As the 61st General Conference (GC) Session of the Seventh-day Adventist Church drew to a close on June 11, 2022, GC leaders acknowledged GC and division leaders who retired during the last quinquennium. GC associate secretary Gerson Santos noted the faithful work of retirees, thanking them for dedicating their life’s work to the church. In total, the celebrated retirees have given a total of 1,383 years of service. “It’s amazing, isn’t it? Praise the Lord for their service!” he said.

As he called out their names, Santos shared a short bio of each retiree, including their years of service, previous fields worked, and their significant contributions to the Adventist Church. As retirees walked on stage, they and their spouses were greeted by GC president Ted N. C. Wilson, secretary Erton Köhler, and treasurer Paul Douglas. Retirees also received certificates and a copy of The Retirement Years authored by Adventist Church co-founder Ellen G. White. 

The celebrated retirees were:

• Larry R. Evans, who dedicated 51 years of service to the Adventist Church. He last served as GC assistant to the president for Adventist Possibility Ministries.
• L. James Gibson, who dedicated 51 years of service to the Adventist Church. He last served as GC field secretary and director of the Geoscience Research Institute.
• Dowell W. Chow, who dedicated 50 years of service to the Adventist Church. He last served as GC field secretary and Adventist World Radio president.
• Thomas Evans, who dedicated 50 years of service to the Adventist Church. He last served as treasurer of the North American Division.
• Hiskia I. Missah, who dedicated 50 years of service to the Adventist Church. He last served as GC associate director of Stewardship. 
• Ekkehardt Mueller, who dedicated 50 years of service to the Adventist Church. He last served as associate director of the GC Biblical Research Institute.
• Daniel R. Jackson, who dedicated 49 years of service to the Adventist Church. He last served as president of the North American Division.
• Linda Mei Lin Koh, who dedicated 49 years of service to the Adventist Church. She last served as director of GC Children’s Ministries.
• Israel Leito, who dedicated 49 years of service to the Adventist Church. He last served as president of the Inter-American Division.
• James R. Nix, who dedicated 49 years of service to the Adventist Church. He last served as GC field secretary and White Estate director.
• Juan Prestol-Puesan, who dedicated 49 years of service to the Adventist Church. He last served as GC treasurer.
• Jerry N. Page, who dedicated 48 years of service to the Adventist Church. He last served as associate secretary of the GC Ministerial department.
• Max W. Langi, who dedicated 48 years of service to the Adventist Church. He last served as treasurer of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division.
• Gan-Theow (G. T.) Ng, who dedicated 48 years of service to the Adventist Church. He last served as GC executive secretary.
• E. Selvin Moorthy, who dedicated 44 years of service to the Adventist Church. He last served as treasurer of the Southern Asia Division.
• John H. Thomas, who dedicated 44 years of service to the Adventist Church. He last served as GC associate secretary.
• Jairyong Lee, who dedicated 43 years of service to the Adventist Church. He last served as president of the Northern Asia-Pacific Division.
• Orville D. Parchment, who dedicated 42 years of service to the Adventist Church. He last served as GC field secretary and assistant to the president.
• Rodney Brady, who dedicated 41 years of service to the Adventist Church. He last served as treasurer of the South Pacific Division.
• Fred Hardinge, who dedicated 40 years of service to the Adventist Church. He last served as associate director of GC Health Ministries.
• Rudy Baloyo, who dedicated 39 years of service to the Adventist Church. He last served as secretary of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division. 
• Saustin Mfune, who dedicated 38 years of service to the Adventist Church. He last served as GC associate director of Children’s Ministries.
• Brad Thorp, who dedicated 38 years of service to the Adventist Church. He last served as GC field secretary and as assistant to the president.
• Wilmar Hirle, who dedicated 37 years of service to the Adventist Church. He last served as associate director of GC Publishing Ministries.
• Ruth Parish, who dedicated 37 years of service to the Adventist Church. She last served as director of GC Human Resources.
• Mario E. Ceballos, who dedicated 35 years of service to the Adventist Church. He last served as director of GC Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries.
• Mike Lekic, who dedicated 35 years of service to the Adventist Church. He last served as GC associate director of Education.
• Stephen R. Guptill, who dedicated 34 years of service to the Adventist Church. He last served as president of Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies (AIIAS).
• Ella Simmons, who dedicated 32 years of service to the Adventist Church. She last served as GC general vice-president.
• Cheryl Doss, who dedicated 24 years of service to the Adventist Church. She last served as director of the GC Institute of World Mission.
• Kwabena Donkor, who dedicated 22 years of service to the Adventist Church. He last served as associate director of the GC Biblical Research Institute.
• Janet R. Page, who dedicated 22 years of service to the Adventist Church. She last served as associate secretary of the GC Ministerial Association.

Wilson addressed attendees and retirees with concluding remarks, saying, “You see before you an extremely impressive lineup of brain power, intellectual activity, mission orientation, but most of all spiritual dedication.” 

He continued, “We praise God for the many years of service combined. 1,383 years! We salute all of you, we thank you, we praise God for you, and we commit your lives now into God’s hands as you go on in service for Him.” 

The original version of this story was posted by the Adventist News Network.