wfn.org | Adventist Church to Pass 10 Million Member Mark

["Christian B. Schäffler" <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

September 16, 1998
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
98/SEPT/03

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH TO PASS 10 MILLION 
MEMBER MARK THIS MONTH

Basel, Switzerland, 15.09.1998  [APD/ANN] The Seventh-day 
Adventist Church, a worldwide Protestant Free Church, is 
expected to pass the ten-million member mark this month, 
according to projections based on current net growth rates.

"Assuming the growth rates we have recorded this year, we 
anticipate gaining our ten-millionth member this month," 
says Charles Taylor, statistician for the Church's Global 
Mission office. "The statistics indicate that we will pass ten 
million on September 24, though of course this date is based 
on averages and projected increases rather than final reports."

"This is great good news," responds Robert S. Folkenberg, 
world president for the Adventist Church. "More than 
numbers and data, we see God's hand in bringing so many 
to a better understanding of His gospel of salvation; people 
changed and now dedicated to true Christian living. As we 
pass this milestone in our experience, we give God the glory 
for all He has done."

On September 24, Adventist Church leaders from around the 
world will be meeting in Brazil to develop plans reaching into 
the new millennium, says Folkenberg. 

"The consciousness of the ten million member number will 
undoubtedly bring great encouragement as we plan together 
for the future, knowing it is God who leads," Folkenberg 
concluded. 

Some 25 million Christians, in over 200 countries regard the 
Seventh-day Adventist Church as their spiritual home,  
including the ten million adult baptised church member. 
They practise believer's baptism by immersion and include 
foot washing as part of the communion service 
(Lord's supper).

Though the Adventist Church is not a member of the World 
Council of Churches (WCC), it recognises those church 
agencies that lift up Christ as a part of the divine plan for 
the evangelisation of the world and holds in high esteem 
fellow Christians in other Christian communities who 
are engaged in winning souls for Christ.

The Adventist Church is regularly represented through 
observers or advisers at WCC and other church meetings. 
Since 1968 the General Conference of Seventh-day 
Adventists has been represented at the annual conferences 
of secretaries of the Christian World Communions (CWC).