Adventist Leaders Called to Mobilize Members for Mission

Ivelisse Herrera challenges leaders to involve more members and serve with excellence and intentionality.

April 1, 2026 | Miami, Florida, United States | Libna Stevens, inter-American Division News

“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.”

With this familiar yet urgent reminder from Scripture, Ivelisse Herrera, treasurer of the Inter-American Division (IAD), called church leaders to renewed commitment during morning worship on the second day of the the quinquennial advisory meetings on March 31, 2026.

Hundreds of departmental leaders from across the Division’s 25 unions gathered for worship as part of the ongoing advisory, a once-every-five-year meeting designed to strengthen alignment, collaboration, and mission focus across the territory.

On this second day, Herrera’s devotional message shifted attention from strategy to something more foundational: the heart and calling of every church leader as a worker in God’s mission.

Her message, titled “Three Things Every Worker Must Not Forget,” centered on three key reminders: the urgency of the mission, the purpose behind God’s calling, and the call to excellence in service.

The Mission Is Urgent—and Workers Are Needed

Reflecting on Matthew 9:37–38, Herrera emphasized that the challenge Jesus presented to His disciples remains unchanged today.

“Many people are in need of hearing God’s message,” she said.

While acknowledging the large number of leaders and members across the IAD territory, she pointed out that the magnitude of the task reveals a deeper reality.

“When we think about the size of the work, cities like Mexico City, Bogotá, Guadalajara, and so many others, we realize that the workers are still few,” she said.

Rather than viewing this as a limitation, Herrera pointed to it as a leadership responsibility.

“The workers are already in the church,” she said. “They are there, waiting to be awakened by the Holy Spirit and to be involved.”

She urged leaders to recognize that their role is not simply to organize activities, but to mobilize people.

“The church does not need more programs or more activities,” Herrera said. “What the church needs is more people involved in the mission we already have.”

She challenged departmental leaders to turn their ministries into platforms for engagement.

“The best contribution we can make is to recruit, train, and involve members in the mission,” she said.

Called with Purpose, Not by Chance

In her second point, Herrera reminded leaders that their presence in ministry is not accidental.

“It is not by chance that you are here—it is divine providence guiding your life,” she said.

Quoting 2 Timothy 1:9, she emphasized that God’s calling is rooted in His purpose, not human qualifications.

“God has called us not because of what we have done, but because of His purpose and His grace,” she said.

She acknowledged the weight of leadership and the challenges that often accompany it, including moments of stress, fatigue, and uncertainty. Yet she encouraged leaders to see their calling through a different lens.

“Ministry is not an end—it is the means God uses to save us,” she said.

She reminded department leaders that even difficult experiences are part of God’s plan.

“God ensures that everything–everything—works together for good for those who are called according to His purpose,” she said, referencing Romans 8:28.

Herrera encouraged leaders to trust that God will strengthen them.

“The Lord will accomplish His purpose in you and in me,” she said.

A Call to Excellence in Service

In her final point, Herrera challenged leaders to pursue excellence—not for recognition, but as an expression of faithfulness to God.

“Our only aspiration should be to be excellent in what God has called us to do,” she said.

She cautioned against ambition driven by position or comparison.

“We are not called to aspire to other roles, but to be excellent where God has placed us,” she said.

Excellence, she explained, is not defined solely by results, but by attitude and collaboration.

“In God’s work, excellence is also measured by our ability to work together, to collaborate, and to reflect the Spirit of Christ,” she said.

She warned against competitiveness and division within ministry settings.

“The Holy Spirit cannot work in an environment where there is disunity,” she said.

Instead, Herrera called for a spirit of humility and mutual respect.

“Let us love one another with brotherly love, preferring one another,” she said, referencing Romans 12:10.

She also reminded leaders that their service should always point back to God.

“Our desire should be that Christ receives honor and perfect service,” she said.

A Renewed Commitment to Mission

As she concluded, Herrera invited leaders to reaffirm their commitment to the calling they have received.

“If you are here today, it is because God has a purpose for you,” she said.

She encouraged them to embrace their role with confidence, knowing that God equips those He calls.

“Serve with joy and assurance, because the Lord is the one who has called you and will enable you,” she said.

Echoing the words of Isaiah 60:1, she closed with a call to action urging leaders to embrace their calling with renewed purpose:

“Rise and shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.”