elping steer a worldwide church down a balanced middle road means much prayer, discussion and deliberation. It means listening to many different angles to the same report; different viewpoints informed by different cultures and backgrounds. It means some delegates sitting through items in which they may have no personal interest-but taking an interest for the sake of the church. It means searching for unifying aspects, things to hold in common, ways to keep opposing views in tension.
At times, trying to balance church business can seem tedious, even boring. But balance is underrated. Lack of balance results in crusades and 9/11s. And if you're a Houdini, perched improbably on a high wire above Niagara Falls, balance becomes an exceedingly healthy thing.
How does balance show in Annual Council? Take just one example from the first day of session. World church president Jan Paulsen began the day by stressing the importance of mission. "It's important to take quality time on the first day we are together to focus on mission," he said. "Everything else we do here finds its meaning only in mission. All decisions, all discussions, are there to make the church effective in mission."
Thus, the first morning was devoted to reports and discussion of mission initiatives: the Office of Global Evangelism (and specifically the Elijah project to involve 10,000 young people in evangelism); Sow 1 Billion; Go 1 Million; Global Mission; the Office of Mission Awareness etc. Mike Ryan, vice president of the General Conference, who heads strategic planning for the church, said, "The strategic plan is focused on mission-a mission to invite every person in the world to respond to the good news about Jesus and His soon return."
The following day, Bert Haloviak, director of the office of archives and statistics, reported that on average, 2,756 new Adventists are baptized every day, and 13 congregations formed. More than a million new Adventists have joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church so far this year.
Yet there's another vital aspect to mission-discipleship, nurture, establishing believers in their newfound faith. General Conference secretary Matthew Bediako reported that 30 percent of people who join the church later leave it. In some parts of the world, the figure is much higher.
Roger Dudley, director of the Institute of Church Ministry at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, estimated that 40 percent to 50 percent of teenagers baptized either leave the denomination or become inactive by their mid-20s. Richard Osborn, president of Pacific Union College in California, urged church leaders to direct more energy and resources toward keeping young people in the church.
Jim Cress, ministerial secretary for the General Conference, paraphrased Jesus' words and urged those gathered to "pray for the keepers"-pastors and local church elders. He said that the church's task is not complete just when people are baptized. In fact, the Bible and Ellen White say that those brought to conversion without adequate efforts of follow-up, nurture, and discipleship, end up worse off than if they had never been contacted.
The call to outreach and the call to nurture are both vital parts of mission. Ignore either, and our mission is distorted and unhealthy. The church in session this week sought to address the two-a balancing act worthy of our support.
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Gary Krause is director of the Office of Mission Awareness, General Conference.
