Pastor Max Elvira Retires to Focus More on Ministry

Throughout Pastor Max Elvira’s career, his passion for evangelism radiated at every step. He accepted God’s call to pastorship in 2013, but served as a lay worker for many years before that. Now, after more than a decade at the Oklahoma Conference, Max retires from ministry in order to focus more on… ministry!

“The main purpose of my retirement is to continue doing evangelistic work,” says Max. “I don't feel sick or as if I can’t do anything. That’s why I am retiring now, to do what I love the most – to do evangelistic campaigns, and to plant new churches wherever we go.”

Max never wanted to become a pastor, but not because he feared serving God. In fact, his entire career centered around ministry. Max first began lay work in 1995 at a mission for the Oaxaca Conference in Mexico. He also worked at Universidad Linda Vista, an Adventist University in Chiapas, Mexico. Then in Oaxaca, he worked as President of Youth for a duration.

Serving God through lay work energized Max. Despite this, Max did not believe himself good enough to be given the title of pastor.

“I loved to do many things for God: evangelistic campaigns and many other types of service,” said Max. “But, the concept of being a pastor was something I considered to be too high. I thought I was not able to do it.”

Then, in 2013, Max received a phone call from Pastor Ciro Castillo, the Spanish Ministry Coordinator for the Oklahoma Conference at that time. He invited Max to serve God as a pastor in the Oklahoma Conference. This came at a spiritual crossroads for Max. At the time, another ministry position lay on the table – not a pastoral job, but a different type of ministry work. Something did not feel right, though.

Those that wanted to hire Max did not keep certain promises. As a result, he felt worried and uncertain. So, Max turned to God in prayer.

“I was in a spiritual depression,” said Max. “After praying for about one-and-a-half hours, I received a call to work for the Oklahoma Conference.”

This clear answer to prayer called Max out of lay work and into full-time pastorship.

“The most important thing one can do is to serve God,” said Max. “Serve the church. Serve people. Pastoring is not a job that you pray for. It’s a job you do because you love to serve others. It’s a call from God.”

Max currently lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but not for much longer. He plans to move back to Guatemala, his birth country. There, Max will serve in whatever capacity God requires.

“I can see myself in retirement training members of the church,” said Max. “Teaching others how to do evangelism and plant churches. I want to go back to Guatemala and help pastors over there. By God’s will, we plan to keep working for Christ.”

Thank you to Pastor Max Elvira for accepting God’s call to serve in the Oklahoma Conference! Whatever lies ahead in retirement, God will surely work through Max’s eager missionary spirit.