wfn.org | Adventists Voted One Million Dollars for New Churches

[APD <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

May 24, 2002
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
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Adventists Voted One Million Dollars for New Churches
 
Silver Spring, Maryland, USA -  The Global Mission 
Operations Committee approved more than 1 million US 
dollars to help fund 732 projects to start new Seventh-
day Adventist congregations around the world. Meeting 
at the Adventist Church's headquarters in Silver Spring, 
Maryland, United States, the GMOC considered projects 
from 16 countries in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and 
North America.
 
"Each project plan comes direct from leaders in the local 
area," says Mike Ryan, director of Global Mission.
"They're at the grass roots, and know best how to share 
the good news about Jesus in an appropriate,
culturally sensitive way in their part of the world. The 
vast majority of these projects are to fund Global
Mission pioneers--lay church members who volunteer to 
move to a new area within their own culture and
start a new congregation. They are having tremendous 
success around the world."
 
The total cost for the 732 projects is US$2.5 million--
with the difference in funds being met by local church
organizations. "It's important for local organizations to 
contribute toward projects in their region," says
Daisy Orion, planning director for Global Mission. "It 
encourages a feeling of ownership and participation,
rather than being fully funded by Global Mission at the 
world headquarters. Obviously in some regions the
local church organizations can contribute more than in 
other regions."
 
Eleven projects for Mongolia were funded. "This is 
exciting to see," said Ben Maxson, stewardship director
for the world church, and a member of GMOC. "Ten 
years ago we had no churches in Mongolia, and it's
wonderful to see the growth in this country."
 
For more information about Global Mission visit 
www.global-mission.org. [Gary Krause for ANN]
 
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