Adopting the motto “Hope Is Jesus,” 250 leaders participated in a Ministerial Council organized by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in South America.  The event was held on the campus of the Peru Union Adventist University, located near Lima, Peru, from July 18 through 23.

The Council brought together ministerial leaders from Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. Ruy Nagel, president of the church in South America, chaired the meetings, and the event was directed by the South American Ministerial Association secretary.

Guest speakers included James Cress, Ministerial Association secretary of the Adventist Church, Sharon Cress and Joel Sarli, both associate secretaries of the Ministerial Association, and Donald Sahly, who heads up leadership training for the Adventist world church.

Organizers say the Council was aimed at both stimulating development of leaders’ and pastors’ spiritual life, and establishing a systematic plan to train more Adventist leaders to supply the needs of the rapidly growing Adventist Church. Sharon Cress also told participants that the integration of female talent is fundamental in allowing all members to participate in the mission of the Adventist Church.