Guatemala City, Guatemala…[Libna Stevens/IAD]
Leaders representing the 2.4 million member Inter-America Region, met for their annual year-end meetings held in Guatemala City from Oct. 27-30. The meetings included reports from the 15 unions or regions of the Inter-American Division (IAD) on the growing membership and evangelism efforts done to reach non-believers. All 15 Unions are moving to the last stages of aggressive efforts for next year’s Evangelism 2004, according to Israel Leito, president of the church in the region.
“Inter-America still remains the largest division worldwide,” he adds. “It has the highest net growth… and retention of church members remains high.”
Filiberto Verduzco, treasurer of the IAD, reports that the Division continues to be strong financially, which allows for continued support of the different development programs throughout the territory, such as evangelism, strengthening of education and training for the employees, among other programs.
Approved items included:
Hope for the Big 15: an initiative adopted from the world church Hope 13—which will address the urgent need for urban church growth through a designated offering at the 2005 General Conference Session. Hope for the Big 15 will direct designated funds to the largest cities in the 15 regions of the IAD with evangelism efforts.
Response to Youth Survey: In response to a survey done with over 1,700 of its members throughout the territory, the youth department of the IAD proposed an aggressive plan to empower the Adventist Youth with programs that will strengthen the areas of spiritual growth, education, family unity, church image, technology and mission of the church.
Family Survey: Preliminary results from a division-wide family survey underway, show a high percentage of married couples who are happy and satisfied in their homes. The Family Ministries department is on its second year of offering certification programs throughout the churches with tools to help deal with the many issues facing families today. The survey will end next year.
Transfer of Properties from GC Corporation: Approval was given to undertake the transfer of hundreds of properties from under GC Corporation to local legal corporations in IAD.
Reorganization of Costa Rica Mission: A readjustment of the Costa Rica Mission to form three local fields was approved to be effective December 2003. The three fields are: The South Central Costa Rica Conference, with headquarters in the city of San Jose; the North Mission, with headquarters in Alajuela; and the Caribbean Mission, with headquarters in Limon.
Next year’s IAD Executive Year-end Committee meetings will be held October in Trinidad.
