In Inter-America, teachers are reminded to be ministers of the gospel

Inter-America’s second territory-wide Education Congress opened last night as each church region represented displayed their flags, banners and traditional attire in Riviera Maya, Mexico, Sep. 10, 2014. The event drew more than 1,000 teachers, professors, educators and church administrators to celebrate their dedication and reinforce the vision and mission of the Adventist educational system. Images by Libna Stevens/IAD

September 11, 2014 | Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo, Mexico | Libna Stevens/IAD

Dr. Gamaliel Florez (right), IAD education director and his associate Faye Patterson welcome the hundreds of teachers to the congress during opening ceremony program.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Inter-America gathered a core group of its teachers, professors, and educators from across its hundreds of schools and universities for the second territory-wide Education Congress which began last night. More than 1,000 Adventist educators convened in Riviera Maya in Mexico for the four-day event which promises to reassure them of their important leadership role in the lives of their pupils, equip them with knowledge and remind them of their mission to prepare children and young people for the Kingdom of Heaven.

“You represent 10 percent of the thousands of dedicated teachers across our more than 1,000 schools including 14 universities in Inter-America,” said Dr. Gamaliel Florez, education director of the church in Inter-America as he welcomed the delegation. “We praise God for your commitment to ensuring our children and young people are prepared for the Second Coming of Jesus.”

Pastor Israel Leito, president of the church in Inter-America, addressed the conference and thanked teachers for their dedication in preparing, leading and maintaining the future of the church.

IAD President Pastor Israel Leito addresses the conference and thanks teachers for their dedication in preparing, leading and maintaining the future of the church.

“You shape the success of the future of our church by preparing world leaders, church leaders for the fulfillment of the mission, ” said Pastor Leito. “I hope you understand the importance of your ministry as you attend this congress.”

The Inter-American Division (IAD) president encouraged teachers to cling to the power of God as they model after Jesus’ ways of connecting, loving and teaching students.

“You can be a good teacher if you maintain your connection with the Source of kindness found in the God of Heaven,” said Pastor Leito. “It is the only way that we can reflect the love of Jesus.”

Pastor Leito challenged teachers not only to teach students how to face life but help them achieve spiritual heights as they connect with God daily through the Scriptures.

Minister of Education for the State of Quintana Roo Jose Alberto Alonso Obando praised the work of Adventist educators, principals and teachers for their efforts in shaping children and young people to be productive members of society.

Quintana Roo’s Minister of Education Jose Alberto Alonso Obando, praises the work of the Adventist Church in shaping children and young people to be productive members of society.

“Besides your teaching sciences and others subjects you teach a solid foundation of values, order, respect to others and love toward your fellow man and God,” said Alonso. “God has given us the gift of learning and you the gift of teaching so thank you.”

During the opening program, Montemorelos University granted a Medal of Merit to Pastor Leito in recognition for his leadership in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, his distinguished sensitivity to the needs of the church organization’s human resources, establishing new policies and making decisions in favor of individuals and their families in church employment.

The new award, coined as the “Medal of Merit Israel Leito”, becomes a distinct medal for outstanding church administrators who pursue the welfare of church employees and their families, said Dr. Ismael Castillo, president of Montemorelos University before presenting the award.

Montemorelos University President Dr. Ismael Castilo (second from right) awards the Medal of Merit Israel Leito to Pastor Leito, president of the church in Inter-America, for his distinguished sensitivity to the needs of the church organization’s human resources, establishing new policies and making decisions in favor of individuals and their families in church employment.

“Montemorelos University builds its gallery of distinguished leaders who make an important contribution to the fulfillment of the mission so that new generations receive the impact of a professional endeavor as an example to follow as they fulfill their responsibilities,” said Dr. Castillo.

“The administrative service of Pastor Leito has maintained a driving thread of making individuals, families and their needs, a priority,” Dr. Castillo said.

Themed “The Teacher as a Minister of the Gospel,” the congress will feature Adventist World Church vice presidents and education leaders and authors on presentations and seminars on Adventist education as an evangelistic strategy, the church’s responsibility with its educational system, the teacher’s role in the preservation of Adventist education, curriculum essentials of Adventist Education, redemptive discipline, creativity development, classroom quality, and more.

Inter-America’s II Education Congress will conclude on Saturday, Sep. 13, 2014.

To view a photo gallery of the opening event, click HERE