Ted Wilson, president of the 22 million-member Seventh-day Adventist Church worldwide, and his wife, Nancy, went to Pará, Brazil, for the first time to learn about humanitarian projects carried out by boat in riverside communities throughout the region.

He is currently in Ananindeua and Benevides to learn about charitable projects there and participate in meetings in both cities. He will spend most of his time at the Amazonia Adventist College (Faama).

Speedboats and boats have provided medical and humanitarian assistance to communities in Pará since the 1930s. There are approximately 30 vessels, of which two are currently active in the state: Luzeiro 29 (Lumination 29) and the Estrela da Manhã (The Morning Star) project. Coordinated by the Belem Adventist Hospital, Estrela da Manhã seeks to impact more than 55 thousand people annually in the remote corners of Marajó, where 590 thousand inhabitants live. With five treatment rooms, including a surgery room, the vessel becomes a floating hospital.

The Luzeiro 29 and Estrela da Manhã vessels continue the medical missionary legacy in the northern region of the country (Photo: Alfaia Jr.)

During his visit to South America, which began February 5, 2025, at an event in Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, Wilson will visit the cities of Belém, Ananindeua and Benevides, in Pará; Manaus, in Amazonas; Vitória, in Espírito Santo; Aracaju, in Sergipe; Buenos Aires and Libertador San Martín, both in Argentina.

Along the way, he will participate in church and school inaugurations, visit missionary projects, and present several sermons.

He is also accompanied by Stanley Arco, president of the South American Division. "It is always a joy to welcome Pastor Ted Wilson to our territory to see the incredible work our members have done to hasten the return of Christ," said Arco. "I am sure he will leave here inspired by the great involvement of thousands of Adventists in the work of proclaiming our great hope and working for those who need it most. It is beautiful to see our Church involved in great projects that are impacting lives with the love of Jesus."

Wilson has worked in several regions of the world and held different ministerial positions before assuming the presidency of the denomination for the first time, in 2010. He has also been chosen to lead the Adventist Church twice: in 2015 and 2022. He holds a doctorate in Philosophy with a specialization in Religious Education from New York University and a master's degree in Public Health from the School of Public Health at Loma Linda University in the United States.

Global Work

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is present in 212 of the 235 officially recognized countries on the planet and currently has more than 22 million members. It manages one of the largest educational and health networks operated by a religious organization in the world. There are 10,488 educational institutions, including schools and universities, serving more than 2 million students. The Church maintains 244 hospitals and 1,707 medical clinics, in addition to 136 nursing homes, senior centers, and 133 dental clinics. All of these facilities offer medical care with a wholistic approach, integrating body, mind, and spirit.

The church's humanitarian organization, ADRA, is present in 117 countries, promoting humanitarian aid initiatives, combating poverty, and providing support in emergencies. In addition, ADRA works in education and community development, reinforcing the Adventist commitment to global well-being and meeting human needs.

The original article was published on the South American Division Portuguese news site.