Mayaguez, Puerto Rico…[IAD Staff]
Church leaders and members throughout Seventh-day Adventist Churches in Puerto Rico are mourning the loss of its president, Pastor Jose Miguel Ramos, who died last week. He was 65 years old.
Pastor Ramos, who served as president for the church in Puerto Rico since 1999, died from a brain tumor which was diagnosed nine months earlier.
Church and community members throughout the island attended three days of memorial services at Antillian Adventist University in Mayaguez and Rio Piedras.
“Pastor Ramos will be remembered for many things,” said Efren Pagan, executive secretary of the church in Puerto Rico, in a statement. “He was a enthusiastic promoter, he supported children’s and youth ministries. He was a just administrator, a dedicated worker.”
According to Pagan, Pastor Ramos assumed the position of president of the church in Puerto Rico during a crucial financial restructuring of its four institutions.
“He dedicated great deal of his time to working closely with Antillian Adventist Universtiy, Bella Vista Hospital, Bella Vista Policlinic and Bella Vista Health Services Plan, all of which obtained financial stability and development,” said Pagan.
Pastor Ramos began working for the church in 1969. He served as district pastor, publishing ministries director, Sabbath School and Personal Ministries director and conference treasurer before becoming president of the church.
Leaders from throughout the Inter-American Division attended the final service, which was held on July 28.
Pastor Filiberto Verduzco, treasurer for the church in Inter-America, gave a message of hope to those there. Other church leaders in attendance were Pastor Parlo Perla, president of the IAD Publishing Association, Pastor Cesario Acevedo, president of the church in the Dominican Republic, and Pastor Theart St. Pierre, president of the church in Haiti.
He is survived by his wife Awilda, four children, and four grandchildren.
