Can we move a world for God when half of our church membership does not have a deep spiritual life?
Can we move a world for God when half of our church membership does not have a deep spiritual life? This question was posed by Mark Finley to delegates at the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s quinquennial business meetings July 3. Though the church has tremendous success in many areas, he said, “We are facing some incredible challenges.”
The “deep fundamental challenge” for the church is renewal and revival of membership in mission, Finley stated.
Finley’s was the first of a five-part series of presentations, called “Challenge to Mission,” to be held this week.
In the early 1990s, a strategic planning committee commissioned the Institute of Church Growth at Andrews University to do a massive survey that would reveal the state of the Adventist Church and challenges for the future.
The results were concerning, and remain so, Finley said, explaining that only 51 percent of members have any form of daily devotion and family worship; about half do not have a prayer or devotional life; 57 percent of baptized members attend corporate worship each week; 37 percent participate in any kind of witnessing; and 34 percent contribute to mission projects.
“Could it be that God is calling the church to a deeper spirituality? A deeper spirituality than any of our members have ever considered?” Finley challenged. “Is it possible that the greatest need of the church today is revival in the area of spiritual leadership and spiritual membership?
“Unless we wrestle with these issues, we’re going to be here [on this earth] for a long, long time,” Finley said, and then asked, “Are there things that can be done to reverse the trend?”
He opened the floor for delegates to offer advice. Many gave thoughts, and some gave ideas on things they’ve seen work in their respective countries.
Small groups are very effective, offered a delegate from Hawaii. It helps them feel more connected with those they study with, and with God, he said.
Worship is a key, said Richard Elofer from the Trans-European church region. “How can we make our worship relevant for our people? To give them more desire for a spiritual life, we have many strong points in our church, but we have to strengthen the worship style in our church,” he said. “I have been in many churches, and I’m very sorry to say that I was bored many times in worship. If we want to see a strong spiritual life in members, we have to focus on worship.”
Prayer is vital, said another delegate. “Some things do not change except by prayer and fasting,” Donna Richards from North America said.
“Unfortunately we talk more than we pray,” she added. She suggested a rotating theme for each weekend where local church administrative regions would encourage their churches to participate in prayer sessions. “I think a lot more would happen spiritually for all of us.” And, “our worship experience would be more meaningful if it started in personal devotions. If it’s lacking, it’s usually because we have not spent enough time before we got to church.”
Pat Gustin, director of the church’s Institute of World Mission, said, “We cannot give, we cannot share what we do not have. Mission is not so much about what we do as who we are. Unless we’re in a personal relationship with Jesus, we have nothing to share.”
Simon Mozart Serrant from the church in Inter-America said, “Our people have lost confidence in the leadership of the church from top to bottom. That’s what we need to do—bring back confidence in church leadership. The problem is not mission, it’s not funds. We have lost confidence and we need to work on this. There must be transparency, equity.”
“I wonder why our church doesn’t grow as fast as other churches,” said delegate Sendra Gunawan. “I have been wondering what’s wrong with us ... I think we always look upon ourselves. ... I like to suggest that we as the Adventist Church look into other churches—why they are so successful, and we are not?”
Beginning July 4, delegates will also cover: the church and society; the church and apostasy; the church and cities; and the church and secularism.
All five presentations, and all comments and suggestions from delegates, will be placed in a booklet for church regions to explore, and will then be brought back to the world church leadership for action plans.
