On Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, the Lake Union executive committee convened in Berrien Springs, Michigan for the final of three meetings held annually. L to R: General Vice President and Multicultural Ministries Director Carmelo Mercado, Executive Secretary Ted Huskins, President Elden Ramirez and Treasurer Glynn Scott. | Photos by Katie Fellows
Debbie Michel
November 20, 2025The 37-member committee brings together representatives from the five conferences to help guide and support the work of the church across the Great Lakes region. Its membership includes local conference administrators, church employees, lay leaders and the presidents of Andrews University and UChicago Medicine AdventHealth.
Lake Union President Elden Ramirez chaired the meeting, which is centered on the day-to-day work, and the long-term strategies that advance the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. North American Division Vice President for Ministries Wendy Eberhardt attended as a special guest.
In his President’s report, Elden Ramirez highlighted the union’s official launch of Pentecost 2025 this spring at Andrews University, where keynote speaker Mark Finley and musical guests The King’s Heralds drew standing-room-only crowds. More than 25 breakout sessions offered training in Bible studies, preaching and discipleship, with a full Spanish-language track running simultaneously.
More than 500 churches and schools participated in the Pentecost initiative, placing the Lake Union among the top unions in the North American Division for engagement. Some conferences reported participation rates nearing 100 percent.
Ramirez said the union invested $3.5 million in evangelism this year, including $1.45 million from the North American Division. The Lake Union added $100,000 for NADEI field schools, with $90,000 directed to the Indianapolis field school operated jointly by the Indiana and Lake Region conferences.
Conference reports showed a wide range of outcomes. In Illinois, small groups, digital outreach and Hispanic ministries yielded strong results, including the baptism of a former Methodist pastor and his wife. A joint initiative in Indianapolis led to 205 baptisms across 13 churches, and Lake Region’s East Side and Body of Christ churches reported over 100 baptisms in one week. Michigan’s Marion Church doubled attendance during a Keys to Revelation seminar, and Wisconsin churches reported about 115 baptisms with more meetings underway.
Lake Union Vice President Carmelo Mercado reported strong evangelistic momentum and expanding multicultural initiatives during his presentation to the Lake Union Executive Committee, noting that God’s leading has been evident across the territory throughout the year.
Mercado said Pentecost 2025 continues to inspire significant growth, with more than 150 people attending Spanish-language training at Andrews University—matching the English track held earlier. He said Hispanic coordinators expect this to be a record year for baptisms, as multi-city meetings with evangelist Alejandro Bullón drew standing-room-only crowds in Detroit, Grand Rapids and at Pioneer Memorial Church. Baptisms are continuing weekly, he said, including a recent service for a 16-year-old at the South Bend Hispanic Church.
Mercado also highlighted the union’s immigrant and refugee support efforts, funded through the Lake Union’s emerging immigrant fund. This year’s projects included Hispanic outreach at Hinsdale Adventist Academy, support for Indiana Refugee Ministries, tuition assistance for refugee families and aid for Burmese congregations. A multicultural ministries committee, with representation from Michigan, Indiana and Lake Region, has guided the distribution of these funds. He reported that the North American Division has doubled its multicultural allocation to $1 million.
He praised assistant director Magaly Torres for securing a $1.2 million Lilly Endowment grant for a five-year early childhood worship and prayer initiative. The project will launch at 10 pilot churches across the union, with a special focus on multicultural and refugee families.
Mercado noted continued growth in youth ministries through Conéctate and applauded the impact of AMEN medical and dental clinics that bring together state and regional conference churches.
Looking ahead, Mercado announced plans for a union-wide Reformation Tour in 2026, which will include cultural-intelligence training and visits to historic sites in Italy, Germany and the Waldensian valleys. Participants who register by Dec. 31 will receive a free illustrated hardcopy of the book, “The Great Controversy.”
In response to a need to support our immigrant communities, Mercado presented a statement affirming the dignity and humanity of the vulnerable among us. After dialogue on tensions, especially in the Chicago area, members of the committee voted for the statement’s release. You can read it here.
Lake Union Executive Secretary Ted Huskins urged committee members to remember that the work of secretariat is fundamentally about people, not statistics, as he presented his report during the year-end executive committee meeting.
While sharing the traditional membership data and trends, Huskins framed the numbers within a ministry perspective, reminding leaders that “behind every number is a person.” He recounted experiences from his years in pastoral ministry, where intentional outreach—from neighborhood Bible studies to conversations on a softball field—led to baptisms, weddings and long-term relationships. He said he is encouraged to see many presidents leading their own Pentecost 2025 evangelistic series, modeling the same spirit of personal engagement.
Huskins reported that the Lake Union’s age distribution reveals notable gaps among members ages 10–40, particularly those 10–19 and 20–29. He noted this reflects broader North American trends and presents a major opportunity for reclaiming former members and reaching their peers. Membership demographics also show that 55 percent of Lake Union members are women, highlighting the need for intentional strategies to reach men.
Third-quarter membership gains were among the highest in the past three years, and Huskins expects a strong fourth-quarter finish as fall reaping meetings conclude across the territory. He also encouraged churches to improve weekly attendance reporting, emphasizing the importance of accurate counts.
Baptism data from the third quarter showed that 83 percent of decisions came from young people ages 10–19, with another 25 percent coming from adults ages 20–39. Huskins called this encouraging evidence that youth and young adult ministries are making an impact.
The committee also approved several administrative items, including the commissioning of Chaplain Thandiwe C. Chiwaya from the Lake Region Conference and representation changes to the NAD and Lake Union Executive Committee. Pastor Mitchel Urbano will represent Michigan on the NAD executive committee. Wisconsin Pastor Bill Dudgeon will join the Lake Union executive committee.
Huskins closed by affirming that the mission remains centered on reaching people in every community.
Chief Financial Officer Glynn Scott presented the treasury report with figures as of September 2025.
Year-to-date tithe totaled $61.9 million, down 2.70 percent from September 2024. Scott noted that with the negative year-to-date results, the union will continue closely monitoring financial performance through the end of the year.
Total assets stand at $17.4 million, an increase of $1.5 million over last year. The rise is primarily due to the $1.2 million Lilly Endowment grant for the Nurturing Children through Worship and Prayer Initiative, along with higher carry-forward fund balances.
Total income of $8.4 million was under budget by $719,000 because the weighted budget is currently ahead of actual income. Scott said this variance is expected to smooth out in the fourth quarter, noting that 2025 is planned as a breakeven year.
Total expenses were $8.8 million, coming in under budget by $972,000 due to lower program, salary and travel costs.
The union recorded an operating gain of $182,000 for September, outperforming budget projections by $842,000.
Scott concluded by expressing gratitude for God’s provision, saying, “We are thankful for God’s financial blessings upon our constituents, which in turn result in financial blessings upon our union in tithes and offerings.”
Please note reports from our conferences and entities will be provided in our next newsletter.
Debbie Michel serves as Lake Union communication director.
