World Church: 'Tell the World' Inspires Annual Council Delegates to Evangelism
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Adventist News Network asked several delegates at the Seventh-day Adventist Church's recent business meetings how "Tell The World," a vision for world evangelism in the Seventh-day Adventist Church for the next five years, will affect the church in their area of the world. Here's what they had to say: |
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Lisa Choi, from the Republic of Korea. [Photos by: Reger C. Smith/ANN]
Pastor Atte Helminen, from Finland.
Guy Roger, Togo.
Pastor James Wu from China.
Adventist News Network asked several delegates at the Seventh-day Adventist Church's recent business meetings how "Tell The World," a vision for world evangelism in the Seventh-day Adventist Church for the next five years, will affect the church in their area of the world. Here's what they had to say:
Ian Sleeman, Britain, pastor - I felt emotionally inspired by the presentation of the concept. It brought again into sharp focus the essential message which is that the church exists to tell the world about Christ. We are in the life changing business. In Britain it is more difficult to get people interested in the church but we've still got to try. In Britain we have the lifedevelopment.info strategy which lowers the barrier for the nonchurched to come into church. We are changing our culture, we are loving people into the church.
Guy Roger, president of the church's Sahel area based in Lome, Togo- Tell the World is a new bolder way that the church can use to reach people. In our area of the world we do a combination of small group, personal and public ministry. In West Africa, our theme is "Each one reach one" which fits with the Tell the World challenge.
Patrick M. Mulindwa, Uganda, pastor - I believe Tell the World will affect the whole world. When it comes to evangelism I believe the church has been a bit reluctant so far. We are now waking up to tell the world. Sometimes it seems as if church members are only interested in just being church members and going to church week after week. We want to mobilize people to bring their friends to church. Of all the methods suggested we find that while broadcasting may not be as effective in the United Kingdom it works for us. We've also gotten positive responses from personal evangelism.
Abner De Los Santos, president of the Adventist church in North Mexico -- I believe the program is responding to a need in the church and the needs of the world. I believe this will encourage unity of among our church brothers and sisters. This is a challenge to each church member to take part in bringing people to Jesus. This will augment a plan we already have in place. The plan is called "crece" which means growth in English. Crece is an acronym for Communion, Retention, Evangelism, Consolidation and Education.
Lisa S. Choi, member, Seoul, Republic of Korea - Some think that evangelism is only about going out and doing missionary trips or preaching but hopefully Tell the World will help people understand that anyone can be a witness for Christ. I am a part of the Sulammi Musical Group where singing is our form of evangelism. Every year we sing to an audience of about 5,000 people. This helps people recognize God's love. Before I was in this group I didn't think I could do any work for Jesus but we've gotten such good response so we continue.
Atte Helminen, president of the church in Finland -- Tell the World is perfectly in line with what we are working on in Finland. It is giving us direction but it is obviously up to us how we use this. Our church has a mission which is "Loving Finland for Christ.' We want to invite every person in Finland to receive Christ. If we are honest we haven't been loving in the local church but we are changing that. In Finland very secular but people still need to belong. Our churches should be a place where people feel they belong.
James Wu, president of the church in China -- The concept is appropriate. Time is running out with the soon coming of Jesus. This gives us clear directions and suggests simple actions that we can all take to bring more people into the church. Traditional evangelism is particularly relevant in China. We use medical missionaries that care for the chronically ill, small groups, satellite evangelism and we are beginning to use the Internet. This new vision will give the local church a needed push.
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Rajmund Dabrowski, director; Ansel Oliver, assistant director; Elizabeth Lechleitner, editorial assistant; Megan Brauner, editorial assistant. Portuguese translation by Azenilto Brito, Spanish translation by Marcos Paseggi, Italian translation by Vincenzo Annunziata and Lina Ferrara and French translations by Stephanie Elofer.
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