Treasurer’s Report Highlights Gratitude, Responsibility in the Management of Church Funds

“Nothing and no one can prevent the advancement and triumph of this church,” Ivelisse Herrera says.

November 19, 2025 | Miami, Florida, United States | Inter-American Division News Staff

An overall spirit of gratitude to God and colleagues and solid financial figures marked the treasurer’s report at the Inter-American Division (IAD) Annual Council in Miami, Florida, United States, on November 12. IAD treasurer Ivelisse Herrera thanked God, the past and the new regional administrations, and her team for the “spirit of support and the unity” she has experienced as they manage the funds resulting from the church members’ faithfulness and the Lord’s blessings.  “I know that great things are going to happen for the good of the growth across Inter-America. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Steady and Significant Growth

Herrera reminded church leaders attending the business meetings at the regional church headquarters that despite challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crises across the territory, God blessed the church as never before. “Who would have thought that [such] period of time would also be a five-year period in which as never before in recent decades, our church in Inter-America would experience extraordinary tithing and giving growth like never before seen in recent decades!” Herrera said. “We must never forget the provision that God made for His church in that very difficult time.”

Accordingly, Herrera reported that in the 2019-2024 quinquennium, tithes and offerings increased 27 percent in U.S. dollars each, while mission offerings experienced a 44 percent increase. Current liabilities decreased 34 percent, while net assets increased 29 percent, she shared. Other indicators also, including working capital and liquidity, also showed positive trends, and appropriations to the IAD fields increased 43 percent. All of this  shows that the financial position of the IAD is strong, Herrera said.

God’s Blessings Among Challenges

At the same time, Herrera mentioned some of the challenges the region has experienced lately. The IAD financial activities in 2025, for instance, were affected by a significant depreciation of currencies across the territory. “

We handle about eighteen, nineteen different currencies” she shared. However, 58 percent of tithes comes from four of them: the Mexican peso, the Colombian peso, the Jamaican peso, and the Dominican peso. “Exchange rate volatility reduces the tithe reported in USD and impacts the Division’s operations,” she explained. “But despite these factors and others… we continue to move forward and by the grace of God.”

Other financial indicators between 2024 and 2025 that Herrera mentioned include a 10 percent net increase in cash, a 19 percent decrease in liabilities, and an 8 percent increase in net assets as of October 2025.

A Rational for the Region’s Financial Strength

Herrera then shared some general remarks and reflections about the financial operation of the IAD. She called regional Adventist leaders to remember that “the financial strength of the Inter-American Division comes from the territory of the Inter-American Division and it is for our territory, to serve our territory,” she said. “Please never forget that.”

In that sense, Herrera explained how important is for the regional church to enjoy financial strength, and she mentioned three reasons for it. She mentioned the ability to fund the strategic priorities of the regional church, to be able to respond promptly to emergencies across the region, and to address the impact of global economic volatility when needed.

Connecting Generosity to Mission

In the next part of her report, Herrera called for active involvement that seeks to “connect generosity with mission. “Those of us who work in finances will go wherever there is someone who can exercise generosity and present them with opportunities to demonstrate it in mission,” she revealed.

She also added that the IAD financial officers envision every church member as a potential treasurer. In that sense, she said, “we want to work to motivate [members] to exercise that potential for the glory of God.” Herrera added, “We want generosity expressed in all its forms—time, talent, resources—that generosity to pass through those of us who work in the financial system for the fulfillment of the mission.”

An Integrated Strategy

Herrera also shared the main points of emphasis for the current quinquennium, including participation—a “systematic, faithful, and generous contribution of financial resources;” integration—of digital platforms and technological resources to respond with “greater unity and speed to challenges and transformations;” and evaluation—about financial performance across the fields and about how local churches are doing.

All these suggestions became part of a consensus document prepared in September in a meeting with all treasurers and financial leaders across the region, Herrera shared. “I believe the Lord will give a good quinquennium, not because this is a perfect plan,” but because every leader will ideally be committed to do their best and trust God will supply what they might lack. “I believe that we can make progress in this area because simply this is the Lord’s church and nothing and no one can prevent the advancement and triumph of this church,” Herrera said.

Trusting God’s Promise

Herrera called every leader to affirm that “when circumstances become so overwhelming that they drain our strength, we will trust that the Lord will always give us new strength to press on; therefore, we will not give up nor stop.” She added, “We will not allow circumstances to control us, but we will trust that God will fulfill His purpose in the midst of them.”

Finally, Herrera appeal so “when we see that progress slows us down, with God’s help we will try to run; and if we cannot run, then we will walk—but the point is that we will never stop during this quinquennium as we continue seeking ways to connect the generosity of the entire church with the mission God has entrusted to His church.”

Comments from the Floor

When the floor was open for discussion, several members of the IAD Executive Committee went to the microphones to share their insights and comments and make questions.

“I want to acknowledge this morning the financial responsibility of the division’s administration,” said José Luis Olmos, treasurer of the Southeast Mexican Union. “We can look this morning at how the Lord has given sufficient resources to the Inter-American Division, which have been enough for the expenses we have…. Thank you for showing a financial culture of responsibility in the use of resources.”

Former IAD treasurer Filiberto Verduzco, on the other hand, reminded Executive Board members that when the GC increased the division participation (or the funds send from the division to the GC) from 2 to eventually 3 percent, the IAD administration to absorb that increase. “Those are appropriations. That’s investing in growth in the territory,” he said. “Sometimes, we just take these blessings for granted. But I rejoice to see that this division is still going on and will continue to be strong for God’s honor and glory.”

For his part, Ricardo Marin, president of the Costa Rica Union, said he praised God “for the comprehensive, balanced approach.” He also commended the transparency with which financial matters are being handled, which “inspires a lot of confidence.” Marin also mentioned the seriousness of financial leaders in the IAD. “Seriousness motivates us, encourages us to continue giving the best of ourselves,” he said.

Finally, GC associate treasurer Sabrina DeSouza went to the mike “to say thank you so much to the administration on behalf of the General Conference…. We are so grateful to the Inter-American Division for being a strong division.” DeSouza reminded Executive Board members that “a strong General Conference is built on a strong division. And divisions build strong unions, and unions build strong conferences, and strong conferences build strong churches.” In that sense, she said, “we support you, and we endorse what you are doing…. Thank you, thank you so much.”