Adventist Leaders Vote Initiatives To Keep Mission Momentum Growing Stronger
Pastor Elie Henry (left), president of the Inter-American Division leads the Executive Committee Year-End Meetings Oct. 30, 2023, to Nov. 1, 2023 in Miami, Florida, United States, with fellow administrators Pastor Leonard Johnson, executive secretary (right) and Ivelisse Herrera (left), treasurer of the IAD.. [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]
Executive Committee Members of the Inter-American Division (IAD) read their resolution of gratitude in unison as its year-end business meetings concluded on Nov. 1, 2023, in Miami Florida, United States. “We express gratitude to the Lord, acknowledging His love, compassion and guidance shown this year in the areas of leadership, evangelism, finance and departmental achievements,” leaders said.
The three-day bi-annual church business meetings saw more than 150 administrators, leaders, department heads and lay-appointed members agreeing to keep up the momentum of evangelism, education, and community service mission initiatives for the next two years.
Pastor Balin Braham, vice president of the Inter-American Division overseeing evangelism challenges executive committee members to set goals of more than 200,000 in 2024. [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD}
“I believe we can go back to the drawing board and increase our goals for evangelism,” said Pastor Balvin Braham, vice president of the IAD overseeing evangelism. Through new initiatives like “Back to the Altar,” “All the Family in Mission,”and a number of division-wide preacher’s exchange programs at the union level and from outside of the IAD, it could be a year where more growth can be seen in total member involvement, baptizing of new members and an increase in discipleship programs, explained Braham.
Pastor Kern Tobias (right), president of the Caribbean Union and his wife Linda, raise their hands and celebrate the vote taken to upgrade the Tobago Mission to conference status, on Oct. 31, 2023, during the year-end meetings. Both are natives of Tobago. [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]
The Tobago Mission of the Caribbean Union Conference was approved to be upgraded to a conference as well as the Alpine Mission of the Inter-Oceanic Mexican Union. In addition, survey commissions were voted to study the change of status of Tuxtla Mission of the Inter-Oceanic Mexican Union and the North Costa Rica Conference to be split into a conference and a mission.
Pastor Jorge García was voted in as the new president of the Central Mexican Union. He was serving as the executive secretary before Pastor José Dzul chose to retire at the end of the year. [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD}
Church leaders were updated on the new Sabbath school lessons coming from the General Conference that will begin in 2025. Training for the new “Alive in Jesus” Sabbath school curriculum has already begun in collaboration with Sabbath School department and children and adolescent ministries leaders throughout the IAD.
Cozby de Dzul (right) speaks on their work for the church next to her husband José Dzul who is retiring from being president of the Central Mexican Union in January 2024, during committee meetings as IAD President Pastor Elie Henry (left) looks on. [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]
During the executive committee meetings, Montemorelos University President Ismael Castillo presented his report on the mission of the institution which “educates integrally with a sustainable educational model based on research and selfless service that unites the global biblical proclamation of the Adventist hope of a new world,” he said. It’s important to remain faithful to the mission.
L-R: Josney Rodríguez, ministerial association secretary, Dr. Faye Patterson, education director, Pastor Hiram Ruiz, chaplain ministries director and Pastor Roberto Herrera, stewardship director of the IAD take part in an interactive game on the strategic mission initiatives for the next two years during year-end meetings. [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]
The university saw an increase of 18 percent in its enrollment, an increase not seen before. “God has been so good to us,” he said. There are currently 3,169 students, including on campus, across extensions and online, he said. Ninety-six percent of those students are Seventh-day Adventists from 60 countries and from the 13 world church divisions, reported Castillo. “We continue committed to preparing an army of missionaries,” he said.
Dr. Ismael Castillo, president of Montemorelos University presents his report to the board during year-end meetings on Oct. 30, 2023. [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]
Board members approved the school year plans for 2023-2024.
Pastor Melchor Ferreyra (second left) personal ministries director of the Inter-American Divsion reviews the plan to make disciples through the every member involved initiative following preparation, planting, cultivating, harvest and conserving of new members [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]
Massive distribution of the Great Controversy Book by Adventist co-founder Ellen G. White, distribution on:
- March 16, 2023, in printed format March 16, 2024
- April 1, 2024, in digital format
Large territory-wide baptismal celebrations were set to take place on:
- April 20, 2024, in San Pedro Sula, Honduras,
- June 29, 2024, in Guadeloupe in the French Antilles Guiana Union, and
- September 28, 2024 in Montego Bay, in the Jamaica Union.
Inter-American Division Executive Committee takes a group photos on Oct. 31, 2023. [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]
Ministerial Association Pastoral Congress
- September 2-5 in 2024, Cancun, Mexico, (Belize, Central Mexico, Dutch Caribbean, Inter-Oceanic Mexican, South Colombia and Southeast Mexican Unions)
- September 9-12, 2024, in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic ( Atlantic Caribbean, Caribbean, Dominican, French Antilles Guana, Haitian, Jamaican, Puerto Rican, Cuba, East and West Venezuela Unions)
- September 16-19, 2024, in El Salvador (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama Union, South Central American Unions)
To learn about Inter-American Division’s initiatives and activities, visit interamerica.org