The South American Division (SAD) Executive Committee voted to create the Adventist Heritage Ministry on November 4. The ministry will preserve the history and identity of the Adventist Church in South America.

Roney Lopes, SAD assistant secretary, said the ministry is "a spiritual, educational, historical, and missionary initiative aimed at preserving, organizing, researching, valuing, and communicating the memory of the Church."

The Adventist Heritage Ministry will be managed by the Secretariat Office at different organizational levels. "It is clear that if local congregations want to organize their historical and memory collection, they will have some kind of support for that," Lopes emphasized.

The ministry will collect and organize documents, minutes, publications, photographs, audiovisual records, objects, testimonies, relevant evangelistic initiatives, institutions, individuals, and other materials that provide insight into the trajectory of SAD's mission work.

What is the purpose of the Adventist Heritage Ministries?

Adventist Heritage Ministries is designed to promote a conscious and responsible relationship between the Adventist Church in South America and its history. The ministry aims to ensure relevant records are identified, preserved, organized, and communicated as Adventist memory becomes an instrument for spiritual formation, denominational education, historical research, and missionary mobilization.

The ministry will preserve memory and contribute to denominational identity and formation. To do this, ministry leaders will create and adopt preventative measures to avoid the disposal and loss of important historical materials. Additionally, ministry leaders will be responsible for producing materials, exhibitions, and cultural events across formats and platforms that value the SAD's memory.

Why preserve the history of the Church in South America?

Ubirajara de Farias Prestes Filho, a historian, has dedicated 30 years to the study, research, and teaching of history throughout his academic and professional career. “I consider it fundamental that the Church values ​​and encourages studies about its own history. Knowing this trajectory helps us understand how we got here and recognize the legacy and dedication of so many people who consecrated their lives to the mission. At the same time, it allows us to examine the achievements and contributions of our trajectory, as well as the challenges and difficulties faced over time,” he stated.

For pastor, researcher, and Master of History Ribamar Diniz, rescuing and valuing the history of Adventism is essential because it is a divine mandate, a pedagogical element, a foundation for missionary planning, and a contribution to the formation of social and intellectual consciousness. “The Adventist Heritage Ministry can contribute to strengthening Adventist Christian identity and boosting its mission, because the better we know our history, the more we fall in love with its message and mission, the more we cling to our biblical roots and our purpose in the world, and the more we defend them,” he said.

The original article was published on the South American Division news site.