Seventh-day Adventist leaders recently inaugurated the new central offices of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Mexico, aimed at expanding and strengthening humanitarian work across the country. ADRA is the humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

The inauguration brought together top church administrators from Adventist unions and institutions, donors, and ADRA partners for a brief but meaningful ceremony in Colonia Narvarte, located in the heart of Mexico City. Attendees toured the new facility, which features a reception area, two conference rooms, offices for area coordinators and accounting staff, a kitchen, a warehouse, and a multipurpose terrace.

“This office is not only a workspace,” said Ruben Ponce, ADRA Mexico’s director, “but also a place where visiting church members, ADRA volunteers, and Adventist-layperson’s services and industries (ASi) members can freely promote their initiatives and businesses when they come to Mexico City.”

For years, ADRA Mexico had operated from shared spaces—its administrative offices located within the Central Mexican Union headquarters and parts of its accounting department housed at the church’s GEMA Editors publishing house. More recently, the agency had been renting co-working facilities.

“This is a rented space, but we have remodeled it to fit our needs,” explained Ponce.

The inauguration, held on September 19, 2025, also featured the signing of a collaboration agreement with the network of Adventist clinics under the North Mexican Union, designed to expand medical care to vulnerable communities.

“The Network of Adventist Clinics seeks to reach cities that pose unique challenges—such as Valle de la Trinidad, in the border region—where we can provide medical services to those in need,” said Arturo King, president of the North Mexican Union.

Ignacio Navarro, president of the Chiapas Mexican Union, reflected on ADRA’s spiritual and humanitarian role.

“Every human being, no matter who they are, faces crises of different kinds. ADRA is the organization that God has established to show compassion and relieve pain in those moments. The dedication of this building confirms that ADRA is active and fully equipped to fulfill its mission in Mexico,” Navarro said.

In recognition of the 40th anniversary of the 1985 Mexico City earthquake, attendees also participated in the National Civil Protection Drill, reaffirming ADRA’s commitment to promoting a culture of prevention and disaster preparedness.

Currently, ADRA Mexico is implementing six major development and relief projects: Puntos de Protección (Protection Points) in Tijuana and Tapachula, which provide legal and psychological support to people in transit; Vamos Juntos (Let’s Go Together), a primary healthcare initiative run with UNICEF, the Secretariat of the Southern Border, and the Adventist Church in Chiapas; Territorios de Cuidado (Territories of Care), which distributes hygiene and sanitation supplies; Me Llama Migrante (They Call Me Migrant), supporting migrants in Tijuana and Mexico City; Ciclos Solidarios (Solidarity Cycles), promoting nationwide volunteer engagement; and an emergency response program that delivers humanitarian aid within 24 hours after natural disasters.

“With this new headquarters, ADRA Mexico reaffirms its mission to be an instrument of hope and solidarity in action—drawing ever closer to communities facing the greatest challenges,” said Ponce.

The original article was published on the Inter-American Division news site.