Maranatha Volunteers International Confirms Will Work in a New Country

On September 19, Maranatha Volunteers International held its forty-eighth annual convention, Mission: Maranatha, at Trinity Life Center in Sacramento, California, United States, welcoming close to 1,600 people. Among the many reports from various church leaders of countries in which the ministry is currently active, Maranatha announced a new effort in Colombia, to begin in 2027. 

The collaboration came at the request of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Colombia. In August Maranatha leaders met with church officials in the South American country to review needs and potential projects. Previously, social and political challenges prevented Maranatha’s involvement, except for a couple of projects in the 1970s and 1990s. In recent years conditions have become more favorable, making this a prime moment to begin work in the country once again. 

“The primary request is for churches, but there has been discussion on the need for assistance on school and water projects. But the full scope needs more discussion, and that will be announced in the coming months,” said Don Noble, president of Maranatha. “Anytime we enter a new country, there is a lot of foundational work to be done. But [God] has never let us down. By faith we know that our work in Colombia will not be the exception.” 

Henry Beltran, president of the Adventist Church in southern Colombia, expressed his gratitude during his presentation at the convention on Sabbath. 

“We have a large need for places that are for the purpose of worshipping the Lord. There are many congregations that need a proper space. . . . We have been praying for Maranatha to come and help us for 20 years, and today that wait is over.”

The Sabbath program also featured powerful testimonies from volunteers whose lives have been changed by Maranatha missions. Adventist leaders from around the world, such as Harrington Akombwa, president of the Adventist Church in the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division; Hiram Kalbermatter, president of the Adventist Church in southeast Brazil; and Aldo Perez, president of the Adventist Church in Cuba, shared their visions for expanding missions and gratitude for Maranatha’s work in their territories. 

Also featured were the Aeolians, Oakwood University’s award-winning choir, who are celebrating 80 years as a group. The choir performed throughout the morning service, as well as during an afternoon concert that received a standing ovation. 

The event created opportunities for connection with old friends and new, as guests mingled and spoke about their ties to Maranatha. 

“Sitting down and having lunch with some of our volunteers and hearing where they’ve gone, what they’ve done, and what service has meant for them—it’s just a time to connect,” said Lisa Emmanuel, projects specialist for North America. “When we all get together, there’s just something that happens—I think we can say it’s just a small piece of what heaven’s going to be like.”

Maranatha Volunteers International, a supporting ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, mobilizes volunteers to build churches, schools, water wells, and other urgently needed structures around the world, including North America. Since 1969, Maranatha has constructed more than 16,000 structures and more than 4,000 water wells in nearly 90 countries.

The original version of this story was posted by Maranatha Volunteers International. Maranatha is a supporting ministry which is not part of the corporate Seventh-day Adventist Church.