IAD Leaders and Staff Praise God for His Protection and Blessings in 2020

January 2, 2021 | Miami, Florida, United States | Libna Stevens, Inter-American Division News

Top Seventh-day Adventist leaders, staff and retirees from the Inter-American Division (IAD) took time to pray and praise God during a special virtual meeting on Dec. 31, 2020. The thanksgiving gathering was meant to focus on God’s blessings and faithfulness during a year marked by the challenges of a global pandemic.

The service not only signified the start of a new year, but also served to “praise God for His deliverance and protection for His church, and especially for the safe return of Pastor Elie Henry and Irma and the entire Henry family,” said Pastor Leonard Johnson, executive secretary of the IAD.

Pastor Elie Henry, president of the church in Inter-America, was kidnapped, along with his daughter, Irma while vacationing in Haiti on Dec. 24. They were held captive for four days and released on Dec. 28.

Pastor Henry and his family were present during the special virtual meeting from their home in Miami, Florida.

“God is really faithful,” said Pastor Henry, surrounded on camera by his wife, Ketlie, Irma, and his other daughters, Annelise and Elizabeth. “It’s good to see you and it’s good for you to see us, Irma and me,” he added. “We are witnesses of the power of God and His mercy. God paid attention to what His people, His children were asking and our experience these past few days affirms that God is not too far and His hand is there to help us wherever we are and we can benefit from the grace He has for each one of us.”

Pastor Henry expressed thanks to each one of the IAD leaders and staff for their prayers on behalf of his daughter and his family during the four uncertain days of captivity in the dark room they both shared.

“Thanks to you and to the church around the world because we really felt we were not alone. In our daily prayers we are asking God to be with you because we know that you were suffering with us,” said Pastor Henry.  “I realized once again that we cannot understand the way God works sometimes, but while Irma and I sang hymns and prayed together we felt at peace.”

“While our story was more dramatic at the end of the year, I know that many have been through difficult times in 2020,” added Pastor Henry. “Many of you are passing through many trials and I can assure you that God is faithful and it’s good to be faithful to the Lord we serve because He will not let us down and He is near us always.”

Special music, statements of gratitude and prayers on behalf of the sick among the staff and their families highlighted the hour-and-a-half long virtual service.

Also in attendance was Pastor Israel Leito, former IAD president, who reminded leaders and staff to pursue a life of gratitude as a lifestyle.

“Be thankful always because God has been so good to us in the past,” said Pastor Leito. “He is faithful today and we have the certainty of His love in the future. We must find a way to be grateful at all times under any circumstance. Come what may, He is in control. Look with confidence to the future,” he said.