It is a privilege to mark and honor the service of Elder James L. Lewis, who has worked as Director of the Office for Regional Conference Ministry (ORCM) for nearly 10 years, and Publisher for Regional Voice Magazine for eight years as well.
He prepared for his career by first earning a B.A. in Theology from Oakwood College, the Master of Divinity from Andrews Theological Seminary, and later a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He is also a Certified Public Accountant, and is working to complete a doctorate in Business Administration from Walden University.
Before his tenure at ORCM and Regional Voice, Elder Lewis worked in the Allegheny West Conference as a pastor, as Conference Treasurer and finally as the Conference President for nine years.
Joining him in his years of service is his wife of nearly 50 years, Mrs. Sharon Bradford Lewis, an educator, school principal, and college professor. They have one adult son. And now, at this juncture, Elder Lewis is leaving ORCM to launch what will certainly become a “working retirement.”
He is no stranger to multiple assignments. Concurrent with his responsibilities as ORCM Director, Elder Lewis has served as:
- Senior Pastor of the Gurley, Alabama, Seventh-day Adventist Church
- A member of the pastoral staff at the Mt. Calvary Seventh-day Adventist Church in Huntsville
- A professor in the Oakwood University School of Religion
- A planner and coordinator of the annual Pastoral Evangelism and Leadership Council (PELC) held at Oakwood University
- A designer of a series of workshops and seminars in financial management and personal and/or house hold budgets
- A designer of more specific workshops and seminars on debt reduction His specific responsibilities for Regional Voice Magazine have also included:
- Live coverage of several Regional events as a reporter
- Commentary and Editorials for the Regional Voice Publisher’s Page
- Producer of extensive statistical reports on church and conference evangelism and growth
- Coordinator of the first Regional Voice Magazine Summit, designed precisely for meetings among Regional Conference
- Communications Directors from across the North American Division and other Seventh-day Adventist professionals working in the media industry
Elder Lewis presided over many editorial planning sessions for this magazine, and for almost a decade, has brought steady support, ready humor and a willingness to take on a wide range of editorial and/or statistical assignments. Now he will have something of a luxury in choosing his own assignments from now on in this new phase of life. God bless you and yours, Elder Lewis.