Inter-America to Celebrate Thousands of Baptisms During Live Event from Mexico
Church leaders, members, and guest evangelists unite for a historic baptismal celebration, capping months of outreach across 25 church regions.
April 22, 2025 | Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, Mexico | Libna Stevens, Inter-American Division News
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Inter-American Division (IAD) will celebrate the end of intense evangelism efforts across its 25 unions, or major church regions so far this year, during a special livestreamed baptismal event from Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, Mexico, on Sabbath, Apr. 26, 2025. Themed “El Cielo Te Espera,” (Heaven Awaits You), the evangelism program will be held at the Expo Convenciones Chiapas, and will feature hundreds of baptisms onsite, adding to thousands more across the region.
“This is a wonderful celebration of what God has done through the pastors and laity in the IAD during the last five years,” said Pastor Balvin Braham, vice president of the IAD overseeing evangelism and main organizer of the event. The program will also recognize unions for their contributions to church growth since 2020.
Since January, pastors, church elders, small group leaders, and church members have been actively reaching out to neighbors, friends, coworkers, and others through Bible studies, campaigns, and outreach initiatives.
[Image: Inter-American Division]
Evangelism Efforts in Chiapas
In Chiapas alone, church leaders expect to surpass 20,000 baptisms—a historic milestone exceeding last year’s total for the Chiapas Mexican Union.
More than 130 guest evangelists from the IAD and speakers from Adventist World Radio and theology schools joined the effort last weekend. They preached across parks, community centers, auditoriums, and churches, inviting people to follow Christ.
“It is a great blessing and opportunity for the church to grow further in fulfilling the mission under the leadership of so many who have come to this union to strengthen Chiapas in its mission outreach,” said Pastor Ignacio Navarro, president of the Chiapas Mexican Union. “The Adventist Church in Chiapas has always stood out as a very missionary-minded church and we are seeing this capitalized now.”
Leaders estimate that approximately 25,000 will be the total added to the church by the end of the month.
“Our church members have been engaged 100 percent and done an extraordinary job preparing the ground—truly excellent,” said Navarro.
Four people stand before they are baptized at the Patria Nueva Sports Center in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas Mexico on Apr. 21, 2025. [Photo: Facebook]
Evangelism in Action
Pastor Kent Price, personal ministries director for the Atlantic Caribbean Union, held meetings at the Agua Azul Adventist Church in Tuxtla Gutiérrez and was encouraged by the church’s involvement.
“This is my first time in Chiapas, and I’ve seen how open people are to the gospel,” he said. “During Sabbath’s altar call, three individuals came forward for baptism, and more than 20 responded for special prayer.”
At the Patria Nueva Central Adventist Church, 60 out of 125 individuals who completed Bible studies were recognized during a special ceremony on April 19. “They are all ready for baptism,” said Pastor Melchor Ferreyra, personal ministries director for the IAD. The following day, over 1,200 gathered at the Patria Nueva Sports Center to hear Ferreyra preach on hope in Jesus. Three were baptized, with more expected each night throughout the week, local leaders said.
Livestream Details
The grand celebration will spotlight the evangelistic impact of the “All the Family in Mission” initiative across the IAD. The event will feature live baptisms, music, testimonies, and spiritual messages.
Watch live on webcast.interamerica.org
📍 Mexico Time – 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
📍 Miami Time – 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.