Inter-America, Church leaders begin business meetings by reflecting on the last five years

May 12, 2015 | Miami, Florida, United States | Libna Stevens/IAD

Images by Libna Stevens/IAD

Top Seventh-day Adventist leaders from across Inter-America began their business meetings today by reflecting on God’s blessings and the continued growth across the territory during the last five-year period. The meetings, held in Miami, Florida, carried a spiritual tone of thanksgiving as top leaders participated in scripture readings, songs of praise, inspired statements and prayer sessions.

“Instead of asking and asking for God to do things for us, it is important that we take the time to hold this festival of praise and gratitude this morning for what God has done for His church,” said Pastor Israel Leito, president of the church in Inter-America, as the special program began. “It is not our own accomplishments but it is the work of Jehovah.”

Children’s Ministries Director Dinorah Rivera explains to the committee initiatives and activities completed during the 2010-2015 period across Inter-America.

Leaders paused to reflect on the progress of the church during the last quinquennium (2010-2015), which saw 1,013,121 new members join the church as of April 30, 2015, and saw several new union territories organized and regions upgraded from mission to conferences throughout the Inter-American Division (IAD) territory. Today, the IAD stands at 3.7 million church members, according to top church administrators.

Under the theme “How Great Thou Art,” Adventist leaders from each of the church’s ministries and departments at the IAD office shared the initiatives, activities, summits and trainings, which took place across the 20,000 churches and congregations since 2010.

Adventist leaders sing special music during the opening of Inter-America’s business meetings today.

Leaders reported evangelism training to thousands of pastors and laypeople, dozens of religious liberty festivals held, thousands of communicators trained, to youth and children’s ministries trainings. The church in Inter-America held numerous teacher congresses, new literature evangelist plan, a large literature evangelist convention, strengthened thousands of families, promoting the health message and health activities in thousands of churches and communities, and much more.

Church leaders also were thankful for God’s protection during the past five years.

IAD Executive Secretary Dr. Elie Henry encourage leaders to continue praising God in the difficult times and in the times of prosperity.

“When circumstances start to look impossible and you become desperate with the finances of your office, the union, or the fields, look to the Lord and His strength,” said Dr. Henry. “Seek his face always, remember His miracles in your life.”

IAD leaders pose with the newly appointed Dutch Caribbean Administrators: second from left Shurman Kook, president, fourth from left Hans Ponte, secretary, and far right Kenneith Luis, treasurer.

Dr. Henry reminded leaders that the festival of praise and thanksgiving was not only intended to look at the past blessings but also “to look to the future, trusting in the Lord, and believing that God will continue to do His work for us and for His church.”

IAD administrators officially welcomed the new union administrators to the recently organized Panama Union.

In addition, the executive committee appointed three new administrators of the newly organized Dutch Caribbean Union Mission, which becomes Inter-America’s 24th major church region. Administrators appointed were: Shurman Kook as president, Hans Ponte as executive secretary, and Kenneth Luis as treasurer.

Leaders also went over the number of delegates who will be representing the IAD during the General Conference Session in San Antonio this summer. The total number of general and regular delegates who can vote during the session is 391, reported Dr. Henry.

Dr. Elie Henry, executive secretary in the IAD talks about the 391 regular and general delegates who will represent the territory during the General Conference Session in July.

“We have the largest delegation among all other Divisions in the world,” affirmed Henry. With special guests and invitees the total IAD group comes up to 482.

Logistics of the session, accommodations, special meetings and activities during the session were discussed.

Executive members viewed the IAD quinquennial video report to be presented in San Antonio on July 6, 2015.

The Vision One Million initiative to bring more members into the church was voted to continue next year. The live baptismal ceremony at the end of intensive Vision One Million evangelistic campaigns was set to take place in Caracas, Venezuela, on April 2, 2016.

President of Atlantic Caribbean Union Pastor Leonard Johnson, leads in a prayer during a special session praying for teachers and students across the IAD.

Leaders also voted to provide Sabbath School teachers with tools to assist members in experiencing spiritual renewal by having the IAD’s Sabbath school ministries to initiate an online training school for Sabbath School teachers in partnership with Inter-America’s Herbert Fletcher University beginning in October 2016.

The meetings, which are the last executive committee meetings before the General Conference Session, will set the pace for church growth in the vast IAD territory for the next five years.

IAD’s Mid-Year Executive Committee Meetings will continue through May. 14, 2015.

For more information, visit us at interamerica.org

To view pictures of today’s meetings, click HERE