Mission Refocus: A Renewed Emphasis on Global Mission
Mission Refocus is a bold movement to redirect our church’s resources toward areas of the world where Seventh-day Adventist presence is limited—or absent altogether.
For decades, Global Mission has planted churches among the world’s unreached. Mission Refocus builds on that foundation by integrating the strengths, mobilizing global resources, and uniting every member and ministry around a single, compelling aim: completing Christ’s Great Commission.
This renewed emphasis invites the entire church—locally and globally—to work together to reach those who have yet to encounter the Adventist message.
The Three Challenge Windows
To focus mission efforts where the need is greatest, the Seventh-day Adventist Church organizes its global work around the Three Challenge Windows.
The 10/40 Window
The 10/40 Window is an imaginary rectangle between the 10th and 40th parallels north of the equator. It is home to nearly 60 percent of the world’s population, many of the world’s poorest communities, and most of the major world religions.
Yet only about 2.6 million Adventists—roughly 12 percent of the global membership—live in this region, while the remaining Adventist population is spread across the rest of the world. Mission in this window is often complex, restricted, and slow—but the need is immense.
The Post-Christian Window
The Post-Christian Window includes much of Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand, and other regions where Christianity is widely known but increasingly abandoned.
Church participation is declining, and disengagement—especially among younger generations—are widespread. In these settings, the central challenge is not awareness of Christianity, but its perceived relevance and credibility. Effective mission here depends on authentic relationships, trust, and faith lived out in everyday life.
The Urban Window
The Urban Window spans the globe and is expanding rapidly. Today, more than 500 cities have populations of one million or more, and millions continue to migrate into urban centers each year.
In many of these cities, Adventist presence is extremely limited—sometimes just one Adventist for tens of thousands of residents, and in some cities, none at all. Cities are places of opportunity, influence, and diversity, but they require new approaches to mission that meet people where they live, work, and build community.