The second and third waves of the Back to the Altar initiative are underway, uniting over 1400 Adventist ministers from the Southern Asia-Pacific region (SSD). The first wave, representing Malaysia and West Indonesia, held their Bible Conference in Jogjakarta, Indonesia. The current waves were hosted at the Plagoo Holiday Hotel, Bali, Indonesia, from August 1 to 4 and August 5 to 7, 2024. Delegates came from East Indonesia, Adventist organizations in the Philippines, and Timor Leste. The last group of ministers attending this initiative will be held in the Baiyoke Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand, from August 11 to 14, representing delegates from the Adventist churches of Southeastern Asia, Singapore, and Myanmar.

Uniting for a Purpose

This convention of Adventist ministers and church workers officially began at the Plagoo Holiday Hotel in Bali, inviting more than 1400 delegates from the four Adventist Unions in the Philippines, East Indonesia, and Timor Leste. The event's theme, "Chosen for Mission," aims to encourage and equip church workers with distinct cultural influences and spiritual zeal to care for and disciple their church members. According to event organizers, this conference was pivotal for promoting unity and spiritual growth.

Mission-Focused Gathering 

The Back to the Altar initiative of the Adventist Church is a global appeal aimed at encouraging daily personal worship and communion with God. Recognizing the distractions and busyness of modern life, the initiative emphasizes the importance of returning to a foundational spiritual practice—spending dedicated, quality time in prayer and Bible study. The initiative seeks to reignite personal devotion and deepen the spiritual lives of church members by encouraging them to "build their altar" of daily worship. This practice is seen as the cornerstone of a vibrant and effective spiritual life, equipping individuals to face contemporary challenges while staying rooted in their faith.

Addressing Key Church Challenges

This initiative is SSD's response to the growing challenges the Adventist World Church faces in reigniting faith among church members and reaffirming the importance of doctrines and biblical foundations amid rising confusion. One of the key issues identified is the disparity between membership numbers and active participation. As of 2023, while the global membership stood at 22,785,195, Sabbath attendance was reported at 9,015,845, indicating that only about 40% of members actively participate in weekly worship services.

Additionally, the church experiences a high attrition rate. Since 1965, 45.6 million individuals have been baptized into the Adventist Church, but 18.5 million have left, resulting in a net loss rate of 42.5%. This trend underscores the need for effective member retention strategies and stronger spiritual engagement.

The challenges are particularly pronounced in the 10/40 window, where the majority of the world's population resides, but Adventists are a minority. Despite efforts and some membership growth, the proportion of Adventist members in this region remains low, highlighting the need for a refocus of resources and missionary efforts to reach these areas effectively.

Stance on the Trinity and ‘Twonity’

The discussion on the Trinity versus Twonity highlighted the church's commitment to its doctrine. The church maintains the biblical teaching of the Trinity, which defines God as three co-eternal, co-equal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This foundational belief is critical to Adventist theology and distinguishes it from other interpretations, such as Twonity, which some groups propose but which the church does not endorse.

Addressing LGBTQ+ Issues

Regarding LGBTQ+ issues, the Adventist Church holds a traditional biblical view that marriage should be between one man and one woman. The church does not support homosexual practices or relationships, viewing them as inconsistent with biblical teachings. Official statements from the General Conference reaffirm that while all individuals are valuable in God's sight and should be treated with dignity, sexual intimacy is reserved for heterosexual marriage.

Biblical precepts that uphold the binary nature of gender as male and female as God's creation serve as the church's framework for dealing with this topic. The church acknowledges the complexity of gender dysphoria and advises local congregations to handle such cases with compassion while adhering to scriptural guidelines.

Inspirational Messages and Leadership

Rudi Situmorang, the Ministerial Association secretary for the Adventist Church in the SSD, welcomed all the participants to this second and third installment of the Back to the Altar series. “As we come together, let us remember God’s words. This conference is a call to return to the Bible and the altar. It is designed to equip everyone with God’s words as we continue our journey together while awaiting Jesus’s return,” he urged.

The keynote message, delivered by Wendell Mandolang, the SSD executive secretary, resonated deeply with the theme “Chosen for Mission.” He emphasized the importance of personal spiritual discipline amidst the distractions of modern technology. “We are here to find our way back to the altar. God has chosen us to lead our people, our churches, and our districts during these challenging times when technology can distract us from our responsibilities, families, and spirituality,” he noted.

Mandolang urged the delegates to evaluate the quality of their time with God, encouraging them to “start building your altar,” even in solitude.

Several eminent Bible scholars and church leaders were present at the convention. These included Ramon Canals, ministerial secretary of the General Conference (GC); Aurora Canals, Robert Costa, and Anthony Kent, Associate ministerial secretaries at the GC; Clinton Wahlen, Daniel Bediako, Alberto Timm, and Frank M. Hasel, all associate directors of the Biblical Research Institute (BRI). Their presence and contributions were instrumental in addressing the theological and ministerial issues discussed during the event.

Moving Forward

The convention underscored the importance of addressing these issues with a balance of doctrinal integrity and compassionate outreach. The Back to the Altar initiative, launched in response to these challenges, aims to rekindle personal devotion and daily worship among church members. By encouraging individuals to return to foundational, Bible-based spiritual practices, the initiative seeks to strengthen faith, improve member retention, and reaffirm the significance of Adventist doctrines and biblical principles amid modern distractions and confusion.

Leaders emphasized the necessity of ongoing dialogue and education to better equip church members and leaders to navigate these complex topics. By fostering understanding and adherence to biblical principles, the Adventist Church aspires to maintain its theological foundation while extending Christ-like love and support to all individuals.

The original article was published on the Southern Asia-Pacific Division website.