Demonstrating the vital role of lay people in the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s mission, 1,800 lay Adventists gave more than US$4.2 million in a single offering on August 5 to support local and international projects. Adventist-Laymen’s Services and Industries (ASI), whose motto is “Sharing Christ in the Marketplace,” collected the offering at the group’s annual convention, which attracted participants from the United States, Europe and South America.

The huge offering intake-around US$400,000 more than the set goal-was unprecedented, says Debbie Young, an ASI vice president, and was “inspired by the work that needs to be done.”  The offering will support more than 20 projects including a vegetarian restaurant/outreach center in Paris, France; a rehabilitation center for drug addicts in Chile; a missionary college in Zambia, Africa; and the church’s Global Mission initiatives in Asia and Africa.

ASI President Denzil McNeilus, a banker from Minnesota, told ANN, “Christ’s mission is our priority.  We’re encouraging our members to become involved in witnessing and evangelism.  If you’re not already involved, you should be.  If you are already involved, you can always do more.”

Pastor Jan Paulsen, president of the Adventist Church worldwide, attended the convention and thanked ASI members for their commitment to mission.  Emphasizing the corporate nature of the Adventist Church’s work, Paulsen told attendees that “Whether clergy or laity, we must join our hands and hearts, united in mission. It is each one helping the other, united in service.” Paulsen outlined a vision of all believers, men and women, pastors and lay people, working together to meet the spiritual and physical needs of people around the world.

More than 170 displays filled the convention’s exhibit halls, featuring lay and church initiatives in healthcare, communication, evangelism, publishing and humanitarian work.

Pastor Don Schneider, president of the Adventist Church in North America, also attended the conference, saying that he is personally indebted to the work of lay people.  “I am a Seventh-day Adventist because of the work of a Christian layman, someone who supported himself as a piano tuner but who spent the rest of his time giving Bible studies.”

Running from August 2 to 5, convention meetings and events were uplinked live to audiences across the United States and around the world by Three Angels Broadcasting Network, a lay Adventist satellite network.