Kleyton Feitosa, former director of the Global Mission Centers at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (GC), passed away on November 20, 2024. Pastor Kleyton’s career spanned local, regional, and global mission work, providing leadership and direction within the Adventist Church.

“We have lost a great spiritual mission leader,” remarked Pastor Ted Wilson, former president of the Adventist Church. “Kleyton brought a positive, balanced, mission-focused approach to everything he did as he served as the Global Mission Centers director for Adventist Mission at the General Conference.”

A Ministry Built on Leadership and Service

Kleyton began his pastoral ministry at Curitiba Central Church in Brazil, the largest community church in South America. Stanley Arco, president of the South American Division, observed, “Even at the beginning of his ministry in Curitiba, Kleyton’s passion for young people and his ability to connect with them were evident.”

As the associate pastor for youth, he led programs fostering engagement and spiritual development, seeking to connect the young people with Christ and the Adventist Church. Arco added, “His innovative leadership and his influence have continued to inspire generations, especially in global mission work.”

In 2001, Kleyton relocated to the United States to pursue advanced theological studies at Andrews University. After completing his studies, he was called to the Chesapeake Conference, where he served as pastor of the Waldorf Seventh-day Adventist Church and successfully planted a new congregation in St. Charles County, Maryland.

Recognized for his administrative capabilities, Kleyton was appointed executive secretary of the Chesapeake Conference in 2011, where he worked under then-President Rick Remmers. “Kleyton demonstrated sound judgment as an administrator, which allowed him to be effective in a wide variety of settings,” recalled Remmers, now assistant to the president of the North American Division. “Kleyton had a warm and gracious spirit that drew people in. Throughout his long battle with cancer, he demonstrated a deep and abiding trust in the Lord.”

Kleyton’s cross-cultural leadership experience expanded in 2014 when he accepted a call to serve as president of the Egypt-Sudan Field. In this role, Kleyton navigated complex cultural and religious contexts, focused on building local leadership capacity, and developed mission strategies in areas where Adventists were a minority.

Rick McEdward, then president of the Middle East North Africa Union Mission and now General Conference executive secretary, expressed his profound sense of loss.

“I have lost a dear colleague and friend. I worked closely with Kleyton when he was president of the Egypt-Sudan Field—he was a man of God whose dedication and humility inspired everyone around him . . . There will be people from at least three continents in heaven singing the song of the Lamb as a result of God’s work through Pastor Kleyton. He leaves a legacy of leadership and witness, and his impact will be felt for generations. My heart is heavy, but I thank God for his faithful life and legacy.”

In 2017, Kleyton returned to the United States due to health concerns and served as pastor of the Living Word Seventh-day Adventist Church in Glen Burnie, Maryland. His ability to connect with diverse communities remained a defining feature of his ministry.

Leadership at the General Conference

In 2023, Kleyton was appointed director of the Global Mission Centers at the General Conference. In this capacity, he oversaw six mission centers dedicated to outreach and education for Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, post-Christian, and urban populations. The centers provide resources, training, and strategies to help Adventists build meaningful relationships and engage in working within these communities.

Under Kleyton, the Global Mission Centers flourished not just because of his administration, according to Gary Krause, director of the Office of Adventist Mission, but because of his Christ-like leadership. Krause reflected, “Kleyton didn’t just talk about Jesus’ love and compassion, he modelled them. He was wise and gentle, and his faith in the face of major health challenges was a constant inspiration.”

This was echoed by Petras Bahadur, director of the Global Mission Center for Adventist-Muslim Relations, who worked closely with Kleyton and could sense God’s presence in Him. Bahadur noted, “I noticed in my interactions with Kleyton as our leader, he clearly had the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and the fruit of the Spirit was manifest in his life.”

Health Challenges and Resilience

Kleyton’s ministry journey included health challenges. Diagnosed with liposarcoma in 2011, he underwent multiple surgeries and treatments, including the eventual amputation of his leg in 2018. Despite these trials, he continued to serve in leadership roles, demonstrating resilience and commitment to his work.

“Kleyton turned his illness into an opportunity to encourage missionaries and pastors who are struggling with other problems,” observed Erton Köhler, General Conference president. “He showed how we can turn even the worst adversities into a blessing to others.”

A Family Committed to Service

Kleyton’s family played a central role in his ministry. His wife, Delma, an educator, supported his work while contributing to the communities they served. Their two sons, Derek and Malton, often accompanied him during his ministry assignments, gaining firsthand experience in mission work.

The family’s involvement in ministry reflected their shared commitment to service and the values of Adventist mission. Their unity and faith were evident in every aspect of Kleyton’s work.

Acknowledging a Life of Dedication

Ted Wilson had the opportunity to visit Kleyton and his family two days before Kleyton passed away and was able to thank him for his and his family’s service to the world church. Wilson recalled, “He spoke very briefly, reminding us that the central focus of his life was mission—he cared about mission deeply. Then he just rested, with his wife by his side, holding his hand.”

The Seventh-day Adventist Church recognizes Kleyton Feitosa’s contributions to local, regional, and global ministry. From his early pastoral work in Brazil to his leadership at the General Conference, his dedication to mission work and cross-cultural ministry left a lasting impact on the church’s outreach efforts.

Wilson added, “Jesus is coming soon, and Kleyton will open his eyes and see his Savior coming in the clouds. Let’s lift up that beautiful truth.”

This article, reprinted with permission, originally appeared in Adventist News Network, a publication of the Communication Department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church world headquarters. This article has been updated to reflect the elected positions voted at the 2025 General Conference Session.

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