Inter-America: Church Makes Great Strides in 2007; Bounces Back from Natural Disasters

Miami, Florida, United States…[Libna Stevens/IAD]

Just a few days ago, the year 2007 closed its doors and is now another remarkable year in the history of the church in Inter-America. 2007 saw more than its share of ups and downs.

It was in 2007 that the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Inter-America reached the three-million member mark as 48,602 new members were baptized in a single day during the celebration of Pentecost and More initiative broadcast live via satellite on March 24. (Click here for full story)

Other notable events and milestones included:

Educators meet to take action on improving the Adventist educational system in Inter-America with new Inter-America Education Center and Virtual Library.

First Division-wide choir and band music festival held in Costa Rica.

Inter-America’s first youth leadership convention where over 5,000 youth leaders gathered for four days in Medellin, Colombia. For full story click here.

First generation of pastors to graduate with a doctoral degree from the Inter-American Theological Seminary, in Montemorelos, Mexico.

IAD Family Ministries Cruise gathered over 800 church leaders and members for a week at sea for family enrichment.

Several Adventist Universities throughout Inter-America such as in Colombia, Costa Rica, and Jamaica, celebrated 70, 80 and 100 years of offering Adventist Christian education.

Inter-American Division Executive Committee traveled to Cuba for the first time to hold its year-end meetings. For more click here.

Along with the positive strides of the church in Inter-America, 2007 was not without its share of tragedy.

Marred by devastating natural disasters, 2007's hurricane season took a toll on several of the countries in the IAD territory, leaving 24 church members dead from hurricanes and tropical storms which hit the vast Caribbean region. Hundreds of people were affected when Hurricane Dean hit St. Lucia, Martinique, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica and Mexico in August. Thousands were left homeless in Nicaragua and Honduras when Hurricane Felix ransacked the Central American countries in early September. Hurricane Noel flooded the Dominican Republic, Haiti and made its way to South Mexico where over 31,000 church members lost all their possessions in the intense flooding.

“This year has been a horribly surprising year for us,” said Pastor Israel Leito, president of the church in Inter-America, as he reflected on the devastation seen across the territory. “But our church has a very strong resilience; they have bounced back already from these things.”

That strong spirit in the territory prompted church leaders to collect a territory-wide offering on Dec. 22 to help the thousands of church members in South Mexico who were victims of the recent flood disasters. According to Elder Filiberto Verduzco, treasurer for the church in Inter-America, approximately $700,000 was collected.

The large sum collected in one single Sabbath does not surprise church leaders.

“Our members give more when they are in need. It’s amazing how bad some places were so devastated, yet giving has not suffered and the confidence of the church is high,” said Pastor Leito.

And as the new year began its course, more remarkable things are expected in 2008.

It is a year that promises to be a banner year for the fast-growing church in Inter-America, according to Pastor Leito.

“Even though the Lord has blessed us with this number of members, our members have not slowed down because we are not looking for the numerical goal,” said Pastor Leito. “Our goal is to preach the gospel, as long as there is one sinner who needs to know about Christ. Of course the numbers are beautiful, but we look way beyond numbers, we look to the coming of Jesus.”

For more on upcoming Inter-American Division events, visit www.interamerica.org