More than 3,000 Seventh-day Adventist administrators, pastors and laypeople are expected to take part in an unprecedented live teleconference call January 3. In a series of six 10-minute calls, Pastor Jan Paulsen, president of the Adventist Church worldwide, will share a special message with church members and leaders from every continent.

“There’s no substitute for direct, person-to-person communication,” says Reger Smith, public relations director for the Adventist world church and one of the organizers of the conference call. “An e-mail or letter just doesn’t have the personal quality of a phone call.”

The worldwide telephone linkup will also demonstrate, in a very tangible way, the global nature of our church organization, adds Smith. “It will serve as a clear reminder that no matter what our culture or nationality or background, we are all part of one family, all working together toward the same goals.”

A proportionate number of representatives from each of the church’s 12 world divisions will participate in the call, says Smith. Text and audio of the teleconference message will be available after January 6 at www.adventist.org.