IN MEMORY OF PASTOR ROOSEVELT: Soul Seekers Ministry will miss our friend, pastor and mentor. Pastor Roosevelt and Max had been making videos in the Kuna language to encourage and disciple the Kuna people wherever they are. Our trips will not be the same without him. His children and grand-kids want to continue in his work of "making disciples of all nations", Mathew 28:19. He was with Soul Seekers Ministry for about 15 years. This newsletter is a tribute to a man of God, his passion for God's word and his dedication to his family.
Pastor Roosevelt Arias
The last sermon Pastor Roosevelt preached at his church, Getsemani was titled: "THE POWER OF GOD IN YOUR WEAKNESS". He mentioned the following passage: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Amen!"
Pastor Roosevelt Arias Solano, was born on June 30, 1942 in Mulatupu in the Kuna Yala Island. He was a pastor, professor and missionary with 60 years of pastoral experience.
He married his beloved wife, Inés Iglesias de Arias, in 1973. They were married for 47 years. He had five children Ivan Roosvelt Arias Iglesias, Alex Claudio Arias Iglesias, Yanina Ines Arias Iglesias, Mayte Ivonne Arias Iglesias, and Telma Ramos. His grandchildren are: Caleb Alexis Arias Leon, Ann Loreine Arias Leon, Angel Yocceth Pinzon Arias, Yeshua Jacob Saucedo Arias, Nicole Victoria Arias Iglesias. His brothers are: Pedro Arias, Esther Arias, Reina Arias, Evidelia Arias and Raulino Arias. He was a great husband, father, uncle and brother.
He studied at the Universidad Católica He graduated from Cali Colombia with a
Santa María La Antigua in Panama. He Degree in Theology. His first experience in
was a professor of Religion and music in the Pastoral Ministry was at First Baptist Kuna
the Ustupu region of Kuna Yala. He had Church in the city of Colon. He was also a
45 years of experience in education. professor at the Baptist Theological Seminary of Panama.
- 2000-2004: He was pastor of the Ikusa Mission in Parque Lefevre in Panama City.
- 2006-2020: He helped start a church in a community in the Bayano area in conjunction with Soul Seekers Ministry and with some members of the Ikusa Mission. From there the Foundation of Hermosos Pasos (Beautiful Feet) was formed. Working with SSM and Hermosos Pasos, he helped plant churches in Diwarsikua, Puerto Gavilana (Ibesuit), and Urgandi in
the Kuna Yala region with support of local the churches Bethel and Getsemani.
Even in his last years of life, he had never stopped doing God's work. His last mission trip was in Feburary to the village, Puerto Gavilana. There he and his church helped reinforce the church Ibesuit in evangelism and VBS.
- 2012 - 2020: He was a professor at the Theological Training Center for
Evangelization. (C.E.T.E.M.). He taught Greek, Apologetic,
History of the Church in Latin America, Ecclesiastical Administration, and Ethics
Pastoral.
He also attended the Baptist Institute of - 2017: He was a professor at the Biblical
the Americas and the Caribbean. (I.B.A.C) Institute of Christian Education (IBEC) and
taught Old Testament, Church History and Ethics.
His wife, Ines, has been in the hospital for about a month, fighting, grieving, and missing her family One of the text she sent while she has been in the hospital says "...God will give me the strength that I need. My God is wonderful". Please keep her and her family in your prayers. May His will be done.
