Seventh-day Adventist leaders in Honduras recently ordained 18 of its ministers during a special ceremony in Utila, the smallest of Honduras’ major Bay Islands, where the Adventist movement entered the Central American region 128 years ago. The ceremony, held on July 9, 2022, represented the largest ordination service ever held in the Honduras Union Mission.

“Today is a day to celebrate and cordially welcome 18 dedicated ministers who will experience a great joy to see so many of the sheep they have shepherded in the kingdom of heaven,” said Pastor Adan Ramos, president of the Honduras Union Mission. It was the first time the church in Honduras had held an ordination service at a national level and the seventh ever held across the region, said Ramos. The last ordination service was held in 2019, before the pandemic hit.

“When I see the newly ordained pastors to the ministry, I realize how quickly time has passed. Some of them worked with me when they first graduated from university, and now to see them growing in this ministry fills my heart with so much satisfaction,” said Ramos.

 Each wife of the newly ordained minister and their families were welcomed during the ceremony and encouraged to continue the important work of supporting the ministry in assisting with the needs among the congregations.

The service was organized precisely in Utila to highlight the work of the church in Honduras, which had its beginning in this territory, Ramos said. “We wanted to choose a church that had been organized for more than 100 years, and the Utila Seventh-day Adventist Church was founded in 1894, with 128 years of rich history.”

The Seventh-day Adventist message was heard for the first time on the island when Elizabeth Gauterau traveled to visit her sister Mary Ann, Ramos said. “When Sabbath came, Elizabeth told her sister that she rested on the Sabbath day of the Lord and that she should work the least possible on that day. Elizabeth fell ill during her time there and was not able to share about the Bible as she had planned, but soon after, Pastor Francisco Hutchins arrived and established the work there.”

This was a special ordination because it meant more reflection of the Adventist heritage in Honduras and an opportunity to celebrate the growth of the church on the island and across the mainland, said Ramos. The ceremony was transmitted live on the union’s Facebook and YouTube channels for hundreds of churches and congregations to view.

After the ordination service, newly ordained pastors and church leaders visited the four Adventist churches on the island to help launch evangelism impact efforts. The plan is to continue the efforts with Bible studies and evangelistic campaigns throughout the islands and the union territory, explained Ramos.

 “For some reason, God chose this country to light up the flame of the gospel throughout the Central American region and the island of San Andres in Colombia,” said Ramos. “The legacy that we received from the pioneers drives us to not let our guard down and continue sharing the good news of the soon return of Jesus on earth.”

There are more than 77,800 Seventh-day Adventists in Honduras worshiping in 712 churches and congregations. The church operates a hospital, two centers of influence, and dozens of primary and secondary schools.

To learn more about the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Honduras, especially its initiatives and activities in the Honduras Union, click HERE.