On May 18, Larry Unterseher accepted the invitation to become president of the Nevada-Utah Conference. Unterseher was serving as the conference ministerial director and education superintendent when he received the invitation. Prior to his work in Nevada-Utah, Unterseher served as the education superintendent, youth director and communication director for the Montana Conference for nearly 15 years.

The first days and weeks in office have been busy for Unterseher, but he looks forward to sitting down with the executive committee and planning for the future. For many years Unterseher worked with young people, so he's seen their potential and is passionate about youth being actively involved in their local churches. "We need to utilize the young people in our churches," he says. "I've always heard it said, ‘The youth are the future of our church,' but I believe now is the future."

Change can be daunting for some, but Unterseher assures members that "Change should never happen for change's sake, but we must always be relevant to those whose needs we must meet."

Unterseher comes to the office of president with a wealth of knowledge and experience. He has served the Adventist church for 33 years in a wide variety of positions. He graduated with a bachelor of theology degree, and also obtained secondary education certification from Walla Walla College. He later earned a Master of Divinity degree from Andrews University Theological Seminary. During his years at Andrews, Unterseher met and married his wife, Rhonda Minder, and they have two children.

Unterseher has served the Adventist Church as a pastor, teacher, camp director, religious liberty director, youth director, communication director, education superintendent and ministerial director. He humbly acknowledges that his years of experience will benefit the work that has been set before him, but he also realizes that it is only because of God's leading that he's had the opportunity to serve the Adventist Church.

With a far-away look in his eyes, Unterseher reminisces, "Over and over again, in every position I have held, there is no doubt in my mind it's only because it was where God wanted me to be at the time."

Unterseher is excited about the future, and he is prayerfully looking forward to God's plans for the Nevada-Utah Conference family.