In Inter-America, Church Reaffirms the Value of Ellen White Writings During Online Conference

Seventh-day Adventist leaders respond during a Q&A session at the end of Inter-America’s Spirit of Prophecy Online Conference, held in Miami, Florida, April 8, 2017. Image by Libna Stevens/IAD

April 9, 2017 | Miami, Florida, United States | Libna Stevens/IAD

Top Seventh-day Adventist leaders in the Inter-America Division (IAD) emphasized the value of Ellen G. White’s writings and its relevance and importance to the church today, during a Spirit of Prophecy Online Conference, held yesterday.

Dr. James Nix, director of the White Estate. Image by Libna Stevens/IAD

Themed “Believe His Prophets,” the three-hour conference was meant to fill a great need in the field for information about Ellen White’s ministry, organizers said. White was one of the co-founders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Pastor Israel Leito, president of the church in Inter-America, underlined the need for church leaders and members to cling to the Word of God, and not only live by the bread you know, but what God has provided through prophets, as he reflected on Matthew 4:3-4.

“Accepting the Spirit of Prophecy is accepting that God can work in a spectacular way,” said Pastor Leito. “This conference is to cement, to hold down the faith of what God has done in the church to help us understand His Word, and to accept that heaven has the best for us.”

“Ellen White was constantly lifting the Word of God, and encouraging [individuals] to read and study the Word of God,” said Dr.James Nix, director of the White Estate. Dr. Nix spoke on White and the early beginning of the Adventist movement, and how God guided the church step by step in its development.

Pastor Leon B. Wellington, vice president and Spirit of Prophecy coordinator for the church in the IAD. Image by Libna Stevens/IAD

“God’s plan brought about organization for the Adventist Church,” said Dr. Nix. From doctrines established, church organized, health reform message, education, missions, Christ-centered message, publications to reorganization, the church has seen evidence of divine leadership in its history, stressed Nix about White’s ministry.

Although the church has maintained unity in the body of Christ, there are still many who minimize the relevance of the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, said Pastor Leon B. Wellington, vice president and Spirit of Prophecy main coordinator for the church in Inter-America.

“One of the greatest threats of the Adventist Church is not dissidents within or outside the church but the lukewarm-ness and neglect of the inspired writings that are intended to draw us closer and into a deeper relationship with Christ,” said Wellington.

“A pastor or elder who does not believe in the Spirit of Prophecy—all of God’s revelation about Himself and Jesus to the church from the very beginning, or the Gift of Prophecy—the specific call of God to a specific individual to a specific task to impart the knowledge of the truth, as believed and taught by the Seventh-day Adventist Church should neither be offered nor should he/she accept the position to pastor or lead any Adventist congregation, “ emphasized Wellington.

That’s a clear message that is shared with pastors and elders across the vast IAD territory, said Héctor Sánchez, ministerial association secretary for the church in Inter-America. “Messages must be biblical, and supported by the Gift of Prophecy” said Sánchez during the online event.

Pastor Héctor Sánchez, ministerial association secretary for the IAD. Image by Libna Stevens/IAD

“We have an immense advantage, we don’t have to make up or interpret what we think,” said Sánchez. “God has left a marvelous light that guides us in the right path.”

He urged leaders to read and re-read two of Ellen White’s books which have marked a difference in his decades-long ministry: Steps to Christ and Last Day Events.

“We need to join the Adventist world church’s call to reemphasize the crucial role the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy play in the end of time,” said Sánchez. “We cannot forget our roots to continue moving forward as a great movement.”

A panel of leaders took part in a Q&A session from edits to The Great Controversy book, to the need for more emphasis on health reform, prayer, music, publishing, and more.

Viewers were reminded of the four White research centers throughout the IAD territory for extensive inquiries about Ellen White’s writings and ministry located at Antillean Adventist University in Puerto Rico; Central American Adventist University in Costa Rica; Montemorelos University in Mexico; and Northern Caribbean University in Jamaica.

To view Inter-America’s Spirit of Prophecy Online Conference, visit

English: Believe in His Prophets

Spanish: Creed en Sus Profetas

French: Confiez-vous ses Prophètes

For a photo gallery, visit HERE