In the world there are millions and billions of people, but very few have the privilege to know the message for these last days. It is a great privilege to be called children of God. When our Saviour came into the world, not even His own brethren accepted Him. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12). This is the highest privilege that a human being can attain. In this world there are titles given to honor men and women, but all that will stay here - the person dies and all dies with the person. But those who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ will be assured of eternal life, as they become a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a peculiar people.

When we look to ourselves and compare our efforts with the work of the Master, how far we are from the goal He has proposed to us! We are insufficient and small, and only through the merits of Christ can we show forth His praises.

During the years 2003 to 2007, the work in the Central American Region has grown in many countries. This includes all the countries of Central America from Mexico to Colombia and Venezuela, all the islands of the Caribbean including the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint Lucia, Jamaica, the Bahamas, and so forth.

The Lord’s work has been established in Mexico, Honduras, Venezuela and Colombia for some time already, but in the rest of the countries, the work is fairly new. Bro. Evans Benjamin has been a great help in the work of this region and we thank him and his family for the sacrifices he has made.

In Mexico a property with 15 acres was purchased, and our brethren are using it for their conferences. The publishing department is also functioning there. The Mexican Union has a stable canvassing department with an average of 40-50 full-time colporteurs. This Union has had the largest increase of membership in the region because the new mission of Chiapas continues to grow. In the health work, during the conferences people give testimonials of how they were healed in our small clinic in Vera Cruz, Mexico. People who have come to the clinic unable to walk, after a series of natural treatments they are walking again.

Churches are being built in Haiti, Mexico and the Dominican Republic with the help of funds received from the First Sabbath Offerings. The Sabbath School Department of the General Conference thanks all the brethren and friends for their continuous help.

A missionary school has been established in Haiti where 20 young people have been trained and have since graduated. In Santo Domingo was also established a missionary school with 16 students being prepared for missionary work. In Honduras in March 2007 another school cycle began in the city of Siquatepeque. Bro. Homero Paredes made valuable contributions to these classes on his trips there. During the last four years two brethren were ordained to the ministry, and four to eldership in the Central American region.

Soon another project is being planned to open the work of the Reform Movement in Cuba. We have a little group of people that have begun studying our Sabbath Bible Lessons and show much interest, so we need a worker there.

The work is very new in the country of Belize, formerly known as British Honduras. Here we have a little church in a place called Armenia. There is a group of almost 20 members now and more are being baptized.

In Honduras we have the headquarters of the Central American Union. We have about 400 members in that country. There are more than 20 church buildings in Honduras, and a missionary school building is under construction there. A primary school is operating in the city of La Ceiba Atlantida, and now a secondary school has been established as well.

On the island of Martinique, for many years our members did not have a proper place for worship. But now a brother has donated a place and meetings are conducted there. Bro. Louis has worked as an elder for many years in Martinique, and now we have Bro. J. Cadaxa who has come from Portugal and is helping there.

In Nicaragua, we have one church with 30 members and many visitors, and now a new group of believers is developing in the city of Granada. About 50 persons - including children - are very interested in our message. They already have a church and a group of Advent believers who are studying with us.

In Costa Rica, we have two church buildings, the newest one is in the city of Guayabo. We have groups in different parts of the country and over 50 attend Sabbath schools. In December 2006 we had a conference with the brethren from several countries of South America. In the border with Costa Rica, in a city called David, there is an active group of interested ones, and they still meet in the house of a brother. There is a great awakening there.

In Panama we have a church in the capital that was dedicated in December of 2007 with many visitors attending our meetings. They have held many special meetings, including a youth conference.

El Salvador has an official membership of 73, but many more are coming for meetings. In San Fernando there is a beautiful story about the brethren there. They began to be interested when they saw our magazine of the General Conference with photos of the 1991 Session held in Germany. This magazine fell into the hands of Bro. Alonzo, and he became interested and now he is our elder there and is sitting as a delegate today in our 2007 General Conference session in Jeju.

What about Haiti? If you will recall, a few years ago a group of young people went to build a church in Haiti. The first group of missionary school students has just finished their classes and graduated. Bro. Evans Benjamin was responsible for preparing that class. We currently have 97 members there.

The Dominican Republic has a membership of 176. There is a new group of about 40 persons that are interested and very happy that they have met us. They could not understand how they did not know before that we existed as a church.

The total membership of the region as of December 31, 2006 was 1,385, and since more baptisms are being performed in various places, this number has already increased.

May God bless all!