View the special edition of TEXTalk with Elton DeMoraes, Kenn Dixon, Paulo Tenorio and Christian Ponciano as they discuss these changes.
Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, the third-largest conference in the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists, announced the appointment of Christian Ponciano as its new Youth & Club Ministries director, effective Dec. 1, 2022. Ponciano will succeed Paulo Tenorio, who is transitioning from his role as Texas Conference Youth & Club Ministries director to another ministry opportunity that will be shared in the coming weeks. They will be co-directors for a few months until the transition is finalized.
“The Texas Conference will always hold a special place in my heart,” Tenorio shared. “Texas is home for me and my family, which makes this decision even harder. It is where I started my pastoral ministry and where our two daughters were born. My wife, Ana, and I followed the Lord’s leading when we moved to Texas 11 years ago, and we’ll continue to follow His leading with our next adventure.”
Reflecting on his seven years in the Texas Conference office, Tenorio said, “I am still in awe that, at 29 years of age, I was given the opportunity to serve the youth of Texas. Gary Blanchard [previous Texas Conference Youth & Club Ministries director] gave me a chance very few get. What we accomplished has only been by the grace of God, the tremendous work by countless volunteers and club ministries leaders and my wonderful wife. Ana was instrumental in helping the team plan the camporee events, summer camps and Engage conferences. I will forever be grateful for the support from the Texas Conference administrators, including Carlos Craig and Elton DeMoraes, as well as Iris Escobar [administrative assistant for Texas Conference Youth & Club Ministries], who is a key component in making the youth department successful.”
“Paulo and Ana have been a wonderful ministry team in the Texas Conference,” Elton DeMoraes, Texas Conference president, shared. “Their creativity and love for young people and sharing the gospel has inspired them to create many resources, including a Master Guide binder, GLOW tracts to promote Adventurers, Pathfinders and Master Guides, the Bible Challenge to encourage young people to read the Bible each day and many more innovative resources. They even coordinated the largest online camporee, iCamporee, when everything had to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We wish Paulo and Ana well as they follow the Lord’s leading and know God will continue to bless them and use them to further His work.”
Visit TXYouth.org or Young Texas Adventist on Facebook or TXYouth on Instagram or YouTube to view the many photos, videos and resources.
“Many people refer to young people as the future of the church,” DeMoraes added. “In the Texas Conference, our youth and club ministries are an active part of our churches now. We are grateful for the work Paulo accomplished in the Texas Conference and appreciate his willingness to work with Pastor Christian Ponciano as he transitions to this new role. In addition to his pastoral responsibilities, Christian served as the area youth director for Rio Grande Valley in south Texas from 2017 to 2020, so he is no stranger to youth ministries.”
Ponciano joined the Texas Conference family in June 2016 as an associate youth pastor for the McAllen Spanish Valley Central Seventh-day Adventist Church following his graduation from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Mich. There, he completed his Master of Divinity with an emphasis in youth ministry.
Ordained into the gospel ministry in 2019, Ponciano transitioned to the Austin South, Bastrop and La Grange Seventh-day Adventist Church district in August 2020 as lead pastor.
Ponciano and his wife, Marileny Segura, have two children.
Texas Conference Executive Committee members voted the appointment during their final meeting for the year on Dec. 1, 2022. Tenorio’s transition time has not been finalized.
Thank you for keeping the Tenorio and Ponciano families in your prayers as they follow the Lord’s leading.
–Tamara Michalenko Terry is an associate director for Communication & Public Relations for the Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
