March 9, 2010 – Panama City, Panama…[Libna Stevens/IAD]
Inter-America’s Festival of the Laity began today with a special opening ceremony. The program gathered a core group outstanding laypeople and church leaders from throughout the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the territory for an inaugural ceremony with musical, spiritual and special presentations in Panama City, Panama. The event was streamed live over the internet in Spanish, English, and French.
“You have come to this great Festival of the Laity from all throughout the wide territory of the Inter-America,” said Pastor Carlyle Bayne, Personal Ministries and Sabbath School director for the church in Inter-America, and organizer of the event. “In this electrifying atmosphere, we know God will richly bless us,” he added as he welcomed the more than 1,500 people gathered.
Ms. Loira Machado de Fuentes, general secretary of Panama’s Association of Municipal Districts, welcomed the delegation to Panama on behalf of President Ricardo Martinelli.
“We thank you for holding your event here in Panama,” said Fuentes. “We thank the Seventh-day Adventist Church for their support in the social, education, spiritual, the work on behalf of the youth and for the committed work [the church] in the community and the country.”
Pastor Israel Leito, president of the church in Inter-America, addressed and encouraged laypeople to continue in their endeavor to reach others as they finish the work.
“We are here to celebrate what the Lord has done through His people,” said Pastor Leito. “More than one million souls have been baptized during this quinquenium, something never before seen in our Division.”
“There are men and women like you who possess the joy of the Lord in your heartn who recognize that Jesus is the only Hope day and night, who go door to door spreading the message,” said Pastor Leito. “We are here to recognize you. We are here because the faithfulness of our brethren allows us to have a strong church even through difficulties.”
Pastor Leito challenged laypeople to be joyful and continue reaching others, not allowing the enemy to take away their zeal and joy of salvation in their hearts.
The opening ceremony also included special recognition to eight laypersons for their dedicated and tireless service for the church. These were: Victor Johnson of the Caribbean Union; Gloria Esperanza Rondon of the Colombia Union; Norris Crooks of the West Indies Union; Dioni Moya of the Dominican Union; Yani Villahermosa of the East Venezuela Union; Josemond Marecharles of the Haitian Union; Arturo Palacios Antunez of the Central Mexican Union; and Martin Cobra of the South Central American Union.
The program also included a parade of unions, as well as a cultural presentation– Panama style.
The Festival of the Laity will continue through Saturday, Mar. 13. To watch daily programs of the event, click here.
Schedule of online events:
Daily devotionals and general assembly, Mar. 10-12, at 8:00 a.m. Panama Time or Eastern Standard Time.
Evening spiritual messages, general assembly and cultural presentations begin at 7:00 p.m. EST
To watch the opening ceremony visit https://recursing-golick.147-182-135-0.plesk.page/
To view a photo gallery of the opening ceremony go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/interamerica
