“All the Family in Mission” Sets the Tone for IAD Year-End Meetings

Top church leaders showcase impact across the territory as the banner initiative expands across the territory.

November 11, 2024 | Montemorelos, Nuevo Leon, Mexico | Libna Stevens, Inter-American Division News

The Inter-American Division (IAD) Year-End Executive Committee Meetings kicked off this weekend with a special online Sabbath program from Montemorelos, Mexico, celebrating the mission initiatives and activities that have mobilized thousands of Seventh-day Adventists in sharing the gospel across the territory.

The live event brought together more than 150 top church administrators, department heads, pastors, laypersons, and members of the executive committee, along with hundreds of local church members, who gathered both at the Montemorelos University on-campus Adventist Church and online on Nov. 9, 2024.

“We are here to celebrate, emphasize, and explain the strategic plan ‘All the Family in Mission,’ which has been set in motion across the territory of the IAD this year,” said Pastor Balvin Braham, vice president of the IAD overseeing evangelism, as the program began.

The “All the Family in Mission” initiative aims to engage church members in both personal and public evangelistic outreach efforts in preparation for the soon return of Jesus.

The three-hour program was meant to serve as a rallying call to build momentum, as the five-year initiative is set to conclude next year, said Braham.

Mission Initiative Achievements

One by one, union evangelism coordinators and administrators shared how church members have been serving the community, growing as faithful disciples, sharing the gospel, and reaping the fruits of their evangelistic efforts.

“We have been motivating our members to engage in fasting and prayer, encouraging them to dive into Bible study, and serving the community by distributing basic necessities and offering mental health support,” said Pastor Felipe Domínguez, evangelism coordinator for the Southeast Mexican Union.

In the Inter-Oceanic Mexican Union, thousands of church members have been giving Bible studies in their small groups every week, said Martin Olvera, evangelism coordinator of the union. So far this year, nearly 50,000 Bible studies have been given, contributing to more than 14,000 baptisms, 100 new companies, and 80 new organized churches, union administrators said.

Intensifying Efforts in the Community

Pastor Teófilo Silvestre, president of the Dominican Union, shared that eight vegetarian restaurants have been offering healthy lifestyle and cooking classes as part of intense mission initiatives to impact the community. In addition, medical brigades led by three health institutions on the island have served more than 5,000 people so far. Three centers of influence have also benefitted hundreds of families by addressing their mental health needs.

“We are planning to continue intensifying our efforts in the community in 2025, including establishing 15 water wells in several needy communities,” Silvestre said.

Jamaica Union President Pastor Everett Brown said that thousands of meals have been distributed through the country’s church-operated food banks. “We want to continue expanding our food distribution to reach even more people in need,” he said.

In Haiti, chaplaincy and psychological services have been offered to help people manage stress amid escalating violence and the displacement of many. Church leaders are also planning for next year to expand their efforts, providing additional assistance through the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Haiti, as well as offering medical care through the Adventist hospital, said Caporal.

Expanding Evangelism

The North Mexican Union is already planning to print a special small newspaper with articles on the Second Coming of Jesus, aimed at motivating Adventist families to reach and minister to at least four families in their communities. They will also continue their display of a sanctuary model and the Daniel 2 Caravan display in major plazas and cities to on the end time prophecy, in addition to mental health initiatives for the community throughout 2025.

Church administrators also shared strategic initiatives underway to reach more people with the gospel in the coming months.

The North Mexican Union is already planning to print a special small newspaper with articles on the Second Coming of Jesus, aimed at motivating Adventist families to reach and minister to at least four families in their communities. They will also continue their Daniel 2 Caravan demonstrations and talks, along with mental health initiatives that will benefit the community throughout 2025.

Leaders in Honduras are projecting more than 3,000 baptisms as their evangelistic caravan sweeps across the country. Other unions, like the one in Venezuela, will continue training hundreds of laypersons to engage in evangelistic campaigns throughout 2025.

In Panama, more than 3,600 families are ready to reach one family with the gospel. Additionally, pastors across the country will join efforts with these families to establish 15 new churches between January and June 2025.

The live program highlighted activities and impacts across the 24 unions, or church regions, in the territory, and was enriched with praise music, Bible readings, and spiritual messages.

Continued Commitment and Impact

“It must be very clear to you that a major strategic priority for us is evangelism and mission,” said Pastor Leonard Johnson, executive secretary of the IAD, as he stood on stage next to fellow IAD administrators. He challenged every member to remain steadfast in sharing the good news of the gospel.

Ivelisse Herrera, treasurer of the IAD, praised the church membership for their faithful work as pastors, teachers, leaders, and members united in mission to make a difference where they are.

“As IAD administrators, we encourage, invite, and commit ourselves to supporting every initiative that serves the community,” she stated.

“It’s about putting the gospel into action as a tangible demonstration of God’s love. Service builds bridges between the church and the community, opens doors as a step toward bringing Jesus to them, and, in turn, we ourselves benefit, growing in unity, faith, and love.”

Pastor Elie Henry, president of the IAD, thanked both church leaders and members for their tireless efforts in sharing God’s love and salvation in their communities. “All the Family in Mission is about answering the call to get involved in mission,” he said.

Reaching More in 2025

“In Inter-America, we will have All the Families in Mission preaching and holding evangelistic campaigns,” encouraged Pastor Henry. “We want to continue working in 2025, reaching more than 200,000 new souls before the end of the year.”

Pastor Henry also announced that small groups would be engaged in evangelistic campaigns, baptizing new believers in January, with church elders baptizing at least three new believers on February 22. Additionally, territory-wide evangelistic efforts will culminate in a special event in Chiapas, Mexico, where thousands will be added to the church on April 26, 2025.

In his sermon, Pastor Billy Biaggi, General Vice President of the General Conference, appealed to every member and every family to study the Bible fervently, get to know the Lord, and become actively involved in the mission of reaching others.

“We must love the Lord so we can serve and become more like Jesus,” said Pastor Biaggi. “It’s about being vigilant, relying on God’s promises, and keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus,” he continued. “As a family, we need to watch over and care for each other, work diligently, and fulfill God’s purpose for our lives before His return,” he said.

To view the online event of Sabbath, Nov. 9, 2024, click HERE.

To access the photo gallery of the event, click HERE.