Satuday, May 23rd, 2009 at 10:00 AM at the Iglesia de Jesucristo Fuente de Amor, located in the 27 de febrero con Carmen Mendoza de Cornielle, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; the official launching of the IRD as a reformed denomination took place.
The event started at 10 am with an opening prayer and the presentation of the agenda by Juan Cruz, who is the tresaurer assistant for the executive committee. After that the president for the executive committee Víctor Castro welcomed and presented the executive committee, RCA’s delegation, pastors, Church planters, members of the congregations as well as other guests.
Rev. Kenneth Bradsell Assistant Secretary, Director of Operations and Support continued with the first part of the BCO, the consistory, explaining its importancy and how it works.
Nelson Polanco Socio-community projects for the executeve committee received the letters from the pastors expressing their desires on being part of the IRD, each one of the pastors and Church planters came to the front by mentioning their names and they stood on their feet, once they were all at the front Andres Serrano & Brigido Cabrera initiated the first official ordination for the pastors and church planters of the IRD. In this activity 21 pastors with their churches were received and ordained as laypastors, 15 church planters with 7 mission fields were received and ordained as Church planters or laypastors as well. When the ordination of the pastors concluded Ruperto Beltre representant of the Southern Zone for the executive committee, who is also an ordained pastor during many years performed the ordination of 28 deacons and elders for the newly received churches. The ordinations were performed using the book of lithurgy of the RCA/IRD. In this historic day for the IRD/RCA 21 churches with their pastors, 15 church planters, 7 mission fields & 28 deacons and elders were ordained and received. A copy of the BCO and the confessions were given to each one of these leaders.
The secretary for the executive committee Yeral Ogando presented the first constitutional assembly of the IRD, celebrated on Saturday, May 23rd of 2009. Andres Serrano as one of the pioneers and visionary of the IRD officially welcomed the new members of the IRD with great joy and he shared a brief sermon of gratitude and reflection.
Kenneth Bradsell handled over a plate and a chalis to the president of the executive committee Victor Castro, used to present the holy supper. The sets were given as a symbol of partnership between the IRD/RCA. Juan Cruz introduced Frank Castillo as the newest IRD’s member for the executive committee and concluded the event with prayer.
After the conclusion of the event the secretary for the executive committee Yeral Ogando wrote down the names of the 25 people that were going to be baptized on that day. The IRD rented a bus to transport the baptizees. The group headed to the beach of Boca Chica where Andres Serrano, Brigido Cabrera, Kenneth Bradsell along with Yeral Ogando, Jorge Vasquez, Rirchard Valenzuela & Joaquin Concepcion performed the baptism of 24 kids from ages of 5 on and one adult “Only the IRD delegation baptized”. It’s been a super important event for the IRD/RCA; because it is not normal for Christian to baptize children in the Dominican Republic. This is a sign on how the IRD and its pastors are embracing the reformed theology and making it part of ourserves.
The activity was organized by Yeral Ogando; who also invited the Medias of the country. Channel 4 covered the IRD’s event and it is seen all over the island. Felix Caraballo as the IRD’s reporter personally handed over the note to be published to most of the newspapers. The potos were taken by Rachel Bradsell & Felix Caraballo.