Adventist Church President Sends Encouraging Letter to Members in Venezuela

Following is a recent letter from Ted N. C. Wilson, president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, encouraging members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Venezuela amid increasing political, economic, and social challenges in the country.—Inter-American Division News Staff

On behalf of the world church family of Seventh-day Adventists, we wish for you encouragement from the Lord as you face challenges every day. By God’s grace, stay close to Him as He will care for you every moment of the day. We are grateful for the Lord’s continued watchfulness over you. We are also grateful for the careful and strong support you received from the Inter-American Division. May there be continued religious liberty for your church activities as you continue to be gracious and helpful citizens of Venezuela regardless of the challenges you face. Be of great service to others as Jesus was in helping people physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually. God will open the way and sustain you in accomplishing His mission through you. He will give you spiritual courage each day in your continued witness for Him. 

Your world church family is interested in your activities and in the progress being seen in your spiritual lives. As a church, we will continue to pray for you. Maintain your careful study of God’s Word and the Spirit of Prophecy. What a privilege to proclaim the final Advent movement messages of Revelation 14 and Revelation 18, calling people to the true worship of God and sharing His everlasting gospel and righteousness.

Let us continue to pray for the country of Venezuela and its people. God will guide us as every one of us submits to His leading in our lives and the life of the country of Venezuela. Continue to stay close to the Lord in the future, and He will bless you and the country in a wonderful way. Ask the Lord to help you in your local and countrywide evangelistic outreach during Total Member Involvement. What a privilege to be involved in Total Member Involvement through personal outreach and public evangelism. Let us pray for the latter rain of the Holy Spirit so that God’s work in Venezuela and around the globe can be accomplished, and we can see Jesus come and take us home with Him to heaven.

Maintain your connection with the Lord as you engage in the world church’s strategic plans called “Reach the World — I Will Go!” Personally, I am happy to respond to the Lord, by His grace, saying, “I Will Go,” and I encourage all of you to do the same as you evangelize your neighborhood and bring God’s blessings to the country of Venezuela despite the difficulties you face each day. God knows your situation, and He will guide you to be a blessing to others. 

Be assured of our prayers for you as we come closer to Christ’s soon second coming. We will pray for you, our dear church members in Venezuela, your church leaders, and your country and its citizens. Be encouraged with what Jesus said in Revelation 22:20, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Jesus is coming soon, and it is our privilege to live for Him every day in our personal witness for Him!

In the helpful compilation of writings of Ellen G. White in Christian Service, we read the following encouraging words on page 78: “Church members … are to be ever ready to spring into action in obedience to the Master’s commands. Wherever we see work waiting to be done, we are to take it up and do it, constantly looking unto Jesus…. If every church member were a living missionary, the gospel would speedily be proclaimed in all countries, to all peoples, nations, and tongues.”

In your daily connection with the Lord, may you be a powerful testimony for God in your family, your neighborhood, and your nation. The Lord will use you in a wonderful way to point people to the foot of the cross and Christ’s power to save us through His blood and grace and His high priestly ministry for us in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary.

Keep your eyes focused on the Lord in your loving service to others in Venezuela as you happily announce the Lord’s soon return. May the Holy Spirit bring you powerful personal encouragement every day as you allow God to direct your life in service to Him and the wonderful people of Venezuela.

With kind Christian regards and sincerely yours,

Ted N. C. Wilson

President

General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

The original version of this release was posted on the Inter-American Division news site.