August 19, 2011 – Ocho Rios, Jamaica…Nigel Coke/IAD
The Adventist Laypersons Services and Industries (ASi) Inter-American Division (IAD) elected Dr. Marston Thomas as its new president. Dr. Thomas, who was serving as immediate vice president was elected president during the staging of the 11th Convention of ASI-IAD held at the Sunset Jamaica Grande Hotel in St. Ann, Jamaica.
“I am delighted to be asked to serve as president of the ASi in Inter-America,” said Dr. Thomas. “This will be a tremendous responsibility, but with God all things are possible. A good team has been put together and I believe with our various gifts and strong faith in God, we will be able to give outstanding leadership to this important organization of our Church.”
Dr. Thomas, who is the current president of ASi-Jamaica Union Conference, will serve for the next two-year term. He succeeds Juan Rosa, a native of the Dominican Republic.
Other officers elected were:
Secretary – Pastor Leon Wellington, IAD vice president
Treasurer – Ivelisse Herrera
These will be supported by vice presidents:
Ricardo Casado – Dominican Republic (Spanish territory)
Rolando Garcia – Guatemala (Spanish territory)
Victor Johnson – Barbados (English territory)
Jean Holder – Guadeloupe (French territory)
Rohan Riley of the Cayman Islands and Lyndon Antwine of Tobago will serve as public relations officer and project officer respectively. Pastors Melchor Ferreyra and Samuel Telemaque, both Personal Ministries representatives of the IAD are board members, along with all the ASi secretary/treasurer of the Unions and the immediate past president Mr. Juan Rosa.
“The convention in Jamaica has been a successful one due to the strong support of the local chapter,” said Pastor Leon Wellington, secretary of ASi-IAD. “I am very happy to welcome our new president and his team and look forward to his leadership in expanding the impact and outreach of ASi in our region.”
With only ten active union chapters of ASi in the Division territory, Thomas added, “One of the goals of the team for the next two years will be to have active ASi presence in all 21 unions of IAD.”
The convention which started on Wednesday, Aug. 17 will end on Aug. 20.
ASi is the business and professional affiliate of the Seventh-day Adventist Church worldwide. The ethos of ASi-Inter-American Division is to assist in the development of the whole person by Sharing Christ in the Marketplace.
