At General Conference sessions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the exhibit area has traditionally been a space where each department presented its projects independently. The 2025 GC Session is marking a historic change. This year, the GC is presenting The Journey—a groundbreaking concept that transforms the guest experience by offering a unified tour through the global mission of the church.

A Boundary-Breaking Experience

In the past, departments operated in separate booths, but The Journey introduces an integrated exhibit. Each ministry area is physically connected within the exhibition hall, inviting attendees to explore how all church entities work together to advance the mission.

This approach tells a comprehensive story, where visitors not only receive information from each department but also understand how the mission is carried out collectively and collaboratively.

The Vision behind The Journey

This new format was born from the intention to create an immersive experience that helps every member visualize their place in the global mission of the church.

“Historically, the church created departments and institutions that over time developed their own dynamics and personalities. But today it is essential to show that we work in unity,” said Williams Costa Jr., former Communication director of the GC. “The Journey is a visual demonstration that we are one body. Many people view the church through a limited lens—perhaps through youth, education, family, or communication—but all of this is the church, one single body. For the first time, this format allows visitors to see that we are together, that we are a family.”

“In a world divided by cultures, languages, races, and genders, the church has the opportunity to live united in Christ Jesus,” Costa added. “Only through unity can we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us to move forward with the mission. This experience is designed precisely for that: to reinforce the certainty that as a church, we are not divided—we are fully committed to fulfilling the mission.”

An Interactive Journey for All

The Journey exhibit includes features that encourage active participation, with spaces designed to provide each visitor with a dynamic experience:

• Journey Stage: A platform offering daily presentations, testimonies, panels, and interviews that highlight how the church lives out the Total Member Involvement (TMI) mission around the world.

• “I Will Go” Photo Area: A space where attendees can take pictures and make a visual commitment to the global mission.

• Message Walls: Areas where visitors can leave messages, prayers, or written commitments.

• Mission Passport: An incentive that motivates attendees to visit every stage of The Journey.

The passport is obtained at the check-in area and accompanies visitors throughout the exhibit zones. In addition to stamping each station, visitors can enter daily drawings and a grand prize raffle by completing their passport. The Journey also includes rest areas equipped with charging stations for electronic devices. The programming changes daily, so organizers invite guests to return for new experiences.

Young People Take the Lead: Sharing the Journey Instantly

A team of young volunteers is responsible for the media coverage and promotion of The Journey, using social media and digital platforms to share the experience beyond the convention center.

“Being part of the media team at The Journey has given me the opportunity to grow my photography skills and connect with other young people who are also looking for ways to live out their faith,” said Aiden Zinke, a 16-year-old high school senior who plans to study biology at Southern Adventist University and later pursue a career in medicine.

“Sometimes it’s hard to be a Christian in today’s world, but this experience helps us understand that we’re all on a journey, at different stages, and that we can stand firm in our beliefs as we move forward. What has excited me the most is seeing people smiling, enjoying themselves, interacting … it confirms that all the effort we put into this booth was worth it.”

Beyond working behind the cameras, they are helping build a global experience that connects the church around the world.

Leadership that Builds: A Force for Collaboration

One of the major achievements of The Journey is that leaders from each department are working together directly. The previous model, where each booth operated in isolation, has been replaced by a dynamic where all ministries are united in the same space.

“For many years, each department organized its own area, but this time we decided to create a unified space to show how the General Conference supports the spiritual growth of every member,” Josue Pierre, associate treasurer of the General Conference explained. “That’s how The Journey was born—a walkthrough that reflects the different stages of the Christian life: the call, growth, equipping, and commission. It’s been a great challenge because we’ve never done this before, but through the collaboration of leaders and departments, we now see the fruit of seven months of prayer, planning, and intense work.” 

This collaboration helps visitors understand that every project, ministry, and initiative is part of one larger, shared story: the proclamation of the gospel to the world.

Ernesto Douglas Venn, assistant to the president for Possibility Ministries and director of Adventist Deaf Ministries International, said, “The Possibility Ministries exists because we work in collaboration. We’ve always believed we’re better together, and The Journey reflects that. At previous sessions, departments felt disconnected, but now it’s clear we’re all part of one mission. Every ministry is like a finger on a hand: different, but essential. When we work together, we accomplish far more for the mission of the church.”

“Working together on The Journey has been so enriching,”  Binod Dahal of the Global Mission Centers for South Asian Religions said. “In past sessions, each department had its own space, and we often didn’t know what the others were doing. Now we can see how every area connects to the church’s global mission. This gives us the opportunity to collaborate, learn from each other, and better support our work in South Asian religious contexts in a more coordinated way.”

Voices along the Way: Visitor Experiences

The Journey has generated excitement among first-time visitors as well as seasoned attendees.

“I feel strengthened knowing I’m not the only one with this belief. Seeing an organization working toward the mission inspires me to want to be part of the legacy and contribute to fulfilling the mission wherever I am in the world,” said Isaac Corral, an 18-year-old church member from Northern Mexico.

For veteran attendees, the difference is clear. The new format is not only more dynamic but also fosters a deeper connection to the church’s mission.

“This collaborative approach is an excellent idea,” G. T. Ng, a longtime GC Session attendee and former GC secretary, said. “In previous sessions, each department had its own exhibit, but now we see a spirit of unity, cooperation, and shared purpose. This space reminds us who we are and why we exist—we are not just another Christian denomination; we have the mission of delivering God’s final message to a dying world. This experience helps us refocus our identity and purpose, and avoid distractions—even good ones. The central question remains: Who are we, why are we here, and what is our mission?”

A Step toward the Future

The Journey is much more than a new way to organize an exhibit. It is an invitation to live out the church’s mission in a wholistic and intentional way—where every ministry, every member, and every visitor is part of the same path of service.

The walkthrough, presentations, and interactive spaces are designed not just to inform, but to remind and renew commitment to a mission that is global, collaborative, and urgent. More than an experience, The Journey is a personal call for each visitor to respond: “I Will Go.”

For more coverage of the 2025 General Conference Session, including live updates, interviews, and delegate stories, visit adventist.news and follow ANN on social media.