From the front lines of mission—straight to your inbox

7dh1763952342639.jpg

fsE1763952331941.jpg

CC71763952320315.jpg

qVm1763952302958.jpg

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 Global Mission Centers introduce new Bible studies for diverse communities Six new Bible study guides designed to share faith across cultures and religions.
In response to frequent requests for contextualized Bible study resources, the Seventh-day Adventist Church ’s six Global Mission Centers have developed six new study guides adaptable to local communities. ChanMin Chung, director of the Global Mission Centers, introduced the resources on October 11, during the 2026 Annual Council. These adaptable studies will provide church members and frontline workers with resources to share their faith with people from different traditions, including those who express interest through digital media. Chung explained that the centers focus on three mission windows: urban populations, secular and post-Christian communities, and the 10/40 Window. “Jesus is for everyone,” Chung emphasized. “We are not talking about headcounts or numbers. We are talking about people who need to know Jesus. That is why our six Global Mission Centers exist.” Bible studies for different audiences The new Bible studies are designed to help Adventist members and frontline workers share biblical teachings with people from different religious and cultural backgrounds. Recognizing that traditional approaches may not resonate with every audience, the guides introduce Scripture through familiar concepts and questions, providing a foundation that can be adapted to the unique needs of local communities. Among the guides introduced was Prophecies of the Coming Messiah , a 12-part Bible study series developed by the Global Mission Center for Adventist-Muslim Relations. Recognizing that many Muslims honor Jesus and want to learn more about Him, the studies explore Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah and their fulfillment in Jesus' life. “Our goal is to equip Adventists to use these 12 Bible studies with their Muslim friends to explore the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah and how they were fulfilled in the life of Jesus,” explained Petras Badahaur, director of the Global Mission Center for Adventist-Muslim Relations. “The studies encourage respectful conversation and careful reading of Scripture within relationships of trust and friendship.” The Global Mission Center for Urban Ministry also developed another study, Urban Life in the Word , to connect biblical teachings with the experiences of people living in cities. The lessons explore the same gospel message and biblical prophecies found in traditional Adventist Bible studies, but approach them through the realities and questions of urban life. “The intention is more than gaining biblical knowledge. The hope is that every encounter with Scripture will lead to a deeper relationship with the God who is love,” explained Manny Arteaga, director of the Global Mission Center for Urban Ministry. “At its heart is a simple yet transformative invitation: to fall in love with a God who knows us fully and loves us deeply.” Making the resources available The new Bible studies will be distributed to division leaders and mission directors, who will work with the Global Mission Centers to adapt the materials for their respective communities. Chung emphasized that the initial printed copies are intended for review and discussion rather than immediate public distribution, allowing local leaders to recommend changes before the studies are shared more broadly. Beyond the printed guides, the Global Bible School will make the studies available. Video versions are being developed to accommodate different learning preferences, allowing individuals to watch or listen to the lessons. To help members use these resources, the Global Mission Centers are preparing online training courses through the Adventist Learning Community . Chung also highlighted existing courses on the platform that help Adventists build friendships with people of other faiths. Following the presentation, church leaders joined in prayer to dedicate the new resources to God. The studies are expected to give Adventist members additional tools to share Jesus with people in their communities. This article was provided by the ANN . Get to know the region More Stories Topics

Six new Bible study guides designed to share faith across cultures and religions.

Global Mission Centers introduce new Bible studies for diverse communities

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 To Adventist Leader (Part 2) Marek finds the Adventist Church, accepts Christ, and begins a transformed life of ministry and service.
Marek’s life began to change as he read The Great Controversy in Poland. He decided to keep the seventh-day Sabbath. He read that smoking is bad and decided to quit. But he couldn’t. One Saturday, he passed a street poster offering a five-day stop smoking class. The address was a Seventh-day Adventist church. Marek had never heard of the denomination before, even after reading The Great Controversy and visiting the Adventist bookstore where he had bought the book. Marek went straight to the church. He saw a poster for The Great Controversy on the church bulletin board and knew he had found the right place. It was 2 o’clock on a Saturday afternoon, and the church normally would have been empty after worship services, but a group of literature evangelists were there, and they invited Marek to return the next Sabbath morning to worship. Marek returned the next Sabbath and enjoyed the sermon. He was amazed at the kindness of the churchgoers. They told him that a large group of young people would meet in a nearby city the next Sabbath and invited him to go with them. The next Sabbath morning, Marek waited by a road for the Adventists to pick him up. It was a hot day, and he was wearing shorts and a T-shirt. As he waited, he sensed two voices speaking to him. One said, “Stay outside, and enjoy the nice weather.” The other urged, “Wait here because it’s really important that you go to this meeting.” The Adventists arrived and took him to the meeting. The worship service amazed Marek. Every word was meaningful to him. The preacher, a British pastor from London, spoke until noon. Then he said, “I know I am supposed to end now, but I know there is somebody here who needs Jesus.” Marek thought, “Who told him about me?” The pastor then shared his personal story. He was born into a religious family but had left the church. He had used drugs and drank. His church and even his mother had stopped praying for him. “Then I met Jesus,” he said. “He took me up from the bottom where I was, and now I’m here to tell you about His power. And that He can change your life.” Then the pastor made his appeal. “If you want Jesus to change your life, just come here to the front,” he said. Marek saw 1,000 people in the crowd and cringed at the thought of standing in front of them. With the very next sentence, the pastor addressed his doubts. “Don’t think about others looking at you,” he said. “Just come here. Come to the front. It’s between you and God.” Marek stood up. He couldn’t sit anymore. His heart beat wildly as he went to the front. As the pastor prayed, Marek understood the plan of salvation for the first time. He had lived a bad life, and Jesus had taken his place. Marek began to cry, and nobody could stop him. The tears flowed freely. But Marek also was excited and joyful. “I really feel that God saved my life not only for His kingdom but also from physical death,” Marek said later. While studying at the Adventist seminary, he learned that his childhood friend Matthew was found dead with a knife in his heart. He had been using a lot of drugs, and no one knows what happened. He was only 23. His other childhood friend, Martin, ended up in prison for seven “I really want to help young people find their purpose in life sooner than I did,” he said. “Maybe they will live better lives after hearing my story. I’m really thankful to God. He saved me from everything, and He gave me everything. So, I have given everything to Him.” Get to know the region More Inside Stories Topics

Marek finds the Adventist Church, accepts Christ, and begins a transformed life of ministry and service.

To Adventist Leader (Part 2)

Related topics God Is Looking for Dreamers, General Conference President Says At the Mission Refocus Conference in Bangkok, GC president Erton Köhler urges Adventist leaders to embrace God‑given dreams, trust His unexpected strategies—such as dreams that reach hearts in difficult regions—and boldly partner with Him in advancing mission among major world religions.
Miracles in mission often happen in unexpected ways, General Conference president Erton Köhler said during his message on the last day of the Mission Refocus Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, June 13. It is the reason God is looking for dreamers who can connect to the dreams He already has, Köhler emphasized. The event in Thailand gathered more than 400 leaders, delegates, and representatives who are working to build bridges of understanding with major people groups of other cultures and faiths, especially those who live and serve in countries with significant Muslim populations. To that end Köhler reminded leaders, “God can use our imperfect strategies to reach hearts.” The Power of Dreams In the context of connecting with people of the Muslim faith, Köhler explained that there is a strategy that does not belong or depend on us: “Dreams,” he said. “It’s God’s strategy, not ours.” Köhler explained how effective dreams are to reach hearts in some cultures. “But they don’t depend on us; God decides whom to reach this way,” he said. “The results are impressive.” In the next few minutes Köhler shared real-life cases of people of non-Christian faith who received dreams—sometimes over the span of weeks—until they decided to act upon them. In some cases those dreams led them to a change of direction or major turnaround in their lives. “Imagine,” Köhler exclaimed. “Tonight God will give dreams to some people. . . . God will not wait for us to solve the outreach problem. He will arise in the middle of the night to reach those hearts.” Bold Enough to Join God in His Work Köhler explained that although this element of dreams can sound strange to us, in the Bible God often used dreams to open new mission frontiers. He mentioned Jacob in Bethel, Joseph in prison, Pharaoh’s dreams, and the ones God gave to the Babylonian king. He also referenced Joseph’s dreams in the Gospels. “God used dreams to open doors and hearts for the mission,” he said. In the same way that God worked in the past, “He continues to reach hearts and open doors to the other children of Abraham,” Kohler emphasized. “So the question is not whether He is working; the question is if we are bold enough to be His partners when the people He has visited come looking for answers.” In a missiological context, every major movement begins as a dream before it becomes a reality, Köhler said, as he mentioned Abraham, Moses, Paul, and the pioneers of the Adventist movement. “The future is born twice—first, in a dream and then, [it becomes] a reality.” It All Started With a Dream Based on the biblical story of Joseph, Köhler reminded mission leaders that before Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams, saved Egypt, became prime minister, and preserved Israel, all he had was a dream. “He was just another son of Jacob until the dreams began.” He was mocked for those dreams, Köhler reminded mission leaders. “They seemed the fantasy of a teenager who didn’t understand how the world works.” But, Köhler emphasized, “God rarely announces His dreams with trumpets,” as “dreamers come from ordinary families, ordinary backgrounds, and live in ordinary circumstances.” He added, “What sets them apart is not their credentials, family name, or position, but what happens . . . when they choose to believe and open their eyes.” In that regard, “God’s dreams are not a reward but a calling,” Köhler said, “and like every calling from God, they arrived before Joseph, his family, or the world was ready.” He added, “The dream always precedes preparation.” Straight From the Mind of God Köhler also emphasized that from the very beginning, Joseph was recognized as a dreamer. When his brothers saw him, “they said to one another, ‘Look, this dreamer is coming!’ ” Köhler read from Genesis 37:19. “It became his identity,” Köhler said. “[His brothers] meant it as an insult, but God heard it as a title.” Against that background of rejection, Joseph’s brothers thought that by killing the dreamer, they would get rid of the dream, Köhler said. “But they didn’t understand that you can silence the dreamer but not destroy the dream. Because the dream does not live in the dreamer’s story but in the mind of the God who gave it. And no thief, no betrayal, no false accusation, no prison cell, has ever reached deep enough” to kill God’s dream. So, in the end, “Joseph’s dreams didn’t only come true—God exceeded them!” According to Köhler, that was God’s message to each Adventist attending the Mission Refocus conference, as God calls everyone to revisit the dreams He has given them. “Dust them off and [share] them aloud, and trust that the God who gave the dream from the very beginning intends to do far more that we can ever imagine.” The original version of this story was posted on the Adventist Review website Get to know the region More Stories Topics From the front lines of mission—straight to your inbox

At the Mission Refocus Conference in Bangkok, GC president Erton Köhler urges Adventist leaders to embrace God‑given dreams, trust His unexpected strategies—such as dreams that reach hearts in difficult regions—and boldly partner with Him in advancing mission among major world religions.

God Is Looking for Dreamers, General Conference President Says

Related topics Charles Marshall Kinny - Founder of Black Adventism A biography of Charles M. Kinny, the first ordained Black Adventist minister, whose pioneering leadership, advocacy, and vision for separate but equal Black congregations laid the groundwork for the growth of Black Adventism in the United States.
Early Life and Conversion When Charles Marshall Kinny accepted the Adventist message after attending meetings in Reno, Nevada, in the summer of 1878, no one could have guessed the weight his decision would carry for generations to come. He would soon become a pioneer in a movement that had yet to imagine its future among African Americans. His journey—from obscurity to leadership, from isolation to vision—would shape the foundations of Black Adventism in the United States. Born on April 1, 1855, Kinny spent his early childhood in the slave state of Virginia. Whether he was enslaved or a free person of color remains unknown. After 1870, Kinny and members of his family settled in Reno, Nevada, in search of better opportunities. In Reno, Kinny attended evangelistic meetings led by J. N. Loughborough. During the series, Ellen White preached on the love of God—an experience Kinny never forgot. At the age of 23, he accepted the Adventist message, becoming the only Black member of the Adventist church in the city. Kinny quickly became active in church outreach. By 1882, he was serving as secretary of the Nevada Tract and Missionary Society. Though the Nevada membership was small, the position carried significant responsibility. Reports published by Kinny in The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald reveal a zealous worker. He corresponded widely and distributed literature across the country. “A colored teacher in Richmond, Va., has accepted the truth,” he reported in 1881, “and others are interested.”  Mission to Kansas Impressed with Kinny’s dedication and ability, church leaders helped him pursue further education at Healdsburg College in California. In 1885, he began evangelistic work in Kansas, a major destination for Black migrants from the post-Civil War South. Kinny faced strong resistance. Black ministers from other denominations opposed his efforts, and on one occasion, he publicly defended the seventh-day Sabbath before a crowd of hundreds. Aware of the deeply rooted religious traditions of the communities he served, he focused on personal evangelism—house-to-house Bible studies and distribution of Adventist literature. His work in Kansas, and later Missouri, resulted in a small but committed group of Black Sabbath-keepers. Racial Conflict in St. Louis In St. Louis, Kinny encountered a challenge that would shape the rest of his ministry: racial prejudice within the church. Less than a year after Kinny left the city, Ellen White felt similar tensions there firsthand and wrote of having experiences “that I can never think of without a feeling of dread.” She addressed the issue head-on in her 1891 talk to church leaders entitled “Our Duty to the Colored People.”  Foundations of the Black Work As his ministry took him farther South, Kinny would be compelled to grapple with the color line as never before. Under assignment from the General Conference Committee, he arrived in Louisville, Kentucky, in June 1889, to strengthen a small group of Black believers. That fall, he attended a major church council in Nashville, Tennessee, convened by R. A. Kilgore, superintendent of General Conference District No. 2 which covered the South. At the council, Kinny became the first African American ordained as a Seventh-day Adventist minister. The Nashville council also set a precedent for the Adventist Church’s grappling with prejudice. It was suggested that white people who otherwise might have been interested refused to attend a recent Nashville camp meeting because of reports of race-mingling on the grounds. In his report on the council in The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Kilgore asserted that those experienced in Adventist work in the South realized that any effort “to break down the distinction between the races, thus ignoring the popular prejudice, is simply fanatical and unwise.” Kinny addressed the council directly. He pointed out that separating the races at general meetings tended to destroy the unity of the Third Angel’s message and caused “great embarrassment and humiliation not only to me, but to my people also.” He did not want “the colored people” to be “driven from the truth by our position on this question.” At the same time, he acknowledged that “the very presence of the colored people in church relations and in our general meetings” hindered the message from reaching many white people. He then set forth propositions to resolve the dilemma. While Kinny believed in the power of the gospel to change lives, he accepted the sociological reality of living in a racist society and viewed his proposals as the best way to adapt without harming the church’s mission to either race. Though he did not believe in segregation, he was willing to work within its narrow confines for the ultimate good of the church. Where integrated worship was impossible, he reasoned, separate churches and meetings were preferable to second-class participation. Black congregations should develop their own churches and, eventually, conferences—fully equal within the denomination’s structure. Though far ahead of its time, Kinny’s vision laid critical groundwork. He continued traveling throughout the South, raising up churches, encouraging small companies of believers, and urging the denomination to invest more intentionally in work among Black communities. Progress was slow. Appeals for funding and staffing often met resistance, yet Kinny persisted. At the 1891 General Conference Session, he spoke candidly about the challenges facing the Black work and called for additional support. Ellen White strongly endorsed his appeal. Her son, Edson, soon devoted himself to missionary work among Black communities in the South, helping advance the cause Kinny had long advocated. After 1898, Kinny spent several years in largely self-supporting missionary work, traveling widely despite limited resources. He married schoolteacher Viola in 1902 and later returned to salaried ministry, though ongoing family health challenges limited his activity. He lived to see the church he helped shape grow far beyond its fragile beginnings. Kinny died in 1951 at the age of 96. Reflecting on his legacy, historian Ronald Graybill called Kinny the “Founder of Black Adventism,” noting that no one else faced the lonely task he carried. Others would later make more converts, but none laid a foundation under more difficult circumstances. By the time of Kinny’s death, Black Adventist membership in the United States had grown to more than 26,000, and the separate conferences he envisioned decades earlier were finally taking shape—testimony to a legacy built patiently, faithfully, and against overwhelming odds. More from Mission 360° Magazine  encyclopedia.adventist.org More than 4,000 articles and 11,000 photographs, featuring Adventist missionaries, evangelists, institutions, events, and beliefs. Get to know the region Resources Topics From the front lines of mission—straight to your inbox

A biography of Charles M. Kinny, the first ordained Black Adventist minister, whose pioneering leadership, advocacy, and vision for separate but equal Black congregations laid the groundwork for the growth of Black Adventism in the United States.

Charles Marshall Kinny - Founder of Black Adventism

Related topics How to Grow Your Church After decades of war and mass migration reduced Sri Lanka’s Adventist membership from 8,000 to 600, Mission President Hyosu Jung leads a revitalization effort focused on mission motivation, small‑group evangelism, property renewal, and cross‑cultural partnerships—bringing new growth, hope, and transformed lives across the Ceylon Mission.
How do you rebuild a struggling church? And how do you sustain growth once you have a functional congregation? Hyosu Jung, president of the Ceylon Mission of Seventh-day Adventists, was tasked with revitalizing the struggling churches of his new mission upon his arrival in Sri Lanka in 2024. In order to help, he had to know why help was needed. After enduring more than 400 years of colonization, a civil war broke out in 1983 between two Sri Lankan groups: the Sinhalese and the Tamils. This conflict lasted until 2009. Before the war, the church membership in Sri Lanka was 8,000. After the war, it dropped to 600. “The majority of our members left the country,” Jung said. “So, the Sri Lanka church became very weak; it couldn't function well without support from the outside.” When Jung first arrived in the country, he began to realize the extent of the damage. It was considerable. One church had a broken roof that was letting in rainwater and causing mold to grow, but the congregation didn’t have the means to fix it. Most of the churches were in similar situations. “The majority of our members are tea plantation workers who work in high mountainous areas.” Jung explained. “They are very poor. Even to come to church is a very big sacrifice, because they can’t go to work, they can’t earn money, and they have to pay for transportation.” It’s difficult to invite others to a church you’re hesitant to attend yourself. Jung started strategizing to overcome this challenge. “We tried to do something to rebuild the church.” As part of their rebuilding plan, Jung and his team settled on five areas to focus on: mission motivation, property management, children’s ministry, pastoral leadership education, and self-support. The past year has seen growth in all these areas, especially in mission motivation. “Because I am Korean, I tried to connect our Sri Lankan churches with Korean churches,” Jung said. “One Korean church supports one Sri Lankan church.” Active Korean congregations provide financial, spiritual, and evangelistic support to their expanding Sri Lankan counterparts. Multiple teams from Korea visit throughout the year to host evangelistic programs and support the churches through a sisterhood relationship. The Ceylon Mission is also strengthening through small group evangelism, a result of partnering with the Northern Asia-Pacific Division. “This small group evangelism is different from the normal public evangelist meeting,” Jung said. “We asked all the churches to organize small groups. We don’t preach. We don’t want to put pressure on the small group leaders because most of them are laypeople, and they don’t have any educational background.” With icebreakers, short video sermons, and plenty of discussion and prayer time, a small group “festival” was a great success. “The first night we had around 1,600 people participating and the last day, we had around 2,200 people. Our members were really surprised. They really enjoyed it.” As a result of the festival the churches have many Bible study contacts lined up and requests for the small groups to continue. Jung and his team are developing similar materials for them to use in the future.  One woman was especially blessed during the festival. Pastor Jeevakumar of the Sooryakantha Church shared a deeply moving story with Jung. “Sister M. S. Dhamika came to me and said, ‘Pastor, only my family and I know how satisfied I have been these four days.’ When I gently asked why, her answer was heartbreaking: ‘Pastor, for these four days, I have eaten dinner every night. My stomach was full. My two children ate their fill. Only my children and I know what it means to be satisfied like this.’ “I asked her why she had only been eating these four days. With tears in her eyes, she explained: ‘My husband has left me for another woman, and my relatives have abandoned me. No one cares if my children and I eat. But because of your meetings, we have eaten well for these four days. Not only our stomachs, but also our hearts are full. I had never truly worshipped Christ. Yet during these four days, I have seen how the Lord has taken care of me.’” Jung asks you to remember Sri Lanka in your prayers. He’s excited and thankful for how the mission is growing. “It is a great blessing for me to enjoy the blessings of the evangelism here in Sri Lanka.” More from Mission 360° Magazine  Mission Offerings Your mission offerings, given at Sabbath School, help support the mission ministry of our church. Thank you! Get to know the region Resources Topics From the front lines of mission—straight to your inbox

After decades of war and mass migration reduced Sri Lanka’s Adventist membership from 8,000 to 600, Mission President Hyosu Jung leads a revitalization effort focused on mission motivation, small‑group evangelism, property renewal, and cross‑cultural partnerships—bringing new growth, hope, and transformed lives across the Ceylon Mission.

How to Grow Your Church

Related topics To Our Very Doors Terri Saelee, coordinator for Adventist Refugee and Immigrant Ministries, helps mobilize refugee and immigrant leaders across North America to plant churches and reach unreached language groups—doubling engagement and transforming communities through mission-focused discipleship.
I discovered that God has brought refugees to this country so that we can empower them to reach the unreached with the gospel,” says Terri Saelee, coordinator for Adventist Refugee and Immigrant Ministries (ARIM) in the North American Division (NAD).  A few years ago, NAD hosted its Church Planting Bootcamp in Florida, where church lay leaders and pastors gathered for sessions on church planting and revitalization. Terri served as a keynote speaker for the Refugee and Immigrant Ministries track. Upon arriving, she noticed that many attendees in the track were refugees and immigrants themselves. She prayed that God would help her communicate what these leaders needed to hear. “In the context of our mission to reach every nation, kindred, tongue, and people,” says Terri, “I shared that there are approximately 7,000 unreached language groups, which represent 43% of the world’s population.” Terri brings a strong legacy of experience to her work. She served as a student missionary in Thailand and later returned to the United States to continue her studies at Weimar Institute (then Weimar College). She spearheaded outreach programs for Hmong refugees, involving Hmong leaders in planning and providing for their needs.  During this time, Terri met Ko Saelee, a young Hmong pastor. They fell in love and got married. “I like to tell people neither he nor I knew how much I would need him,” she says. “I believe it’s providential that I’m married to him, because there’s a lot I wouldn’t see if I were just looking from the outside in. But being married to one of these visionary church planters, I see it from this perspective, too.” Terri and Ko planted a Lao church and a Hmong church in California, then planted more Hmong churches in Wisconsin and Minnesota during the next few years. In 2008, Terri recalls lying awake many nights, unable to get a question out of her mind: What if God is bringing other language groups here and none of us are aware of who they are, where they are, and how to reach them? An idea formed: NAD needed someone to research incoming language groups and help local churches prepare to reach them. Initially, Terri didn’t think she was that person, but God made it clear a few months later when she was called to become the first ARIM Coordinator for NAD. ARIM directs the work of more than 18 language-specific refugee and immigrant groups in North America through church planting consultants. Terri explains that the division-wide ministry is based on the following quote by Ellen White:  As I have testified for years, if we were quick in discerning the opening providences of God, we should be able to see in the multiplying opportunities to reach many foreigners in America a divinely appointed means of rapidly extending the third angel’s message into all the nations of earth. God in His providence has brought men to our very doors and thrust them, as it were, into our arms, that they might learn the truth, and be qualified to do a work we could not do in getting the light before men of other tongues ( Evangelism, p. 570).  This quote “screams the word refugee to me,” Terri says. She believes those who come to the NAD seeking new homes are perfectly equipped to share God’s love with their language groups. Since its founding in 2009, ARIM has grown significantly. In preparing a 10-year report for NAD, Terri discovered that the number of reached language groups had doubled, refugee congregations had quadrupled, and tithe and annual baptisms had grown by 800 percent. Terri’s message resonated strongly with the bootcamp attendees. Refugee and immigrant pastors approached her immediately afterward, sharing the names of unreached people groups—many of which Terri had never heard of. They told her, “We want to discuss, we want to strategize, we want to plan how to reach the unreached.” Terri learned that believers could reach not only their own language groups but also related groups they’ve encountered on their refugee journeys. As a result of the discussions at the bootcamp, the Falam* language group, previously unreached by the church throughout the world, now has three active church plants in North America. A Falam community in Australia has also watched an online evangelistic series posted by ARIM's Falam church-planting consultant and requested that he help them plant a church. Terri is grateful to serve refugees and immigrants in NAD. “Reaching every nation, kindred, tongue, and people is right in the core of our mission statement,” she reminds us. “And I love that our church is dedicated and focused on that.” Please pray for ARIM and refugee and immigrant church leaders as they continue to reach the unreached.  * Falam refugees are originally from Myanmar (Burma) More from Mission 360° Magazine  Global Mission Global Mission has church planting projects in numerous countries. In 2024 a church was established every 2.8 hours—a record year for church planting.  “The Church will only continue to grow if we keep our focus on the importance of starting new groups of Seventh-day Adventist believers in unentered areas and among new people groups”—Gary Krause, director of Adventist Mission. To support church planting around the world, visit gmsda.org/Give7 Get to know the region Resources Topics From the front lines of mission—straight to your inbox

Terri Saelee, coordinator for Adventist Refugee and Immigrant Ministries, helps mobilize refugee and immigrant leaders across North America to plant churches and reach unreached language groups—doubling engagement and transforming communities through mission-focused discipleship.

To Our Very Doors

Related topics No Failure Here Standing by the grave, I prayed, “God, I want to be a missionary, too.” I didn’t really know what a missionary was, but I wanted to help people know Jesus.
To Sabbath School teachers: This story is for Sabbath, January 24. As told to Maika Tuima by John Joseph My name is Mr. Joseph, and I come from a tiny island called Maskelyne off the coast of Vanuatu. Vanuatu is a small island country in the South Pacific Ocean. I grew up surrounded by the sparkling, blue sea and tall, green trees. I went to school like the other kids but didn’t enjoy it. I wasn’t a good student. I received the worst grades in my class. My father knew I didn’t like school, but he still had a simple dream for me. He said, “Just finish sixth grade. Learn to read and write your name. That’s enough.” I’ll never forget one day in sixth grade. We were taking a test. My teacher looked at my paper and sighed. “John, you’ll never change,” she said. “You’re wasting your parents’ money. You have no purpose.” Then, she threw my books out the window and told my classmates to laugh at me. I had to run outside to pick up my books while everyone watched. That moment broke something in me. I felt worthless. But deep down, something told me not to give up. Later that year, a classmate joked, “John, when you fail your exams and stay on the island, I’ll hire you to fish for me.” I smiled but knew I didn’t want that kind of life. I wanted something more. One day, my older brother, who had become a Seventh-day Adventist, gave me a Bible verse to learn: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8). That verse changed something in me. When I was 13, a visiting Adventist pastor held meetings on our island. I went, and his words reached deep into my heart. I decided to be baptized. Before the baptism, the pastor prayed, “Lord, please use this young man in Your service.” After my father died, life got harder. But my church family helped me. And I began to help them by doing little things, such as weeding the church garden and ringing the church bell. Later, I became a church leader. In 2001, I moved to another part of Vanuatu. I joined an Adventist church and became part of a singing group. I shared my faith through music. I wasn’t good at talking in front of people, but when I sang, I still felt like I was telling others about Jesus. One day, I went back to my island. A pastor there invited me to help him with some Bible meetings. I sang hymns each evening. One afternoon, he asked me to visit the grave of Norman Wiles, who was one of the first missionaries to bring the Adventist work to our island. Standing by the grave, I prayed, “God, I want to be a missionary, too.” I didn’t really know what a missionary was, but I wanted to help people know Jesus. Later, I had a dream. I learned that God wanted me to go to Torres, a group of islands where no Adventists lived. I had no money and didn’t know anyone there, but I prayed, “God, if You want me to go, please make a way.” God answered! I spent seven years in Torres, making new friends and starting new churches. Years later at a concert, I saw my old teacher—the one who had thrown my books out the window. She came to me with tears in her eyes, handed me a watermelon, and said, “I’m sorry for the words I spoke to you.” She had become a Seventh-day Adventist, too! Today, I’m still a church leader. I keep sharing God’s love and starting new churches. I may have failed in school, but God had a plan for me. God tells us in the Bible, “I know the plans I have for you,” announces the Lord. “I want you to enjoy success. I do not plan to harm you. I will give you hope for the years to come.” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIRV). That promise is for me. And it’s for you too! Your Thirteenth Sabbath Offering this quarter will help support children’s health projects in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, where Mr. Joseph lives. Thank you for yourfaithful giving  Story Tips Show the location of Vanuatu on a map. Pronounce Vanuatu as: vah-noo-AH-too. 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 . Mission Record The first Adventist missionaries to work in Vanuatu (then called the New Hebrides) were C. H. Parker and his wife, who arrived from the Victoria-Tasmania Conference in 1912. At first, the Parkers settled in the capital, Port-Vila, but were asked to move into a more needy area. They settled on the island of Atchin, which was notorious for its population of cannibals. They were the first missionaries to the island.  Get to know the region More Children Mission Stories Topics From the front lines of mission—straight to your inbox

Standing by the grave, I prayed, “God, I want to be a missionary, too.” I didn’t really know what a missionary was, but I wanted to help people know Jesus.

No Failure Here

Related topics This Is God’s Agency “I had no experience. But I prayed, ‘God, you brought us here for a reason. I’ll do my best and leave the rest to You.’ It was my baptism of fire. In those moments, you truly decide what kind of life you’re going to live.”
Paulo Lopes felt more than excited when he received the call confirming his appointment as the new president of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) effective March 2025. “I’m humbled and honored,” Paulo says quietly. “Becoming the president of ADRA was never an ambition of mine. I simply wanted to serve.” For more than 30 years, Paulo has been a part of ADRA’s mission, delivering justice, compassion, and love to people in crisis around the world. His journey began not in an office or on a leadership path, but with the passion to be a missionary. “I was born and raised in Brazil, but God has given me the privilege to serve our church and ADRA in different countries,” Paulo shares. His calling led him to Africa, Armenia, Russia, India, and Brazil, each experience solidifying his dedication to ADRA’s mission and desire to go wherever he is needed. “I met a missionary family working in Brazil, and we became friends,” Paulo recalls. “I told them I wanted to serve overseas. Later, they contacted me to ask, ‘Would you be willing to go to Angola? ADRA needs someone there.’ I said yes, and that changed everything.” Paulo arrived in Angola in 1992 with his family at the age of 27. Shortly after, the country fell into civil war. Paulo, originally designated as finance director, found himself acting country director. “I had no experience. But I prayed, ‘God, you brought us here for a reason. I’ll do my best and leave the rest to You.’ It was my baptism of fire. In those moments, you truly decide what kind of life you’re going to live.” During one of the darkest points of the war, Paulo was unexpectedly invited by the United Nations to join a humanitarian mission into a conflict zone. “They told me, ‘You’re on the first flight tomorrow morning to a war-torn area. The rebels are in control, and you’re going to meet with them.’” He prayed for wisdom. “When they asked me who I was, I didn’t know what to say. I had to make promises to help the region, but in truth, I had no supplies, no team, and no resources. I was alone.” But God was not finished. On the flight back, Paulo sat next to the country director for Save the Children. “He asked what I planned to do. I was honest—I said, ‘I have nothing.’ The next day, he opened his warehouse to me. ‘Take whatever you need,’ he said. And soon, I returned to that region with a plane full of supplies. God is the provider. Not USAID. Not the UN. They’re just channels. God is the one who provides.” Now, decades later, Paulo sees a new season ahead for himself and the global ADRA network. “ADRA today is not the same agency I joined,” he says. “We’ve grown, we’ve embraced technology, and we’re more prepared than ever to respond effectively. But I believe this moment is also a turning point.” As ADRA grapples with funding shortages for its global operations, Paulo is honest about the path ahead. “Yes, these are difficult times, but every crisis comes with opportunity. We’re reassessing how we work, who we partner with, and what the future of ADRA looks like. We’re not just trying to survive; we’re committed to coming out of this stronger and more resilient.” Despite the complexity of leading the global humanitarian organization during uncertain times, Paulo’s focus is clear, and his confidence in God’s faithfulness remains unshaken. “Even as we face and navigate challenges, we are in His hands. God has always provided for us, and He always will,” he says. “This agency does not belong to us. It is God’s agency. We are just channels of His blessings, instruments to bring hope and relief.” His message to the global Adventist family is heartfelt: “I invite you to join me on this journey. I count on your prayers and support. Looking into the future, my hope for ADRA is that we continue to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this broken world.”  ABOUT ADRA The Adventist Development and Relief Agency is the international humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, serving more than 120 countries. Its work empowers communities and changes lives around the globe by providing sustainable community development and disaster relief. ADRA’s purpose is to serve humanity so all may live as God intended. To learn more about ADRA International’s president, Paulo Lopes, and ADRA’s global mission, visit ADRA.org. When you give to the mission offering during Sabbath School, a portion of that offering helps fund ADRA’s important ministry around the world. Thank you for your generous support. More from Mission 360° Magazine Get to know the region Resources Topics From the front lines of mission—straight to your inbox

“I had no experience. But I prayed, ‘God, you brought us here for a reason. I’ll do my best and leave the rest to You.’ It was my baptism of fire. In those moments, you truly decide what kind of life you’re going to live.”


This Is God’s Agency

email

FIRSTNAME