From the front lines of mission—straight to your inbox

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Related topics One Gospel, many urban accents: rethinking mission in the world’s cities New resources and mission experiences highlight the need for approaches shaped by the people and communities of each city.
Seventh-day Adventist mission in the world’s cities cannot rely on a single model or approach, Manuel Arteaga told members of the General Conference (GC) Executive Committee on October 11, calling on church leaders to listen more closely to the communities they hope to reach. Arteaga, director of the Globla Mission Center for Urban Mission (CFUM) at the GC, presented his report on the third day of Annual Council, highlighting lessons from urban mission projects around the world and outlining new initiatives designed to connect, inspire, and equip urban missionaries and church planters. “There’s no such thing as ‘the city,’” Arteaga said. “We have cities, and they’re diverse, and they’re different, and each one of them has a different context.” Urban mission, he added, requires the church “to learn how to speak to each and every one of these contexts.” Drawing on the experience of Pentecost, Arteaga said the early church did not expect people to learn its language first. Instead, through the Holy Spirit, the church learned to speak theirs. That principle, he said, shapes the work of CFUM, one of six Global Mission Centers supporting the church in sharing the gospel across diverse cultural and religious contexts. Rather than exporting a single urban mission model worldwide, the center works with divisions to develop approaches suited to individual cities. “There is one gospel that we proclaim. We know that we have one mission as a church,” Arteaga said. But reaching diverse cities, he added, requires the church to speak in “many urban accents.” Listening to cities During the past year, CFUM leaders visited several regions to listen, learn, and develop mission approaches alongside local leaders. Those conversations centered on a key question: “What are our cities saying?” Arteaga said effective urban church planting must go beyond simply establishing churches in cities or for cities. Congregations, he said, should be “doing life with the city,” understanding their communities and building bridges with the people who live there. The center also worked with church leaders to develop contextualized mission initiatives for priority cities and to produce Urban Life in the Word , a new Bible study resource designed to explore biblical prophecy from an urban perspective. The resource is part of a broader series of Bible studies developed collaboratively by the six Global Mission Centers to reach people from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds. The studies include materials designed for Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, urban, and secular audiences. Plans call for the studies to be made available online through Adventist World Radio ’s Global Bible School. Online training designed to help members and mission workers use them will also be available. Divisions will also be able to localize materials for their own cultural and mission contexts, in collaboration with the Global Mission Centers. “We don’t have the answer,” Arteaga said of CFUM’s role. “We are here to make sure that we come alongside you to discern faithful answers together,” including asking what the Holy Spirit is already doing in cities around the world. Mission taking different forms Arteaga illustrated that approach with experiences from recent visits to Japan and cities in Taiwan, where he saw mission taking different forms according to the opportunities within each community. In Tokyo, Japan, Adventists are using hospitality, house churches, and urban centers of influence to connect with people in one of the world’s highly secular cities. One house church began during the COVID-19 pandemic after a woman facing a cancer diagnosis began worshiping at home with her children. One Sabbath, a neighborhood boy knocked on the door and asked if he could join. He returned with friends, and the group continued to grow. Arteaga said about 20 young adults now regularly gather for worship in her home. In Taiwan, Arteaga met a businessman whose encounter with Jesus changed the way he used his time and resources. An apartment purchased with money his mother had saved for retirement became a place of worship in his community. To connect with neighbors, he began playing the ukulele and writing songs based on their stories. “What we see in him is someone who is faithfully using his time and his talents to reach people for Jesus Christ,” he said. Another experience came from a Korean pastor serving in Taiwan who initially tried to reach students at a nearby university but encountered restrictions on proselytizing. Interest in Korean culture eventually provided another way to connect. Students approached the pastor to learn Korean, and those relationships developed into a language club. Arteaga said the ministry has since expanded, creating opportunities to connect with students and share the gospel. Finding the next urban missionaries The experiences led Arteaga to turn his attention to people who may already have ideas for reaching their cities but need encouragement and support to move forward. “How many more potential missionaries?” he asked. “How many more young adults are staying awake at night, imagining this church plant that they believe [in]?” Arteaga outlined plans for a new global initiative centered on what he called “Dreamers,” designed to connect people with a vision for urban mission. Plans include a video series featuring missionaries, urban centers of influence, church plants, and house churches from across the world, allowing their experiences to be shared in one place. “A space where ‘Dreamers’ inspire ‘Dreamers’ to do mission,” Arteaga said. “A space where realized mission awakens new mission. A space where someone’s mission breakthrough becomes someone else’s mission beginning.” The center also plans to launch the Dreamers Academy, an online space where those interested in starting an urban mission initiative can learn the steps involved and receive coaching. A Dreamers Playbook and stories featuring church planters, Urban Center of Influence pioneers, house church leaders, and other urban missionaries are also planned. Arteaga closed his report by returning to the idea that reaching cities requires the church to understand and speak to their different contexts. “The city may not speak our language, but the Holy Spirit teaches us to speak theirs,” he said. “One name. One gospel. One voice. And we will do so in many urban accents.” This article was provided by the ANN . Get to know the region More Stories Topics

New resources and mission experiences highlight the need for approaches shaped by the people and communities of each city.

One Gospel, many urban accents: rethinking mission in the world’s cities

Related topics ‘Mission Refocus’ stories challenge Adventist leaders to go where the need Is greatest Annual Council program highlights the need for more missionaries in underserved communities.
Seventh-day Adventist leaders on the second day of Annual Council set aside votes, reports and other agenda items Friday evening, October 9, for worship and reflection on what it means to answer God’s call to mission. More than 440 church leaders from around the world, gathered at the General Conference (GC) headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States, heard firsthand accounts of faith, sacrifice, and service from missionaries serving in communities where sharing the gospel often begins with building trust, forming friendships, and finding new ways to connect with people. Their experiences, woven throughout the evening with music, Scripture readings, and interactive moments, offered a glimpse into Mission Refocus, the church’s effort to send more missionaries and resources to places where the Adventist presence is limited or nonexistent. The initiative emphasizes the 10/40 Window, major urban areas, and secular and post-Christian societies. The testimonies also reflected this year’s Annual Council theme, “Called for Mission,” through the experiences of missionaries serving across cultures and far from familiar surroundings. “Tonight is a special program centered on the stories and lives of those who have been sent through Mission Refocus,” said Rick McEdward, executive secretary of the GC, as he welcomed leaders. A mission that changed her Among the missionaries featured was Katie Davis, who spent nine months as a student missionary in Cambodia through the Andrews University student mission program. Davis served at an Adventist center of influence where language and music classes, a vegetarian restaurant, and other activities are designed to build relationships within the community. She said she quickly discovered that sharing her faith in Cambodia required a different approach. “My mission changed to be representing Jesus through my actions, my words, and my daily behavior, and completely relying on the Holy Spirit every single day,” Davis said. During her nine months there, Davis said she used her social work training to conduct mental health workshops in villages, help children develop social-emotional skills, form friendships that led to Bible studies, and help a Cambodian teenager prepare for studies abroad. But Davis told leaders that one of the greatest transformations took place in her own life. “My mission experience wasn't about what I wanted to give to my people, but it was the very tool that God used to disciple me, to break my assumptions, and to build my faith,” she said. Now pursuing a master’s degree in community and international development, Davis challenged church leaders to give young people opportunities to serve now. “When you give us, young people, the trust, the opportunity, and the space to go serve, whether that’s across the world in Cambodia or right here locally in our communities, God does incredible things in our hearts.” Building relationships in a post-Christian community For one missionary family serving in a highly secular, post-Christian setting, church planting has centered on building friendships and trust. By creating opportunities for meaningful connections, they have opened the way for people who might not initially connect with a traditional church to explore questions about life and faith. Those connections have gradually opened the way for deeper spiritual conversations. One participant who identified as an atheist began studying the Bible and attending Sabbath worship, while another who had described himself as agnostic expressed a desire to give God another chance. A Bible study group has since taken shape and is being developed as the foundation for a new congregation and a model for reaching other post-Christian communities. That experience reflects a broader challenge across the Trans-European Division (TED). Robert Csizmadia, the division’s executive secretary, pointed to its largest mission field, home to some 65 million people and nearly one-third of the division’s population, where there is roughly one Adventist for every 82,000 non-Adventists. In a region increasingly shaped by secular and post-Christian cultures, Csizmadia said reaching people requires new approaches to mission, describing TED as a “mission lab” for finding new ways to connect with those communities. “We want to be partners in mission,” he said. “We would like to accept you into our mission field. And we would like to support you in your mission field.” An alarm clock for mission Throughout the evening, the sound and image of an alarm clock reinforced a sense of urgency. Bible passages including Romans 13:11-12, John 9:4, Luke 10:2, Matthew 25:13, and Matthew 28:19-20 were used to point leaders toward the urgency of reaching people who have yet to hear the gospel. “These Bible verses are meant to be alarm clocks to awaken us in mission,” said Justin Kim, editor of Adventist Review . Kim then turned that reflection toward the audience, inviting leaders to use their phones for an interactive word cloud. They responded to questions about where they had served, where mission workers are most needed, and what mission needs most. Countries and regions from around the world appeared on the screen, while “workers,” “Holy Spirit,” “love,” and “prayer” emerged among the needs identified for mission. Kim also challenged leaders to consider what they were willing to surrender for mission, calling them to “reconsecrate” and “recalibrate” their lives with a greater burden for other cultures, countries, and peoples. Crossing the barriers McEdward returned to that urgency in his closing appeal, tracing the biblical call to take God's blessings to the nations and challenging leaders not to allow geographic, ethnic, linguistic, or religious barriers to limit the church's mission. “God's people are called to cross barriers for the gospel,” he said. “It's not for adventure that we go. It's not for some kind of extra stamp on our passport that we go.” He also pointed to the relationship between Mission Refocus and OneVoice27 , the church’s worldwide digital evangelism initiative. Digital tools can carry the gospel into new places, he said, but the church also needs people on the ground who can build relationships with those reached through technology. The connection reflected the church’s broader emphasis on being “Integrated for Mission,” bringing missionaries, members, leaders, and initiatives together in a shared effort to reach people beyond the church’s current presence. McEdward challenged leaders to ensure that OneVoice27 extends to languages and populations where the Adventist Church has little or no representation. “Make sure we're doing something for the groups, ethnic groups, and languages which we have no representation in the church,” he said. Pointing to missionaries who had left familiar surroundings and, in some cases, significant security to serve elsewhere, McEdward stressed the need for more workers. “Can we have more? Can we send more like them?” he asked. “Can we see this world have more shining lights like them?” But he emphasized that the responsibility extends beyond those who are sent. Drawing from God's call to Abraham to bless the nations, McEdward reminded leaders of their own place in that mission: “You also are part of the solution to bring God's blessings to the nations The evening closed with a prayer by GC president Erton Köhler, who thanked missionaries for their service and called leaders to renewed commitment. “Keep the mission alive through us,” he prayed. “Help us to be always focused on the mission in everything we do to prepare this world for the second coming of Jesus.” This article was provided by the ANN . Get to know the region More Stories Topics

Annual Council program highlights the need for more missionaries in underserved communities.

‘Mission Refocus’ stories challenge Adventist leaders to go where the need Is greatest

Related topics Voice Speaks at a Cooking Pot
A struggling mother in Zambia discovered healing, hope, and God’s love after an unexpected impression led her to open the Scriptures. Burdened by headaches, body pain, and deep sadness, Miriam attended an evangelistic meeting in Livingstone, Zambia, searching for help. After a new friend prayed for her, Miriam experienced something extraordinary the next day: a strong impression urging her to open the Bible immediately. As she read, she felt as if God was speaking directly to her heart. The experience brought healing, renewed joy, and a new commitment to prayer and Bible study.
Miriam, a 41-year-old mother in Zambia, didn’t feel well. Her head pounded. Her body ached. Dark sadness filled her mind. With a heavy heart, she went to the opening night of a weeklong evangelistic meeting in Livingston. At the meeting, she was befriended by a Seventh-day Adventist woman named Majorie. Miriam poured out the pain of her heart and asked for prayer. Majorie prayed for her. Then something unusual happened. The next day, Miriam was stirring a pot of maize porridge on a fire outside her house at 11 a.m. Like many Zambians, she did her cooking outdoors because a national power shortage had left many homes without electricity. As she stirred, she sensed a voice say, “Go and read the Bible right now. Leave your pot and read the Bible.” Miriam didn’t know what to read in the Bible. She went inside the house, opened her Bible, and read the first chapter that she saw. She was amazed. She felt like God was talking directly to her. She closed the Bible and finished cooking the porridge outside. Then she returned and read another chapter. It seemed like God was telling her, “Do you know that I still love you? Live how I want you to live.” Joy flooded her heart. Her body aches disappeared, and her headache went away. She knelt down and prayed, “Forgive me, God.” Miriam returned to the evangelistic meeting in the evening. She darted over to Marjorie and told her about what had happened. Tears came to Marjorie’s eyes when she learned that Miriam had heard the voice telling her to read the Bible at 11 a.m. At that exact time, she had felt an urge to pray for Miriam at home. “Find time to read the Bible every day, and don’t forget to pray all the time,” Marjorie said. “The Bible and prayer are the key for everything.” Months have passed since Miriam began reading the Bible and praying regularly. Her head has stopped pounding. Her body has stopped aching. The dark sadness that once filled her heart has been replaced with sunny joy and a fervent desire to live for God. “The Bible has encouraged me,” she said. “God is working through the Bible. If the devil wants to bring confusion, I just claim the promises of the Bible and pray.” This mission story illustrates the “Mission For All” objective of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s “I Will Go” strategic plan, which says in part, “Christ mingled, showed sympathy, ministered to needs, won confidence, then invited people to follow Him. The goal is to take a genuine interest in people, leading them to Christ and inviting them to unite with the Seventh-day Adventist Church as disciples of Christ who make disciples.” Read more at IWillGo.org. Watch a short YouTube video of Miriam at: bit.ly/Miriam-IS. Get to know the region Resources More Inside Stories Topics From the front lines of mission—straight to your inbox

Burdened by headaches, body pain, and deep sadness, Miriam attended an evangelistic meeting in Livingstone, Zambia, searching for help. After a new friend prayed for her, Miriam experienced something extraordinary the next day: a strong impression urging her to open the Bible immediately. As she read, she felt as if God was speaking directly to her heart. The experience brought healing, renewed joy, and a new commitment to prayer and Bible study.

Voice Speaks at a Cooking Pot

Hope Comes Riding
Wednesday, May 6, 2026 Along the border of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, Pastor Obed Yamasombi leads a team of I Will Go bike riders through the jungle to reach remote villages.
At the edge of two nations, where the road disappears and the jungle takes over, entire communities live unseen and unheard. Most people will never set foot there. But for Pastor Obed, that’s exactly where the journey had to begin—on two wheels. In 2022, he had an opportunity to visit a border community between his country, Papua New Guinea, and neighboring Indonesia. "There are no government services, especially the infrastructure like road, hospitals, clinics, and schools, and it's a challenge for the people living out there. They have been marginalized and been forgotten by their countries—both countries: Indonesia and Papua New Guinea." —Obed This situation deeply touched Pastor Obed’s heart. He knew he couldn’t just walk away. He had to do something. "I felt emotion and sorry for them. And that's where I mobilized the boys to reach out to the unreached villages along the border areas." —Obed Pastor Obed gathered his friends and told them about the needs at the border. They wanted to help, but in a way that combined their passion for ministry and their love for biking. So, they decided to use their bikes as instruments for mission. With prayer and excitement, they packed up and started riding, determined to reach the unreached along this border. It was an adventure filled with purpose and blessing. "When we ride and pass through the villages along the borders, what we do is, we arrive at the villages, we greet them, meet them, we share literatures to them, Bibles and other Christian literatures. And then we also share Jesus Christ with them. And then, if we have any lollies or something to give to the children just to make their day and, you know, brighten their days because they are cut off from the outside world." —Obed Imagine living far from anyone—when someone arrives, showing love and genuine concern, it touches hearts and opens doors for deeper connection. "Most of those villages that we pass through and we approach, they are not Adventist villages. So when we arrive at those villages, they cry and literally tears come down and they cry and they welcome us into their community and they feed us and they, you know, we sing for them, and we shared Jesus Christ with them. And they ask us to build our church onto their land and also open or run their school in their village." —Obed Biking through thick jungles and savannas, untouched by most people, carrying bikes over swamps, rivers, and climbing hills is a serious challenge. Yet, Pastor Obed and his team press on, facing every obstacle with courage and faith. They know the risks but choose to go anyway, trusting God to lead the way. "What we would like to request for the world church to pray for us is pray for us and pray for the people that we will be ministering to, and that Holy Spirit will use us to evangelize, to bring the gospel message of Jesus Christ to our brothers and sisters along the border areas and beyond the borders." —Obed Thank you for supporting mission. Your prayers and contributions bring hope, love, and the message of Jesus to the farthest places on earth. More from this quarter Full story Downloads Topics Get to know the region Monthly Video Related topics Every Mission Spotlight Video. All at Once. YOUR FRONT-ROW SEAT TO THE ENTIRE QUARTER From the front lines of mission—straight to your inbox

Along the border of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, Pastor Obed Yamasombi leads a team of I Will Go bike riders through the jungle to reach remote villages.

Hope Comes Riding

I Will Ride
Wednesday, April 29, 2026 Inspired by the legacy of a bicycling literature evangelist in the 1890s, Anthony Kent leads teams of cycling colporteurs all around the world. Their goal: to reach the unreached.
"The reason we're doing this is because we can meet people along the road while we're on our bikes, which we can't do with cars. So taking our bikes uniquely empowers us to share the love of Jesus across the entire United States." —Leland In the late 1890s, a Seventh-day Adventist literature evangelist rode his bicycle mile after mile across vast Australian landscapes, selling Adventist books. His name was Philip Reekie. His bold faith sparked a legacy that continues to this day. Anthony Kent is one of thousands who have become Seventh-day Adventists as a result of one book sold to his great-grandfather beside a dusty road in New South Wales. In 2022, inspired by the story of the cycling colporteur, Anthony led a team of cyclists more than 1,100 miles, from Washington, D.C. to St. Louis, for the General Conference Session. They pedaled with purpose—passing out more than 4,000 pieces of literature and connecting with people along the way. But Anthony’s legs were just getting warmed up. The next year, he led another team of cyclists to the remote Shetland Islands of Scotland, where not a single Adventist lived. A group of pastors braved cold winds and steep hills, determined to ride every inhabited road, sharing with everyone they met. Since the last General Conference Session, I Will Go cycling teams have ridden through Scotland, Australia, and even the mountains of Papua New Guinea. Thousands of pieces of literature have been passed out and lasting relationships created. They are motivated by a simple mission: to reach the unreached. This year, once again, an I Will Go team has ridden to St. Louis. This time their journey started from America’s west. Over the years, San Francisco harbor has been the launching point of many mission journeys, including Abram LaRue—who set out for Asia—and the Pitcairn ship bound for the South Pacific islands. "The amazing Golden Gate Bridge. My heart just goes out to those missionaries who sailed to the ends of the earth through this passageway here. They went to places like Australia, New Zealand, and the Far East, in Asia." —Anthony This year some I Will Go cyclists started from the West Coast; others joined in Colorado. But on highways and byways, through deserts and over mountains, they had one goal: to share the good news about Jesus. Now safely in St. Louis, they ask just one thing. "It would just be beautiful if people could pray for those that we meet. We hope the little bit of information that we give to them gets multiplied and that the Holy Spirit touches their hearts and grows them to a further understanding of the true picture of Jesus." —Sam In Australia, the Shetland Islands, and across America, these cyclists embody the call to “go.” All it took was faith, a bike, and the willingness to ride. More from this quarter Full story Downloads Topics Get to know the region Monthly Video Related topics Every Mission Spotlight Video. All at Once. YOUR FRONT-ROW SEAT TO THE ENTIRE QUARTER From the front lines of mission—straight to your inbox

Inspired by the legacy of a bicycling literature evangelist in the 1890s, Anthony Kent leads teams of cycling colporteurs all around the world. Their goal: to reach the unreached.

I Will Ride

Related topics From Fiji to the Frontlines At first, I was terrible. I stumbled over words, fumbled with equipment, and battled exhaustion from late-night ministry. Negative messages came through texts and emails. But I didn’t quit. I studied. I listened. I grew. Slowly, my voice became familiar, not just in Fiji, but also across the world.
To Sabbath School teachers: This story is for Sabbath, February 28. As told to Maika Tuima by Jordan Weatherall It all began with a fire in my heart, a calling I couldn’t ignore. In 2023, after sharing my story on a podcast, I believed I was on the cusp of something great. Just months later, I graduated with a degree in theology, hopeful and eager to serve wherever God would send me. My first application was to the Tonga Mission in response to a chaplaincy vacancy. When I received a positive reply two weeks later, I packed with excitement and prayed with confidence, believing this was it—my first official missionary post. But just as quickly as the door opened, it closed. The mission reconsidered its decision, and I was no longer needed. I applied for mission positions at other Adventist organizations, but nothing worked out. I was discouraged. I felt invisible and forgotten. But then, a quiet word of wisdom changed everything. One of my former teachers, Dr. Tabua Tuima, looked me in the eyes and said, “Start your ministry in Fiji before stepping out into the world.” His words took root in my heart. Not long after, I crossed paths with the ministerial secretary of the Fiji Mission. He encouraged me to send a formal request to the mission office. With a humble heart, I submitted a simple resume, expressing a desire to serve among native Fijian speakers and work in the field of communication. In late March 2024, God opened a door I hadn’t expected. I was assigned to oversee three churches in the city. I had no title or salary—just a calling, a willing heart, and a mission. From day one, I faced steep challenges. The language barrier was a mountain I had to climb. I had to learn quickly how to preach, pray, and minister fluently in Fijian. One day, an elder’s wife quietly confessed, “Some of our members don’t like our new pastor because he preaches in English.” Others questioned why the mission had sent someone so young. I was only 22. Those words cut deep, but I didn’t let them define me. I stayed. I prayed. I persisted. My schedule was intense. Sabbaths were a marathon: Sabbath School in one church, divine service in another, and Adventist Youth in the third. Weekdays were filled with prayer meetings, youth programs, and small group ministries. But something beautiful happened amid the busyness: I began to understand my people. Their language became my language. Their trust became my reward. Then, in May, a new chapter unfolded. I was invited to host our church’s Coast to Coast Breakfast Show on Hope FM Fiji. At first, I was terrible. I stumbled over words, fumbled with equipment, and battled exhaustion from late-night ministry. Negative messages came through texts and emails. But I didn’t quit. I studied. I listened. I grew. Slowly, my voice became familiar, not just in Fiji, but also across the world. On air, I shared testimonies, explored church principles, unpacked scripture, and encouraged listeners. Off air, I was fighting a personal storm. I had no income, yet I carried a burden to help others. I supported my 16-year-old sister’s education and offered the same opportunity to my cousin, who had dropped out of school due to hardship. I promised to cover their fees for three terms, trusting God would provide. It was difficult, but I never went hungry. My head elder would give me lifts, sometimes slipping me a small gift. I’ve never forgotten his quiet generosity. Even my one day off—Monday—wasn’t mine. I spent it volunteering at a home for the elderly, praying that God would teach me humility. And He did, through the wrinkled hands and wise eyes of those I served. Later, I enrolled in a basic sign language course, attending twice a week for six months. I graduated in November 2024, the same month I paid off the school fees for both girls. A miracle, truly. Today, I’m in Indonesia, far from home, yet exactly where God wants me. I teach English at an academy, mentoring students toward Christlike character in a place where declaring Jesus publicly isn’t welcome. I struggle. I feel alone. There is no church in sight. Yet every day I’m reminded: this is your mission field. I cling to the truth that Jesus is my constant Companion, my best Friend. I am honored to be part of the I Will Go initiative: I will go to my family: God answered my prayers and delivered my mother from addiction. I will go to my neighbor: I helped my cousin return to school. I will go to my workplace: I offered my voice and time to serve through media and writing. I will go to the ends of the earth: And now I serve in a land where I can’t speak His name freely, but I can live it out boldly. This is my journey of faith, service, and surrender. From Fiji to Indonesia—God has led me every step of the way. Part of the Thirteenth Sabbath Offerings from earlier years have helped support Hope Channel television and Hope FM Radio ministries in the South Pacific. Thank you for your Thirteenth Sabbath Offering this quarter, which will help support children’s health projects in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.  Story Tips Show on a map the locations of Fiji and Indonesia, where Jordan is serving at the academy. Pronounce Tonga as: TONG-uh. Download photos for this story from Facebook: bit.ly/fb-mq . Share facts and activities relating to the South Pacific Division: bit.ly/spd-2026 . I WILL GO The I Will Go initiative is a rallying cry for total member involvement. It’s a call for every church member to become actively involved in reaching the world for Jesus using their God-given spiritual gifts in witness and service. Explore the I Will Go plan and find your place in this global movement! Visit IWillGo.org.  Get to know the region Related publications More Youth & Adult Mission Stories Topics From the front lines of mission—straight to your inbox

 At first, I was terrible. I stumbled over words, fumbled with equipment, and battled exhaustion from late-night ministry. Negative messages came through texts and emails. But I didn’t quit. I studied. I listened. I grew. Slowly, my voice became familiar, not just in Fiji, but also across the world.

From Fiji to the Frontlines

Related topics The Tower That Builds More Than Muscles Kronsberg Life Tower in Hanover, Germany, uses climbing, games, and community programs to unite refugee and local children, build trust, and open doors for spiritual curiosity through Adventist outreach.
If you were going to create an urban center of influence for young people, how would you do it? In 2003, a few Adventist families in Hanover, Germany, began exploring possibilities. They discovered that the Kronsberg district of Hanover had a large population of children. When they surveyed residents about their needs, the top request was for a safe place where kids could enjoy outdoor activities. The church members secured an undeveloped plot of land, erected a 65-foot climbing tower, and named it Kronsberg Life Tower. Life Tower is open on Wednesday afternoons during warm weather for supervised climbing, group activities, and games. The evening culminates around a campfire, where everyone gathers to roast “stick bread.” There must be something deeply satisfying about wrapping a piece of bread dough around the end of a stick and holding it over the glowing coals, with friends close on either side. The weekly program is so popular, it’s called Stick Bread Kids. The climbing tower, Stick Bread Kids, soccer, and beach volleyball have attracted children and their families to Life Tower since 2005. But in 2021, the center took on a new dimension. Christian Lutsch, a young theology graduate from Hanover, had planned to spend a year abroad teaching before beginning pastoral ministry. When the pandemic interrupted his plans, he returned home. “I’m not doing anything, so let me know if you need any help,” Christian told his friend Marco Knorr, a social worker who runs Life Tower. Marco was thrilled—this was an answer to prayer. With help from the Friedensau Institute for Evaluation, an Adventist entity that helps organizations improve their projects, they cast a new vision for Life Tower. Christian and Marco noticed that many children came from refugee families from various countries and that the kids rarely mixed outside their groups. So, they focused on activities designed to build trust and understanding. As the children play together, friendships form regardless of ethnic or religious background. Slowly, walls of fear and prejudice begin to crumble. Parents have noticed the open-hearted environment. “As soon as we enter this place, we feel peace,” said one parent. “We feel at home and welcome.” This acceptance is significant for mothers who face racism and suspicion daily because they wear a hijab or have many children. Life Tower is registered as a nonprofit organization and can’t use religious content in its programming. However, the local Adventist church can sponsor an outdoor church service once a month. So far, the service has attracted only a few individuals, but it’s reaching one unlikely person—a man in a wheelchair who hated the Bible. “Away with this book!” he told Christian. “It’s caused so much suffering in this world, and you can’t imagine the suffering I’ve seen. What kind of God would allow this?” Angry yet curious, he continues to attend. One day, after Christian preached on God’s righteousness and justice, the man approached him with tears in his eyes. “I wish I had the faith that you have,” he said. Christian and Marco also restarted the Pathfinder club, which was first established by Life Tower’s founders, and invited the young people to join. Now, the entire Pathfinder membership consists of non-Adventist kids! When Christian took eight Pathfinders to a camporee, they started asking questions. They wanted to know more about God and what the Adventist church is like. “Because they ask questions,” Christian said, “we have the right to share the gospel with them.” God is using Kronsberg Life Tower to bring peace to people in Kronsberg—young and old—with a climbing tower, stick bread, and His Word. Please pray that God will continue to bless Kronsberg Life Tower as they plan to reach even more children for Jesus. More from Mission 360° Magazine  Urban Centers of Influence  Global Mission supports wholistic mission to the cities through the ministry of dozens of urban centers of influence. These centers follow Christ’s method of ministry to meet people’s needs and start new groups of believers. Please support urban centers of influence by visiting gmsda.org/Give7 . Get to know the region Resources Topics From the front lines of mission—straight to your inbox

Kronsberg Life Tower in Hanover, Germany, uses climbing, games, and community programs to unite refugee and local children, build trust, and open doors for spiritual curiosity through Adventist outreach.

The Tower That Builds More Than Muscles

Related topics Unexpected Church Visit Gilbert Fimaka woke up on a Sunday with a strong desire to go to church.  The 22-year-old medical missionary shared his longing with his roommate, a fellow medical missionary. The two young men were just wrapping up a three-week mission trip in rural Zambia.  “I’m thinking about visiting a church here,” Gilbert said. “I’d like to share the Word of God and also tell them about the seventh-day Sabbath.”  Then he laughed. His roommate also laughed. The idea seemed preposterous. But in his heart, Gilbert wanted to go. So, he went.  As he entered the closest church, he felt nervous. He knew that he couldn’t just say, “This is not the day of worship.”  To his surprise, the church members quickly made him feel at home. Many recognized him from his medical work, and they welcomed him warmly. They even gave him a seat of honor with the church leaders.  Then it was time for the sermon. To Gilbert’s surprise, he was invited to preach. He felt humbled as he approached the pulpit, but he was scared to talk about the Sabbath. So, he opened his Bible to the book of Job.  As Gilbert spoke, he heard a voice say, “Talk about the Sabbath.” He ignored it and continued preaching. The voice spoke a second time. When the voice spoke a third time, Gilbert turned in his Bible to Leviticus 23:3 and read, “Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings” (NKJV). Then he read Matthew 28:1 and Genesis 2:1-3.  “The seventh day does not fall on a Sunday but on a Saturday, so the true day of worship is not Sunday but Saturday,” he said.  When he finished the sermon, a church leader stood up and announced, “I will stop worshiping on Sunday and only worship on Saturday.”  As people left the church, many talked loudly. Some were weeping. “We didn’t know that we were worshiping on the wrong day,” said one. “From now on, we will worship on Saturday,” said another.  A short time later, the church leader was baptized in a Seventh-day Adventist church, and many other church members begun studying the Bible in preparation for baptism.  This mission story illustrates the “Mission For All” objective of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s “I Will Go” strategic plan, which says in part, “Christ mingled, showed sympathy, ministered to needs, won confidence, then invited people to follow Him. The goal is to take a genuine interest in people, leading them to Christ and inviting them to unite with the Seventh-day Adventist Church as disciples of Christ who make disciples.” Read more at IWillGo.org. Get to know the region Resources More Stories Topics From the front lines of mission—straight to your inbox

Unexpected Church Visit

The Most Remote Missionaries
Friday, October 10, 2025 Alvaro and Natalia never planned to leave Chile, but when God called, they said yes. On remote Easter Island, they faced challenges but saw lives transformed as the church grew. Their story shows how saying yes to God can change everything.
Alvaro and Natalia were settled in Chile with their three-year-old daughter, Catalina. He worked as a dentist for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. She was a physical therapist at Chile Adventist University. With great careers and a happy marriage, they had no plans to leave. Then one Sabbath, during a church service at the university, they heard a sermon about Adventist Volunteer Service. “Could God really use a family like us? they wondered.” “We felt like the Lord was truly speaking only to us. We looked at each other at that moment and knew what was going to happen. We knew we had to say yes.” They applied—and just two weeks later, landed on Easter Island, one of the most remote places on earth. Food was scarce. Language barriers made life harder. Locals were wary of mainlanders. And the island’s Adventist church? Just ten elderly members. “When we arrived, we said, did we do the right thing? Because we were used to having our own house, getting around by car, and when we arrived they assigned us a house. We bought bicycles–we were riding bicycles! So, everything was very different.” But Alvaro and Natalia didn’t give up. They visited homes, gave Bible studies, and reopened the Pathfinder and Adventurer clubs. Kids came. First 25, then 95! Families followed. One child and his mother were baptized. By the end of the year, when they were ready to return to the mainland, the church was thriving, with trained local leaders ready to carry the mission forward. “We came back as different people, which [00:16:55.02] is a bit of a strange feeling, because in this case, we returned home to the same place, with the same jobs, but we are definitely not the same.” They hadn’t planned to be missionaries. But God had a plan—and it changed them and Easter Island forever. “There are difficult moments, yes there are. Sometimes we cry, but [00:18:35.15] we also laugh…” “When we leave things in the Lord's hands and let Him truly guide us, the Lord already goes [00:18:53.05] forward, opening everything up, so we have to dare.” This quarter, the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help train and equip more missionaries at Chile Adventist University—people just like Alvaro and Natalia, who are ready to go wherever God calls. Your offering can open doors, change lives, and carry the gospel to the ends of the earth. Please, give generously. Because when you do, you’re not just supporting a project, you’re helping people say, “I Will Go!” More from this quarter Full story Downloads Topics Get to know the region Monthly Video Related topics Every Mission Spotlight Video. All at Once. YOUR FRONT-ROW SEAT TO THE ENTIRE QUARTER From the front lines of mission—straight to your inbox

Alvaro and Natalia never planned to leave Chile, but when God called, they said yes. On remote Easter Island, they faced challenges but saw lives transformed as the church grew. Their story shows how saying yes to God can change everything.

The Most Remote Missionaries

Videos in this story A Look into Southern Asia-Pacific
Tuesday, April 1, 2025 In cities around the world, many face isolation, challenges in faith, and struggles to find community. Through acts of service and mission, Adventists are bringing hope—connecting with the lonely, supporting the faithful, and creating spaces to grow in Christ. Your support helps make a lasting impact.
 Full story Downloads Topics Get to know the region Related topics More from this quarter From the front lines of mission—straight to your inbox

In cities around the world, many face isolation, challenges in faith, and struggles to find community. Through acts of service and mission, Adventists are bringing hope—connecting with the lonely, supporting the faithful, and creating spaces to grow in Christ. Your support helps make a lasting impact.

A Look into Southern Asia-Pacific

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