Written by: Anaya Parker
Manuel Gomez has joined Southern Adventist University for the newly created role of Associate Chaplain for Worship and Discipleship.
Joseph Khabbaz, vice president of Spiritual Life and chaplain, shared details about the new position in an email to the Accent.
“Chaplain Gomez will play a pivotal role in providing discipleship coordination and leadership development, supporting our student leaders in planning and leading our two Vespers services, and initiating a missional student discipleship process for our campus,” Khabbaz stated.
Gomez and his wife, Bethzabe Gomez, relocated from Florida, where he had been serving as senior pastor of Revive Seventh-day Adventist Church. Born and raised in Cuba, he moved to the United States at 17 years old. His wife, also of Cuban descent, considers herself Puerto Rican since she spent much of her childhood there. She recently completed her psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner degree and is working on her Tennessee nursing certification.
“She is the best thing that ever happened to me,” Gomez said. “And I don’t know where I’d be without her; I’d probably be lost. But she’s my reason of existing as well; she’s amazing. My wife is intelligent, resilient, strong, and unbelievably beautiful.”
According to Gomez, they dated while he was attending Southern as a theology major, and she was pursuing her undergraduate degree in Puerto Rico. After graduating from Southern in 2014, he earned his master’s at Andrews University, and then he was assigned to pastor at his home church in Florida, Revive Seventh-day Adventist Church.
“I spent eight years of ministry there, three years and a half as an associate pastor and then, eventually, as lead pastor,” Gomez said. “It was heartbreaking leaving the church behind me. It was my first church. It’s my home church, the church where I got married. All of my family is there; my friends are there.”
Although Gomez loved his church, they felt called to return to Southern. According to Gomez, he and his wife used to joke that they would retire in Collegedale. However, he felt God brought him back to Collegedale sooner than he had planned.
“God just erased all of my plans and put me at the end of my plan. It’s just one of those moments that God told me, ‘Now you have to let me lead,’” Gomez said.
He said his time at Southern positively impacted him. He appreciated the camaraderie of dorm life and the community he found as a residential assistant and student dean. He also remembers how his professors provided him with spiritual and emotional support during a difficult time. Gomez sees college as an impactful time for students and desires to be a part of their journey.
“When we’re here during those years, we make some of the most significant decisions of our life,” said Gomez. “And if I can impact that generation in making those decisions, or helping mentor them to make those decisions and be a part of what God is doing, then I couldn’t say no to that.”
Gomez wasn’t scheduled to start working until Nov. 1, but he ended up speaking for convocation, on Oct. 31, which he described as one of the biggest crowds he’s ever spoken to.
“It was all kind of surreal, and I still can’t believe it, but I feel very grateful for the opportunity,” Gomez said “And I cannot wait to see what God is going to do in me and through me and in this stage of my life, this chapter of my life.”
Gomez is excited to start his time at Southern and be back in Collegedale. He is enjoying what he described as “perfect weather” in Collegedale. Helping people is a big priority to Gomez, and he hopes to be a coach and mentor who invests in discipleship with students.
“I truly feel that my calling in life is to help people take their next step in their life. I am a coach and a mentor at heart,” said Gomez.
Coming into this new position, Gomez said he is interested in seeing where God will lead.
“I’m really curious about the way that God is going to lead in the next few years. I’m really curious. I love to see everything that’s happening in the university,” Gomez said. “I’m coming to this position with a very hands-open approach, willing to receive whatever God has for me, because I have nothing else.”
Khabbaz said he is glad to have Gomez joining the Office of Ministry and Missions and believes Gohe will be a positive addition to campus.
“Transforming lives for eternity is at the heart of everything we do in the Office of Ministry and Missions,” Khabbaz stated. “I am confident that Manuel’s ministry will greatly enrich the spiritual life of our campus. I believe that both our employees and students will be inspired to grow closer to Jesus and be equipped for mission during their time here and after graduation.”
