June 4, 2012 – Bogota, Colombia…Karen Leon/IAD Staff
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in South Colombia inaugurated its new headquarter office during a special ceremony held in Bogota, Colombia, on May 20, 2012. The ceremony drew hundreds of church leaders from throughout the country, many of whom had been waiting over eight years for the facility.
“We praise the Lord for His goodness and mercies and dedicate it to God as we serve the church and this city in this region,” said Pastor Eliseo Bustamante, president for the church in the South Colombia Union.
Pastor Israel Leito, president of the church in Inter-America, spoke to those gathered about the greater impact the church could have in such a growing membership.
“We are here in Bogota, a heroic city with a church which has given testimony for 90 years and now is able to see the inauguration of this building,” said Pastor Leito. “This new spacious building brings an opportunity for church administrators to talk, discuss and exchange ideas on how to spread the message of the Gospel further.”
The South Colombian Union began in 2004 when plans were made to expand the work in the country, and better cater to the seven million people in Bogota, by splitting the then Colombian Union into a north and south union. The reorganization officially took place in 2010. The five-story South Colombia Union facility was under construction for 15 months and consists of 11 offices, a floor for media communications, a 200-seat auditorium, conference room, and a ground floor for parking.
Dr. Elie Henry, executive secretary for the church in Inter-America, congratulated the church leadership in South Colombia for their new headquarter office and opening its doors to the public at large.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in South Colombia oversees seven conferences and missions and operates 574 churches and congregations with more than 136,000 church members.
For more information on the Seventh-day Adventist Church in South Colombia, visit http://www.unioncolombianadelsur.org.
