Walking down the street on the way to America’s Center this morning is a challenge. The human traffic is overwhelming. Strollers being pushed along busy sidewalks, people with coolers finding a place to sit, some already popping open cans of beer.

Thousands of others are also making their way along the busy streets, dressed in suits, ties, dresses and heels—their Sabbath best. A little uncomfortable in the heat of a humid St. Louis summer, but they don’t seem to mind. They stand out from the other thousands of people, dressed perhaps a bit more appropriately for the day, who are there for the celebration of America’s “Fair St. Louis” parade for the Independence Day weekend.

It’s not that Adventists don’t like to have fun, to throw on their flip-flops and enjoy a nice parade. But they didn’t travel, many of them thousands of miles, to celebrate the United States’ day of independence. While Americans are proud of their country, these people are conceivably prouder still to celebrate another kind of independence. 

They make their way into the Edward Jones Dome to receive a challenge: Don’t give up. This from Pastor Matthew Bediako, second in command of the Seventh-day Adventist world church as secretary of the denomination, who encourages this church to not give up on Christ’s Second Coming.

“People have become disillusioned in the coming of Jesus Christ. Some have decided not to preach on the soon-coming of Jesus Christ,” he said. Some theologians and Bible teachers don’t want to discuss the Second Coming of Christ because they claim it is embarrassing, he said.

“But this morning, I want to declare to you that I am not ready to give up. This message is still appealing to me. I am not disillusioned. I am not embarrassed to tell people that not only do I believe in the second coming of Jesus, but also I am anxiously waiting and watching for it to happen.”

He added, “Give up? For what? What is the alternative for me? ... What hope do I have outside of Jesus Christ? Don’t give up. I have come so far that quitting is not an option for me.”

The crowd exploded as Bediako boldly expressed that “It is my hope and it is my prayer that this will be the last General Conference Session on this earth!”

Bediako, who was once a student of Jan Paulsen, president of the world church, also spoke on unity. “The debate still continues about the proper style of worship. We fuss about the rigidity of our standards or the increasing lack of them. We spend time arguing about who is right and who is wrong. ... Are we going to go to heaven together?” Again, thunderous applause from the crowd.

He paid a tribute to mothers as well, expressing his wish that his mother, who died four years ago, was here with him at this General Conference Session. “She never ceased praying for her children,” he said.

But his repeated message was, “Don’t give up.” He said, “Jesus is going to fulfill his promise ... He will not only meet your expectation, he will exceed your expectation.”