Miami, Florida…[Libna Stevens/IAD]
At the start of 2008, the office staff of the Inter-American Division (IAD) welcomed 2008 with a special worship service to set the tone for the new year in its Miami, Florida, on January 2. The staff, which is comprised of more than 50 church leaders and employees, reflected on the blessings of the previous year and re-consecrated their lives to God.
Pastor Israel Leito, president of the church in Inter-America, welcomed all present and boasted on the many blessings that God bestowed upon the church in Inter-America in 2007. “By the grace of God, we will have a good year this year,” he said.
“By the grace of God, we will have a good year this year,” he said.
Pastor Leito was happy to introduce the guest speaker of the morning, Jorge Bravo, who was especially invited to represent the millions of laypeople who work throughout the churches in Inter-America.
Bravo, who is the general manager of DHL in Costa Rica, shared with the leadership and staff the need for united efforts to serve the church.
“We have been called upon to do a great work,” he said. “We must be consecrated to the Lord. Otherwise, we won’t be able to accomplish the work that God has given us.”
Bravo reminded church leaders and workers to remain humble in doing God’s work and to unite in finishing the tasks that are at hand as the new year unfolds.
The worship program also featured a concert by Cenaida Pannefleck, who traveled from Curacao to play a full set of handbells. Pannefleck, who is vice-president for finances at the Adventist Antillean Hospital in Curacao, shared with the audience her love for God and for playing the handbells.
The program also included a prayer session for God’s guidance, testimonies on God’s blessings, as well as good wishes for the new year from staff, among others.
The Inter-American Division Headquarters oversees the work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the 15 regions of the territory, which boasts more than three million church members worshiping in 9,224 churches.
