The East-Central Africa Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (ECD) is witnessing a spiritual movement that is reshaping lives and communities across 12 nations. During the two-year period of 2023 and 2024, more than one million people were baptized within the territory, with a more than 90-percent member retention rate. ECD is growing not only in numbers but in commitment to personal discipleship, prayer, and community engagement. 

Across the territory, more and more members are stepping out of the pews and into mission, saying I Will Go, leaving behind the life of being a believing spectator and embracing the life of active disciple making.

A Region Transformed by Purpose

With a population of more than 500 million, ECD spans Burundi, DRC, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. The territory includes six countries considered part of the 10/40 Window, regions with limited access to Christianity. Despite the challenges, more than 10,000 baptisms have occurred in Christian-minority areas since 2022.

The sense of urgency in the ECD territory for mission comes from the prophecy of Jesus revealed in Matthew 24:14. In that verse, Jesus declared that the end will come only after the gospel has reached every nation. Division president Blasious Ruguri said that “this is not just a prophetic timeline; it is a mandate. The question is not only how many of God’s people have been saved, but how many more are still waiting to be reached.”

ECD Evangelistic Impact 2025

In response to this urgent mandate from Christ, ECD launched Evangelistic Impact 2025 (EEI2025), a regional strategy based on the global “I Will Go” initiative. EEI2025 calls every member to move “From Spectators to Disciple-Makers” through prayer, personal ministry, and digital outreach. The initiative included six campaigns designed to help members to reach people in every context—at home, at work, online, and in the streets. God has used these efforts to grow the church, but more importantly, to rally the members to the mission of Christ.

Prayer Impact: A Movement that Began on Its Knees

According to Ellen G. White, “No true revival can be expected except in answer to prayer.” That is why the foundation of EEI2025 is prayer. Within ECD, members were asked to create a list of at least 10 people for whom they would commit to pray daily, and to serve so that they could experience the love of Christ and be brought into His kingdom. Many leaders across five union conferences took time to be revived through the Back to the Altar training offered by the InDiscipleship team that is leading this effort around the world. In this campaign, there were no stadiums, stages, or speeches—only promises, passion, and whispered prayers.

Hope for Africa: Evangelism Reimagined

In September 2023, the Hope for Africa campaign broadcast a world-class evangelistic series by Mark Finley and others—not only in public venues but into homes, workplaces, prisons, and schools. The programs were translated into multiple languages and streamed on digital platforms, radio, and TV. In more than 20,000 locations, members brought the campaign to their friends, families, and coworkers rather than simply waiting for their friends to come to hear sermons in a church. Through these efforts, even strangers found hope. Families knelt together. And by the time the final message ended, more than 200,000 people had given their lives to Christ.

Family Impact: When a Family Says Yes to God

One family’s story shows how God works through those closest to us. After praying together daily for their relatives, an Adventist family in ECD began visiting them, meeting their needs, and studying the Bible together. In March 2024, the entire family of seven was baptized. They continue to worship together—and now reach out to make disciples in other families. This story was just one of thousands. In total, more than 185,000 people were baptized through the Family Impact campaign.

Homecoming Impact: The Gospel Comes Home

The Homecoming campaign invited members to return to their hometowns and preach the gospel. And just as early Adventist missionaries did, hundreds of church members, pastors, and leaders from around the world traveled to communities they did not know to preach the gospel with local members who returned to their hometowns during this campaign. Whether it was leaders like former GC president Ted Wilson or a young adult member, whether they were local or international, at about 7,000 sites the lives of the believers were first devoted to the mission of Christ, and then the gospel went out. In one village, a local elder took two weeks off work and visited homes one by one. His effort led to more than 300 baptisms.

One overseas missionary, warned not to travel due to illness, insisted on coming anyway. Dozens were baptized—and the missionary was miraculously healed, instead of becoming more ill. She received a complete and lasting healing from her illness.

The miracles did not stop there. In total, more than 130,000 baptisms resulted from the Homecoming Impact campaign.

Youth Impact: When Courage Looks Like Faith

In campuses, communities, and online, young people became bold witnesses for Christ. One medical student refused to take exams on Saturday (Sabbath), explaining his faith to classmates. He later invited a friend to volunteer at a health clinic tied to the Youth Impact campaign. That friend heard the gospel—and was baptized. Others used social media and small-group Bible studies to reach their peers. Their boldness led to more than 85,000 baptisms across the division.

Children’s Impact: The Gospel in Little Hands

In one village, a woman who could not read still felt called to share her faith. She fed and clothed neighborhood children, while her young son read Bible verses aloud during their visits. Seventeen people were baptized through her efforts. Her story is not unique. Across the division, more than 40,000 children have accepted Christ through the Children’s Impact campaign, often bringing their families along.

Growing in Purpose and Maturity

Beyond evangelism, ECD continues to develop centers of influence, including new hospitals, schools, media ministries, and local churches. The division has also grown financially—now serving as a net contributor to the world church. Looking ahead, ECD leaders believe that by equipping members to be everyday disciple-makers, they will help finish the gospel commission.

“God is building more than structures,” President Ruguri said. “He’s building a people—no longer content to watch from the sidelines, but rising as living stones, set apart for His mission.”

To learn more or join the movement, visit ecdadventist.org or evangelisticimpact.org.

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