Texas Conference members and friends enjoyed a spiritual emphasis weekend January 17-18, 2025, when English and Spanish Seventh-day Adventist churches in Tyler were filled with people attending the annual East Texas Convocation.
For the first time, the convocation was moved from its traditional time in December to January. “December is such a busy time for everyone that we thought January might be a better time when people may not have as many conflicting events,” Texas Conference President Elton DeMoraes shared.
Emphasizing the theme “Living in the Last Days: Hope for Tomorrow,” the featured presenters stressed how important it is to have a relationship with God during trying times. Stephen Bohr, author and Secrets Unsealed speaker, delivered the sermons to the English-speaking Adventist church in Tyler, and Miguel Patiño-Hernández, adjunct professor of the Inter-American Adventist Theological Seminary (SETAI), spoke at the Tyler Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Music provided equally powerful messages at both gatherings. The King’s Heralds quartet performed at the Tyler Seventh-day Adventist Church, as did violinist and violist Rogerio Nunes and pianist Jonathan Mamora, both assistant professors of Music and Art at Southwestern Adventist University in Keene, Texas. At the Tyler Spanish church, Ruth Patiño took charge of the special music for the weekend and also performed an afternoon concert.
Elders were ordained during the Tyler Spanish services, and a family of six committed their lives to Christ, with three being baptized and three being dedicated during the Tyler English services.
All of the services were recorded. If you missed them or want to watch them again, you can find the Tyler church English-speaking services at TexasAdventist.org/east-texas-convocation-english-2025 and the Tyler Spanish-speaking services at TexasAdventist.org/east-texas-convocation-spanish-2025.
Brad Minett, pastor of the Tyler church, said he heard positive responses such as “The last-day message is so relevant” Others were “blown away by the music of the King’s Heralds.” Knowing accommodations were limited, he said many members stayed home to watch it online, giving others the opportunity to attend in person. He knew several who drove over an hour to attend.
Our Spanish-speaking members were delighted by the messages and the music. John Arana, pastor of the Tyler Spanish church, shared how wonderful the event had been and is already making plans for next year’s convocation. Frank Romero, pastor of the Spanish congregations in Palestine, Montalba and Jacksonville, and Dervys Morales, pastor of the Spanish congregations in Henderson, Longview and Marshall, expressed the blessing that their members had received during the weekend.
“It was a divinely inspired weekend as many learned or were reminded of the importance of being ready for end-time events,” DeMoraes added. “Just like a crisis, it is not a matter of if but when these things will happen. Thankfully, we do not have to fear the last days, as we know how the story will end.”
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Looking ahead, the annual Laredo Convocation will be held on January 31 – Feb 1, 2025, at the Emmanuel Church in Laredo, Texas. Join us in person or online to hear Oscar Rivera, youth pastor of the University Church at Montemorelos University, and music from the Universidad de Montemorelos brass ensemble. Find the livestream at YouTube.com/hispanostxc.
By Tamara Michalenko Terry, director of Events & Editorial Services for the Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
Picture Links
Tyler Seventh-day Adventist Church
Tyler Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church
Livestream Links
