Church Leaders in Inter-America Review Core Priorities For Greater Effectiveness
June 11, 2021 | Miami, Florida, United States | Libna Stevens, Inter-American Division
As a new period officially began for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Inter-America this month, with its recently elected and appointed leaders, administrators and department heads met to fine-tune the core priorities and initiatives that will be carried throughout the territory in the coming months and years.
The online meeting held June 1-3, brought the dozen department and ministries directors, who are part of the Inter-America Division (IAD) Headquarters, to also study more effective ways to implement the voted initiatives and activities of the I Will Go strategic plan throughout the unions and down to the local churches.
“It is important that we renew our understanding of the I Will Go strategic plan in preparation for next year and beyond,” said Pastor Elie Henry, president of the church in Inter-America. Pastor Henry invited leaders to continue being inclusive as far as possible to cover the rich cultures in the English, Spanish and French territories comprising the IAD. “As leaders of departments and ministries we must move forward together with the strategic plan and its key performance indicators (KPIs).”
From L-R: Inter-American Division Administrators: Pastors Filiberto Verduzco, treasurer, Elie Henry, and Leonard Johnson lead the June 1-3, 2021, meetings with department heads to review and fine tune initiatives of the I Will Go strategic plan to be in effect for the next five years. [Photo: IAD Screnshot]
“We must advance carefully as we inspire churches to adopt the objectives that we are overseeing,” explained Pastor Henry.
The meetings also highlighted the urgent need to sharpen the discipleship of members and newly baptized believers to ascertain that they remain active in the life of the church and stay nurtured spiritually to fulfill the mission of the church.
“As we forge ahead we need to ensure steady growth and consolidation,” said Pastor Leonard Johnson, executive secretary for the church in Inter-America. “We are baptizing but we are not nurturing sufficiently. Looking back is necessary to see what’s behind–where we are coming from, to continue the journey going forward in the mission.”
Edith Ruiz de Espinoza, women’s ministries director, presents initiatives on June 2, 2021, that will take place across Inter-America in the coming months and year. [Photo: IAD Screenshot]
Discussion on the upcoming centennial celebration of the Inter-American Division took effect during the meetings also. The commemorations will start on the already voted dates, including:
- October 30, 2021 – Launching the I Will Go 100th Celebration
- January 8, 2022 – Consecration Service
- April 15, 2022 – Centennial Family Worship
- May 11, 2022 – Reflection Celebration
- October 29, 2022 – Grand Celebration
Leaders studied the importance of communication and technology to advance successfully with each initiative.
Pastor Hiram Ruiz, public campus ministries director presents a few initiatives in place which are aligned with the I Will Go strategic plan.
In addition, IAD administrators reported new appointments at the IAD Office as follows:
- James Daniel as assistant to the IAD president for Adventist-laymen’s Services & Industries and Spirit of Prophecy.
- Gamaliel Flórez as assistant to the IAD president for strategic planning
- Max Laurent of French Antilles Guiana as field secretary
- Ignacio Navarro of Chiapas Mexican Union as field secretary
Pastor Henry notified department heads that office hours would resume in the IAD Office building on June 15, 2021. Traveling to the territory would resume soon after.
To learn more about the initiatives and resources of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Inter-America, visit us at interamerica.org