WILLIAM G. JOHNSSON
eventh-day Adventists have entered a period
totally new in our experience—one of explosive growth. Worldwide we are adding
more than 1 million new members every year, and by 2010 the church should increase
from the present 12 million to more than 26 million.
But this new era brings new challenges. The church is about
much more than baptizing converts, important as that is. What counts in heaven’s
eyes is not the number of people we can report in the Adventist Review
but the number who will be saved at last in the eternal kingdom. We rejoice
when 50 new churches are raised up in Ongole, India, after only one series of
meetings; but a year later how many of the new members will be in church on
any given Sabbath? What will be the spiritual condition of those churches?
Questions such as the above have always been important,
but they take on new urgency in a time of exploding growth. The Seventh-day
Adventist Church, just eight and a half years from now with a membership of
26 to 27 million—what will it be like?
What would you wish our church to be like?
For some time leaders at church headquarters here in Silver
Spring, Maryland, have been wrestling with these matters. They took wide counsel,
then worked and reworked a document that would identify strategic issues for
the worldwide church. At last they felt it was ready for presentation to the
church, and two months ago, on April 18, they unveiled it to the Spring Meeting
of the church’s Executive Committee. (See page 42 of this issue for the document
as voted.)
The heart of the document lies in three core values for
the church, so long as we tarry on this earth—quality of life, unity, and growth.
Over the years various initiatives have been generated at
General Conference headquarters. These have focused on evangelism and soul winning:
the 1000 Days of Reaping, Mission ’73, Finishing the Work, and so on. In this
document, however, the spotlight is first directed to the sort of people and
sort of congregations the Lord wants us to be.
Individually, Adventists will reflect the joy of salvation,
restoration, and anticipation of the world to come. Our churches will provide
opportunities for group Bible study and vibrant worship services; they will
nurture people in personal, family, and group prayer life; and they will train
members in discipleship and witness so that every spiritual gift will be employed.
And the onlooking world will recognize in Adventists model citizens whose lives,
values, and service are a blessing to those around them.
This incredibly diverse, fast-growing Adventist Church will be a united
community. The many, drawn from every nation under heaven, will be one in adherence
to fundamental beliefs based on the Bible and centered in Jesus Christ, our
Lord and Savior. With all our cultural and ethnic diversity, we will be one
in the Spirit, with respect and appreciation for each other, regardless of our
backgrounds. And we will be a church cohesive in organization at every level,
from the local church to the General Conference.
The third strategic issue highlights growth. Again, growth
is identified in both individual and larger terms. Each member is called to
a rich spiritual experience, to discover his or her spiritual gifts, and to
be involved in church life and witness. Churches must not only add new members
but nurture and retain the members they have. And along with new members, new
congregations are to be planted in unentered areas all over the world. Last
mentioned but vital: the torch of heritage and mission is to be passed on to
the next generation.
Exciting stuff here. This is just what the worldwide church
needs at this time.
It’s only a beginning, however. The three strategic issues
must be backed up with strategic plans at all levels of the church, especially
the local congregation. Ultimately, however, the real action happens in the
life of each church member—that means you and me.
What is my identity? What is my sense of mission
as a Seventh-day Adventist?
_________________________
William G. Johnsson is editor of the Adventist
Review
