wfn.org | Adventist Global Mission-"Mission Possible"

[APD <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

July 2, 2000
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schäffler, Editor-in-chief
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland 
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
www.stanet.ch/APD/2000/GK 

Seventh-day Adventist Global Mission-"Mission 
Possible"

Toronto, Canada, 02.07.2000/ANN/APD      "Taking 
Jesus' love to new areas, to people with no hope, and 
establishing new congregations." This is how Pastor 
Michael Ryan, Global Mission director, described the 
primary purpose of this global initiative. "Go, go, go. 
These words are the church's life, compass and vision. 
Global Mission is a part of this work." 

Global Mission, established in 1990 at the General 
Conference Session in Indianapolis, presented its 
report to delegates and visitors during the Sabbath 
afternoon program at the Toronto SkyDome. Its report 
focused on the work and progress of Global Mission 
around the world and included interviews, video 
footage and music. The highlight of the presentation 
was a live interview with Pastor Anthony Alexander, 
released just six weeks ago from a Sri Lankan jail. 0

"Global Mission knows all about the numbers and 
statistics.  Without them, they cannot track progress," 
Ryan said. "But each statistic represents children of 
God coming home to a loving father."

Of the 230 countries in the world recognized by the 
United Nations, said Ryan, the Seventh-day Adventist 
Church has a presence in 205 countries, and nine of 
these countries have been entered in the past 10 
years,

The Global Mission report emphasized the challenge of 
the 10/40 window--an imaginary rectangle drawn from 
West Africa to the Middle East and into Africa. 
Comprising more than three billion people-60 percent 
of the world's population--these are also the world's 
poorest inhabitants.  "Many have no hope for the 
future," said Ryan. "This window is truly the heart of 
the need."

Delegates applauded as Ryan spoke of Global Mission's 
success in Northern India.  Ten years ago there was 
only one church.  Today there are over 100 churches 
and 5,000 attendees. Last year alone, 64,000 new 
members joined the church in Northern India.

Pastor Dale Tunnell, Global Mission co-ordinator for 
Mongolia, described his work as exhausting and 
exciting. "It's exciting to work with the young church 
in Mongolia because they're on fire for Jesus Christ 
and want to share his love with their people."

Despite the civil war and famine, Cambodia has 
experienced amazing church growth, going from zero 
to over 4,000 members in the past ten years, said Lim 
Pheng, secretary of the Cambodian Mission. "God has 
blessed Cambodia," said Pheng. "It is such a joy to see 
the Cambodian people who have suffered so much 
now finding hope, joy, and peace in the gospel 
message of Jesus Christ our Lord."

Citing secular cities of the West as major Global 
Mission challenges, Ryan pointed to new initiatives 
designed to appeal to busy urban people. Global 
Mission launched the "One Night of Your Life" 
evangelism program in Minneapolis, Minnesota, earlier 
this year, and last year introduced the "Total 
Employment Program," aimed at encouraging young 
graduates to move to areas where the local church 
membership is dwindling. 

In Brazil, the church was close to reaching its goal of 
having one congregation placed every 200 meters in 
the city of St Paolo, said Ryan. "The Inter-American 
Division has more Adventists than any division in the 
world field," he added. "Next year they are going to 
begin a goal to place 20,000 Global Mission volunteers 
in un-entered areas."

Global Mission's work in the eastern Europe expanded 
significantly as a result of the collapse of communism. 
"When the Soviet Union collapsed, new doors opened 
for sharing the good news about Jesus in the Ukraine," 
said Ryan. "Today, there are 18 churches in the capital 
city of Kiev."

Europe and northern Africa presents Global Mission 
with "some of the church's most challenging and 
diverse territories," said Ryan. Global Mission is 
working with Loma Linda University and the 
Afghanistan government on a medical school project.

At the close of the report, Pastor Jan Paulsen spoke of 
his personal commitment to the church's Global 
Mission.  Paulsen said that "the mission of the church 
is not some sort of spectator sport. Mission is the life 
of the church, that's why we're here. Seventh-day 
Adventist "Global Mission" is an initiative which is 
driven by a passion to take the message of salvation 
of Jesus Christ to everyone."   [Editor: Danielle Lee for 
ANN/APD]