On April 10, 2024, at the Spring Meeting of the General Conference Executive Committee Galina Stele, D.Min, was voted as the new Women’s Ministries Director for the World Church after the recent passing of Heather-Dawn Small, taking effect at once. She came to Women’s Ministries as the associate director in October 2023 and has had to dive right into all that the work of this department means to the women of the church and the world.
Galina Stele previously served the GC Office of Archives, Statistics, and Research since 2012, first as a research and evaluation assistant, and since 2016 as a research and evaluation manager. Born in Russia (and growing up mostly in Kazakhstan), Galina served the Seventh-day Adventist Church in various positions including professor of theology at Zaoksky Theological Seminary in Russia, at Euro-Asia Division (headquartered in Moscow) as shepherdess coordinator and general editor of Shepherdess and Living Church, and director of the Euro-Asia Division’s Institute of Missiology.
Galina was the first woman to graduate with a doctorate of ministry from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, USA, in 1996 and is a widely published author. Her special interests are human-subject research, small groups, church member and youth retention, and family matters. She loves being involved with evangelistic events. She is in demand as speaker for evangelistic series, Weeks of Revival, women's and youth congresses, and Total Member Involvement (TMI) events.
Galina's seven years of experience at the division level as shepherdess [ministerial spouses] coordinator included many combined events with Women's Ministries. Her practical theology, in-depth Bible study, and love for small groups will fit in well with Women's Ministries goals, objectives, and resources. Her organizational and leadership skills are already a blessing for the world church.
In her free time, Galina enjoys reading and writing, gardening, cooking, assembling puzzles, and spending time with family. Dr. Galina Stele is married to Dr. Artur Stele, General Conference Vice President, and they have a married son and a grandson.