Seventh-day Adventists who have gathered in St Louis, Missouri, for their quinquennial world meetings, are taking a break from business today as they celebrate the Sabbath together. Numbers of delegates and visitors are expected to exceed 50,000.
Seventh-day Adventists who have gathered in St Louis, Missouri, for their quinquennial world meetings, are taking a break from business today as they celebrate the Sabbath together. Numbers of delegates and visitors are expected to exceed 50,000.
Those attending the meetings are impressed by, and proud of, the extraordinary diversity of the church, which has a presence in more than 200 countries.
William Hunt from Texas says of the diversity, “I think it speaks to all those watching that this is supernatural. You don’t normally see a melting pot of people like this. It shows that God is leading us. Something brings us together and that something is a united faith in God’s word.”
Thirteen-year-old Ivan Sol from Mexico says, “I think it’s good. It’s difficult to understand all the different languages, but it’s good to be part of a big church. It’s good that the church is in so many countries of the world.”
Dona Klein from California says, “The world church should be made up of all types of people. It shows that we are doing our duty in spreading the gospel. I think it’s wonderful.”
The diversity of the Adventist Church, widely recognized as the most diverse church on earth, can be explained, at least in part, by the church’s strong emphasis on evangelism and mission. Since its organization in 1863 the Adventist Church has seen ‘preaching the gospel to all the world’ as its primary function, and has pursued this task with exceptional vigor.
Response to the church’s efforts however, has varied enormously. Membership in some countries is increasing rapidly, while in others numbers are static or even in decline. These demographic changes pose challenges for the church and will undoubtedly lead to major changes in the future. Some even question whether or not the church can remain united in the face of its increasing diversity.
But John Duroe, Global Mission director for the church in the Southern Asia-Pacific region, is philosophical. “There has got to be change and we shouldn’t be afraid of change,” he says. “I’m sure the church will remain united but we have exciting times ahead and I’m sure the Holy Spirit will bring about some radical new developments in the future. We have to be ready to accept these changes.”
This confidence is echoed by others at the meetings in St. Louis. Fernand Lombart, an Adventist pastor from England, says, “I see no reason why the unity of the church shouldn’t continue. Christ is the focus of our unity and, as long as we keep our eyes on Him, the church will keep growing and keep together.”
Amar and Molly Nuthalapati, originally from India but now living in Canada, say, “We have to stay together no matter how fast we grow. Unity is very important for the strength of the church. If we are divided we are giving a place for Satan to work.”
Seventeen-year-old Halim Chung, originally from Korea but now studying in Michigan, says, “I think the church will stay together because the same Spirit is at work throughout the church.” Halim’s friend, Rian Cho, agrees. “Why should the church split up? I think it will become even more united.”
Seth Abang Laryea, president of a large Adventist college in Ghana, says, “I think we can stay together. There will be diversity, in opinions, and sometimes in practices. But we have unity of purpose. We have the same expectation of a soon coming Savior. These factors will bind us together.”
The challenge of managing the growth and diversity of the Adventist Church, whose membership now exceeds 14 million, is one of the matters being discussed at this week’s meetings. Despite the concerns as to whether or not the structure can keep pace with the growth, there is, at least so far, no evidence that the church is planning to moderate its evangelistic work.
