After extensive examination by church leadership and the pastors’ congregations, the following individuals were approved for ordination by the Lake Union executive committee in 2024, as confirmation of God’s calling in these pastors’ lives.
Anthony Nix pastors the Anderson Seventh-day Adventist Church. He graduated from Southern Adventist University with a bachelor's degree in religious studies. Among his pastoral achievements are hosting evangelistic series; serving as class instructor at Indiana Academy; leading a youth rally; and sitting on the Indiana Conference K-12 education board.
Sam Ngala pastors the district for Bloomington, Ellettsville, Martinsville, and Spencer, Indiana. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration, a master's degree in finance, and a MDiv from the Seventh-day Theological Seminary at Andrews University. Among his pastoral achievements is launching the Hope Adventist Church plant in Indianapolis in 2010. This plant became a church which helped to launch the Indiana Mizo church plant in 2012 and the Indianapolis Zomi church plant in 2016. Both church plants were recognized as churches.
Thomas Clark pastors the Columbus, Indiana district. He graduated from Western Governors University with a degree in Business Management and currently is in the Master of Arts for Pastoral Ministry program at Andrews University. Among his pastoral achievements: Assisting in starting a Spanish church plant in Seymour, Indiana, in 2020, and playing a key role in opening Maple Creek Adventist Academy in 2021, where his involvement continues.
For Felipe Soares, the call to ministry was something he resisted for many years. Growing up in a small church of 30 people in Long Island, New York, Soares loved serving his local church but struggled to believe that God could use him in full-time ministry. It wasn’t until he faced a crisis at the age of 20 that God used his former boss to challenge him. In an unexpected moment, his boss spoke words of encouragement, seeing in Felipe a potential for ministry that Felipe himself had not yet recognized.
Soares received a bachelor’s degree in theology and a Bachelor of Science degree from Washington Adventist University. He completed his MDiv at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University. He currently serves as associate pastor at the North Shore Church, as well as acting chaplain of North Shore Adventist Academy. He is married to Sarah.
Rodney Balmes journey into pastoral ministry began with a realization that he was more naturally interested in the church and theology than his chosen field of study. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in theology from Southern Adventist University and an MDiv from the Seventh-day Theological Seminary at Andrews University. Balmes serves as a pastor at the Hinsdale Fil-Am Church and is married to Gelline.
Paul Retemiah pastors the Muskegon Hts. Wood Street and Idlewild Churches in Michigan. He graduated from Andrews University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and religion. Among his pastoral achievements are: chaplain resident at the Emory Hospital in Decatur, Georgia; discipleship leader, Bible worker and mentor at the All Nations Church in Berrien Springs, Michigan. He previously served the Snellville Church in Snellville, Georgia. He has shown expertise in patient and spiritual care, evangelism and community outreach, and as a substitute teacher. Retemiah is married to Abena.
Rohan Barnwell pastors the Chicago Morgan Park and Gary All Nations Churches. A St. Vincent native, he graduated Atlantic Union College with a bachelor’s degree in theology and religion. Among his pastoral achievements are family enrichment, marriage officiant, Christian chaplaincy, and clinical pastoral education.
Ruddy Arnoldo Caldera Gutierrez serves as the district pastor for Grand Rapids, Michigan. He graduated from the Cuba Adventist Theological Seminary (SETAC) with a bachelor’s degree in theology. Among his pastoral achievements are his training in the International Rescue and Relief Jungle and Island Survival and his accomplishment as Master Guide Instructor. He previously served as pastor to the East Mediterranean Region, Jordan, and chaplain at the Primacy Collegiate Academy in Taiwan. Caldera is married to Analierh.
Giancarlo de Miranda pastors the Warren Seventh-day Adventist Church. Under God’s direction, they have been able to help the Warren Church to experience revitalization. He graduated from Hartland College with a bachelor’s degree in pastoral evangelism and from Andrews University with a Master of Arts in pastoral ministry. Among his pastoral achievements are establishing a missionary training school in Brazil, plus preparing several students to serve the Adventist Church as pastors and Bible workers. He is married to Tatiana, and they have two daughters, Sofia Ellen and Giulia Isabel.
Paul Ratsara pastors the Buchanan and Chikaming churches. He graduated from Asia Pacific University with a bachelor’s degree in applied theology and from Andrews University with an MDiv. Among his pastoral achievements: seeing 16 youth baptized in 2011 at South Africa’s Eesterust church; helping to reopen the Alpena School in Northern Michigan. Ratsara is married to Anouchka and together they have enjoyed working with multi-cultural communities and seeing the life-changing power of the gospel.
Carlton Mouzon pastors three churches and one church plant in Lena, Wisconsin. He graduated from Southern Adventist University with a bachelor's degree in theology and biblical languages.
Among his pastoral achievements is successfully shifting the church culture toward evangelism by initiating small group Bible studies with members and non-members; establishing youth and young adult ministries. Mouzon previously served as leader and lay pastor in the South Atlantic Conference, outreach coordinator and pastoral assistant in the Upper Columbia Conference and ministerial extern in the Georgia-Cumberland Conference.
