Institutional Boards Report Effects of Pandemic and Vote on Development Plans

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

Administrators of Inter-America’s institutional boards began reporting on the state of their organizations, effects of the pandemic, pressing challenges, finances and development plans as dozens of Seventh-day Adventist board members connected online during the first of back-to-back meetings on Nov. 1.

IADPA

Even as the pandemic has brought unpredictable financial strain, high transportation costs, and employee absences due to COVID, affecting profits as well as production challenges across the territory, Inter-American Division’s Publishing Association (IADPA) leaders reported minimal earnings.

“We thank God not one of our employees infected with COVID required intensive care or died from it,” said Saul Ortíz, president of IADPA, as he began his report. Even with proper social distancing regulations followed, nearly four dozen employees from editorial offices and bookstores across the territory were infected, which represented close to 30 percent of the staff, he said.

The operating challenges caused a disruption at many levels for the publishing entity.

“In neither 2020 nor 2021 we have had losses, so we praise God for that,” he said. “We have seen a substantial increase in our shipping costs to 300 to 400 percent. What used to cost $3,600 shipments from China now costs us $11,000 and that’s not even factoring in the shortage of containers,” he said. It’s a real crisis, delaying deliveries from for instance what took 45 days to 150 days now, to 30 percent cost increase on paper, he added. But the work of producing new resources for church members and the public, young and old alike, remains at the heart of the publishing mission, he said.

New resources

The institution reported on one of its newest resources available to assist teachers when following the school curriculum during the school year. The resource page includes presentations, hundreds of audios files and materials that go with the textbooks being used across the hundreds of Adventist schools throughout the territory.  “We are making more textbooks and reading books available that support Adventist education and encourage children to love reading,” said Cristhel Cárcamo, associate vice president of marketing and sales IADPA.

This year, all 89 bookstores that IADPA manages had to be closed at certain times due to government regulations arising from COVID-19 which infected 44 of its 159 employees and forced staff reductions, IADPA leaders said. However, more creative ways of reaching church members took a different form, including home delivery services, telephone orders connecting through text, virtual sales meetings and more.

Upcoming publications

More than two dozen new books on health, stewardship, and spirituality, as well new magazines and devotionals exclusively produced by the publishing house were presented. The new books are focused on children, young people, and the seasoned member.

In addition, IADPA has a plan to continue publishing new books by Ellen G. White, one of the founders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. “Every year we strive to offer one new Spirit of Prophecy book that’s cost accessible for each family and that will be something we will be sure of in 2022,” said Vladimir Polanco, senior editor for biblical and theology books. There are 20 books as part of the collection and IADPA has volume 6 with newly released manuscripts available now to help church members understand Ellen G. White better.

Plans are underway to provide Ellen G. White’s The Great Controversy, Steps to Christ and Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings, in Creole and Papiamento soon, followed by a Dutch translation at a later date, Polanco said.

Board members addressed the need for the IADPA to have more digital publications, and electronic books available.

Board members viewed the publishing house’s financial report and voted its 2022 budget. As of September 30, 2021, IADPA financial leaders reported a 120% working capital and 242% liquidity.

Adventist Healthcare Services Institutions Inter-America (AHSIA)

Leaders overseeing healthcare institutions throughout Inter-America briefly began their report to board members on the 13 health professionals within the system who passed away due to COVID-19.

During past six months, AHSIA has been coordinating training on governance of hospital board members with Loma Linda University Health (LLUH), said Franck Geneus, president of AHSIA. At least 12 of the 14 hospitals are currently taking part in the ongoing training.  “Healthcare is more and more supervised by governments so we need to govern correctly to ensure quality control, patient safety, and good management,” he said.

Geneus also reported that a project submission to LLU Health that will see the upgrade of laboratories in five hospitals is in the works.

AHSIA also launched a survey among its hospital administrators and staff exploring on building identity, a set of values, quality trends, branding, institutional development, professional development, and commitment to the church mission, among others, which will provide better opportunities to build the right vision, execute and provide excellent wholistic health to the public, explained Geneus.  The survey is not yet analyzed completely and will bring about more collaboration to take institutions to the next level, he said.

Hospital self-evaluation progress

Progress on the Joint Commission International self-evaluation of hospitals has so far resulted in six institutions that completed the evaluation and will drive institutions to improve and better provide healthcare.

AHSIA went over details of the financial report for the year and approved the budget for 2022.

Hospitals and clinics went through difficulties coming out of the pandemic and many are still struggling, said Geneus, but just as well they have been blessed, supported, and continue to make a difference in the community. The key is to continue to create a culture where each institution is supported during challenging times.

“We want to move Adventist healthcare institutions from struggling to thriving ones so collaborating and partnering will make a difference,” said Geneus.

Inter-American Health Food Company (IAHFC)

IAHFC, with its 10 food factories and branches in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, Colombia and Venezuela, continued to run at full capacity during the pandemic and continue to support the mission of the church, administrators said. Each branch reported on their quality products and initiatives and projects to benefit the church organization and the community.

“The food company continues to fulfill its mission objective to support local churches and the territory,” said Filiberto Verduzco, treasurer of the church in Inter-America, who closely oversees IAHFC. In addition to contributing tithes and funds specifically for evangelism projects out of the sale of products, food branches are connecting and creating new ways to assist those in need within their communities and their business connections, he added. “I’m very pleased to see how God is blessing our food companies even through challenging times.”

Board members voted to appoint Jose E. Flóres as the new director of IAHFC effective Jan. 1, 2022. Flóres, who has been working in Colpac foods in Mexico for 28 years and has been assisting in finances for IAHFC central office, will replace Juan Martin Meza and Adolfo Ruiz, who have been co-directors of IAHFC zone one and two respectively for many years and will retire at the end of the year.

Board members thanked the decades-long service of both Meza and Ruiz and prayed for Flóres in his new leadership position.

“He’s a well-rounded person, knowledgeable, very Christian with a missionary heart,” Verduzco said.

Board members voted on the financial report and the new budget for 2022.

To learn more about Inter-America’s Institutions, its initiatives and activities, visit us at interamerica.org