June 15, 2021 | Miami, Florida, United States | Libna Stevens, Inter-American Division News

After 15 months of working remotely, Seventh-day Adventist leaders and staff at the Inter-American Division (IAD) Office resumed onsite working hours in Miami, Florida, today. The dozens of administrators, department heads and staff gathered to pray, praise God for His goodness and settle into their offices to continue with their responsibilities and assignments in service to the vast territory.

Leaders at the Inter-American Division Headquarters worship together as they resume onsite working hours in Miami, FLorida, United States, today after 15 months of working remotely. [Photo: Abel Márquez/IAD]
“As we resume our activities in the office, we want to surrender ourselves again to God and tell Him that we want to serve Him with gladness,” said Pastor Elie Henry, president of the church in Inter-America. “We are coming back with the sense of wholeness of having an extraordinary God,” he said. “Through all the struggles, the challenging experiences we have faced, we must continue holding on to the wonderful promises God has given us.”

“We are here to serve, to be open to one another, to show more love, to do good works, keeping strong in the promises of God,” said Pastor Henry as he reflected on Hebrews 10:23-25.

Amid all that continues to happen around the world with Covid-19 still affecting the globe, increasing environmental problems, discrimination growing, political and societal instability rising, God is still near to protect and aid in times of despair, he added.

Pastor Elie Henry, president of the church in Inter-America, speaks to leaders and staff members on returning to onsite working to serve every day, showing more love, doing good works and keeping strong, in the promises of God. [Photo: Abel Márquez/IAD]
The decision to return to the office  was not because leaders consider that everything is settled, or that it will continue the same as before, or are tired of having worship and meetings on the Zoom platform every day, but mostly because the State of Florida has declared that it is possible to return to work in the office and there are safety procedures in places to come back, explained Pastor Henry.

“We have full activities ahead and we want to be assured that the one who was with us in the past year is still with us, to protect us in His work,” Henry said. Approved travels to the IAD territory are resuming for now, he said.

Pastor Leonard Johnson, executive secretary for the church in Inter-America, was happy to welcome the staff in person after so many months restricted to online meetings. “During the period we have been away from one another, we have experienced loss, illness, the unexpected, tragedy, but we have experienced more than that: the addition of life to the family, union of marriage, but above all we have experienced the grace of God.”

Wilmer Barbosa (left), production assistant director for Hope Channel Inter-America, shared his testimony about when he and his wife, both were faced with emergency surgeries during the past year, in addition to his mother who was hospitalized in Colombia for several weeks.“Despite these last few months and year, God has been with our family and we praise God for that.” [Photo: Abel Márquez/IAD]
Pastor Johnson reminded staff of safety guidelines in the office and of the assigned scheduled days the staff will be following during the next few weeks.

To learn more about the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Inter-America, its initiatives, activities and resources, visit us at interamerica.org