ASI Abroad (edit, back)

Inter-American Division

ASI Inter-America held its annual convention August 20-23 at the Coral Costa Caribe resort in Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic. More than 400 people attended, and over the four-day convention heard inspiring testimonies and speeches.

Featured speakers included Stephen Bohr, pastor of the Fresno Central Seventh-day Adventist church and director of Secrets Unsealed, and Barbara Taylor, ASI vice president for recruitment. A special presentation on the One-Day Church was made at the convention. Leon Wellington, ASI Inter-America secretary, told attendees that ASI Inter-America had accepted a request to lead the One-Day Church project within the division.

In a business session, members voted to re-elect Juan Rosa as ASI Inter-America president. Nelson Cabrera was elected as communication coordinator. The 2009 ASI Inter-America Convention will be held in Bridgetown, Barbados, August 22-25. More information is online at www.asi-interamerica.org.

Europe

ASI Portugal, founded not even a year ago, has experienced tremendous blessings. Approximately 100 Adventist businesspeople attended the second ASI Portugal meeting last year, which was aimed at forming the organization’s charter membership.

After some powerful testimonies of witnessing in the workplace, membership applications were distributed, and 57 people requested charter memberships. Ruben Dias, ASI Portugal president, was delighted both with the result and with the knowledge that influential Portuguese laypeople committed themselves to the ASI mission.

Ruben has defined three main objectives for his term: membership growth, launching Youth for Jesus in Portugal and starting a New Beginnings DVD evangelism project.

ASI Portugal is online at www.asiportugal.org.

Africa

ASI South Africa has officially launched, and held its inaugural meeting October 23-25, 2008, in the city of Bloemfontein. Themba Sirayi was elected as the organization’s first president.

The meeting was attended by 175 people, and representatives from other ASI entities. Donna and Denzil McNeilus, current and former ASI president respectively, were present. Officers from ASI Zimbabwe and ASI Zambia were on hand as well.

Asia

The Northern and Southern Asia-Pacific Division ASI held their 9th bi-division convention December 4-7 at the Grand Seasons Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Themed “Chosen to Serve”, the convention included testimonies, uplifting sermons and musical performances.

It was the largest ever bi-division convention, with nearly 600 people attending.

Featured speakers included Denzil McNeilus, a former ASI president, and Chester Clark III, ASI general vice president.

A first-time attendee wrote that she was surprised at how interesting the convention was, and that she was “overwhelmed” by the testimonies and the featured speakers. She also committed to attending the next convention.