Seventh-day Adventist editors at two church-run publishing houses in South America are integrating their communication ministry. 

More than 40 editors from the Sao Paulo-based Brazil Publishing House and the South American Spanish Publishing House in Buenos Aries, Argentina, met in Brasilia last month for the region’s first publishing council in more than two decades.

The council recognized the work of editors, encouraged collaboration between the two publishing houses and provided resources and networking opportunities, church leaders said.

“Publishers are always offering so much to people, but they don’t always receive the support that they need in return,” said Erton Kohler, president of the church’s South American Division.

Numerous prominent Adventist editors led presentations during the conference. Former Adventist Review and Adventist World Editor Bill Johnsson shared lessons learned during his decades-long writing and editing career. Church historian, author and editor George Knight offered examples from early church pioneers who helped shape the Adventist ministry of communication.

Alberto Timm, an associate director of the White Estate and Wilmar Hirle, associate director of Publishing Ministries for the Adventist world church, spoke on major cultural and ecclesiological challenges the church is currently facing, and how editors can help offer clarity and context. 

To Almir Marroni, a vice president for the South American Division, the conference served to motivate publishers, who he said play a key role in preparing the world for Christ’s Second Coming.

“The Seventh-day Adventist Church recognizes the importance of the ministry of those who were called by God to communicate the gospel through the written word in the last days of history,” Marroni said.