As was evidenced at the 2015 General Conference Session, the Seventh-day Adventist Church is growing rapidly around the world. During the business meetings a total of 35 new union conferences were approved. These are mostly located in Africa, Central America and South America. “The high number of new unions is unprecedented in the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It is a reflection of the church growing with breakneck speed around the world,” said G. T. Ng, executive secretary of the General Conference. 1
On the morning of July 16, I looked at the Minnesota Conference membership and noticed that our total is 9,351. We are growing and we praise the Lord! Having said that, I am sobered by the fact that we are not growing as fast as we should. Our membership in 2014 was only 0.17% compared to the Minnesota population. 2
I am not pessimistic or bemoaning the lack of growth. Christian writers over the years have done studies looking at church growth problems and spiritual conditions in our generation. I know that we as a church have preached the Laodicean message loud and clear. All I am saying is that as we read the Bible, we see that God expects us, His church, to first “Come follow,” second “Go make disciples,” and third “Sin no more.”
He wants us to be the light and the salt of the world in our local communities. We must revolutionize our thinking; we must share our personal testimonies; we must actively participate in the church’s mission; and we must continue preparing people for the kingdom.
In case you feel overwhelmed as you seek to be part of the work in the Minnesota Conference, may I say, “Seek the Lord’s help.” God will communicate to you plans for soul winning. As a conference, let us seek the Lord and we will discover wastelands in our communities that need to be worked. Remember, God’s call is to follow Him where He is already working.
“Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Savior mingled with men as One who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me’” (Ministry of Healing, 143).
Brian Mungandi is communication director for the Minnesota Conference.
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1. www.adventistreview.org/church-news/story2893-gc-delegates-approve-record-35-new-union-conferences
2. Randy Harmdierks, communication seminar, April 2015. Data: General Conference Office of Archives, Statistics, and Research; U.S. Census Bureau.
