IAD Leaders Celebrate ‘Mission Refocus’ and Renew Commitment to Global Evangelism

Adventist leaders highlight global mission efforts, announcing significant funding and support for evangelism and outreach in the 10/40 window and beyond.

November 19, 2024 | Montemorelos, Nuevo Leon, Mexico | Libna Stevens, Inter-American Division News

Top Seventh-day Adventist leaders from across the Inter-American Division (IAD) recently hosted a Festival of Mission Refocus to highlight mission efforts underway in 18 countries around the world. The celebration, held on Nov. 9, 2024, at the Adventist Church on Montemorelos University’s campus in Montemorelos, Nuevo León, Mexico, featured vibrant flags and colorful folkloric outfits worn by church leaders, students, and local members.

One by one, administrators from each of the 24 unions shared their efforts in support of the Mission Refocus—a strategic initiative by the General Conference to renew and enhance the church’s mission work, better aligning with both global and local needs, and effectively carrying out evangelistic missions.

Mission Support

Mission support has been ongoing this year in collaboration with leaders from eight world church divisions, with resources dedicated to supporting local workers in evangelism, sponsoring missionary couples, funding church planting teams, building churches, providing Bibles and literature, supporting school infrastructure, and offering student stipends, according to Pastor Samuel Telemaque, IAD Sabbath School director and head of Adventist Mission.

“The 24 unions have already contributed $500,000 US dollars this year,” Telemaque reported. “In the next five years, we expect to double this amount in support of mission and evangelism initiatives.” He went on to highlight the importance of the Mission Refocus initiative, calling it a transformative effort that positions the Inter-American Division as a global leader in mission work.

Funded Initiatives

Luis Rivera, president of the Puerto Rican Union, shared a personal story. “As a young boy, I remember my mother reading me mission stories that fascinated me about the spread of the gospel in distant lands,” he said. “Now, as a church leader, I am thrilled to support a missionary family being sent to Poland for the next four to five years.”

Pastor Pierre Caporal, president of the Haitian Union, reported on their support for mission initiatives in Mali, West Africa. “We have sent funds for educational, health, and community service projects to support the church’s growth there,” he said.

Pastor Kern Tobias, president of the Caribbean Union, also highlighted the union’s support for mission work in Vietnam. “We are excited to help spread the gospel to Adventist families in Vietnam,” Tobias said. Additionally, the Caribbean Union has supported a music education initiative in an undisclosed country.

Mission Outreach

Other union leaders shared updates on projects in countries within the 10/40 window, which includes regions of the world with the greatest need for missionary outreach. Initiatives range from supporting music schools and centers of influence to funding health clinics, English language classes, and a new university planned for the region.

Montemorelos University President Ismael Castillo emphasized the university’s ongoing commitment to global mission efforts. “In recent years, we’ve sent missionaries to countries such as Austria, Denmark, Italy, England, Spain, and more,” he said. “We’ve also brought 19 young people from the 10/40 window to study on scholarships, some of whom will return to serve as missionaries themselves.”

During the celebration, leaders from various divisions offered video reports, expressing gratitude for the IAD and its partnering unions for their support of mission efforts this year.

IAD administrators also shared an ongoing mission project in the 10/40 window and thanked union leaders for their global support.

Call for Mission Support

“It is so worth it to be involved in missions, helping and supporting efforts far beyond our territory,” said Pastor Elie Henry, president of the IAD. “God continues to call us to become workers for His mission and to get involved in projects around the world.” He encouraged young people to seize mission opportunities and urged adult members to continue supporting global evangelism through prayer and resources.

Pastor Henry also expressed gratitude to each union president for their commitment and dedication to the global Mission Refocus initiative.

Karen Porter, associate secretary of the General Conference, praised the IAD’s Mission Refocus initiatives. “We need to continue focusing our budgets on unreached areas in the 10/40 window and on reaching urban centers,” Porter said. “It’s inspiring to hear about missionaries going to different countries, but we also know it’s not easy for them. They face many challenges, including health risks.”

Porter called on church leaders to continue supporting missionary families through prayer, resources, and practical assistance. “Mission comes with a cost. There are many sacrifices our missionaries make,” she added.