The Inter-American Division’s (IAD) Year-End Meetings began with prayer for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, a rich harvest of new members in 2019 and for the return of members who have left the church. More than 120 top leaders representing the 24 unions and 42 countries and islands that comprise the IAD territory gathered for the meetings which took place this week Nov. 11-12, 2018, in Petionville, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Adventist World Church President Pastor Ted N.C. Wilson spoke before the start of each day’s agenda, and stressed that leaders need to pray for the latter rain of the Holy Spirit.
“You are a vibrant church in Inter-America,” said the Adventist leader. “We are coming to the very end of time and we need to see more people coming to the church,” said Pastor Wilson as he referred to Inter-America’s goal of reaching more than 200,000 newly baptized members next year.
Pray for wisdom
“Allow the Holy Spirit to use us to preparing others for Jesus Second Coming,” said Wilson. “The financial challenges and interpersonal challenges, the external problems you face, sometimes they seem too heavy. I have learned to lean on Jesus and need the wisdom of heaven every day.” Wilson challenged leaders to claim James 1:5 with frequency. “If you lack wisdom, ask for it.”
Pastor Elie Henry, IAD president, speaks during the opening of Inter-America’s Year-End Meetings on Nov. 11, next to Pastor Leonard Johnson (left), IAD executive secretary and Filiberto Verduzco (right), IAD treasurer. Photo by Libna Stevens/IAD
Pastor Wilson reminded leaders that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is a prophetic people with a prophetic mission. “As you work in mission to the cities, as you utilize comprehensive health ministries, as you utilize the enormous power of publishing, as you engage our people in soul-winning activities, as you promote small group evangelism, that you utilize media outreach, realize that God will show us enormous things we have never imagined.”
“As you face the challenges in each one of your fields, remember Elisha’s words found in 2 Kings 6:8-16, that God’s forces are greater than the devil’s forces,” said Wilson. “As you launch your administrative meetings, with the newly consecrated, inaugurated officials, may all of us realize that our power is not in this room, our power is not in our financial capacity, our power is not in our educational attainment, but our power is in the Lord God Almighty.”
