Heather-Dawn Small has been elected associate Women's Ministries director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church worldwide.
Heather-Dawn Small has been elected associate Women’s Ministries director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church worldwide. Small, who currently heads up Women’s Ministries for the Adventist Church in the Caribbean, was elected unanimously by members of the Adventist Church executive committee, meeting April 18 and 19 at the Adventist Church world headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States.
“I am delighted with the decision of the nominating committee,” said Ardis Stenbakken, director of Women’s Ministries for the world church. “I have worked with Heather and have great confidence in her talents and abilities. She has shown great spiritual leadership and insight in developing women’s ministries in the Caribbean.”
Israel Leito, president of the Adventist Church in Inter-America, the region where Small now serves, said Small’s departure will leave a “huge gap.” “Heather has been a real asset for us,” he said. “She is committed to the church, and is committed to serving the women of the church.”
Small will take the position recently vacated by Lynnetta Hamstra, who served as associate director for three years. Hamstra is leaving to be a full-time mother. “Lynnetta, too, has given excellent leadership,” says Stenbakken. “She will keep up close ties with women’s ministries and will continue to maintain the department’s Web site.”
The Women’s Ministries department of the Adventist world church exists to encourage and challenge Adventist women, by providing resources and training, and through developing programs and activities. The department focuses on six critical issues that impact women internationally, including: illiteracy, abuse, poverty, health risks, workloads, and lack of mentoring and leadership training.
