South America

Former leader of the Adventist Church in South America dies at 75

Leader remembered for having a "clear focus on mission and appreciation of people"

Brasilia, Brazil | Felipe Lemos, ASN and ANN Staff

Ruy Nagel, former president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in South America, died on May 1 at the age of 75, in Porto-Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Nagel was born September 27, 1939 in the southern city of Jaguari, Brazil and was son of Arthur and Ida Heinrich Nagel. He was married on December 19, 1961 to Evelin, a former women’s ministries director for the South American Division. The couple did not have any children.

Nagel graduated in 1961 from the Cruzeiro do Sul Adventist Institute (IACS), located in Taquara, in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and studied Theology in the former Adventist Institute of Ensino (IAE). He began his ministry in 1962 as a district pastor in the territory now known as South Rio Grande Conference. He was ordained to the ministry on January 18, 1967.

Nagel worked mainly as a treasurer in the South Rio Grande Conference (Rio Grande do Sul), Central Brazil Conference (Goiás and DF), North Brazil Union, Silvestre Adventist Hospital (Rio de Janeiro) and, in June of 1980, he became the Treasurer of the South American Division, headquartered in Brasilia, Brazil.

Between 1980 and 1995 he served in the area of treasurer of the church in South America. In August 1995 he was elected President of the South American Division. He was followed in service by the current president of the Division, pastor Erton Köhler, who assumed the role in 2006.

Retired pastor Marino de Oliveira, a former treasurer for the South American Division, commented that Nagel was a dedicated leader and that he lived intensely for the administration of the Adventist Church. "He had a very clear focus on mission and appreciation of people. Rather, the right people in the right places," he remembered.

The current treasurer of the South American Division, pastor Marlon Lopes, affirmed that Nagel was a great counselor, a loyal person and led people with precision. Lopes remembered how Nagel led the Church during a period of great economic instability in the South American Division and how despite this, the denomination continued satisfactory growth during that period. Before the stabilization of currency in 1994, Brazil experienced intense price inflation and financial mishandling, "Pastor Nagel was not afraid of making even unpopular decisions to keep the Church on solid ground," highlighted the treasurer.

Division Vice President Almir Marroni, who also worked with Nagel for many years, added that the former president was firm in his convictions, but at the same time, demonstrated a fraternal spirit.

Pastor Erton Köhler, who replaced Nagel as president said, "there are many memories that remain. This is why I'm sure that even as he is resting in the Lord, his works and life example will remain alive and influence those who continue with the mission. He completed faithfully and worthily the mission that he received from the Lord. Today I have the privilege of building on the foundation that he left and the vision of seriousness and commitment for mission that he so persistently reinforced. His work was so strong that it will continue long beyond his days."

Additional reporting from Andréia Silva.

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