The Seventh-day Adventist Church is one of the fastest growing denominations yet huge challenges remain. The 10/40 Window, with 60 percent of the world’s population, remains largely untouched by the gospel. The Christian church is in decline in postmodern-secular areas of the world. And the church struggles to gain or maintain a foothold in the rapidly growing mega cities of the world.
Why Global Mission?
Reaching the 10/40 Window
Stretching from North Africa, through the Middle East, and into East Asia, the 10/40 Window is a high priority area for Global Mission. With relatively few Christians, it is home to many of the world’s major religions, its fastest growing cities, and some of the world’s poorest people. Many living within this region have never hneard the name of Jesus.
After years of spending the vast majority of its resources on areas of the world where Christianity is already known, the Adventist Church uses Global Mission to reach high priorities areas such as the 10/40 Window.
Reaching Urban Populations
According to some estimates, by the year 2025 two-thirds of the world’s population will live in cities. The Hope for Big Cities initiative, started in 2005 at the General Conference session, focuses on establishing congregations within the rapidly growing populations of the world’s largest urban areas. One of these projects is in Abidjan, the commercial and administrative center of Cote d’Ivoire, West Africa. Local church members plan to start a three-phase evangelistic effort in an unentered part of the city. Fewer than 10,000 Adventists live in this nation of nearly 17 million people.
In one unnamed country 40 pioneers are working to establish 80 house churches. More than 10,000 members now live in this hard-to-reach country where people’s lives can be threatened just for becoming a Seventh-day Adventist.
Through projects like these the Adventist Church is starting new congregations in previously unreached communities and bringing hope in Jesus to those without hope.
Pioneers
Global Mission pioneers are church members who volunteer at least one year to establish a new congregation within their own culture. They have the advantage of knowing the culture, speaking the language, and blending with local people. Thanks to people like you who support Global Mission, they receive a small living stipend to help with their work.
More than 2,500 Global Mission pioneers are now working around the world. Since 1990 pioneers have helped establish more than 11,000 new Seventh-day Adventist congregations throughout the world.
Global Mission pioneers share the good news through a holistic ministry including caring for the sick, teaching agricultural skills, running literacy programs, holding evangelistic meetings, and giving Bible studies.
Global Mission Study Centers
The Adventist Church has historically grown fastest in areas of the world where Christianity is already understood. However in 10/40 Window countries, such as Thailand, India, and the Middle East, people are often resistant to even associate with Christians. To share the gospel effectively Global Mission realized that Adventists first must understand the culture.
Since 1990 Global Mission has started five study centers in various parts of the world to learn about other world religions and build bridges of understanding. These study centers help Adventists understand the beliefs and cultures of other world religions and develop ways to explain Adventist beliefs to others.
Global Center For Adventist-Muslim Relations
Director: Jerald Whitehouse
PO Box 1223
Loma Linda CA 92354 USA
Phone: (909) 824-4563 | Email: 102555.1163@compuserve.com
Hindu Study Center
Director: G. R. Mohan Roy
Southern Asia Division
Post Box 2, HCF Hosur 635110
Tamil Nadu India
Phone: 91 (4344) 22170
World Jewish Friendship Center
Director: Richard Elofer
P.O Box 592
94186 Jerusalem, Israel
Phone: 972 (2) 6251 547 | Online: www.jewishadventist.org
Buddhist Study Center
Director: Scott Griswold
P.O. Box 234
Prakanong Bangkok, 10110 Thailand
Online: www.bridgesforministry.org
Centre for Secular and Post-Modern Studies
Director: Miroslav Pujic
119 St. Peter’s Street; St. Albans
Herts AL1 3EY England
Phone: 44 (1727) 860-331 | Online: www.reframe.info
Join our mailing list
If you’d like to know what’s happening on the front lines of mission work today, join our mailing list. You’ll receive Front Line Edition, a quarterly magazine filled with current mission stories, news, photos, and recipes from around the world. You’ll also receive Prayer Calendar with an invitation to pray for special projects, and Picture Story to show you images of the challenge that still remains. Or you can read these journals online at www.Global-Mission.org.
To join our mailing list,
Visit online at: www.Global-Mission.org
Write to us at: Adventist Mission 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904
Call us: 1-800-648-5824.
Adventist Mission DVD
Reading is one thing, but seeing is altogether different. With the Adventist Mission DVD, you see how lives are changed. You see how the Church works around the world. You see how your donations and mission offerings make a real difference, every single day. A free Adventist Mission DVD is sent to your church each quarter. To see these inspiring stories, ask your pastor or Sabbath School leader to show them at your church. Or you can order your own copy by visiting: www.AdventistMission.org/DVDorder