The Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division (SID) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church has reported significant growth and progress across its territory between July 2022 and March 2025. With a total membership of more than 4.3 million and more than 868,000 baptisms recorded during the period, the division remains one of the fastest-growing regions in the global Adventist Church.

Covering 23 countries across southern Africa and surrounding island territories, the SID is now the second-largest division by membership in the worldwide denomination. Leadership attributes the region’s growth to its emphasis on three strategic priorities: mission and evangelism, spiritual growth, and leadership development—each supported by the global “I Will Go” initiative and a focus on Total Member Involvement.

Coordinated Evangelism through IMPACT SID

A major milestone in the division’s report was the launch and expansion of the “IMPACT SID” initiative. This coordinated evangelistic campaign, which became active in 2023 and continues through 2030, seeks to engage every union and attached field within the division through joint outreach efforts involving pastors, lay members, and church institutions.

The first campaign under the initiative was conducted in Botswana. Evangelistic meetings were held in Francistown and Gaborone, where 30 sites were activated under the theme “Christ Our Hope.” A total of 234 individuals were baptized during the campaign, including five members of the special needs community. The program was supported by Adventist Possibility Ministries and received backing from local government officials.

The campaign also featured the participation of GC treasurer Paul Douglas, who conducted evangelistic meetings in Kanye, Botswana. At the conclusion of the weeklong event, 120 people were baptized. The visit marked Douglas’s first trip to the region, during which he was also ordained as a minister within the SID.

Subsequent campaigns took place across South Africa, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe. In Cape Town and the surrounding Western Cape, more than 50 evangelism sites were established. In Lesotho, collaboration with leaders from the Zimbabwe Central Union Conference led to 34 baptisms. Overall, 428 people were baptized in the Southern Africa Union Conference during this phase of the initiative.

A notable development occurred in Eswatini during a visit from GC president Ted N. C. Wilson. The visit included meetings with members of the royal family, where spiritual discussions led to the baptism of Prince Banzile. Four additional members of the royal household, who had been studying the Bible, were also baptized. Division president Harrington Akombwa officiated the baptism, which was described as an example of spiritual engagement that crosses cultural and societal boundaries.

Large-Scale Impact in Zambia

In 2024, Zambia became the focal point of one of the largest coordinated evangelism campaigns in the division. The Southern Zambia and Northern Zambia union conferences joined forces to establish more than 2,000 evangelism sites nationwide. The initiative involved widespread participation from pastors and lay preachers, as well as a delegation of 28 SID leaders who contributed as evangelists.

During the day, local church members conducted health expos, community service projects, and practical outreach activities. In the evenings, Bible studies and public meetings were held. According to SID, this wholistic approach aligns with the example of Christ’s ministry and seeks to meet both physical and spiritual needs.

The campaign resulted in 133,000 baptisms during the initial phase. Inmates at Mukobeko Maximum Security Prison were among those who responded to the call, with 300 people baptized following nightly preaching by President Akombwa. The division also installed Hope Channel satellite dishes, decoders, and televisions in the facility to provide ongoing spiritual programming.

Media played a central role in expanding the campaign’s reach. Division vice president Jongimpi Papu conducted a live broadcast from Edgar Chagwa Lungu Mall in Kitwe, while Malawi Union Conference president Tony Nyirenda led a parallel broadcast from Lusaka’s Jacaranda Adventist church. Combined, the events reached more than 110,000 viewers via Hope Channel Zambia and digital platforms. One testimony cited in the report described a man who traveled more than 600 kilometers (370 miles) from Ndola to Lusaka after watching the broadcast online. He was baptized at the campaign’s conclusion.

Island Outreach and Local Innovation

The launch of Impact Indian Ocean Union Conference (IOUC) 2025 took place in Antananarivo, Madagascar, drawing a crowd of more than 35,000 people. The event was opened by President Akombwa and attended by IOUC leaders, including Passmore Mulambo of the SID Sabbath School and Personal Ministries department. The mayor of Antananarivo expressed support for the church’s social and educational initiatives and emphasized alignment between city development goals and the church’s work in health and education.

More than 500 people responded to the altar call at the launch event. The division projects that approximately 5,000 evangelism sites will be established across Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion, and Seychelles in the coming years.

Across the division, church members have employed creative approaches to outreach. In rural Zimbabwe, an apostolic church leader named Dozen Zimbudzi reported having a dream about visitors who would bring wisdom and solutions to his village. Shortly thereafter, Adventist church members arrived with both Bible studies and hands-on training in soap-making and beekeeping. Zimbudzi and 70 community leaders were baptized following the initiative.

In Angola, literature evangelism has had a measurable impact. More than 100 members of an apostolic church were baptized after reading The Great Controversy. A young couple, Jean and Philippa Agueira, distributed 258 copies of the book at their wedding. Their act of faith has inspired a new regional trend of literature distribution at weddings and community gatherings.

In São Tomé and Príncipe, young people involved in the Caleb Project set up mobile hair salons during school holidays, offering free grooming services while building relationships in the community. Their efforts resulted in 39 baptisms and demonstrate the potential of combining friendship evangelism with service.

Spiritual Growth and Discipleship

SID reported ongoing emphasis on revival and spiritual maturity across its territories. Initiatives have included strong participation in the global 10 Days of Prayer, 40 Days of Revival, and quarterly fasting and prayer events.

The division has invested in digital discipleship platforms, youth-led prayer chains, virtual Bible study groups, and content-based enrichment through Hope Channel. Youth and children’s ministries hosted programs such as Pathfinder Bible Experience and Bible Boot Camps. Women’s and men’s ministries retreats also provided space for spiritual renewal and leadership development.

Leadership Development and Training

To support sustainable growth, SID hosted two major leadership training seminars. In 2023, Babcock University in Nigeria held a conference focused on integrity, innovation, and mission-aligned leadership. In 2024, a similar event in Durban, South Africa brought together executive officers, departmental directors, and institutional leaders to discuss servant leadership, team synergy, and long-term ministry impact. Both events featured speakers from the General Conference and emphasized spiritual as well as professional development.

Expanding the Church’s Healing Ministry

The report also highlighted developments in Adventist health care. In 2023, Blantyre Adventist Hospital in Malawi performed its first open-heart surgery. The hospital received a five-star rating from the country’s Ministry of Health—a recognition that is rarely awarded, as most hospitals typically score between two and three stars.

Blantyre’s ability to operate an on-site oxygen plant has helped ensure consistent, high-quality care in a resource-limited setting. The facility is described as a model for how faith-based institutions can contribute to public health while advancing the church’s mission.

Continuing the Mission

As the SID reflects on its progress from July 2022 through March 2025, division leaders said the mission remains focused on people and transformation rather than statistics alone. From remote villages and hospitals to royal families and citywide campaigns, members across the region continue to find new ways to share their faith and serve their communities.

The division plans to continue its coordinated evangelism strategies while fostering leadership, spiritual growth, and wholistic ministry in the years ahead.

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