The Family Ministries Department of the South Atlantic Conference exists to nurture the spiritual, emotional, and relational health of families across Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Whether you are newly married, raising children, managing blended families, or navigating the later stages of life, our ministry provides Christ-centered support, tools, and inspiration to help your home become a haven of grace and growth.
In today’s rapidly changing culture, the family remains God’s original institution for discipleship, worship, healing, and mission. We believe that when families are strong, churches are powerful, and communities are transformed.
Learn more: www.adventistfamilyministries.com
Dr. Nathanael Gracia is a dynamic, Spirit-filled leader who currently serves as the Family Director for the South Atlantic Conference. He is a counseling psychologist with a master’s degree in Family Therapy and a Doctoral degree in Ministry with emphasis on gospel and culture.
Dr. Gracia is the host of a Family Show on 3ABN television. His leadership is marked by theological depth, clinical insight, and a heartfelt passion for restoring and revitalizing families. He is a member of the North American Division Men’s Ministries Advisory and the NAD Evangelism Council.
Dr. Gracia has faithfully shepherded 31 congregations across diverse cultural contexts. He previously served as VP or Director of the Ministerial Department for the North Jamaica Conference, where he distinguished himself as a visionary and impactful leader.
Fluent in three languages, including French, Dr. Gracia has traveled the globe as a guest speaker.
He is joyfully married to Farah Vanessa Sylvain-Gracia, a finance and quality management professional, and together they are the proud parents of two children, Nathan and Faraelle.
To help families establish strong spiritual foundations through prayer, Bible study, and active discipleship within the home.
To provide practical marriage enrichment through retreats, workshops, and counseling support, equipping couples to love faithfully and communicate deeply.
To support parents in raising children and teens with purpose, character, and spiritual strength amid modern challenges.
To uplift, include, and serve diverse family structures across ethnic, linguistic, and generational lines within our territory.
To integrate faith and psychological care in promoting healing for those experiencing grief, trauma, marital conflict, or anxiety.
To train and encourage men to lead with integrity at home, in the church, and in the community through dynamic men’s ministries.
To equip pastors, elders, and lay leaders with the tools and certification necessary to serve as Family Life coordinators in their congregations.
We are proud to host the Married Lovers Retreat, the longest-running, most consistent Adventist marriage retreat in North America. Couples from across the nation gather each year to be renewed, reconnected, and reignited in love. With powerful keynote speakers, intimate workshops, professional counseling, and elegant banquets, this event is a spiritual and emotional oasis for married couples of all ages and cultures.
For over 37 years, the Married Lovers Retreat has helped thousands of couples find healing, rekindle romance, and renew their covenant before God.
Register: https://register.adventsourceevents.org/MarriedLoversRetreat2026
· Attend one of our annual retreats or seminars
· Invite us to host a family weekend at your church
· Join our prayer wall and submit requests for your home
· Volunteer with a local Family Life ministry
· Download our resources to support your journey
—
📍 South Atlantic Conference – Family Ministries 👤 Dr. Nathanael Gracia, ngracia@sacsda.org 📞 404 792 0535 https://www.nadfamily.org/gc-family-ministries-2025-resource-book/
Generally, Dr. Gracia’s schedule is booked 12- months in advance. With 178 churches and companies throughout the South Atlantic Conference, we can’t visit each church. However, by visiting our calendar of events, you may be able to see if we will be speaking somewhere in your area. We also encourage you to invite other churches to your special events or plan area-wide programs so that a wider range of church families can benefit from your program. We offer 2 Family Ministry crusades per year to our churches. Signal us of your desire to host a family crusade at your church a year in advance.
Your church should have given you a description of the duties and responsibilities of the FM Coordinator (English or Spanish version). This document will get you on the road to developing a strong program for your church family. Also, you should purchase the Family Ministries Handbook: A complete how-to guide for local church leaders available from AdventSource (also available in Spanish).
We have listed books, articles, and links by subject under TOPICS. Also check out our RESOURCES section. Most of the Family Ministries resources our church publishes are available through AdventSource. They have a page dedicated to family ministries resources and you can order directly from their website.
We have compiled a Directory of Counselors across North America. You may also check with your local conference Director of Family Ministries to find out if there are any counselors in your area who may not be in our limited database.
Send the following to our office, in hard copy: copy of your professional license, your current résumé /curriculum vitae and one letter of recommendation from your local Seventh-day Adventist pastor. The letter of recommendation must be submitted on official letterhead.
The Family Ministries Curriculum for Local Church Leaders is designed to be a leadership tool to give understanding and skills in various areas related to Family Ministries. Conferences and/or Unions conduct Family Ministries Conventions to provide training for certification in Basic Family Ministries.
