Thousands of Seventh-day Adventists from across Guatemala gathered in the country’s capital on July 12 to celebrate the church’s 100 years in the Central American nation and to pledge to further community involvement.

“I hear, I see your commitment clearly stated today,” world church President Jan Paulsen told the nearly 9,000 church leaders and members gathered in the city’s Polideportivo Dome for the daylong event.

Paulsen urged the audience to ensure that the church’s young people are involved in its work. “We must hand the torch to younger people,” he said, calling for a “stronger intention” to “finish the work” of the church.

During a morning message, church president for Inter-America, Israel Leito, spoke of the “challenge of our pioneers,” commenting that the church in Guatemala had grown “because of the steps” early Adventists took in the region.

Several such pioneers were honored, including 105-year-old Policarpa Lopez, a church member of 78 years, and Javier Sosa, 96, an Adventist of 71 years.

Ushering in the celebration, more than 60,000 Adventists participated in 30 marches throughout Guatemala earlier this month.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Guatemala began in 1908 as a branch Sabbath School organized by E.L. Cardey and C.A. Nowlen in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala City. The church there now operates nearly 700 churches, 25 institutions and a publishing house.

—Juan Francisco Lopez contributed to this story