Inter-America: Church celebrates champion lay evangelists and long-active members

Manuel Nuñez champion layperson from West Venezuela shows his awards after being honored at the Inter-American Division Headquarters in Miami, Florida, May 25, 2013. Nuñez was among 22 outstanding laypersons recognized for their dedication and commitment in their respective church regions as Inter-America celebrates its Year of the Laity. Image by Libna Stevens/IAD

June 1, 2013 – Miami, Florida, United States…Libna Stevens/IAD

Pastor Israel Leito, president of the church in Inter-America, reassures champion laypersons, church leaders and online viewers on May 25, that Inter-America would not have a strong membership without the committed work of the laity. Image by Libna Stevens/IAD

Top Seventh-day Adventist leaders of the Inter-American Division (IAD) honored champion lay evangelists as well as the longest-active members from across the territory during a special ceremony last week at the IAD Headquarters Office in Miami, Florida. Hundreds of the executive committee members were present.

“Inter-America would not be Inter-America without its laypeople,” said Pastor Israel Leito, president of the church in Inter-America. Pastor Leito expressed appreciation to the notable lay persons representing more than 1.5 million laypeople across the territory watching the online streaming of the event.

“Your Division appreciates you and the work that you do in the fulfillment of the mission of the church,” said Pastor Leito. “You’re an integral part of this church and we thank you for partnering with our pastors together as teachers, professionals, nurses, doctors, and all who join to proclaim the Gospel.”

Twenty-two outstanding laypersons from each of the IAD’s church regions, or unions, were honored with a medal, trophy, evangelistic books and funds to use towards their evangelistic endeavors.

The special event sealed a two-day leadership training summit, and was part of a busy schedule of Year of the Laity festivities.

Pastor Israel Leito, IAD president, thanks Pastor Sergio Moctezuma (center) and wife Raquel during the online event for shaping thousands of laypersons throughout Inter-America during the several decades he served as personal ministries and Sabbath school director at the IAD Headquarters from 1970s to the 1990s. Image by Libna Stevens/IAD

Pastor Sergio Moctezuma, a retired personal ministries and Sabbath school director for the church in the IAD, was also recognized for shaping scores of laypersons for decades.

“The laity in Inter-America was formed by Pastor Moctezuma,” said Pastor Leito. “Because of his work and his wife allowing us to benefit from this giant of a leader, today we have one the of the strongest lay forces around the world church.”

Adventist World Church President Ted N.C. Wilson challenged the laity and top church leaders via a video conference to continue reaching urban areas.

“God calls us all to be evangelists as lay members,” said Pastor Wilson. “There are not limits to God’s work for you as a layperson, no limit to God’s saving power and what the Holy Spirit will do through you. We salute you and believe in you.”

Adventist World Church President Ted N.C. Wilson speaks during the special event via video conference. Pastor Wilson challenged laypeople and administrators to focus their evangelistic efforts on the urban areas in their territories.

Pastor Wilson encouraged leaders to let the Year of the Laity be a powerful opportunity to let God use them in every way possible.

Marva Farquharson was among the laypersons honored. She represents the Atlantic Caribbean Union territory comprised of The Bahamas, Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos.

For 36 years she has preached, trained, and shared Bible truths in New Providence and throughout dozens of islands in The Bahamas. When she’s not working as the human resources director for the Public Hospital Authority in The Bahamas, she uses her vacation time and own funds to work with leaders at the South Bahamas Conference in church planting, community outreach projects, youth training and reaching out to those in correctional facilities.

Lay evangelist Marva Farquaharson smiles after being awarded a special medal for being an outstanding active member for 36 years in the Atlantic Caribbean Union region based in The Bahamas.

“The Lord puts elastic to my ministry,” said Farquharson, when she refers to how her money stretches as she preaches. She has not kept record of all the individuals who have joined the church through her evangelistic efforts, but it is in the several hundreds she believes.

She was the first Bahaman woman to be ordained as an elder back in 1985 and has been one outstanding lay leader among the 19,500 active laypeople in the region, bringing hundreds of new believers into the church, according to Dr. Leonard Johnson, president of the church in the Atlantic Caribbean Union.

Farquaharson said that she has learned that “It’s not about you, but about where God wants you to go.”

With only four years of being a Seventh-day Adventist, Jose Puentes is all about letting God lead him in his ministry. He was among thousands of active laypeople to be chosen as the champion to represent North Colombia. A former policeman, Puentes, age 26, coordinates city-wide ministry programs such as “Jesus the Great Hope” where more than 100 young people travel on buses throughout the city of Medellin to pray for people, offer Bible studies, and distribute literature. Puentes also ministers to the indigenous people in the jungles of northern Colombia and was inspired to continue his service during the event.

“It was a great honor to be here, to witness the unity of our church leaders within the different cultures in Inter-America,” said Puentes.

Plaques featuring a long-active member in Inter-America’s Seventh-day Adventist Church were given to top church administrators to take and deliver accordingly.

In addition to the 22 outstanding laypeople in Inter-America, long-active Seventh-day Adventists throughout each church region were honored.

Top administrators from each of the church regions honored the pioneer Seventh-day Adventist showing audience image of their longstanding member and received a plaque to take back to them.

Hadassa Henry Johnson of Jamaica, age 101, was the longest-standing Seventh-day Adventist featured with 91 years since she was baptized. Following was Consuelo Cummings of South Central America, age 102, with 90 years of being an active church members and Eligio Rosado of Puerto Rico, age 105, with 89 years in the church.

To view photo gallery of the event, CLICK HERE