IAD Treasurer’s Report Focuses on Deep Gratefulness for God’s Blessings

Ivelisse Herrera calls church leaders to work toward greater commitment and improvements.

May 14, 2025 | Miami, Florida, United States | Inter-American Division News Staff

“This is a report of gratefulness,” said Inter-American Division treasurer Ivelisse Herrera in introducing the Treasurer’s Report at the Mid-Year Meetings of the regional executive committee in Miami, Florida, United States, May 8, 2025. “It is a report of gratefulness because of God’s blessings on our finances.” During the next two hours, Herrera and her team reported on results, trends, and challenges for the finances across the IAD at the close of the quinquennium.

Herrera acknowledged that during the quinquennium, there have been moments of anxiety, fear, and uncertainty. All of that, however, “have made us reaffirm our assurance that this is the Lord’s doing, and despite whatever we might do, He will see His church through.” It’s in that context that praise is due, she emphasized, quoting Psalm 92:1, 2: “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night.”

Positive Trends

The first reason to be thankful, Herrera said, is because God has been a faithful provider of all the regional church needs. “The IAD financial status is sound, something that helps support the church’s mission,” Herrera said. “May all glory and honor be to our God.” In that sense, she reported increases across the board in U.S. dollars, including 7.62 percent in tithe and 8.26 in offerings. Also, the percentage of offerings against tithes keeps increasing, Herrera reported, and now has reached 34.26 percent. “A percentage of those offerings go to the mission field abroad, so we praise God for these figures,” she said.

Herrera explained that overall and despite the financial challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, tithes at the end of the 2020-2024 have increased 27 percent against the previous five years. She emphasized that there is still room for improvement, especially in some regions across the territory. “We still a great opportunity to keep growing, and we also thank God for that,” she said.

She also emphasized that as managers of the church’s resources, her team at the IAD assigns funds with caution but trusting the Lord amid challenging world and regional circumstances. “We take good care of resources because we want to be occupied until He comes,” said Herrera.

Funds for Evangelism and Regional Initiatives

Herrera also stated that despite external challenging conditions and fluctuations, operating expenses have been 9 percent less than the budgeted amounts. She reminded Executive Committee members that those expenses include substantial amounts a year earmarked for the regional programs and initiatives.

Another item that Herrera said it “brings her joy” is the regional special appropriations for evangelism across the region. In the last quinquennium, millions of U.S. dollars were assigned to fund public and digital evangelism initiatives. Among them was the massive distribution of copies of Ellen G. White’s The Great Controversy across the IAD, she reported.

Recently the IAD has assigned substantial funds to support the production and distribution of study materials for church members, including the “Book of the Year” and an annual book on stewardship. “These are funds we send to publishing houses to reduce costs so our members can get and use those resources,” Herrera explained.

Development and Emergency Assistance

IAD leaders sent another significant amount of funds to support development plans at Adventist universities across the territory, and millions of U.S. dollars more to help fund the construction of church buildings and other facilities. Among additional items, she also mentioned substantial funds to support church members and communities affected by natural disasters, and more funds to help local church fields during the pandemic. “All these resources were shared with the field during this quinquennium,” Herrera reported.

At the same time, Herrera explained that the IAD regularly shares its resources with the world church. Regarding mission offerings, the IAD is “just the means to channel these offerings, which are sent to the General Conference,” she said.

Transparency and Accountability

Herrera also celebrated the initiatives leaders launched to strengthen regional teamwork and promote transparency and accountability. The team she leads completed a financial assessment of six unions with positive results, she reported.

Also, IAD financial leaders promoted initiatives that focused on the development and capitalization of local fields. “We understand local fields are the most important church structure because they are closer to local churches,” Herrera explained. “I thank financial leaders across the territory that supported this project.”

Moments to Express Thanks

After thanking God repeatedly, Herrera invited members of her team to also express how they felt. Taking turns, they mentioned God’s ongoing presence and support, the commitment of leaders and every level, and the dedication of church members across the region.

“In these five years we have seen God’s hand, guiding us with love and wisdom,” Florencio Suárez, associate treasurer of the IAD acknowledged. “It has allowed us to move forward in the development of a sound organizational culture, with legal transparency, always protecting the work the Lord has entrusted us.”

Other team members thanked God for being able to serve, assist members in distress with timely funds, the faithfulness of church members and regional church leaders, and God’s help to keep developing technological tools for greater efficiency across the territory.

People Used by God

In the last part of her report, Herrera highlighted a need to thank for what she called “God’s raw material”—the people that God uses to fulfill His work on this earth. She called her team to the stage, explaining the need to thank them for serving every day and for working “in season and out of season” to discharge their duties for God’s glory. “Thank you very much, dear colleagues, for coming here to also express your gratitude,” she said.

Herrera then called former IAD treasurer, Pastor Filiberto Verduzco, who was still serving at the beginning of the quinquennium. “Thank you for inspiring us and infecting us with the notion of the need we have of channeling our best efforts to build a sound financial status in Inter-America,” she said.

Regional and Local Support

Additionally, Herrera called treasurers of local fields present to the stage to acknowledge their contributions. “They accomplish a very valuable service,” said Herrera. “Their faithful work is what leads to an ethos of trust in the financial system of the church.” She added, “Thank you, colleagues, for your service.” She also referenced every regional church leaders—union presidents and secretaries—who in one way or the other inform financial decisions across the board. “Thank you for promoting order and sound management,” Herrera said.

Then, Herrera called Pastor Elie Henry, IAD president, and IAD executive secretary Pastor Leonard Johnson “for always making sure division finances are solid and for their support in the management of financial resources.”

Herrera acknowledged the vital role of lay church members, including those serving on the IAD Executive Committee. “Your love and commitment to God and His church make it possible for us to speak of a sound financial system,” she said. “You are instrumental in making every Sabbath a testimony to the miracle of faithfulness.”

Following Herrera’s presentation, Pastor Henry offered remarks praising her dedication, passion, and professionalism in managing the church’s finances across the region. “This morning, she has shown once more what is in her heart,” he said. “We express our most sincere appreciation for her service.”

Comments from the Floor

David De Jesus, a lay member from Puerto Rico, stated: “Having experienced significant growth is nice, but we should now make an assessment to find out any way of relieving some of the burdens the unions are carrying? Is there any way unions can keep some additional funds to spend them in evangelism, which is, after all, our reason to be here?” he asked.

Then it was turn of Pastor Everett Brown, president of the Jamaica Union. Brown said that he wanted to commend the leaders of the IAD. “I see a pattern, a tradition here among regional church leaders. And I know I can go back to my territory with my head hold high, feeling proud of being member of this body….I can see that this territory is focused on mission, on people, and are open to suggestions.”

Gratitude for the Leaders’ Support

Pastor Kern Tobias, president of the Caribbean Union agreed. “I feel a sense of joy,” he said as he commended Verduzco and Herrera for their contributions to the field. Tobias added he was impressed how “everybody applauded everybody” to congratulate each other’s efforts, explaining, “those who carry the loads must also feel their significance. He called that attitude “a model for our union,” adding, “We want to applaud the treasurer for creating this environment.”

Belize Union’s Treasurer Maxine Bodden de Valiente also thanked the treasury team and the administration for their support. “Beyond God’s help, I don’t know where the Belize Union would be but for the support we have received all these years,” she said as she committed to “do our best to ensure that God helps us to use the resources, to make sure that his work is done in Belize.”

Partners with God

Verduzco closed the session thanking God in prayer. He thanked God for the church members across the division, whom they called “the only partners in funding the mission.” He also thanked God for leaders, including the treasury team. They, Verduzco said, are using their God-given talents to preach and manage the resources available. “We put them in Your hands so that You can continue to guide them as they manage Your resources to fulfill our mission,” he said.

Above all, Verduzco prayed, “we want to give You our lives…. Use us, inspire us, and give us the wisdom we need to manage the resources You have provided.” He added, “We thank you, Lord, for all You have done in this great division, and we look forward to Your soon return so we can make the mission of Your church on this earth a reality.”