On Dec. 28, 2017, the ADRA Canada board of directors voted the unanimous decision of the search committee and elected Stephen Matthews as the executive director of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Canada.

Matthews will succeed the former executive director, James Astleford, who retired on Jan. 1, 2018.

Matthews, a resident of Newfoundland and Labrador, has some impressive designations that will serve him as he continues the work of those who have gone before him. These include Professional Engineer (P. Eng.), Biology (BSc.), Project Management Professional (PMP), LEED Green Associate (LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Matthews is also GSC (Gold Seal Certified), which is a Canadian Construction and Heavy Civil management professional standard of excellence.

“Stephen has served on numerous boards of directors of Adventist church organizations,” stated Mark Johnson, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada and chairman of the ADRA Canada board. “In addition, he has extensive experience in connecting with government and civic officials on various projects.”

His wife, Amanda, and their children, Ryan, Liam, and Madison, will be relocating to Ontario in the next few weeks.

“I feel greatly blessed and very excited to be joining ADRA Canada as the new executive director and look forward to the work God has in store for the team I will have the fortune to be a part of.” Matthews said, “Being called by God to undertake this responsibility is humbling, and I look forward to serving in this role. I solicit the prayers of the church membership for ADRA Canada’s work, for wisdom, guidance, and direction as we reach out to the world around us.”

ADRA is the global humanitarian organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. ADRA Canada delivers relief and development assistance to more than one million individuals in more than 20 countries to create sustainable change.