President of the General Conference Pastor Erton C. Köhler urges IAD leaders to commit to the church’s “one priority” during his keynote address on Mar. 1, 2026, at the Inter-American Division’s Leadership Summit held in Riviera Maya, Mexico. [Photo: Daniel Gallardo/IAD]
At IAD leadership summit, Köhler emphasizes Scripture, discipleship, and mission focus.

March 1, 2026 | Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo, Mexico | Libna Stevens, Inter-American Division News

“There are no priorities—there is only one priority,” said Pastor Erton C. Köhler, president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, as he called leaders across the Inter-American Division (IAD) to sharpen their focus on Scripture and mission during the opening night of the I Will Go—Living the Mission Leadership Summit in Riviera Maya, Mexico, on Mar. 1, 2026.

The three-day gathering brings together presidents, executive secretaries, and treasurers representing 25 unions and 156 local fields throughout the territory to strengthen alignment and mobilize members to actively share the gospel over the next five years.

More than 500 union, conference, and local field administrators listen attentively as Pastor Erton C. Köhler addresses the opening of the three-day leadership summit in Riviera Maya, Mexico. [Photo: Daniel Gallardo/IAD]
One Priority

“Priority is singular,” Köhler told leaders. “There are not five priorities of the church or four priorities of a field. There is one priority—and for that priority, you give your life.”

He warned that if leaders do not define their priority clearly, “urgency, problems, or distractions” will define it for them. Distraction, he added, is one of the enemy’s most effective tools against church leadership—keeping leaders busy but not fruitful.

Strong leadership, he said, is not about trends or popularity. “Leaders who are strong know where they are going,” Köhler said. “Priority is something personal. It is what your life is given to.”

Ivelisse Herrera, treasurer of the Inter-American Division, welcomes the leadership delegation as division officers and department directors stand on stage during the opening session of the leadership summit. [Photo: Daniel Gallardo/IAD]
Grounded and Focused

Köhler summarized the world church’s direction in simple terms: to be “grounded in the Bible and focused on the mission.”

“This is not just a slogan,” he said. “It is the base of all the initiatives of the church.”

Referencing Isaiah 37:31—“take root downward and bear fruit upward”—he described the connection between identity and mission. “The deeper the roots, the more abundant the fruit,” he said. “When identity is clear, mission is strong. Where there is identity, there is mission.”

He cautioned leaders against allowing institutional strength to replace spiritual consecration. “The remnant of God must be recognized by the power of its consecration, not by the greatness of its institutions,” Köhler said.

Delegates from countries and island territories across the Inter-American Division follow the session in their respective languages. [Photo: Daniel Gallardo/IAD]
Filling Heaven, Not Just Churches

Köhler emphasized that evangelism and discipleship must remain inseparable.

“We are called to fill heaven—not just fill the church,” he said. Baptism brings people into the church, and discipleship prepares them for eternity. “We were called to fish for people—not to maintain aquariums,” he added.

Köhler outlined eight principles that define a church grounded in Scripture:
1. The remnant must be known for the power of its consecration, not the greatness of its institutions.
2. Our priority is to be a church that transforms, not a church that impresses.
3. We are called to fill heaven, not merely fill churches.
4. Our churches need a change in content, not just in format.
5. Our identity in society must be like oil in water, not sugar in water.
6. Our commitment is to be the voice of God, not the echo of culture.
7. Our methodology must never conflict with our theology.
8. Our identity must be our priority.

Leaders from the Cuba Union participate in the IAD Leadership Summit during a plenary session in Riviera Maya, Mexico. [Photo: Daniel Gallardo/IAD]
“Changes in aesthetics do not transform hearts,” he cautioned. “Content grounded in the Word does.”

Mission as Passion

Turning to mission, Köhler declared: “The mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is to prepare a people for the soon coming of Jesus.”

Mission, he said, has two inseparable dimensions: discipleship (internal) and evangelism (external).

Pastor Daniel Lassonnier, president of the Martinique Conference, captures a moment on his cellphone during Pastor Erton C. Köhler’s keynote address on Mar. 1, 2026. [Photo: Daniel Gallardo/IAD][Photo: Daniel Gallardo/IAD]
He urged leaders to move beyond discussion. “An indicator of a church’s condition is when people spend more time talking about mission than doing mission,” Köhler said.

“This is not the time for more committees,” he said. “This is the time for more mission. Less conversation. More work.”
Köhler challenged leaders to adapt methods without compromising theology. “This church was born in the 19th century, but it is called to reach the 21st century,” he said. “Adapt the methods—not the theology, not the identity.”

Pastor Erton C. Köhler addresses nearly 600 church leaders during the opening night session of the IAD Leadership Summit. [Photo: Daniel Gallardo/IAD]
He closed with a direct appeal: “What is your priority? Are you a leader who leaves digital footprints—or one who builds pathways for others to follow?”
Leaders were urged to move forward united, grounded in Scripture and focused on mission. “If we do this,” Köhler said, “our roots will grow deep, and our fruit will be abundant.”

Mission and Integration

IAD President Pastor Abner De los Santos said the summit was designed to help leaders align structure and mission more effectively.

“Without mission, the church has no reason to exist,” De los Santos said. “What gives meaning to what we do as leaders is the fulfillment of the mission.”

Pastor Abner De los Santos, president of the Inter-American Division, addresses union and field leaders during the opening session of the IAD Leadership Summit, emphasizing mission alignment and disciple-making across the territory. [Photo: Daniel Gallardo/IAD]
He explained that the meetings would review the roles of the local church, local field, union, and division in relation to the world church, ensuring that every level functions cohesively to advance the Great Commission.

Referring to Matthew 28:19–20, De los Santos highlighted disciple-making as central. “Of the four verbs in that passage, only one is imperative: make disciples,” he said. “Discipleship is the umbrella that covers everything we do.”

Leaders Reflect

Several administrators said the evening’s keynote message struck both spiritually and strategically.

Pastor Angel Guzmán, president of the Inter-American Adventist Theological Seminary (IATS), takes notes during the presentation, highlighting the strong biblical foundation and missional clarity emphasized throughout the address. [Photo: Daniel Gallardo/IAD]
Pastor Angel Guzmán, president of the Inter-American Adventist Theological Seminary (IATS), described Köhler’s message as both affirming and challenging for theological and institutional leadership.

“He reminded us that we must think clearly about the church’s priority and define our mission with conviction,” Guzmán said. “We cannot allow the multiple demands of institutional life to distract us from what truly matters. Too often we spend more time talking about mission than actually doing mission—and that calls us to action.”

Guzmán emphasized the importance of balancing identity and outreach. “Being grounded in the Word of God while remaining focused on mission is indispensable for the church’s future,” he said. “Biblical foundation and missionary focus cannot be separated.”

He added that the message aligns closely with the seminary’s vision. “We are called to strengthen solid biblical foundations while proclaiming the hope of the gospel,” Guzmán said, noting that leaders must continually evaluate whether church structures are serving the mission—or slowing it down.

Pastor Luis Aguillón, executive secretary of the El Salvador Union, follows the message closely, reflecting on the importance of unity in identity and purpose across the global church. [Photo: Daniel Gallardo/IAD]
Luis Aguillón, executive secretary of the El Salvador Union, said the message reinforced the importance of global unity and spiritual depth in leadership.

“We may come from different cultures, but we share one identity—grounded in the Bible and committed to the mission,” Aguillón said.

He noted that Köhler’s emphasis shifted attention away from structures and toward people. “What matters most is not buildings or organization, but consecrated workers whose roots are firmly planted in God,” he said. “When leaders are spiritually grounded, the fruit will follow.”

For Aguillón, the appeal was personal. “If mission is truly my passion, then I must live it,” he said. “Jesus did not say, ‘Go and build institutions.’ He said, ‘Go and make disciples.’ That remains our mandate.”

Maxine Bodden de Valente, treasurer of the Belize Union, listens thoughtfully during the session, later describing the message as a personal call to revival and renewed consecration for mission. [Photo: Daniel Gallardo/IAD]
Maxine Bodden de Valente, treasurer of the Belize Union, described the message as a call to revival.

“We have enough theory,” she said. “We need to do the work. God wants to transform His people through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

She acknowledged the danger of being known primarily for institutions rather than mission. “More needs to be done about mission,” she said. “The time is now.”

Kent A. Price, president of the Atlantic Caribbean Union, said the message reaffirmed the need for leaders to lead visibly and intentionally.

“My priority must be the mission,” Price said. “Once our identity is clear, our mission will be strong.”

Pastor Kent A. Price, president of the Atlantic Caribbean Union, listens during the summit session, underscoring the need for leaders to move from planning to active engagement in discipleship and evangelism. [Photo: Daniel Gallardo/IAD]
He noted that both baptism and discipleship are essential but emphasized, “We want those who are baptized to be in heaven when Jesus comes.”

“We cannot stay behind desks,” Price added. “We must go where the people are.”

The summit will continue over the next two days as leaders review strategies, clarify roles, and sharpen their commitment to carrying out the church’s mission of making disciples and preparing people for Christ’s soon return.