Below is a transcript of a message addressed to the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Inter-America from President of the Inter-American Division, Elie Henry–IAD News Staff
March 18, 2022 | Miami, Florida, United States | By: Elie Henry, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Inter-America
Hi there! I’m glad to greet you once again, on this very special Sabbath when the Seventh-day Adventist Church around the world celebrates Global Children’s Day and Global Youth Day.
As is our tradition, we join with the little ones and the young people, in serving and helping those most in need.
If we combine the themes that both children’s and youth ministries have chosen, we have a very powerful message: “Loving the Forgotten” and “Serving from the Heart”. You see? From these two topics we can get a whole sermon, and that is what the children and young people have chosen: To be themselves the sermon, preaching in the streets, in orphanages, hospitals, at borders, refugee centers and many other places.
The world is experiencing many crises today. Millions of people are suffering, are oppressed without hope and living in uncertainty. Others focus on consumerism, pleasure, vices and idleness, all of which seem to lead them nowhere.
But what a blessing it is to see the children and young people of our church celebrating their day, helping, being examples of faithfulness and reflections of God’s love.
The Apostle Paul in his first letter to Timothy, left a very appropriate piece of advice:
“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12:12)
Congratulations children and young people on your day, the whole church comes together to pray and support you in this beautiful work of loving the forgotten and serving from the heart.
Happy Sabbath!