IAD Publishing Congress Celebrates Literature Evangelists, Highlights Growth and Mission Impact

Event spotlights powerful testimonies, rising sales, and growing local leadership.

April 16, 2025 | Panama City, Panama | Libna Stevens, Inter-American Division News

Angela Brown couldn’t stop smiling as she was draped with a medal, honored for her 28 years of faithfully spreading the gospel through literature evangelism. She was among more than 350 literature evangelists, or colporteurs, celebrated during the Inter-American Division’s (IAD) territory-wide Publishing Ministries Congress held recently in Panama City, Panama.

“God has really blessed me in this ministry,” said Brown, reflecting on how far she’s come. From working in a factory in her native Jamaica, caring for her ill husband, and raising three children, to one day learning about colporting opportunities at her local church—she trusted God with the rest.

“God and I have been in business for a long time,” said Brown. “This work is my passion.”

As an active literature evangelist, she has successfully put her three children through Adventist schools and had had the opportunity to travel to many countries.

“It’s not about the money,” she said. “It’s more than that. It’s about trusting your life to God. It’s about connecting with people and sharing literature that can open the door for the gospel to transform their lives,” explained Brown.

Brown has sold the most across the IAD in 2024, with more than 13,500 US dollars in sales through IAD Publishing Association (IADPA) book products. She was also crowned as the third-place winner during the congress for leading 86 new believers to baptism in 2024.

A Growing Movement

According to organizers, Brown was among the 2,615 regular, occasional and student literature evangelists across the 20 unions in the IAD that are grouped under publishing ministries and IADPA—the division’s largest publishing house.  The five unions in Mexico are under GEMA publishing house which oversees 2,377 LEs.

The recent congress reaffirmed the IAD publishing ministries and IADPA’s commitment to equip, inspire, and provide resources—both printed and digital—to proclaim the message and offer hope to literature evangelists and those sharing the gospel through Adventist literature.

“We want to continue inspiring you to fulfill the mission, recognize outstanding literature evangelists among you, share moments with others like you, report on the goals achieved, and renew our commitment to God and this ministry together,” said Pastor Isaías Espinoza, publishing ministries director for the IAD.

The congress, themed “Chosen To Proclaim His Return To the World,” was the first in the IADPA territory. It’s part of an ongoing initiative since 2021 to expand publishing ministries including full-time, occasional (5 to 20 hours per week), and student literature evangelists (LEs) who support their studies. Additionally, publishing ministries oversees local church directors who provide resources to members and potential LEs.

For many years, LEs worked independently, but since 2021, their numbers have doubled thanks to the support of the unions and IADPA, explained Espinoza. “Literature evangelists are messengers of hope,” he said. “They are called to bring the gospel where preachers may not reach, planting seeds that will tug at readers’ hearts. To fulfill God’s mission, we must continue recruiting more for this wonderful ministry.”

A Model of Growth

Since 2019, publishing ministries in the Dominican Union has doubled its efforts. The union now ranks among the top three, with 248 LEs, including 106 full-time LEs— a significant increase from just 15 active LEs six years ago, said Roberto Matos, publishing ministries director of the Dominican Union.

“Literature evangelism was very active in the 1990s, with over 300 LEs, but when the plan changed and fewer benefits were available, numbers quickly dropped,” said Matos. Today, several incentives, including initial credit allowances, support LEs. “We’ve been holding ongoing training across all our fields and recruiting associates quarterly in churches and districts, which has strengthened the ministry,” he added.

Matos also shared that once a year, a group of LEs with evangelistic talents travels to a specific location for several weeks to recruit, train, sell books, and hold evangelistic campaigns. “The hands-on experience fosters unity, purpose, and greater commitment to the mission of the publishing ministry,” he explained.

Local Church Impact

The union has 976 publishing directors in local churches, one of the largest in the IAD. Leaders aim to reach 200 regular LEs by 2028, said Matos. “Reaching 200 LEs seems conservative, but we must continue refining our methods to professionalize the ministry and ensure each one is committed to staying in literature evangelism,” he explained.

In the El Salvador Union, with 64 total LEs, the publishing ministry has expanded to 878 local church publishing directors. “Those 878 local church publishing leaders are key because they are brothers and sisters who motivate church members to acquire literature,” said Evila Lazo, publishing ministries director of the El Salvador Union.  Most sales occur at the local level, she said. Quarterly meetings, training sessions, and territory-wide gatherings have been vital in expanding publishing ministries in the country.

Life-Changing Ministry

For Rosa Elena López, 38, from El Salvado who took the second place among the three top literature evangelists to buy the most from IADPA in 2024, being part of literature evangelism for the past 15 years has been life changing. “It truly changed my life in extraordinary ways,” said López.

“Every sale, every book placed in a home, is a miracle from the hand and providence of the Holy Spirit. I’m just an instrument, going out each day relying on God, carrying His books.”

Selling books motivated Rosa Elena López to improve her reading skills, as she only had a primary school education. “In this ministry, I have time to listen to people, learn about their struggles, build relationships, and offer books that can help,” she said. Even when people don’t buy her books, she builds friendships and lets God work through it. “Many clients and people I meet ask for prayer, so I keep them on my prayer list each week.”

She shares literature in elevators, in bus stations, and anywhere that God impresses her.

Byron Pérez never imagined that God would transform his life through literature evangelism. He grew up in a village in southern Guatemala where the Mam, a Mayan dialect, is spoken. After working in construction for 12 years. Everything changed when a church leader invited him to a literature evangelism meeting. “I was impressed by the opportunity, and left it all behind,” said Pérez.

With only a sixth-grade education, Pérez knew he needed to build his confidence, so he completed high school and earned a degree in clinical psychology. “It took me 13 years to prepare academically, and today I have the confidence to enter business offices, host mental health seminars, and share books that can change lives,” he said.

Last year, he sold $11,000 US dollars worth of books. This achievement earned Pérez fourth place for the most books sold across the division.

Literature evangelism has opened doors for Pérez and his family, allowing him to put his children through school. He has spoken to hundreds of teachers and government officials under the Ministry of Education, offering free clinical consultations to those who purchase the books he recommends.

“Literature evangelism paid for all my studies,” said Pérez. “I used to go door to door with my set of books, and one day I fell in a river, ruining them. I told God, ‘From now on, I’ll try to sell more books, but you’ll need to give me a car because I can’t keep carrying books on buses, through the streets, and across rivers.’ Now, God blessed me with a car, and I am able to reach more people. “This is everything to me. It’s not a job, but an adventure to offer the hope and peace that only Jesus can provide,” Pérez said.

The Bigger Picture

Brown, López, and Pérez are among the hundreds of dedicated literature evangelists across the IAD, committed to fulfilling the mission every day, said Espinoza. The event, held from March 23-25, 2025, also aimed to motivate literature evangelists to double their efforts in reaching  more people for the kingdom.

So far, IAD’s publishing ministry structure has resulted in nearly 8,000 local church publishing directors who provide literature evangelism resources among the congregation. “The church needs these local leaders at the church level,” Espinoza added.

Pastor Almir Marroni, Publishing Ministries Director of the General Conference, praised church leaders who have revitalized their publishing ministries and urged other unions to strengthen their support for literature evangelists. “You must have a vision, strong leadership, ample literature, dedicated evangelists, and clear policies,” he said.

Marroni emphasized that recruiting, training, and establishing literature evangelists is key to growing the church. “Literature evangelists are the hidden figures who have preserved God’s plan throughout Bible history.” Addressing the hundreds gathered, he reminded them of their vital mission: “You are chosen by God to transform lives and fulfill His promises in these challenging times.”

He noted that the global church is returning to the basics of literature evangelism, and praised the Inter-American Division’s efforts as a growing example for others worldwide.

A Call to Action

IAD President Pastor Elie Henry praised the dedication and commitment of literature evangelists across the territory. “I commend you for pressing on through challenges—bringing Christ into homes, praying for families, and transforming lives,” he said. “You are true missionaries. Keep moving forward, door to door, in the streets, and in the great cities.” Pastor Henry encouraged them to continue serving with compassion and passion to help relieve humanity’s suffering.

During the congress, IADPA reaffirmed its commitment to supporting literature evangelists by providing hundreds of resources to aid their mission. “We are committed to providing spiritual nourishment to the 36 countries within our Division,” said Saul Ortíz, president of IADPA.

Ortíz highlighted IADPA’s broad reach and infrastructure, which includes its headquarters in Miami, 91 bookstores across the territory, and operations in 18 different currencies. “Our team of 205 people is dedicated to the same mission every day,” he added.

In addition to medals given literature evangelists as well as a pinning ceremony for them, union publishing directors were recognized for their efforts in growing literature evangelism in their churches and region.

As the congress concluded, Pastor Marroni was honored for his years of impactful leadership and steadfast support to the Inter-American Division. Delegates renewed their commitment to let the light of the gospel guide their path as they continue fulfilling the church’s mission through Adventist books and literature.

To view a photo gallery of Inter-American Division’s Publishing Ministries Congress, click HERE