Martinique and Guadeloupe: Adventist World President Makes First Church Visit in 30 Years

Fort-de-France, Martinique….[Libna Stevens/IAD]

President of the Adventist World Church Pastor Jan Paulsen visited Martinique and Guadeloupe last month, the first time in 30 years a world church president has visited this predominently French-speaking region of the Inter-American Division (IAD) territory.

“We invited Pastor Paulsen to travel there for a pastoral visit to let the church know that they are a part of the [world] church,” says Pastor Israel Leito, IAD president.

During the three-day visit, Pastor Paulsen spoke to church leaders and members on the unity and the integrity of the church and reassured them that the world church cares about them.

“Pastor Paulsen was very impressed with the church, its organization, the commitment of the members and leaders, and the dedication of the church to be an integral part of the world church,” says Pastor Leito.

Prior to the president's arrival, IAD's top church administrators conducted an administrative audit on the church leadership of the region, a regular practice performed periodically for all major IAD regions, according to Pastor Leito.

“We only visited Martinique and Guadeloupe, and our perceptions were confirmed: this is a very loyal church, giving great support to the world church,” Pastor Leito says.

Organized in 1989, the Seventh-day Adventist church in the French Antilles-Guiana Union is comprised of the territories of French Guiana, Guadeloupe and Martinique. There are more than 28,000 Seventh-day Adventists worshiping in 125 churches and congregations there.