Several new employees will soon be joining the North American Division as those called to serve the church in certain positions move to new roles or retire.* In June 2021, three positions were voted: vice president for Multilingual Ministries, Professional Services director, and Adventist Community Services associate director. The NAD is pleased to welcome Minner Labrador Jr., Rohann Wellington, and Colette Newer.

Minner Labrador Jr.

Minner Labrador Jr., who starts in his new role as vice president for Multilingual Ministries on August 1, 2021, most recently served as president of the Upper Columbia Conference, in the North Pacific Union. He replaces Tony Anobile, who will serve as vice president for Church Ministries in the Southwestern Union.

Labrador has assisted the NAD in men’s ministries and, more recently, in the division’s mission and strategic development (2015-2018). In 2008 he founded and created of the men’s ministries television series “Old Man New Man,” which has been viewed around the world.

“Minner comes to us with a broad range of administrative experience and is known for his ability to bring people together from various backgrounds and viewpoints,” said G. Alexander Bryant, NAD president. “He has a passion for seeing people use their gifts for God.”

Labrador previously served in the Southwestern Union for seven years as vice president of ministries; ministerial secretary/director of ministerial, men’s ministries, and stewardship. Prior to his time in the Southwest, Labrador served in the Carolina Conference as men’s ministries director and senior pastor of the Sharon Church located in Charlotte, North Carolina. He also served in the Florida Conference as Men’s Ministries director and pastor.

While in Florida, Labrador hosted a daily radio talk show, “Divine Direction Live Radio,” in which he interviewed Christian NFL players, political leaders, Christian leaders, and authors on the subject of men’s ministries. In 2019 he received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the North American Division for his pioneering work in the area of men’s ministries.

“I look forward to joining President Alex Bryant and his administrative team in helping to prepare for the Lord’s soon return! May we pray with greater intensity than ever before,” Labrador said.

Labrador is a graduate of Southern Adventist University located in Collegedale, Tennessee; Andrews University located in Berrien Springs, Michigan; and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary located in Boston, Massachusetts. He completed his doctoral studies with a specialty in redemptive leadership and healthy organizational structures.

His wife, Evelyn, is a double major graduate with degrees in Criminal Justice and Spanish from LaSalle University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The couple have two sons, and two grandchildren.

Rohann Wellington

Rohann Wellington joins the NAD on July 1 as director of the newly-formed Professional Services department. He will manage a team of professionals — NAD employees who will shift to this department, or new hires from existing budgeted positions — including specialists in graphic design, digital marketing, social media, media services, web design, web maintenance, and newsletter content creation. This team will support the NAD ministries and services on a wide array of projects.

“Rohan is a creative, innovative, and committed servant leader. God has blessed him with immense talent and broad gifts — packaged in a pleasant and winning personality,” said Bryant. “We are pleased to have him join our team.”

Wellington leaves his position as English Ministries coordinator for the Greater New York Conference, where he has served since 2018. Additionally, Wellington has served as managing director (since 2008) for Atlantic Union Adventist Media ministries. He previously served as assistant to the president for strategic planning for the Greater New York Conference (2015-2018) and conference communication director (2010-2018).

Wellington has experience as live television director and audio/video/floor engineer for the Cable News Network (CNN) network of stations; as a television news reporter and videographer for Long Island News Tonight; and as a radio and television production engineer in the late 1990s.

In addition to his roles in communication, Wellington is a husband and father. He is a United States Air Force Reserve military chaplain, and has served as a pastor in several churches, most recently as senior pastor from 2008-2012 at the Berean Seventh-day Adventist Church in New York City. He has a bachelor’s degree in religion from Northern Caribbean University (formerly West Indies College) located in Mandeville, Jamaica; a Master of Arts in Communication (with distinction) from the New York Institute of Technology; and both a MAPMin in pastoral ministry and an Education DMin in organizational leadership from Andrews University.

“I am excited about supporting and collaborating with the administration, ministries, and services of the NAD in this new area of responsibility as we seek to fulfill the unique mission for this time,” Wellington said. “Our team remains committed to excellence and efficiency in all we do.”

Colette Newer

Colette Newer joins the division as NAD ACS associate director, a position previously held by current ACS director W. Derrick Lea. Since 2018, Newer has served as Outreach Ministries department director for the Washington Conference in the North Pacific Union, with a portfolio including Adventist Community Services and ACS Disaster Response (DR), Urban Ministries, and Prison Ministries. Before that, Newer served as associate director (2014-2018) and administrative assistant (2000-2014).

Newer is no stranger to the division. Since 2019, Newer has served on the NAD Adult Ministries committee and Prison Ministries subcommittee — including a position as re-entry curriculum development committee chair; and chair of the NAD ACS seed grant review committee.

“I am excited about the prospect of continuing to work with Colette as we build upon the strong foundation that has been laid,” Lea said. “Colette has been a part of ACS for several years, and I’ve been impressed with her wealth of knowledge as it relates to community service. We now have an opportunity to use her skill set to an even greater degree, and I can’t wait until she joins us in the near future.”

Newer holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a minor in environmental studies from Whitman College located in Walla Walla, Washington; and a master’s degree in administration: concentration in Household Financial Stability from Andrews University.

“I am honored to have been selected as the new associate director for Adventist Community Services,” shared Newer. “It has been a pleasure to serve the leaders and volunteers who are the humanitarian face of Jesus in our communities; I look forward to working with the NAD ACS team to continue building this vital ministry.”

* These types of transitions normally occur after the General Conference Session, when leaders move to other positions or retire, creating vacancies. With the postponement of the session, divisions were permitted to hold their elections and appointments in 2020-2021.