Executive Secretary's Report

Introduction

“This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes” (Psalm 118:23).

As we gather in September 2025 for the 6th  quadrennial and 29th regular constituency meeting of the Northeastern Conference of Seventh-day Adventist, we do so at a sacred milestone: the 80th anniversary of the Northeastern Conference. For eight decades, this Conference has stood as a tower of faith, courage, and mission, lifting up Christ in our communities and pointing generations to the blessed hope of His return. Ours is a story written with sacrifice and perseverance, but also with joy, resilience, and victory.

Philosopher James Baldwin once said, “The place in which I’ll fit will not exist until I make it.” Northeastern’s story is one of a people who carved out space where their voices, their worship, and their mission could flourish. In these 80 years, God has guided us from humble beginnings to a thriving spiritual movement, and He is not finished with us yet.

And we remember with Ellen G. White: “We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history” (Life Sketches, p. 196).

Membership and Growth

We began the quadrennium on January 1, 2021, with 183 churches and 23 companies. We closed the quadrennium with 184 churches and 30 companies. We witnessed dynamic growth as we started the quadrennium with 60,579 members. As of December 31, 2024, membership stands at 64,971, a net increase of 4,392.

Over these years, the Spirit has moved powerfully:

• 5,859 baptisms
• 851 professions of faith
• 3,397 transfers in

Together, these represent 10,338 accessions. We experienced 5,946 losses through transfers, deaths, and removals. Yet the story remains one of growth, of lives transformed, and of hope renewed.

Between 2021 and 2024, 1,233 transferred in and 1,917 transferred out, resulting in a net loss of 684. Many migrated to southern conferences such as Florida, Georgia-Cumberland, and South Atlantic, while significant exchanges occurred with our closest neighbors—Greater New York and Southern New England Conferences. We also welcomed 415 international transfers, reflecting the strength of Northeastern’s diversity.

This story is not just statistical, it is personal. At the age of eight years old, I was baptized into the Northeastern Conference by Pastor Lawrence Mason at the Norwalk Seventh-day Adventist Church. From that moment, a seed of love for evangelism was planted in my heart. That love grew as I entered pastoral ministry, where preaching the gospel and calling people to Jesus became my lifelong passion.

Earlier in this quadrennium, while serving as a local pastor, I joined fellow pastors in area evangelism, witnessing the Spirit’s power in collaboration. In late 2024, I conducted a campaign at Omega Church in New Haven, Connecticut, where 15 souls were baptized. In early 2025, I traveled to Jamaica, where 78 were baptized through the power of the preached Word. These experiences have reaffirmed what I first felt as a child: evangelism is in my bones, and it is the lifeblood of the Northeastern Conference.

Clerical and Administrative Operations

The Secretariat has faithfully processed records, ministerial credentials, licenses, service requests, retirement applications, executive committee documents, and constituency communications. In addition, this office has given oversight to the Human Resources Department. To strengthen my leadership, I pursued a Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management from Sacred Heart University and achieved recognition as a Senior Certified Professional with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM-SCP). These skills have helped us provide fair, professional, and mission-driven support to our employees.

Clerks, Treasurers, and Risk Managers Workshop

Every February, hundreds of clerks, treasurers, and risk managers gather at Victory Lake Camp and Conference Center for a transformative workshop. This annual event, co-sponsored by the Secretariat, provides not only intense training to ensure our local leaders remain on the cutting edge of policy, compliance, and best practices, but also serves as a season of spiritual revitalization. It is here that technical excellence meets spiritual renewal, strengthening both the administrative and missional heart of our churches.

Camp Meeting

At the request of our President, I have chaired our Camp Meeting Committee. We have experienced back-to-back camp meetings that stirred our souls and pointed us to mission. These gatherings have become our rallying cry to “reach the world for Christ.”

Youth, Young Adults, and Education

We have revitalized our Summer Camp offerings at Victory Lake Camp, ensuring affordability and accessibility for every family who desires the delicate care and nurture of the tranquil sleep away camp experience.

Beyond this, Northeastern invested significantly to send our young people to the International Pathfinder Camporee in Gillette, Wyoming—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to stand with tens of thousands of peers for worship, fellowship, and training. What an experience!

We also supported the BAYDA Youth Congress in Orlando, Florida, with record numbers of attendees, demonstrating our commitment to empowering the next generation and ensuring they have opportunities to grow in faith, fellowship, and leadership.

As Chair of our K–12 Board of Education, I have visited our schools, encouraged educators, spoken at a colloquium, and championed resources to strengthen Adventist education in the Northeastern Conference. I am convinced that our schools are mission outposts, shaping young minds for both service and eternity. God has given us a great gift in Seventh-day Adventist Christian Education. It is imperative that we fan the flame!

Infrastructure Development and Innovation

At the request of our President, I was asked to give leadership to infrastructure development projects across our Conference. By God’s grace, we have undertaken significant upgrades that not only serve the needs of the present but position us for the future.

Our Conference Office has been overhauled and modernized, creating a space that reflects excellence in both function and mission. A state-of-the-art multipurpose room now serves as the setting for our daily worships and is also available to facilitate meetings, retreats, and events for our churches and schools.

We also launched a digital studio equipped for professional-quality audio and video recording. This studio expands our capacity for digital evangelism, allowing pastors and churches to produce podcasts, broadcasts, sermons, and creative ministry content that can reach audiences far beyond our territory. Truly, the possibilities for ministry are endless.

At Victory Lake Camp, infrastructure has also advanced. We have laid fiber optic cables across the campgrounds, with the intention that by next camp meeting, the entire camp will be covered with reliable high-speed Wi-Fi. This will not only enhance our camp programming but also support retreats, training sessions, and events in a way that keeps pace with the digital era.

These investments in physical and digital infrastructure are more than construction projects—they are tools for mission, enabling us to proclaim the gospel with greater effectiveness and to serve our constituency with excellence.

Restructuring for Mission

This quadrennium also included significant administrative reflection. Our office has been engaged in the restructuring plan to create two conferences from our present territory. After careful study, we believe this plan to be viable, sustainable, and in the missional best interest of the Northeastern Conference. We remain committed to ensuring that structure serves mission and not the other way around.

Congregational Life and Transitions

This quadrennium has been one of dynamic congregational change:

(1) New churches were organized and added to the sisterhood of churches in the Northeastern Conference.

• Indian Orchard – 9/27/25
• Living Manna – 5/12/22
• Breath of Life Fellowship – 11/2024
• Immanuel Seventh-day Adventist– 9/24/22

(2) Churches purchased properties, securing permanent homes for their ministries.

• Brewster Hispanic Church
• Shekinah French Church
• Ephraim Church
• Golgotha Church
• Agape Hispanic Church
• Sichem French Church

(3) Several congregations merged, finding strength in unity and mission.

• Hollis Christian Temple, St. Albans Mission, and Village churches merged to form Victory Tabernacle Church
• Dimensions of Hope Mission and New Hope Seventh-day Adventist Church merged to form Blessed Hope

(4) Faithful workers retired, leaving behind legacies of devotion and service.

• IVETT ASH

• DELLAVERNE BABB-BOVELL

• BALDWIN BARNES

• JAMES BENNETT SR

• ANNA BOZKURT

• PAULETTE BRATHWAITE

• SUESIANNA CADROT

• YENCI CASILDO

• ROBERT CHANDLER

• DAVID CUKE

• MARILYN DORIS

• DOMINGO FRANCISCO

• BARBARA HALL

• CHEKETA HYNES

• GRAFTON JONES

• LORRAINE KING

• PIERRE LAGUERRE

• WANCY MAGNY

• SILBERT NAIRNE

• VELVIA NORMAN

• DENNIS PARKINSON

• ELIE PIERRE

• POLLYANNA PROSPER-BARNES

• MERDELL RICHARDS

• MARLYN RICHARDS

• VEROLYN ROBERTS-MARTIN

• MARILYN RODNEY

• LEILA ROSE-GORDON

• JAPHE SAINT LOUIS

• MARCOS SEIFERT

• EUNICE SENIOR-BAKER

• JULIET SERAPIO

• WINSTON STEPHENSON

• VAL STEWART

• HARRIS THOMPSON

• SELWYN WALTERS

• CLARISSA WICKHAM HINDS

Others, still in active ministry, have fallen asleep in Jesus. Their dedication and sacrifice remain woven into the very fabric of this Conference.

• Kathy Davis, Administrative Assistant
• Lawrence Brown, Pastor and Departmental Director
• Milo Williams, Security Guard
• Carolyn Francis, Principal and Teacher
• Veronica Walker, Principal and Teacher
• Viola Chapman, Superintendent and Principal
• Evelyn Cole-Williams, Teacher

Transitions in Leadership

We also pause to honor the lives of Dr. Daniel Honore and Pastor Trevor H. C. Baker, both former presidents of this Conference, who passed during this term. Their legacies live on in the naming of the Conference Annex and the Camp Victory Lake Pavilion, reminding us that leadership is measured in service and sacrifice.

Appreciation

With deep humility and heartfelt gratitude, I extend my thanks:

• To Dr. Eldeen C. King, President, whose trust and vision have allowed me to serve by his side. His courage in leadership has steadied our ship and put wind in our sails.

• To Dr. Brian S. McDonald, CFO/Treasurer, whose stewardship and wisdom safeguard our resources for the advancement of mission.

• To Dr. Keith A. Albury, Associate Secretary, whose support, innovation, and partnership enrich the Secretariat’s work.

• To my Executive Assistant, Sister Lorraine Archie, whose steady hand and gracious spirit make the work of this office possible.

• To the Northeastern Conference Executive Committee, whose counsel, prayers, and partnership have guided our mission.

• To the Atlantic Union officers: Dr. Abraham J. Jules, Dr. David McKenzie, Dr. Elias Zabala, for their steadfast leadership and support.

• To my beloved wife, Dr. Renee Delahaye, and our three sons, Noah, Nicholas, and Nolan—your love is my anchor. Thank you for sharing me with this great Conference; your patience, prayers, and persistence are the unseen strength behind all that I am able to give in service.

• And to you, the constituency of Northeastern Conference, thank you for entrusting me with this sacred responsibility. To serve you is not just an office, it is a high and holy calling.

Conclusion

As we celebrate 80 years of ministry and mission in Northeastern Conference, my heart swells with gratitude and resolve. My greatest dream remains simple: to do the Lord’s work and the Lord’s will.The Apostle Paul reminds us: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).With gratitude for the past, commitment to the present, and faith for the future, we march forward together—until we see Jesus face to face.