Elden Ramirez

Elden Ramirez is an ordained minister who is currently serving as the Undersecretary of the North American Division of the General Conference. He is the officer responsible for the Secretariat functions that include general calls, interpreting, developing and revising church policy; Inter-division travel; and other administrative functions as assigned but the Executive Secretary.Prior to his current responsibility, he served as President of the Montana Conference in the North Pacific Union territory. He arrived to Montana after serving as Director of the Office of Volunteer Ministries for the North American Division. He was responsible for overseeing missions for the Adventist Church within this territory. He focused on connecting Seventh-day Adventist volunteers from throughout North America to mission opportunities around the world. He provided leadership to this ministry that serves as the processing center for over 70,000 volunteers serving in long-term and short-term mission assignments. 

Prior to overseeing missions for the Adventist Church in North America, he served as Assistant to the President of the Central California Conference, where he also served as Director of Youth Ministries and Executive Director for Camp Ministries. In the early 90’s, he worked as a young adult civic leader in the Criminal Justice Department at San Francisco City Hall, developing public policies for children and youth. He was part of a citywide leadership program that provided solutions to youth issues and worked with city gangs to stop youth violence. He also worked with “RAP” (Real Alternatives Program), a multi-service program for at-risk students integrating educational and recreational programs that served the San Francisco Mission District, providing youth counseling, orientation, and serving scores of young drug addicts.

While working with San Francisco City Hall, he was able to help his best friend find peace in Christ after a cousin’s murder. “It was the best thing I’d ever done,” he remembers. “I realized that everything I was doing for young people was worthless if I didn’t help them meet Jesus.” For this reason, he pursued his undergraduate education, completing a BA in Theology, and accepted the call to the gospel ministry in 1996. Later in 2004, he continued his education and attended The Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University, where he also had the privilege of serving as the President of the Andrews University Seminary Student Forum.

Elder Elden Ramirez began his pastoral ministry in Iowa-Missouri Conference when he accepted the call extended to him by Elder Bill Wampler, who was serving as conference president at that time. Throughout his ministry, he has served in 5 different states as academy chaplain, youth pastor, senior pastor, church planter, and departmental director in the areas of family life, camp ministries, health and temperance, national servicemen organization, and youth ministries. Pastor Elden’s wife, Jenny, is a registered nurse who has been his greatest supporter. She has been his right hand in ministry and continues to be an integral part in accomplishing the great commission. They have two daughters, Elennie and Jasmine, and together have an active family gospel ministry. His favorite scripture is Joshua 1:5, “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.”