Important Analysis on God’s Plan regarding the Twelfth Apostle Was Presented Yesterday by the GC President at the IMS

A very important Christian analysis was presented in Spanish by Pastor Tzvetan Petkov, General Conference President at the IMS, yesterday, on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, on God’s plan and choice regarding the twelfth apostle during the traditional Q&A session at the IMS which was published via YouTube as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHVjbXSrWpo. Pastor Humberto Avellaneda, General Conference Vice President at the IMS, was the moderator of the the event.
Pastor Tzvetan Petkov underlined the biblical truth that the election of Matthias, the twelfth apostle, by God via casting lots through the eleven faithful apostles after the death of Judas Iscariot was the real fulfillment of God’s will (Acts 1:26) and this practice was a way to ask for God’s revelation and guidance (Jonah 1:7) at that time. In this context, Pastor Tzvetan Petkov specified that the brethren in the church today should not distribute the unconfirmed opinion that Paul were the twelfth apostle elected instead of Judas Iscariot. On the other hand, Pastor Tzvetan Petkov mentioned the selection, the voting (Acts 6:3) as the second method of revealing God’s will in God’s church. In addition, Pastor Petkov explained that casting lots were a variation of voting under the guidance of the Holy Spirit as well, and the voting at the church world assembly today should be considered not as a political democratic, but as a theocratic rule in God’s church.
Earlier, on September 8, 2025, Pastor Tzvetan Petkov presented in English also the lecture “Plan Your Life” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN56pcRNG98) during the Q&A session about the essential importance of planning as a part of God’s will for us, according to Luke 14:28. Pastor Douglas Francis, Counselor of the General Conference President at the IMS, was the moderator of the event. Pastor Tzvetan Petkov emphasized that the honest self-assessment was the first step of the planning, while creating a vision should be considered as the second step. Furthermore, prioritizing the achievements, as well as the evaluation of the time (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8), place and resources, setting daily goals and adjustment of the plan (1 Samuel 17:38-40) were underlined as the next aspects of successful planning, progressing and letting the personal dreams come true.

Written by Margarit Zhekov

Pastor Humberto Avellaneda and Pastor Tzvetan Petkov during the Q&A session.