Over ninety delegates and an additional 100 visitors gathered in Grandview, Washington on Saturday, April 22 for the quadrennial conference. The conference has 38 congregations in Washington, Oregon, Utah, and Idaho.
The conference voted to keep the three-term statute of limitations. This only affected one person on the previous conference council. In the elections that followed, Bishop Eleuterio Prieto was reelected to a third term as the conference superintendent. Other members of the conference council elected were Rev. Trinidad Gutierrez (assistant superintendent), Rev. Jesus Arrendondo (secretary/treasurer), Rev. Luis Marquez and Rev. Gabriel Que (council members).
NW Latin Executive Council, l-r: Gabriel Cue, Jesus Arrendondo, Bishop Eleuterio Prieto, Trinidad Gutierrez, Luis Marquez.
NW Latin Executive Council, l-r: Gabriel Cue, Jesus Arrendondo, Bishop Eleuterio Prieto, Trinidad Gutierrez, Luis Marquez.
The conference in session elected the following to lead various conference ministries:
Roberto Perez – Evangelism
Jorge Estrada – Missions
Juan Arteaga – Discipleship Ministries
Jose Moreno – Men’s Ministries
Arnulfo Estrada – Intercessory Prayer
Norma Gutierrez – Women’s Ministries
Doug Beacham with Haitian Pastor Mikenson Charles
In the State of the Conference, Bishop Prieto informed the delegates that two churches had permanently closed due to Covid, and three other congregations had left the conference. He also reported that the historically Hispanic conference now has a Haitian congregation led by Pastor Mikenson Charles.
Rev. Travis Lowe and Nestor Garcia from IPHC Extension Loan Fund were present at the conference. Their presentation was helpful to the pastors and lay leaders.
General Superintendent Doug Beacham presided over the conference. The presentation on Arise to Mission was well received by all in attendance.
In the Memoirs report, the conference gave thanks for the lives and ministries of Rev. Esteban Lopez who served as superintendent of the Mexican Conference from 1935-1943 and the Texas Conference from 1944-1962. They also remembered the life of Rev. Marin Cantu, the first superintendent of NW Latin from 1974-1980, and the life of Rev. Elias Moreno who served as conference superintendent from 1990-1998.
