Thousands Meet in Mexico City to Celebrate God’s Evangelistic Blessings in 2023

December 4, 2023 | Mexico City, Mexico | Gabriela Chagolla and Inter-American Division News Staff

The Central Mexican Union (UMC) recently brought together more than 14,000 people for an event dubbed ‘The Great Celebration’ at the Mexico City Arena. The main goal of the Nov. 4 meeting was to acknowledge the blessings and evangelistic achievements leaders said God has bestowed upon regional church members, pastors, and leaders throughout 2023. Part of those achievements included a record number of baptisms into the Seventh-day Adventist Church across the region.

UMC reported that in 2023, the region enlisted 174 prayer teams, 5 schools of evangelism, 2,500 small groups in the so-called ‘houses of hope,’ the distribution of 178,000 copies of Ellen G. White’s The Great Controversy, 134 medical clinic teams, and eventually, 5,177 newly baptized members. During the Nov. 4 celebration, 55 more committed to follow God through baptism.

“In the 15 years since the Central Mexican Union was created, the region had never passed the 5,000 new-member mark,” said Pastor Elie Henry, president of the Inter-American Division (IAD), who attended the celebration. “We praise God for that.”

UMC executive secretary Pastor Jorge Garcia welcomed members, leaders, and guests. “We are so happy to welcome you to this great celebration! It has been a year of numerous victories in the name of the Lord, and we are here to praise Him for the way he has revealed His power throughout the Central Mexican Union,” he said.

Leaders from the world church and the IAD attended. Besides Pastor Henry, the celebration included the presence of General Conference Ministerial Secretary Pastor Ramon Canals, IAD Personal Ministries Director Pastor Melchor Ferreira and former IAD Treasurer Filiberto Verduzco.

UMC President Pastor José Dzul shared that the celebration event was inspired by Psalm 133:1 and Psalm 92:1, which invite us to gather to praise God’s faithfulness. He recalled that the first mass meeting in the territory took place 9 years ago. Since then, many things have changed in the territory. “Today we meet because it is beautiful for brothers and sisters to live together in harmony, because we are one church in Christ Jesus,” Dzul said. “The second reason is because we have come to worship, to praise our almighty God because his mercies have been constant in this year 2023.”

Jorge Lee Galindo, coordinator of Religious Associations of the Ministry of the Interior of Mexico, addressed the audience expressing his appreciation for religious associations across the country. “I am convinced that religious associations, such as the Seventh-day Adventist Church, play a very important role in our country,” said Galindo. “There are almost 10,000 religious associations registered in Mexico, and each of them, with its diversity, contributes to the development of children, young people, and adults. I thank them for the work they have done over the last 30 years,” he added.

After Galindo’s remarks, Verduzco prayed for him, his daily work in favor of religious associations, and for his family.

Canals led the congregation to reflect on how to develop a meaningful Christian life. In his sermon, Canals urged the congregation to nurture a sound faith in Christ and genuine love among church members. He stressed the importance of keeping alive the joy that only results from an intimate connection with God, as he encouraged the community to keep hope in the soon return of Jesus alive.

In addition, Pastor Canals emphasized the need to focus the heart and mind on heavenly things and be a blessing to others. “Be messengers of divine grace to a world in search of salvation,” he urged attendees.

Hope Channel Inter-America’s new television series called “Conocidos” was introduced by Pastor Ferreyra as an evangelistic tool to be used for small group ministry in addition it a bible study guide and a book.

During the program, participants joined in a special moment of group prayer, thanking God for the abundant blessings poured out in 2023. People not only gave thanks but also presented requests to God as they asked for wisdom and discernment. “Give us your divine guidance to effectively tackle the mission of proclaiming the message of salvation,” was the common prayer.

Local church administrators, pastors and laypersons were recognized for their extraordinary dedication and commitment in spreading the gospel in their districts and communities.

Pastor Dzul also shared mass communication initiatives across the territory, such as the program ‘Saber Vivir,’ broadcast on open television nationwide and, also through radio. “Because Mexico City is still a challenge, it continues to be a mission field for the General Conference, the Inter-American Division and the Central Mexican Union,” Dzul said. “We long for the millions of residents in this city to be reached for the kingdom of heaven.”

Pastor Henry invited church members to participate in the 2024 evangelistic initiative named, ‘All the Family in Mission,’ which seeks to get every family and every family member involved in ongoing outreach and evangelism. In that sense, Pastor Henry said, “Today’s celebration is not the arrival, but the path we must follow so that Jesus may soon come in glory and majesty,” he said.

The Central Mexican Union was established in 2008 and it currently includes five fields distributed in Mexico City, Aguascalientes, Querétaro, Michoacán, Norte de Guerrero, Guanajuato, and Estado de México. It currently has 92,479 baptized members, who worship in 434 churches and congregations. The church region also manages 12 primary and secondary schools, and 2 outreach centers of influence.