With great thankfulness for God’s protection and the blessing of our brethren and sisters, “wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Hebrews 12:28).

The Central American Region is located in the center of the American continent which serves three unions: Mexico, Central America, and Colombia; three fields: Venezuela, Dominican Republic, and Haiti; six missions: Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Guyana, and French Guyana. The Region has an estimated 2,400 members, ecclesiastically served by 13 ministers and 18 elders. Following the American isthmus from north to south, it comprises the countries of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Venezuela. In the Caribbean Sea the places where we have membership are Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Dominica, Guyana, and French Guiana. The total is 19 countries. In the other islands where we have Sabbath School students include Barbados, Jamaica, and Cuba.

During this term there has been an increase in the membership of the church, and we have had the privilege of anointing new ministers and elders, reaching new regions in countries where we already have the work established, and in making contacts with other countries.

Missionary schools are established in the following countries: Mexico, Honduras, Colombia, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, and Haiti. These schools have been supported and led by the General Conference. I am thankful for this valuable contribution to our region. In addition, the Lord has blessed us with:

• 6 elementary schools (Mexico, Honduras, and Colombia).

• 2 high schools (Honduras and Colombia).

• 1 colporteur school (Honduras).

The missionary schools and colporteur school have been of great value in the preparation of the young people who are happily accepting the call to work in the cause of the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank the Lord for giving us many young people in the Central American Region, as can be seen in the youth conventions, conferences, and other spiritual meetings. Most of them are a valuable promise that can carry the responsibilities of the holy cause of the holy gospel in the future.

The colporteur work has been a great spiritual and economic blessing in whichever country it has been established. The countries of this Region with the greatest potential in the colporteur work are Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize, Panama, Nicaragua, Colombia, and Venezuela. Thanks to the efforts of the Colporteur Department director and the Publishing Department of the General Conference, it has been possible to maintain active the colporteur work in this Region. May God’s name be praised.

With the wonderful assistance from the brethren and sisters throughout the globe in the form of the First Sabbath Offerings, donations from the General Conference, the collaboration of volunteers from the United States of America in their project to help Honduras, other donations and local efforts from the local brethren, new properties have been purchased, new temples have been built, others have been repaired from being ruined by natural disasters, and other projects are under construction. It is not possible to mention them all, but we, the brethren and sisters of this region are grateful for all your great help.

May the Lord’s blessing be poured in this solemn assembly is the desire of my heart, and let us keep in mind the vocation of our high calling to which we have been called with the inspired words from the Lord’s servant:

“The greatest work, the noblest effort, in which men can engage, is to point sinners to the Lamb of God. True ministers are colaborers with the Lord in the accomplishment of His purposes. God says to them, Go, teach and preach Christ. Instruct and educate all who know not of His grace, His goodness, and His mercy. Teach the people. ‘How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?’ (Romans 10:14). . . .

“ ‘How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!’ ‘Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted His people, He hath redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord hath made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God’ (Isaiah 52:7, 9, 10).”1