Monte Sahlin, vice president for Creative Ministries at the Columbia Union today announced that he has accepted a call to serve as director of Research and Special Projects for the Ohio Conference. Sahlin, a pastor, author, administrator, and researcher, has served at the Union since 1998 and the Adventist Church for 35 years. “This affords me the opportunity to work at the grassroots level with pastors and churches that are actively seeking to find innovative ways to do the mission of Christ and impact their communities,” he said. To that end, he will train and coach bi-vocational pastors, lead pilot projects, develop research-based service endeavors, and help churches engage new generations, etc.

"We are thrilled to have a person of Monte's experience, knowledge, and capacities join us in our conference's journey toward excellence in ministry, mission, and spiritual development," said Ohio president Raj Attiken via telephone.

Dave Weigley, president of the Columbia Union, also expressed his appreciation for Sahlin: “Monte has served this Union well, and he will be missed,” he stated. “His legacy includes the metropolitan ministries initiatives that he has shepherded, the numerous surveys that help us measure ministry effectiveness, and the many, many projects, ideas, and visions he has helped bring to fruition.”

After 20 years away from ministry in Ohio, Sahlin will return in early 2007.

Ruben Ramos, Hispanic Ministries coordinator for the Potomac Conference, has accepted the call to serve as assistant to the president for Multilingual Ministries at the Columbia Union.

“The region in which we serve is very diverse with a burgeoning immigrant population,” says Dave Weigley, president of the Columbia Union. “We are uniquely poised for growth and evangelism, and Ruben’s ministry experience and passion for spreading the gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people will help us aggressively reach out to them.”

Ramos, who has served the Potomac Conference since 1995, will join the Union staff February 1, 2007.

Read more about both of these ministry leaders in your Visitor magazine.