Adventists Unite in Historic Congress to Advance Indigenous Evangelism

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Mexico recently gathered more than 1,000 members from its Huastec regions during a special congress for division and union leaders in El Higo, Veracruz. The event, organized by the North Mexican and Inter-Oceanic Mexican unions, welcomed Huastec members, who mostly speak Mayan-derived languages and dialects, for worship and fellowship. Congregants came from six of the states that make up the Huastec region: San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, Querétaro, Veracruz, Hidalgo, and Puebla.

A Milestone for Huastec Adventists

The congress, themed “Huastecs United,” marked a milestone in the evangelistic work of the region, church leaders said. “This was a dream come true—one that had been in the making for over two years,” said David Maldonado, president of the Gulf Mexican Conference. He recalled first learning about the Huastec people of Mexico as a young boy while watching a movie back home in Peru.

“I distinctly remember being fascinated by the three Huastec groups I heard about back then—but now that I’m here, I’ve learned there are six. I’m grateful to be part of these evangelism efforts today,” he said.

The Gulf Mexican Conference, which oversees the church in the states of San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, and Querétaro, is home to more than 1 million Huastecs.

Reaching Hearts in Native Languages

It was important to mobilize hundreds of members to experience moments of joy, worship, and praise together and to reassure them that the church is interested in them, their spiritual growth, and their continuing to share the gospel message, Maldonado said.

Evangelistic materials were presented in the Nahuatl language, including the Bible; Steps to Christ, by Ellen G. White; and The Faith of Jesus Bible lessons—in print as well as in audio and video formats.

“Many people from Indigenous communities have tried to understand the message without success, but now, thank God, we can share it in their native language,” Maldonado said.

A Long-term Strategy for the Huastec Region

Both union presidents—Arturo King of the North Mexican Union and Abraham Sandoval Jimenez of the Inter-Oceanic Mexican Union—expressed their full support for expanding outreach through Mission 2030, a joint initiative aimed at strengthening evangelism in the Huastec region of Mexico.

The five-year plan includes the creation of more resources and radio programming in the three main Huastec languages—Nahuatl, Tének, and Pame, the deployment of nearly a dozen missionaries, and the launch of multiple evangelistic campaigns in the coming year, leaders said.

Ongoing Commitment Beyond the Event

“This is not just an event—it’s an established plan that will continue year after year,” said Orlando González Hernandez, president of the North Veracruz Conference, which encompasses more than 1 million people in the Huastec region. “We have pastors and leaders committed to the project and will keep adding to their efforts. The Lord’s work has no limits or borders—it will continue winning hearts.”

Inter-American Division president Elie Henry emphasized that the gathering reflected the church’s core mission: to share God’s love with the world.

Henry spoke on the importance of remaining united: “The kingdom of God is for everyone. . . . You don’t have to change or abandon your mother tongue to enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Twenty new believers were baptized during the congress event, the result of ongoing evangelism efforts in the Huastec region, leaders reported.

For Esperanza Velázquez, of Tuxpan, Veracruz, the event meant much more than just a gathering. “I’m very happy to take part in this spiritual celebration. These evangelistic efforts unite us, strengthen us, and will surely help advance the missionary work throughout the Huasteca region,” she said.

Víctor Rubén Montes, an attendee from Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas, emphasized the impact of collaboration. He noted that the united efforts of the two conferences and two unions involved would be a significant victory for God. “I believe this will be a great blessing for the Huastec community and for the Adventist Church,” he said.

Radio Outreach and Future Plans

The Adventist Church remains committed to continuing the spread of the gospel among the Huastec communities, leaders said. According to Maldonado, with support from the unions and Adventist World Radio, 300 solar-powered radios containing the Bible in the Nahuatl language, along with other resources in Spanish, were recently distributed.

“Since the church does not currently own a radio station in the country, we are broadcasting programming through local radio stations in these Huastec communities,” Maldonado explained. “We’re also supporting a pastor who speaks both Spanish and Nahuatl to minister to the growing groups of believers in several districts of the Gulf [Mexican]Conference.”

Although there are still challenges in reaching the more than 10,000 people who speak Pame, Maldonado said the church plans to involve more members in evangelism efforts this year and beyond.

Plans are already underway to bring together more than 1,000 people for another congress in a different location, providing an opportunity for worship and fellowship.

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