Melvin S. Santos, D.Min., is the founder- speaker, and author of the Discipleship Master Plan Institute. Dr. Santos is the VP of Administration/ Executive Secretariat for the Kansas-Nebraska Conference. He previously served as the VP of Administration for the Alaska Conference, senior pastor of the Nashville First Seventh-day Adventist church in Nashville, Tennessee, and was the discipleship trainer for the Kentucky-Tennessee Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. He also served as the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists (NAD) Ministerial Field Liaison for discipleship education and training as well as the Liaison for the Asian/Pacific Islander pastors.
Committed to establishing discipleship-driven churches and maximizing every member’s ministry potential and effectiveness as lay ministers, he trains pastors and church leaders using the Discipleship Master Plan: A Disciple-making Strategy for Churches and Conferences.
He is a passionate discipleship educator, speaker, and advocate who is dedicated to soul-winning and has conducted numerous evangelistic meetings internationally. His past involves training seminary students for a variety of field schools of evangelism in North America and serving as a chaplain for the U.S. Army and the National Guard.
Jon Remitera was born in Agana Heights, Guam. His father served in the US Navy, so they moved around before finally settling in Orlando, FL. He was introduced, and captivated, by Jesus at a young age, through his upbringing – family worships, bible stories, and through the example of his parents. Those early years, coupled with the nurture that he received through the church, led Jon to accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Although he loved the church and enjoyed doing ministry, he never thought about becoming a pastor. Ever. Church members, mentors, friends and pastors over the course of his high school years, planted the seeds of pursuing pastoral ministry in his mind, and heart. Those seeds didn’t sprout until the college years where he was studying to become a medical doctor. Like many young people, he struggled with the direction, and calling. After much prayer, he was convicted to pursue pastoral ministry. That pursuit led him to transfer to Southern Adventist University, where he received his Bachelors in Theology. He served as an Assistant Chaplain for Campus Ministries, before receiving the call to serve in the Kentucky-Tennessee Conference. Jon attended the Andrews University Theological Seminary, where he received his Masters in Divinity, before coming to Nashville to serve as an Associate Pastor, at the Nashville First SDA Church. He helped plant a new church in Mt. Juliet, TN. He currently serves as the pastor of the Lake Cumberland District in Kentucky.
One of his favorite passages in scripture is found in 1 Timothy 1:9; “For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time – to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.”
Pastor Nelson Mercado has been serving in the KY-TN Conference since 2012. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theology and a Master of Ministry in Evangelism and Missions, both from Southern Adventist University. His first assignment was in the Murfreesboro/Tullahoma/Decherd Church district, where he served for six years.
Before becoming a pastor, he worked as a paramedic for the Philadelphia Fire Department for 11 years, serving in both paramedic and firefighter roles. He also spent four years working as a paramedic at Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga. Additionally, Pastor Mercado served in the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman.
Pastor Mercado currently serves as a chaplain for the Metro Nashville Police Department and Skyline Medical Center. He is the author of two books: "The Present Truth and the Three Angels' Messages" and "The Present Truth and the LGBTQ+ Movement: Understanding the Dangers of Affirmation While Acting Redemptively." Since 1990, he has been married to his high school sweetheart, Lucy. They have two children: Jean Luc, who is 32 years old and a Theology student at Southwestern Adventist University, and Ariana, who is 25 and a Registered Dietitian with Vanderbilt.
Pastor Mercado is passionate about evangelism and building relationships within the community.
