September 6, 2009 – Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico…[Libna Stevens/IAD]
Inter-America's largest teacher conference began today with a special opening ceremony. The program gathered a core group of teachers, principals, educators and church leaders from throughout the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the region for an evening of musical, spiritual, and special presentations in Cancun, Mexico, an event which was streamed live over the internet.
“We are making history tonight,” said Dr. Moises Velazquez, education director for the church in Inter-America and organizer of the event. “It has been 89 years since the [Inter-American] Division was established and it is the first time that we celebrate such an event with so many teachers and educators. I am excited and nervous at the same time,” added Velazquez.
“We have more than 10,000 teachers [in our Division] of which 960 teachers are present here,” Velazquez said.
Pastor Israel Leito, president of the church in Inter-America, addressed the conference and encouraged teachers to continue to make a positive impact on the lives of their students.
“In your hands you can mold a future generation, you can give your students the tools for life,” said Pastor Leito. “I dare say that in some corner of our elementary schools there is a boy that will become the next president of a local field, or the treasurer of a union, or the president of the Division or in some school there is a leader who will have the great joy and leadership to prepare the church for what is to come.”
Pastor Leito challenge teachers that it was now the moment “rekindle your calling to prepare men and women to lead the church.”
The mayor of Cancun, Gregorio Sanchez Martinez, welcomed the delegation to his city and congratulated the church for its commitment to educating young people.
“Educating with values is indispensible if we want to make useful and happy human beings,” said Mayor Sanchez. “I want to congratulate everyone of the Seventh-day Adventist teachers here and everywhere throughout the educational system of the Division territory.”
He also thanked church leaders for choosing Cancun for the church's historic teacher congress.
Dr. Garland Dulan, education director for the Adventist World Church, spoke briefly to the audience.
“It is my pleasure to greet you on behalf of the General Conference,” said Dr. Dulan. “You represent a major segment of the Adventist educational system– 75,000 teachers throughout the Seventh-day Adventist Church. We welcome all here and while we are here we plan to be enriched by just being with you.”
The opening ceremony also included a special recognition to Pastor Israel Leito and Dr. Elie Henry, vice president for the church in Inter-America overseeing education, for their commitment and support of the Adventist education in Inter-America during the last decade and beyond.
The program concluded with several cultural presentations hosted by all four church regions in Mexico.
The congress will continue through Wednesday, Sep. 9, 2009. To watch daily programs of the event, click here.
Schedule of online events:
Daily devotionals, general assembly, and seminars begin Sep. 7-9, at 8:00 a.m. Cancun time or 9:00 a.m. EDT (Miami time).
Evening spiritual message, general assembly and cultural presentations begin at 6:45 p.m. Cancun time or 7:45 p.m. EDT (Miami time).
To watch the opening ceremony visit https://recursing-golick.147-182-135-0.plesk.page/
To view photo gallery of the event click here
