During the October 13, 2025, morning business session at Annual Council 2025, Sabrina DeSouza, associate treasurer and General Conference (GC) Session manager, presented the financial results from organizing the 2025 GC Session during the Treasurer’s Report. 

The 2025 GC Session was held in St. Louis, Missouri, where more than 50,000 people from around the globe gathered for the 10-day event of worship and church business. 

DeSouza stated that the budgeted 8.7 million dollar event successfully concluded but left an “indelible mark” on the city of St.Louis, and was 1.1 million dollars under-budget. 

She detailed major cost centers, noting Technology and Communication at $4.1 million (53%), Operations and Safety at $2.2 million (28%), and Delegate Experience and Support at $1.5 million (19%).

DeSouza connected these figures to measurable outcomes. Citing a post-event survey of 867 respondents from 2,552 delegates, she reported, “About 91% felt GC Session was effective/very effective in performing the mission of the church.” 

Zooming out to the global membership, she added, “For this delivery of mission, we only spent 24 cents per member.” 

However, because GC Session occurs once per quinquennium, the annualized cost equated to about eight cents per member. 

What the Spending Enabled

According to the report, Technology and Communication accounted for the largest share, due to the scale of translation, interpretation, connectivity, and broadcast infrastructure necessary to make governance proceedings and mission content accessible worldwide. 

DeSouza said that for the first time, GC Session piloted an integrated Global Newsroom model that brought together communicators from divisions, unions, and conferences to produce real-time coverage and multilingual updates. She also noted that delegates later rated Session resources as directly applicable to their ministry contexts at home and emphasized how technology spend is tied to transparency and global participation.

Survey results and impact from GC Session 2025. Photo: Treasurer's Report Screenshot

Photo: Treasurer's Report Screenshot

Survey results and impact from GC Session 2025. Photo: Treasurer's Report Screenshot

Photo: Treasurer's Report Screenshot

Survey results and impact from GC Session 2025. Photo: Treasurer's Report Screenshot

Photo: Treasurer's Report Screenshot

Operations and Safety covered venue operations, security, logistics, and on-site systems required to safely host a multi-venue, high-traffic event. DeSouza pointed to the compressed nature of the gathering—thousands moving across sites on tight timetables—and said careful planning kept incidents low and schedules on track. 

Delegate Experience and Support included meals, volunteer coordination, program materials, and services aimed at equipping leaders. Across ten days, Session catering served approximately 52,000 meals to delegates, staff, and volunteers. 

DeSouza said managers are already applying 2025 feedback to broaden cultural variety and streamline service at future gatherings. New meals are being tested during Annual Council, and only the highest-rated dishes will be served at Session.

Community Footprint in St. Louis

DeSouza emphasized that the event’s local impact reached far beyond the walls of St.Louis’ America’s Center.

“We made a huge impact on the city of St. Louis, not just in terms of hotel nights or dollars spent but in terms of evangelism and mission,” she said, introducing outcomes that involved regional entities and local congregations. 

Among those efforts, the Pathways to Health initiative provided free medical, dental, and wellness services to more than 7,700 people before GC Session began. A city-wide Hope Rally event held in collaboration with local churches also culminated in 58 baptisms.

In response to tornadoes affecting the region prior to GC Session, the GC, North American Division, and Mid-America Union jointly donated US$100,000 to support local needs.

The report also noted a digital impact that continued after attendees departed St. Louis. Digital outreach efforts generated 2,000 responses, with 866 individuals in ongoing conversations and 149 participating in online prayer meetings—an indicator, she said, of sustained interest beyond the venue. 

Global Reach: Digital Strategy for Mission Offering

GC Session’s financial impact also will extend worldwide as Associate Treasurer Richard Stephenson highlighted the offerings collected during Session worship services for the Digital Strategy for Mission. 

Stephenson reported a total collection of $3.8 million designated for digital and hybrid evangelism projects, which are to be designed and led by divisions. 

“The singular purpose of these funds is to invest in innovative digital strategies that will advance and accelerate the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to reach the world for Jesus Christ,” he said. 

According to Stephenson, 100% of the funds will be returned to divisions for local execution, with reporting mechanisms to track outcomes and share best practices across regions. Early concepts presented to leaders include youth digital missionary initiatives, one-to-one seeker engagement in key urban centers, and experimental outreach on major online platforms, each adapted to regional realities while aligned with the mission of the Adventist Church.

DeSouza concluded by returning to the core message that connected GC Session’s financial and mission outcomes. 

“Not only did we stay in budget, not only was it 91% effective according to our delegates in carrying out the mission, but we left an incredible missional mark on the city of St. Louis,” she said. “Money well spent, mission resources mobilized.”

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