadventistasbrasil instagram.com/jovensadventistasbrasil SAD – Biography (Portuguese): https://www.adventistas.org/pt/jovens/lideres/ |
SAD – Social Media (Spanish): fb.com/jovenesadventistasoficial instagram.com/joevensadventistasoficial SAD – Biography (Spanish): https://www.adventistas.org/es/jovenes/lideres/ |
Udolcy Zukowski, Director
South American Division
Udolcy Zukowski holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in theology from UNASP-EC and a master’s degree in leadership from UNASP/Andrews. He has been dedicated to working with Youth, Pathfinders and Adventurers since 1990. He was a department director at a Mission field and three Conference Unions. Since 2012 he has been serving as Pathfinder and Adventurer Director of the South American Division. He has been married to Sonia Zukowski for the past 34 years, and together they have a son, two daughters, and two grandchildren.
Department’s Social Media: @desbravadoresdsa @conquistadoresdsa
Persona Social Media: @udolcyzukowski
Nick Kross, Specialist
South Pacific Division
Dr. Nick Kross is the South Pacific Division Youth Specialist. He received his D Min from Fuller Theological Seminary. In ministry for 34 years with the last 26 years in youth ministry. He is the husband of Andrea Kross, and has three children, Nicholas and Caitlin are both in ministry, and Joshua who is currently studying Theology. Nick’s hobbies include surfing, mountain biking, and living a missional life with Christ and seeing souls saved.
Ron Genebago, Director
Southern Asia-Pacific Division
Dr. Ron M. Genebago, has served as an instructor at the Adventist University of the Philippines, a pastor, communication, and youth director in the Central Luzon Conference and North Philippine Union Conference. As of now, he is serving as the youth servant (director) of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division. He completed his PhD in Old Testament in AIIAS in May 2022, on “Malachi’s Use of Joel’s Day of the LORD.” He has also written a book on “Voice of Youth: Empowering the Youth for Evangelism.”
Benoy Tirkey, Director
Southern Asia Division
Benoy Daniel Tirkey, is an ordained minister of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, presently he is serving as a Youth Director for the Southern Asia Division. Prior to this, he has served as a principal in two different boarding schools at SUD. He loves to be with young people. His hobbies are reading, swimming, and exploring the jungle. He is happily married to Rushila and they are blessed with a daughter Sandhya and a son Bryan Nelson.
Ravindra Shankar, Public Campus Ministry Director
Southern Asia Division
Ravindra Shankar has a deep passion for the Lord and youth ministry. With 42 years of service in various capacities within the church, he now serves as the Public Campus Ministry Coordinator for the Southern Asia Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He holds a Master of Science (MSc), a Master of Education (M.Ed.), and an honorary Doctor of Letters (D. Lit). Ravindra is married to Deborah, who worked as an Assistant College Professor. Together, they have two adult sons, both of whom are computer engineers.
Irvine Gwatiringa, Director
Southern Africa-Idian Ocean Division
Pastor Irvine Gwatiringa is the 3rd Southern Africa-Idian Ocean Division Youth Director and he hails from Zimbabwe. Popularly known as Uncle Irvine, his passion is to empower young people and those who are young at heart to a loving and saving relationship with Christ as their personal Saviour. He is married to Auntie Slie and their union is blessed with two children Shekainah and Sheyna. Currently studying for a Doctoral program with Andrews University. He believes that Youths have an integral part in the gospel mission
Alfred Kwasi Asiem, Director
West Central Africa Division
Pastor Alfred Kwasi Asiem is an ordained minister of the gospel and a second-generation Seventh-day Adventist. He entered denominational service in 2001 as an Associate Church Pastor of the South West Ghana Conference. Two years later he was appointed as a District Pastor and an Associate Departmental Director for Youth in 2005. He was elected as the substantive Youth Director by the Conference in 2011, a position he held until he was called to serve in the Southern Ghana Union Conference in 2016.
Pastor Asiem for the past 7years served as the Youth, Adventist Possibility Ministries, and Music Director of the Union until June 2022 when he was elected to serve as the Youth Director of the West Central Africa Division.
Pastor Asiem has a BA in Religion from Valley View University, Accra, Ghana, an MA in Religion from AIIAS-Philippines and is currently a Doctoral student at the Adventist University of Africa (AUA) in Youth and Young Adult Ministry.
The native of Asanta in the Western region of Ghana is married to Esther Asiem and both are blessed with two daughters, Ellen, and Lois. I enjoy working with other youth leaders to find relevant ways to encourage and train youth as they help their local churches and the communities in which they live.
Ugochukwu Elems, Public Campus Ministry Director
West Central Africa Division
Ugochukwu Elems is an ordained minister of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. He brings experiences in youth leadership from Africa and North America where he has mentored and relish working with young people. Now serving as the Public Campus Ministries Director for West-Central Africa Division, he also serves as adjunct professor of leadership for Adventist University of Africa and Kenya and Universite Adventiste Cosendai in Cameroon. He is married to Ejiro Esther Elems (nee Kali) and blessed with two adult children and a teenager.
Ivan Romaniuk, Director
Ukraine Union Mission
Ivan Romaniuk was born on March 9, 1988, in the western part of Ukraine into a large family. His ministry journey began as a Bible worker with “Youth for Christ” from 2007 to 2010. He then served as a missionary with AFCOE from 2010 to 2012. In 2016, he entered the Theological Institute in Ukraine, where he pursued a bachelor’s degree. From 2016 to 2021, he was part of the HOPE Media Group, after which he served as an evangelist for the Ukrainian Union Church from 2021 to 2023. In 2023, he became the director of youth ministry in Ukraine. Ivan is married to his wife, Viktoriia. As a youth leader, his mission is to guide young people back to the foundations of faith through a deep study of scripture, prayer, sanctification by the Holy Spirit, and active evangelism.
James Tham, Director
Chinese Union Mission
Pastor James Tham is a Singaporean who has served in four countries across three continents. He graduated with a Master of Divinity at Andrews University in 2013 and is pursuing a Doctorate of Ministry in Contextual Leadership. James served as the Pastor of the SDACC in Singapore for ten years and was the Youth Director and Young Adults Director of the Singapore Conference before being called to the Chinese Union Mission. James believes that empowering young people is the best way to reach out to them and positively impact their lives.
