A life of ministry, relief work and development
Jeff Kern
Adventist pastor, international humanitarian and planning & development professional.
Across three decades on five continents, Jeff has led churches, national relief agencies and university planning offices — consistently moving organizations toward sustainable management, measurable growth and clearer strategy. His work spans emergency response coordination, capacity building, communications and pastoral ministry.
He has served as Country Director for ADRA in Sudan, Brazil and Rwanda, directed planning and quality management at the Peruvian Union University, and been deployed as an Emergency Response Coordinator for the 2016 Ecuador earthquake and the 2017 Irma/Maria hurricanes in the British Virgin Islands.
Roles & assignments
Communications Director — Chesapeake Conference, Maryland
Leading communications strategy, media and storytelling for the Chesapeake Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
District Pastor — Chesapeake Conference, Maryland
Responsible for the Living Word Seventh-day Adventist Churches, leading that spiritual community to reach its full potential in order to fulfil its mission of inspiration, enlightenment and service.
District Pastor — Northern New England Conference, New Hampshire
Responsible for the district of Portsmouth and Nashua Seventh-day Adventist Churches, leading the churches to reach their evangelistic goals and individual spiritual growth.
Country Director — ADRA Sudan, Khartoum
Representative of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency in Sudan; responsible for setting the tone on the strategy and goals of the agency in the country.
Planning & Quality Management Director — Peruvian Union University, Lima
In charge of the Planning and Development Office — comprising the offices of expansion, processes and accreditation — responsible for elaborating and fostering the execution of annual plans and operational initiatives to accomplish the University's strategic objectives.
Country Director — ADRA Brasil, Brasília
Promoted ADRA's plan across the eight administrative unions of the Brazilian territory from the office of the South American Division, setting strategic goals and delivering them through 13 regional offices. Served on the Division's Emergency Response Team as Emergency Response Coordinator for the 2016 Ecuador earthquake and the 2017 Irma/Maria hurricanes in the British Virgin Islands. ADRA Brazil grew from a USD 12 million office to USD 18.5 million in managed funds per year during this period.
Country Director — ADRA Rwanda, Kigali
Set the strategic goals of the agency, realigned specific strategic areas and reorganized administration expenditure for sustainable management. Devised a capacity-building plan that sent 27 staff members to the Andrews IDP Program at once. Member of the Strategic Plan Committee and the Policy Committee of ADRA International in 2012. ADRA Rwanda grew from a USD 5 million office to USD 11 million in managed funds per year during this period.
Regional Director — ADRA Amazonas, Manaus
Reestablished ADRA activities in the Amazon Region of the Northern Brazil Union. Managed the reactivation of the “Luzeiro” medical boats project and construction of the “Luzeiro XXVI” boat, designed and implemented the “Sou Nota 10” project, and coordinated two emergency responses for the 2009 Amazon River floods.
Communications Director — Central Amazon Conference, Manaus
Established the first radio program for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Amazonas State of Brazil and coordinated the First Communication Symposium for the Northwestern Union Mission.
Pastor — Central Amazon Conference, Brazil
Coordinated the church districts of Manacapuru Liberdade and Lírio do Vale as church pastor, organized the churches of Caapiranga and Ariaú, and founded the “Alto da Esperança” company in Manaus.
Assistant Pastor — Glen Cove Spanish SDA Church, Glen Cove, New York
Responsible for the implementation of Bible study groups, member visits and support of the church's outreach and missionary programs.
Project Writer Consultant — ADRA Central Brazil Union, São Paulo, Brazil
Led a team of consultants, alongside the Programs Director, in preparing a capacity-building and empowerment project targeted at unoccupied members of the community, and presented the proposal to the project sponsor, the Secretaria de Trabalho do Estado de São Paulo.
Assistant Pastor — Glen Cove Spanish SDA Church, Glen Cove, New York
Responsible for the implementation of Bible study groups, member visits and support of the church's outreach and missionary programs.
Base Coordinator — ADRA Angola, Malange, Angola
Coordinated all ADRA activities for the Province of Malange. Established partnerships with UNICEF and UNFPA to rehabilitate health facilities in Cacuso, Lombe, Caculama and the Mission of Cuale, and reopened operations at the Mission of Cuale after 10 years of isolation and interruption due to civil war.