Dr. Abraham Dalu and Mrs. Aster G. Dalu served as official delegates from the East Central Africa Division (ECD), representing the division at the 62nd General Conference Session of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in St. Louis, Missouri. Alongside them, Dr. Mardianto Hasudungan Marpaung and Dr. Ester Karosekali, together with their children Rebecca, Raquel, and Rafaella attended as special guests from the General Conference International Personnel Resources and Services (IPRS). Dr. Abraham Dalu, Mrs. Aster G. Dalu, Dr. Mardianto Marpaung and Dr. Ester Karosekali currently serve at Ethiopia Adventist College (EAC).
During the same session, Pastor Tadesse Adugna, President of the Eastern Ethiopia Union Mission (EEUM) and Chair of the EAC Board, along with EEUM officers Pastor Negash Petros and Mrs. Tihtina Bekele, who serve as Board members, also attended. Pastor Geremew Biru, President of the Western Ethiopia Union Mission (WEUM) and EAC Board member, likewise participated in the General Conference Session, accompanied by WEUM officers Pastor Belay Taye and Mr. Zemenu Zelalem, who also serve on the EAC Board. The session brought together 2,804 official delegates from across the globe.
A significant highlight of the session was the selection of the Nominating Committee, tasked with appointing General Conference officers, department directors, and division officers. Pastor Tadesse Adugna, Pastor Geramew Biru, and Dr. Abraham Daluwere selected to serve on this committee, which comprised 277 delegates. These members were chosen through a caucus process by each of the 13 world divisions prior to the session and represented a diverse mix of leadership, including union representatives, administrators, and lay leaders.
The presence of these delegates and special guests not only strengthened the representation of the East Central Africa Division, Eastern Ethiopia Union Mission and Ethiopia Adventist College but also underscored the commitment of church leaders and employees to participate in global decision-making and collaborative mission planning.
By Dr. Mardianto H. Marpaung, EAC Vice President for Institutional Advancement, MBA Program Coordinator and Professor; and Dr. Ester Karosekali, EAC Director of Guidance and Counselling and Associate Professor