Honoring a Faithful Servant
By Neat Randriamialison,
On October 25, 2025, members, leaders, and colleagues gathered at Paradise Seventh-day Adventist Church in Las Vegas to celebrate the ministry of Pastor Peter Neri, who retired after decades of dedicated service, including 18 years within the Nevada-Utah Conference.
Music, tributes, and heartfelt stories reflected the impact Pastor Neri has had on the church and the Las Vegas area community. Colleagues from across the Nevada-Utah Conference, including President Carlos Camacho and Executive Secretary Chanda Nunes-Henry, attended the celebration in person to honor his ministry.
Members and guests fill the sanctuary to celebrate Pastor Neri’s retirement.
“Pastor Neri’s ministry has been marked by faithfulness and humility. He never sought recognition; he simply served with a full heart. His example reminds us that leadership is about consistency, compassion, and finishing well.”
President Carlos Camacho, Nevada-Utah Conference
Pastor Neri expresses heartfelt gratitude to the congregation, giving glory to God for a lifetime of ministry
Members also shared moving testimonies about his pastoral care and compassion through every season of church life.
“Pastor Neri, you’ve been more than a pastor—you’ve been family. When my husband was in the hospital, you showed up every single day to pray with us. You didn’t just preach love, you lived it.”
A member of Paradise SDA Church
To close the special celebration, Pastor Neri thanked everyone who played a part in his ministry, but of course, he acknowledged the One who had placed him on this journey in the first place:
“First of all, I just want to thank God for His faithfulness. When I look back, it’s really been Him all along. Every sermon, every baptism, every prayer visit, it’s been His grace carrying me through.”
“As I step into this new season, I’m not retiring from serving the Lord; I’m just changing assignments. God still has work for us to do. Keep pressing forward, stay united, and remember: it’s all about Jesus.”
“I’ll close with this: if I’ve done anything well, to God be the glory. If I’ve made mistakes, thank you for forgiving me. And if I’ve blessed you in any way, it’s because God has been so good to me.”
It was clear that while Pastor Neri’s time in full-time ministry may be coming to a close, his legacy continues in the lives of the people he served.
From left to right: President Carlos Camacho, Pastor Peter Neri, his wife Jenny Neri, and Executive Secretary Chanda Nunes-Henry pose together after the Neris were presented with a plaque and special gift from the Nevada-Utah Conference in honor of Pastor Neri’s retirement.