The South American Division (SAD) Quinquennial Council has elected Rafael Rossi as the new president of the Rede Novo Tempo de Comunicação (Novo Tempo Network), the largest media center of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in South America.

He succeeds Antonio Tostes, who is retiring after 15 years of leadership. The vote took place during the SAD’s Quinquennial Council meetings, which began on November 7, 2025.

The Quinquennial Council is a major assembly held every five years where Adventist leaders from across South America gather to celebrate achievements, review progress, set future goals, and elect leaders for division departments and affiliated institutions, including Novo Tempo.

A Lifetime of Service and Experience

Born in São Paulo, Rossi holds a degree in Theology from the Adventist University Center of São Paulo (UNASP), a postgraduate degree in Counseling, and an MBA in Corporate Communication. He also earned a master’s in Pastoral Theology from UNASP and a Doctor of Ministry from Andrews University in the United States.

He served as a district pastor in Santo André and Jacareí (São Paulo State), later becoming an evangelist and Health Ministries director for the São Paulo Valley Conference. He also worked as an evangelist for the Central Brazil Conference (UCB). In 2012, Rossi was appointed associate Ministerial Secretary for the division and later directed the departments of Communication, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty, and served as assistant to the president.

Since November 2021, he has served as SAD Evangelism director and as a presenter of the television and radio programs Arena do Futuro (Arena of the Future) and Descifrando el Futuro (Decoding the Future) on Novo Tempo.

He is married to Professor Ellen de Souza Rossi, and they have two daughters, Giovana and Mariana.

A Call to Serve

After his election on November 9, Rossi expressed gratitude and humility in accepting the new role.

“Receiving the call to work at Novo Tempo is both a challenge and a great privilege. Novo Tempo is a communication and evangelism agency, and it is a privilege to be part of this family that preaches 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” said Rossi.

He added, “At this moment, my heart is filled with dependence on God and a desire to give my best so that Jesus may return in our lifetime — using every tool we have so that more people can prepare for His soon coming.”

Gratitude for Years of Leadership

The Adventist Church expressed deep appreciation to Antonio Tostes, who led Novo Tempo from 2010 to 2025.

Following his retirement, Tostes said he is confident in the future of the network.

“I’m sure the next president will do an excellent job. He will find a competent, dedicated team that loves what they do for God. Above all, he will feel the Lord’s blessing, which has guided and will continue to guide Novo Tempo with His love and grace.”

During his final worship message as president on Thursday, November 6, Tostes reflected on his years of service.

“During these years, I had the privilege and honor of witnessing transformative actions — miracles upon miracles that God performed so that Novo Tempo could become a great school that preaches and teaches the Word of the Lord. More than seeing our facilities expand in space, structure, projects, and reach, I have witnessed hundreds of stories of lives transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit through our media. These are stories I will carry in my heart for the rest of my life.”

Novo Tempo, a media center affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church and part of the Hope Channel network, continues to be a key part of the Adventist Church’s mission, broadcasting faith-based content through television, radio, and digital platforms across South America.

The original article was published on the Novo Tempo Portuguese news site.