Adventist Leaders Approve New Initiatives, Appointments During Spring Meeting
Pierre Caporal (right), executive secretary of the Inter-American Division, leads opening business items during the IAD Spring Meeting on May 6, 2026, as IAD President Abner De los Santos (center) and Treasurer Ivelisse Herrera look on at the Bender Archbold Auditorium in Miami, Florida, United States. [Photo: Daniel Gallardo/IAD]
May 11, 2026 | Miami, Florida, United States | Libna Stevens, Inter-American Division News
Inter-American Division (IAD) Executive Committee members voted on new leadership appointments, upcoming initiatives, policy amendments, and regional adjustments during the church’s Spring Meeting business sessions held in Miami, Florida, United States, May 6–7, 2026.
More than 150 union administrators, institutional leaders, pastors, and lay members voted to elect Pastor Marvyn Smith, youth ministries director of the Caribbean Union Conference, as associate youth ministries director for the IAD, based in Trinidad. Leaders also elected Pastor Everett Brown, former president of the Jamaica Union Conference, as associate personal ministries and Sabbath school director for the IAD, based in Jamaica.
IAD Leaders: Pastor Pierre Caporal, executive secretary prays for José Luis Olmos, newly elected president of Montemorelos University, and his wife Lilia, as IAD President Abner De los Santos and Treasurer Ivelisse Herrera join on stage during a special prayer of consecration for newly elected leaders at the Spring Meeting on May 7, 2026. Also prayed for were newly elected leaders Everett Brown, associate personal ministries and Sabbath School director; Marvyn Smith, associate youth ministries director; and Gabriel Estrada, treasurer of the Southeast Mexican Union Mission, joined the prayer via Zoom. [Photo: Daniel Gallardo/IAD]
Proposed Reorganization in Mexico
Executive committee members also voted to request that the General Conference study the territorial reorganization of the Inter-Oceanic Mexican Union because of its continued church growth and expanding mission territory.
The proposal would divide the current union into two territories: the existing Inter-Oceanic Mexican Union and a newly proposed Eastern Mexican Union, though leaders noted the proposed name is not final. Leaders explained that the territory currently spans eight Mexican states with nearly 23 million inhabitants, presenting increasing logistical and administrative challenges.
Pastor Abraham Sandoval, president of the Inter-Oceanic Mexican Union, presents details on the proposed territorial reorganization of the union during the Inter-American Division Spring Meeting. [Photo: Daniel Gallardo/IAD]
Sandoval also highlighted the union’s financial stability and organizational readiness, noting that all 11 local fields maintain strong liquidity and working capital indicators.
The recommendation followed months of study by a commission appointed by the IAD administration. If approved by the General Conference, the new territory would become the 26th union in IAD.
Faye Patterson, education director of the Inter-American Division, outlines upcoming education initiatives approved by the Executive Committee, including the first Geoscience Conference and university leadership meetings planned for 2027. [Photo: Daniel Gallardo/IAD]
Executive committee members also approved a wide range of ministry initiatives, leadership training programs, evangelistic strategies, and educational projects designed to strengthen mission outreach across the territory over the next several years.
Among the initiatives approved were the first Geoscience Conference at the Central American Adventist University (UNADECA) from March 22–24, 2027, and a meeting for Adventist university presidents and vice presidents on Nov. 9–11, 2027, focused on collaboration, academic excellence, and Mission 2030 goals.
Leaders also voted to organize a territory-wide Adventist Possibility Ministries Emphasis Week from April 11–18, 2027, to focus on ministry to persons with disabilities and their families in local churches and communities.
Executive committee members vote to approve the Adventist Possibility Ministries emphasis week for local churches across the territory as Samuel Telemaque, Adventist Possibility Ministries director of the Inter-American Division, presents the initiative during the Spring Meeting on May 6, 2026. [Photo: Daniel Gallardo/IAD]
Leaders also approved a specialized urban missional church training cohort throughout 2027 in Cancun, Mexico, San José, Costa Rica, and Medellín, Colombia, focused on evangelizing urban and secular populations, including communities within the 10/40 Window.
Daniel Torreblanca, youth ministries director of the Inter-American Division, presents youth initiatives including Bible Connection for Pathfinders and Community Impact Week during the Spring Meeting. [Photo: Daniel Gallardo/IAD]
Children, adolescents and youth ministries projects approved included the launch of the “Explore Faith” discipleship app for children and adolescents beginning in 2027 in the division’s three primary languages; training sessions for the new “Alive in Jesus” Sabbath School curriculum and Vacation Bible Experience from Feb. 7–11, 2027; a continuing education program for youth ministries leaders; Bible Connection initiatives for Pathfinders; and a community impact week prior to Global Youth Day to mobilize youth in outreach and service projects throughout local communities.
Leaders also approved communication and media initiatives including participation in the General Conference Content Creators Congress in Maryland from July 20–23, 2026, and a special IAD Content Creators Summit in Miami, Florida, on April 13–14, 2027, aimed at strengthening online influencers participating in OneVoice27 evangelism efforts.
Pastor Isaías Espinoza, publishing ministries director of the Inter-American Division, presents the All Things New missionary book selected for territory-wide distribution in 2027 during the Spring Meeting. [Photo: Daniel Gallardo/IAD]
Leaders also voted to adopt All Things New as the 2027 missionary book and The Desire of Ages as the Spirit of Prophecy devotional reading selection connected to the global OneVoice initiative.
Executive committee members listen during Spring Meeting proceedings at the Inter-American Division headquarters on May 6, 2026, in Miami, Florida, United States. [Photo: Daniel Gallardo/IAD]
Leaders also reaffirmed the 2026 SeLD Leadership Conference in Panama City, Panama, from July 27–30, 2026, for orientation and leadership development for newly elected and incumbent leaders throughout the territory.
The committee further voted to strengthen public affairs and religious liberty initiatives through regional rights and freedom panel discussions, the establishment of religious liberty committees at union and local field levels, and new religious freedom and evangelism programs aimed at educating members and communities on conscience rights and religious liberty issues connected to evangelistic outreach.
Balvin Braham, vice president of the Inter-American Division, presents plans for the upcoming SeLD Leadership Conference in Panama City, Panama, scheduled for July 2026, during the Spring Meeting on May 6, 2026. [Photo: Daniel Gallardo/IAD]
Executive committee members additionally voted to change the status of Bosques Chiapas Mission in the Chiapas Mexican Union to conference status.
IAD department leaders also presented reports on ministry initiatives and activities carried out across the territory in recent years.
Ivelisse Herrera, treasurer of the Inter-American Division, reads the Legacy of Service recognition as David Poloche and his wife Edilma, along with Kern Tobias and his wife Linda, smile on before executive committee members during the Spring Meeting. [Photo: Daniel Gallardo/IAD]
In addition to the business sessions and ministry actions voted, leaders also paused to recognize longtime service and leadership within the division.
The Inter-American Division Legacy of Service award was granted to Kern Tobias, president of the Caribbean Union Conference, and David Poloche, former director of ADRA Inter-America, in recognition of their decades of faithful leadership, ministry, and service on the Inter-American Division Executive Committee. Their wives, Linda Tobias and Edilma Poloche, were also honored for their support and dedication throughout years of ministry service.
From left to right: Ivelisse Herrera, treasurer of the Inter-American Division; Pierre Caporal, executive secretary of the division; David Poloche, former director of ADRA Inter-America, and his wife Edilma; Linda Tobias and Kern Tobias, president of the Caribbean Union ; and Abner De los Santos, president of the division, and his wife Leticia, ministerial spouses director, pose for a photo during the Legacy of Service recognition ceremony at the Spring Meeting on May 7, 2026. [Photo: Daniel Gallardo/IAD]
Pastor Pierre Caporal, IAD executive secretary, said the recognition honored “a legacy of faith, example, and service for new generations,” as executive committee members voted unanimously to approve the recognition.
As they concluded their years of service as members of the Executive Committee, Ivelisse Herrera, IAD treasurer, thanked both leaders for dedicating their lives and talents to strengthening the mission and ministry of the church across Inter-America.
Members of the Inter-American Division Executive Committee pose for a group photo during the Spring Meeting on May 7, 2026, in Miami, Florida, United States. [Photo: Daniel Gallardo/IAD]