Institutional Boards Begin Reporting on Finances, Projects and Development Plans

October 28, 2023 | Miami, Florida, United States | Libna Stevens, Inter-American Division News

Several Inter-American Division institutions began reporting on their finances, projects, and development plans during their second annual board meeting of the year. Church administrators and board members met in Miami, Florida, United States, on Oct. 26, 2023.

IADPA

Inter-American Division Publishing Association (IADPA) President Saul Ortíz began reporting the remarkable sales during the last nine months of the year. “From January to September we saw more than 10 million dollars in sales, which means 2 million dollars more than 2022,” he said. Numbers show that there was an increase of 31 percent more in sales than last year. The sales have been seen through missionary book sales, Sabbath school materials, and overall sales of printed books.

This has been the quinquennium that has sold the most church manuals, said Ortíz. “We had to reprint some more to keep up with the demand,” he said.

“The Adventist Church continues to buy printed books much more so that what we sell in digital books,” said Ortiz. “We continue to be the only Adventist publishing house in the world that produces devotionals and theological materials for the French [speaking] market and that is a reason for prayer because it is a challenge.”

Figures show that IADPA saw a 48 percent production cost of missionary books, when normally it should be no more than 40 percent of the cost, he said. “The increase has to do with loss of missionary books because the sale of the books normally covers 90 percent of the total cost of the books.”

Ortiz reported that for the first time IADPA was granted the rights of Three Angels Message books in English by the Ellen G. White (EGW) Estate. New EGW compilations and manuscript releases will be available in the coming months.

One of its upcoming projects will be working on the New Seventh-day Adventist International Bible Commentary, an updated version since the last version, which was printed more than 60 years ago, said Ortiz.  “There are 16 volumes to go and we will start with the Spanish translation as soon as possible,” he said. In addition, IADPA will be working on the new Sabbath School lesson programs that are scheduled to begin in 2025 for all age levels.

IADPA leaders celebrated the service of Daniel Medina, who worked 50 years in denomination service, the last 30 years he served at IADPA. Medina had been serving as vice president of editorial affairs and production in IADPA.Daniel Medina been a constant presence in IADPA, with historic knowledge of the publishing house ever since he started working here since 1991,” said Ortíz. “He has seen five presidents who have led in IADPA through his service timed.”

Pastor Elie Henry, president of the Inter-American Division and IADPA Board chairperson, praised Medina for his many years of service. “You have been an important element in the development of IADPA and a shown an extraordinary example through your dedication, service and faithfulness to the Word of God,” said Pastor Henry.

IADPA Board members voted in Elias Peiro as vice president of production. Peiro has served as a graphic designer at IADPA since 2011 and as research and development director of new products since 2018. He has had previously served as production director in Editorial Safeliz and manager of Ediciones Vida Sana in Spain.

IADPA editors and staff members presented new books on spiritual growth, bible textbooks, devotionals, health and more.

Board members voted on the financial statement report and operating budget for 2024.

GEMA Editors

Inter-American Division’s publishing house serving the church in Mexico exclusively, GEMA Editors, reported production and financial activities during the last eight months.

Sales in 2023 have seen a 27 percent increase since 2022, reported Fernando Quiróz, vice president of Finance for GEMA Editors. “This increase in sales has been the best GEMA has reached since long before the pandemic,” Quiroz said.

The publishing house also oversees 2,100 literature evangelists in Mexico, including 792 regular literature evangelists, 546 part-time and 828 student literature evangelists.  This year the publishing house produced 127 productions including  magazines, books on health, money, lifestyle, family, marriage, and personal growth.

GEMA Editors President Moises Reyna presented a commission report for a change of headquarters from Mexico City to Puebla. The publishing house has owned a large warehouse for years and is looking to move into a new facility within the next two years without additional cost.

In addition, GEMA Editors is looking to upgrade its inventory information software that can be compatible with financial accounting information in real time.

Board members voted the financial report as well as the operating budget for 2024.

Board of Education/Higher Education

Dr. Fay Patterson, education director of the Inter-American Division, began her report by presenting enrollment figures and additional details from the past four months. “We thank God because we know He has been with us in Adventist Education,” she said. So far this year, there have been 969 baptisms including children, young people and parents in the Adventist schools throughout the IAD. In addition, there are 60 new adventurer and pathfinder clubs. Currently there are more than 157,000 students enrolled in K-12, with more than 66,000 who are Adventist and 91,000 as non-Adventist students.  There is a pressing need to close that gap between the two groups of students, she said.

Adventist university students saw more than 20,000 students enrolled, including more than 11,000 Adventist students and more than 8,000 non-Adventist. “We want to make sure everyone in our Adventist educational system strengthens their biblical knowledge to make a better impact on the lives of students and their families.

Pastor Abraham Sandoval, president of the Inter-Oceanic Mexican Union, asked if there was a strategy in place to improve the salaries of teachers in the Adventist educational system. “Very few young people are interested in studying to become a teacher nowadays and I’m concerned that we will get to the point where we will not have teachers in our schools,” he said. “Is there something that we can do to fulfill that need?”  Sandoval said there are 43 primary and secondary schools throughout the Inter-Oceanic Mexican Union.

Dr. Lincoln Edwards, president of Northern Caribbean University in Jamaica, expressed similar concerns. “We are facing a serious situation because a number of teachers from Jamaica at every level of high school are leaving the country to go to the United States,” said Edwards. “The government has raised salaries significantly, but private institutions are severely affected because we can’t match salaries at the level of government and it’s a serious thing we need to consider and address.”

Pastor Leonard Johnson, executive secretary of the IAD and chair of the Board of Higher Education, said they would take suggestions and comments but the request needs to be addressed to the policy committee to examine and study before a new proposal on the matter.

Board members were presented with the newest addition the department Yanet Cima who was recently voted in by ADCOM to be assistant director of the education department.

Cima presented figures on use of the Adventist Virtual Library across the Adventist educational system in the IAD. “We are fostering a culture that will engage students in research through the virtual library early on in their grades,” she said. The Inter-Oceanic Mexican Union, Southeast Mexican Union and Puerto Rico are among the top three users of the virtual library, she reported, with more than 131,00 pages visited this year by the Inter-Oceanic Mexican Union territory.

Next year, the department will be launching a new interface of the virtual library in  English, Spanish and French.

Board members voted the temporary closure of Adventist school in Guatemala, while financial matters are assessed, and voted to add a new school in the North Mexican Union.

Dozens of primary and secondary schools received full accreditation this year and dozens more were registered for upcoming evaluations in 2024.

New programs were voted at several Adventist universities, as well as training sessions and additional educator’s training events across the territory.