Building A Leadership Team For SGC LATAM
An update from Joselo Mercado, Lead Pastor of Iglesia Gracia Soberana de Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA, and Key Leader into Sovereign Grace LATAM…
Dear Brothers & Sisters,
I would like to share a brief report from our recent gathering held in Panama City from October 7 to 10. The meeting brought together Jacobis Aldana from Colombia, Sergio Estéves from Costa Rica, and David Del Castillo from Bolivia. Our time together was fruitful and encouraging, marked by prayer, fellowship, and clear progress toward strengthening our collaborative work within SGC LATAM.
The main purpose of this meeting was to begin forming a small leadership team that can assist in decision-making for SGC churches in Latin America. We desire to develop a structure that helps promote unity, clarity, and shared vision across our region. Each brother brings valuable experience and represents key areas where SGC has growing partnerships and influence. Together, we agreed that establishing trusted points of contact in each country will be vital for communication, coordination, and mutual care among our churches.
Throughout our sessions, we discussed several strategic priorities. First, we agreed to hold a Pastors’ Retreat in July 2026, which will serve as a time for refreshment, training, and vision alignment. This retreat will also provide a setting for pastors and leaders from various countries to connect more deeply and cultivate relationships that strengthen gospel partnership. The team will begin developing plans for the retreat’s location, program, and participation in the coming months.
Second, we identified the need to develop a pastoral training curriculum that can be used in our different countries. The goal is not to create a formal seminary, but rather a flexible and reproducible resource that equips pastors and future leaders with sound doctrine, gospel-centered ministry principles, and pastoral wisdom. The team will explore how to contextualize existing SGC materials and integrate them into local church training efforts, ensuring that theological depth and practical ministry formation remain at the heart of the process.
Third, we considered ways to foster greater unity both nationally and regionally. We want to encourage each country to gather its SGC pastors and leaders regularly for prayer, fellowship, and joint initiatives. At the same time, we hope to see stronger collaboration between countries, sharing resources, visiting one another, and supporting new church plants and leadership development efforts. We recognize that unity will grow not only through structures but through relationships marked by humility, transparency, and love.
An important part of our time together was also personal and spiritual care. We shared openly about our joys and struggles in ministry, prayed for one another, and reflected on God’s grace in our lives. It was refreshing to experience genuine biblical fellowship, where brothers strengthen one another’s faith and encourage perseverance in the calling to serve Christ’s church. We came away deeply grateful for the friendships the Lord is forming among us and for the renewed sense of purpose to serve His mission in Latin America.
In addition to our meetings, we had the opportunity to visit the Panama Canal, which was both a cultural and symbolic reminder of how strategic Panama has been for global connection. In the same way, we pray that SGC LATAM can serve as a bridge of gospel partnership across nations, linking pastors, churches, and ministries that share the same passion for proclaiming Christ and planting healthy, gospel-centered churches.
We left Panama encouraged by God’s faithfulness and with a stronger conviction that this initiative is a timely step for the future of SGC in our region. Please continue to pray for Jacobis, Sergio, and David as they help lead this effort, and for me as I continue coordinating communication and next steps. Our next virtual follow-up meeting is being scheduled to define specific tasks and timelines for the retreat and curriculum project.
With gratitude for your partnership in the gospel,
Joselo Mercado
