On January 22, 2025, around 5:00 p.m., local time in Barbosa, Santander, Colombia, the worldwide delegation of the church, gathered in prayer and expectation, announced the elected president of the General Conference of the Reform Movement. Or rather, they reelected Pastor Eli Tenorio to the position.
But this president’s story began long before that solemn afternoon—before his first cry, before his first breath. In the beginning, his existence was not a reason for joy, but for anguish. The woman carrying him in her womb did not know what to do.
Maria Lindinalva, or “Nalva,” as friends and neighbors called her, was a weary mother, burdened by poverty and endless worries. She lived with her three children in a home where every meal was counted, and the future held no guarantees. Faced with a cruel dilemma, she turned to those around her for advice. The response was practical and absolute:
“Nalva, you can’t have another child right now! There’s no space, no food. Think carefully—it’s best to end this pregnancy.”
She hesitated. She wept. But in her desperation, she gave in. With no one to turn to for support, she sought out a homemade herbal remedy, one that, according to popular belief, would make the baby vanish before ever seeing the light of day. But what seemed to be an inevitable end, God turned into a silent miracle. Eli’s tiny heart refused to stop beating, as if the child knew that something greater awaited him.
When Eli was born, everything changed for Nalva. The woman who had once thought she would never hold him now clung to him as if she never wanted to let go. The doubts dissolved the moment his tiny eyes opened to the world. Every little detail of that baby’s face was not only a reminder of the mistake she had nearly made but also of the gift that God had given her. From that moment on, she loved him with all her strength, as if each tender touch was a silent celebration of life itself.
Eli grew up without resentment. He never felt bitter upon learning of his mother’s decision. Instead, his heart overflowed with love for the woman who, despite everything, had been by his side all along. She taught him to be strong, to face life with courage, and to never give up—even when everything seemed lost.
But life would not make things easy for him. By the age of five, he had already learned that the world is not kind to those who have little. At that young age, he would walk the streets collecting recyclables to sell. At nine, he got his first job at a clothing store. But it was at fourteen that his life took an unexpected turn. In pursuit of education, he had to leave his small hometown of Pirapozinho, São Paulo, and travel to Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, where his father and brother lived. What he did not yet know was that this move would lead him to the institution that would change his life forever, the Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement.
His first encounter with this faith felt like an irresistible calling. On that first Sabbath, he accompanied his father and brother to a study of the 2,300-day prophecy. His love for mathematics drew him in immediately—the precision of prophetic calculations was too exact to ignore. At 15 years old, he made his decision. He stepped into the waters of baptism. At that moment, he knew his life would belong solely to God.
Time passed. The boy who was never meant to be born had become a man of faith. At 17, he was called to serve as Assistant Canvassing Director in the São Paulo Field, where he worked for over two years. But God still had another wonderful surprise for him.
In 1986, he attended his brother’s Neemias’ wedding. He had no idea that, at that event, he would meet the woman with whom he would share his life. Her name was Lázara Leopoldino. She was reserved, but with captivating beauty. Soon after, he wrote her a letter. Then another. And another. Their exchange of letters deepened, and in 1990, at the age of 20, they were married.
At 26, Eli was ordained a pastor. Three years later, he became a minister.
But embracing faith did not eliminate challenges. Since childhood, soccer had been his passion, his freedom, his belonging, his refuge in difficult moments. But when he joined the church, he heard something that made him rethink his priorities: the time he dedicated to the game could be invested in something greater.
It was an internal struggle. How could he abandon something that had been part of him for so long? At first, the sound of the ball still called out to him. But slowly, God began shaping his heart. Exchanging soccer for the Bible was not a loss. It was a gain. The thrill of the game transformed into spiritual fervor. The victories on the field gave way to victories of faith. The energy once spent on sports became fuel for his communion with Christ. And that was when he discovered that the hardest choices are often the ones that shape us the most. What Eli never imagined was that this unexpected journey would take him further than he had ever dreamed.
He never saw himself as a pastor. He admired the church’s leaders but never pictured himself being called to such great responsibility. But God had other plans. Ministry was not a title—it was a consequence of his love for souls. Providence opened doors he would never have dared to open on his own.
And so, many years later, in 2019, during the Session in Itu, São Paulo, Brazil, the election for General Conference president took place. That was when Eli understood: it was not about merit. It was about purpose. He had not planned to be there. But God had planned it for him.
God guided every step of his journey. Divine grace overcame every challenge. Looking back, Eli does not see pain or resentment. He sees purpose. His story is not just about survival, it is about redemption. And not just his own. The redemption of his mother. The redemption of his father. And the redemption of all those who once found themselves without hope and discovered that the love of God is powerful enough to transform even the most difficult beginnings into torches of light.
Now that you have learned about the journey of the man whom God’s people on Earth have reelected, the editorial team of this magazine will now present his perspective on fundamental topics for the Church and for faith.
“Arise and Shine!” Magazine: Given the cultural and lifestyle differences among our people in over a hundred countries, how do doctrinal structure and the love of Jesus contribute to the unity of God’s people?
Pastor Eli Tenorio: “Traveling the world and visiting our Church in different countries has taught me a truth I will never forget—we are one worldwide family. I have been to places where the culture, the language, and the customs were completely different from my own. Yet, every time I walked into a Reform Movement church, I felt truly at home. And do you know why? Because we share a doctrinal and spiritual identity. This is why our unity cannot be based on temporary things, but rather on the doctrines that Christ Himself gave us. God’s Law is the expression of His character. Every principle we uphold, every truth we preserve, should unite us in a way that goes far beyond geographical or cultural barriers. Wherever I go, I see brothers and sisters nourished by the same Word, keeping the same day, living the same values. It doesn’t matter if I am in Asia, Africa, Europe, or America—what unites us is our commitment to truth. We are living in challenging times. The world is becoming increasingly divided, fragmented, filled with ideologies that seek to separate people. Yes, evil tries to infiltrate the Church, but we must remain steadfast, because our foundation should not be human opinions, but the eternal truth of God’s Word.”
“Arise and Shine!” Magazine: Given the pressures of today’s world, what challenges does the Church face in engaging teenagers and young people in God’s work?
Pastor Eli Tenorio: “If there is one mistake, we, as a Church, have made, it is underestimating the potential of young people. They have energy, creativity, and courage. They are capable of much more than we imagine. But for that to happen, they need to feel that there is space for them to act, that their voices are heard. The modern world works against them, presenting a lifestyle that fills the mind but not the heart. And when we fail to give them a greater purpose, they find purpose elsewhere. Fortunately, something remarkable is happening. Bible sales are on the rise, driven primarily by Generation Z. While the book market grew by only 1% last year, Bible sales rose by 22%. This growth signals a renewed interest in the Scriptures, especially among young adults. Generation Z is rediscovering the power of the Bible and looking to it for answers to life’s biggest questions.1 And that tells me something important: Young people are not rejecting faith. What they reject is a shallow experience. What they truly want is something deeper, something beyond the surface level and the obvious. They seek meaning, they seek purpose, they seek God. And what is our role in all of this? First, we need to believe in them. It’s not enough to just say that they are the future of the Church. That’s not true. They are the present, and they need to be involved now. I remember when I was baptized at 15. The very next Sunday evening, my name was already on the list of preachers. That changed my life. Young people want to feel useful. They want challenges. They want to be part of the mission. And we need to give them that opportunity. If we do that, we won’t have to convince them to stay in the Church. They will stay because they will feel that this is where they belong. This is their place.”
“Arise and Shine!” Magazine: What message of encouragement would you like to share with the worldwide Church?
Pastor Eli Tenorio: “If there is one thing I have learned in life, it is that God always has a greater purpose than what we can see. We are living in decisive times. The world changes every day. Trials are increasing. The enemy tries to divide us, weaken us, and separate us from one another. But now is the time to unite more than ever before. God’s work is not in the hands of one person alone—it is in the hands of all of us. Every brother, every sister, every young person, every child is all part of this mission. The latter rain is coming. Christ is returning. And He is calling you and me to be faithful, to stand firm, to not let the distractions of this world pull us away from what truly matters. This is my appeal: Let us work together, with all our hearts. Let us each experience the love of God and, as a result, show the world that Christ’s love is real—that His grace transforms lives, that there is hope for all who seek Him, and that very soon, we will all be together in our heavenly home. A home where there will be no more goodbyes, no more pain, no more tears—only joy, eternity, and the presence of our Savior. That is my message. May God bless us all in the next five years that we will share in this faith—unless Christ returns before then.”
By Dorval Fagundes | Editor
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Trachtenberg, J. (2024, December 1). Sales of Bibles are booming, fueled by first-time buyers and new versions. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved January 26, 2025, from https://tinyurl.com/24bwpfbq.
