Adventism in Puerto Rico Today

[Gregory Matthews]

How has the recent storm affected Adventism in Puerto Rico?  The following tells how SDAs are helping others recover.  But, it goes beyond that to discuss how the storm probably has long term effects on the SDA denomination in other ways.

See:

https://spectrummagazine.org/article/2017/12/01/church-relief-and-rebuilding-puerto-rico-continues

Preliminary reports confirm that 16 churches suffered serious damage and others were affected to a lesser degree. “Many members began to work as soon as circumstances permitted,” said Rivera.

Five of the 20 Adventist schools in Puerto Rico will need major repairs, said Rivera. These schools are in Arecibo, Caguas, Maunabo, Vega Baja, and Vieques Island.

One new church in Loiza, where the town has the highest poverty index, will have to be demolished and completely rebuilt to function as a church and center of influence, said Rivera. Maranatha leaders will take a look at the site in Loiza to assess if it can be built there soon.

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Rivera referenced official statistics that show that more than 100,000 persons are unemployed since the storm, and more than 100,000 have fled the island. “It has been estimated that some 300,000 will leave the island in the next couple of months.”

This exile is also being felt across congregations, said Rivera. “We believe that some 1,000 church members have left since September 20, and we fear that more will leave soon.” The church had more than 33,300 members at the end of June. Post-hurricane membership numbers are not available yet.

The church fears membership will go down to less than 32,000. Already, because of the economic crisis which has affected Puerto Rico for the past six years, some 5,000 members have left the island.

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