Church outreach continued to be a priority issue for the growing denomination.
Church outreach continued to be a priority issue for the growing denomination. The church’s Global Mission announced a plan to establish 1,040 churches in the so-called 10/40 window over the next five years. During the Toronto Session a special collection was called to achieve this objective and to support the 27,000 Global Mission Pioneers (lay volunteers) currently serving worldwide. “We are partners with Jesus in bringing hope to the hopeless,” said Mike Ryan, head of the Global Mission initiative.
Prior to the quinquennial Session of the World Church, news came from Lima, Peru, where in just one week, 27,100 new members joined the church in this South American country. Record baptisms were also recorded in several countries of Central America, Africa and Asia. Church growth in India soared this year with 230 new churches nearly filled to capacity. The large-scale church building project in India revealed a “real hunger for Christianity,” according to Maranatha Volunteers International, a lay Adventist organization. Maranatha, together with other volunteer lay organizations were involved in hundreds of outreach and church building projects throughout the world.
The use of modern technologies, including radio and satellite broadcasting and the Internet, a part of the church’s intentional effort to share the Christian message world wide and communicate effectively within the Adventist faith community. The Toronto Session was broadcast to local congregations and homes in nearly every country of the globe. Just before the end of the year, Brad Thorp, director of the Adventist Global Communication Network, announced that more than 12,000 individual local churches are equipped and receive satellite broadcasts. In the last five years broadcasts were largely in English and translated in up to 40 languages, in 2000 several programs were produced in Germany, Brazil and France, among other international languages.
NET Mexico 2000, a series of outreach programs broadcast in November-December was the first Seventh-day Adventist satellite program that aimed to reach every Spanish-speaking people group.
In March 15,000 ministers participated in a live “dynamic professional growth seminar for clergy” broadcast sponsored by Ministry Magazine.
Adventist World Radio began around-the-clock daily satellite radio service to Europe, North Africa and most areas of the Middle East in June, marking the second international network established by AWR. The network broadcasts in 55 languages.
World leadership of the Church initiated and put in motion several new initiatives which are to guide the church life and mission in the next five years. The Church established several councils and commissions, including “council on Evangelism,” Commission on Higher Education,” “Commission on Africa,” and Global Leadership Training initiative. President Paulsen reminded leaders that “there is no virtue in simply remaining busy,” and urged members of the General Conference Executive Committee to keep the challenges of “unity” and “mission” firmly in mind during their deliberations and decision-making of the next five years. In assessing and tackling challenges facing the church today, Paulsen identified strategic planning as an essential component in building “a very intentional design which enhances unity, stimulates growth, and makes this church a better spiritual home for all.”