Mexico: Adventist Church Holds First International Summit of Communicators and Leaders

Mexico, City, Mexico…[Libna Stevens/IAD]

For the first time in Mexico, church organizers held the First International Summit of Communicators and Leaders on Nov. 25-27. Nearly 800 ministers, journalists, students, and professionals attended the summit, which took place in Mexico City’s Hotel Sheraton Maria Isabel and drew the attention of the national media.

The event, organized by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the central region of Mexico, was attended by different denominations, as well as Adventist professionals and ministers, from throughout the country.

According to Baruc Lagos, Communication director for the church in the Inter-Oceanic Mexican Union, approximately one-third of Evangelicals, one-third of Adventists and one-third of other religion signed up for the event, which featured seminars in the different fields of communication.

Televisa and Azteca, the two largest television networks in Mexico, as well as Channel 11 and Chanel 22 – Mexico’s government channel – covered the event. Several radio stations transmitted the event live. In addition, the national newspaper, “UNOMASUNO”, and the city’s newspaper, “Amanecer”, also covered the summit.

“Our main strategy in this event was to reach the media,” says Lagos. By the close of the summit, Lagos adds that important contacts were made with the media as to who we are as Adventists and the peaceful message we as a church have to share with people.

He explains that among the main objectives for the summit was a coming together among the communication media such as radio, television and the press. It was also designed to motivate young people to enroll in the communication profession, and encourage communicators to motivate their listeners, readers and viewers with a moral and spiritual message.

Highlights of the event included special speaker Rosalia Buaum Sanches, professor and president of the Radio Announcers Association in Mexico, who emphasized communication as a great tool for reaching the world with the message of peace and love.

Leon Wellington, vice president and communication director for the church in Inter-America, challenged communicators to be agents of change.

“Let us change the taste and concept of what news are, to offer ourselves as partners in hope and in the realization of a better future for all humanity,” he said.

A special plaque was awarded to Naim Libien Kaui, president and editor of the “UNOMASUNO”, and owner of eight other local newspapers and 30 radio stations throughout Mexico, whose coverage and contribution to the event opened the doors for the networking among journalists and communicators present. When he spoke, he invited all to push for the good of the freedom of the press.

Additional speakers from Spain, Chile and Mexico taught on subjects including broadcasting, public relations, creative writing, protocol, planning a communicational project among others. Free cholesterol screening, blood donation and organ donation registration was also available for attendees, made possible through La Carlota Hospital of Seventh-day Adventists, Hospital General de Mexico and the Department of Health in Mexico.

A second communication summit is planned for next year. For more information go to www.interoceanica.org.mx.