June 27, 2010 – Atlanta, Georgia, United States…[Libna Stevens/IAD]
There was standing room only during a special meeting which gathered more than 500 Inter-American delegates, church leaders and members at the Georgia World Congress Center today.
The meeting was the first to gather not only leaders but anyone of Inter-American origin to listen to the top leadership of the church report on the growth and initiatives established during the past five years.
“We have received so many blessings, of what God has done through these last five years,” said Pastor Israel Leito, president of the church in Inter-America, as he began his report. “We have experienced phenomenal growth.”
Pastor Leito reported that 3,328,229 members are recorded on the church books throughout the territory. Some nine new unions were created during the ending quinquennium.
“The IAD grew from 12 unions to 21 unions, and from 60 local fields to 111 local fields,” he continued, as he was cheered by the hundreds listening intently.
“Our growth is not only in quantity but quality,” Pastor Leito said. “We are not extravagant with our local fields.”
While the world church has an average of 5.7 local fields per each union, the Inter-American Division (IAD) has an average of 5.8 local fields.
Pastor Leito reported not only on membership growth, but also on the development seen by the church throughout the IAD territory, as five new union buildings were finished, as well as a new hospital in the Dominican Republic.
A video report was presented to the floor which included statistics on the financial stability of the IAD and its faithful tithing and mission offering.
Highlights of the video report included the growth of small group ministries from 35,000 to 85,000, a member retention of 97%, and dozens of division-wide initiatives realized during the 2005-2010 period.
Leaders also coordinated final arrangements for the IAD parade during the IAD’s report at the Georgia Dome on June 29 at 8:00 p.m.
Tune into Hope Channel at www.hopetv.org and Esperanza TV at www.esperanzatv.org to view the 2010 IAD video report to the General Conference Session.
