New headquarter office for the Seventh-day Adventist Church inaugurated on Feb. 6, 2013, in Lamentin, Martinique. Image by Thelor Lambert.

February 18, 2013 – Lamentin, Fort-de-France, Martinique…Thelor Lambert/IAD Staff

Seventh-day Adventist leaders and members in Martinique witness the special inaugural ceremony on site of the new office building. Image Thelor Lambert.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in the French overseas department of Martinique inaugurated its new headquarter office in the city of Lamentin near Fort-de-France, earlier this month. The ceremony drew city officials and dozens of church leaders from throughout the island.

Pastor Jean Jacques Chrone, president of the church in the Martinique, welcomed the gathering and recounted the strides and challenges since construction of the three-story headquarter office began in 2009.

“This new headquarter office needed to be built,” said Chrone. “The previous 1948 building could no longer be improved to comply with the safety laws of the French government.”

A representative of the mayor’s office of the city of Lamentin praised the work of the church and its impact throughout Martinique.

Pastor Israel Leito, president of the church in Inter-America, challenged the leadership and church members present “to make this new building an open place for the entire community,” during his message.

Inter-American Division President Pastor Israel Leito cuts the ribbon as the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Martinique inaugurates its new headquarters. Image by Thelor Lambert.

“This new headquarters should give the Martinique Conference renewed zeal to accomplish the gospel commission,” said Pastor Max Laurent, president of the church in the French Antilles Guiana Union—which overseas the church in Martinique, Guadeloupe and French Guiana.

Nestled in the center of the island near downtown Fort-de-France and nearby the French Antilles Guiana Union, the new office houses 32 offices, two conference rooms, one cafeteria, and a video studio room.

Established with conference status in 1974, the Martinique Conference oversees 67 churches with more than 15,000 members.