The Church of Jesus Christ and Seventh-day Adventists Continue Humanitarian Collaboration

At the conclusion of a lunch on Thursday, January 16, 2025, Presiding Bishop Gérald Caussé presented the leader of the global humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church with a small stained glass depiction of the Book of Mormon’s tree of life story.

The tree represents God’s love. Bishop Caussé said there’s no better way to describe the work of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA).

“What is the greatest manifestation of love from God if it is not the gift of His Son, manifest in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ?” Bishop Caussé said to ADRA President Michael Kruger and others gathered on the 26th floor of the Church Office Building. “This is the tree we all want to approach and share with others. I feel that today we share this together, the love of God. This is what ADRA does every day. Thank you for that.”

ADRA’s purpose is to “serve humanity so all may live as God intended.” The Adventist community has 21.9 million members, hundreds of thousands of churches globally and the world’s largest integrated healthcare and education network. They deliver relief and development assistance to people in more than 120 countries.

Other ADRA leaders present at Thursday’s lunch were Matthew Siliga, ADRA vice president for strategic operations and growth, and Alex Balint, ADRA’s director of corporate and social partnerships. In addition to Bishop Caussé, the Church of Jesus Christ was represented by the entire Relief Society General Presidency (President Camille N. Johnson, Sister J. Anette Dennis and Sister Kristin M. Yee), along with Bishop Caussé’s counselors (Bishops W. Christopher Waddell and L. Todd Budge).

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been collaborating with ADRA for nearly 30 years. This began in 1995 on a project to feed the hungry in Ecuador. Since then, they have combined their influence to bless many lives through 335 projects in 85 countries.

“We are committed to helping alleviate suffering and prioritize the well-being of all God’s children,” said Blaine R. Maxfield, managing director of Welfare and Self-Reliance Services. “Our collaboration with ADRA exemplifies our shared values and dedication to serving humanity. Together, we can achieve remarkable things and bring hope to those in need.”

ADRA has a strong presence in Yemen, where the Church of Jesus Christ has built sustainable clean water systems, provided food relief and improved infrastructure. And during the COVID-19 pandemic, ADRA was key in providing personal protective equipment, sanitation and medical equipment and supplies in many locales.

Download Photo

More recently, ADRA has helped with the migrant response in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico and Peru. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has visited some of these projects. ADRA has also created a dashboard that lets the Church see in real time how these projects are doing

Church leaders welcomed ADRA representatives on Thursday to thank them and strengthen bonds. ADRA leaders witnessed firsthand the heart of the Church’s humanitarian work at Welfare Square and the Bishops’ Central Storehouse (a 500,000-square-foot warehouse stocked with food and other critical supplies for those in need). In the afternoon they met with Elder Bednar.

President Kruger praised the Church’s commitment to serving those in need — especially in what he has seen at the Bishops’ Central Storehouse.

“I’ll be honest, I go back home and say, ‘You guys really need to go to Salt Lake,’” he said. “It is deeply impressive, and it speaks to who you are. It speaks to your faith and it speaks to your values. It is something you can be justifiably proud of.”

President Johnson told ADRA leaders that the Bishops’ Central Storehouse represents more than just the items available for distribution to those most in need.

“It also includes our people and our like-minded friends [like ADRA],” President Johnson said. “We’re so thankful to have you in the Bishops’ Central Storehouse with us — resources we can draw upon when needs have been identified. And those needs will continue to arise. We’re so thankful for this association.”

President Kruger said ADRA will continue to treasure its relationship with the Church of Jesus Christ.

“We know that we are called to minister to others. For us to find like-minded organizations is exceptionally critical and crucial to us because we find that you share the same values,” he said. “Thank you so much.”