In a region where sharing faith often requires sensitivity, wisdom, and quiet courage, the Adventist Church in Malaysia (MAUM) continues to find meaningful ways to fulfill Christ’s mission. Within the Southern Asia-Pacific region (SSD)—home to diverse cultures, languages, and many communities where Christians serve as a minority—church members face unique challenges in openly proclaiming the gospel. Yet amid these realities, the spirit of mission remains strong. Through acts of kindness, personal discipleship, and involvement by every believer, the church has embraced a powerful global movement that mobilizes members to serve their neighbors and create welcoming communities for seekers.
Against this backdrop, MAUM launched the Global Total Member Involvement (GTMI) Congress, introducing MissionReach 26 and OneVoice 27 as a united call to proclaim Jesus through everyday witness. The initiative reflects the Adventist Church’s worldwide commitment to Total Member Involvement—reminding every member that gospel work is not limited to pastors or public meetings, but is lived out through compassion, relationships, and service. In Malaysia, this renewed mission emphasis stands as a testimony that even in challenging settings, God continues to open doors for His people to share hope, love, and salvation.
The three-day event, held from January 30 to February 1, was organized by the Malaysia Union Mission Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Department, led by Rozelene Gulon, in partnership with NDR-IEL under Vice President Justin Ginsud. Streamed live on the MAUM Facebook page, the congress gathered church leaders, pastors, youth, and lay members who shared a common goal of strengthening the Adventist mission in Malaysia.
Onsite attendance grew steadily throughout the weekend, reaching more than 600 participants on Friday evening and rising to an estimated 1,000 or more by Saturday morning. At the same time, online viewership averaged around 7,000, reflecting strong digital engagement and a growing desire among members to learn practical ways to share the gospel effectively.
The congress featured key speakers such as Pastor Daniel Ebenezer, General Conference Sabbath School and Personal Ministries director; Pastor Joe Reeves, assistant director; and Pastor Segundino Asoy, SSD Sabbath School and Personal Ministries director. Their messages offered practical guidance and encouragement to those present. MAUM leaders also attended, including President Abel Bana, Executive Secretary Nelson Bendah, departmental directors, local mission leaders, and representatives from Adventist institutions.
During the launch, Pastor Abel Bana encouraged members to see GTMI, MissionReach 26, and OneVoice 27 as more than programs, but as a personal call to serve together in God’s mission. He urged everyone to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading through service, witness, and unity. The ceremony ended with attendees wearing traditional cultural attire to represent unreached people groups in Malaysia, followed by a dedicatory prayer for the Holy Spirit’s work among these communities.
From the beginning, the congress focused on worship, learning, fellowship, and mission planning. Speakers stressed that sharing the gospel requires the involvement of every church member, not just church leaders. During his Sabbath sermon, Pastor Daniel Ebenezer encouraged members to remain faithful in outreach, saying, “Keep sowing and build up your interest list, because we will never know whether our efforts are falling on good ground.”
OneVoice 27 is a global Seventh-day Adventist initiative launched in October 2025 to unite the church in a massive, synchronized digital and traditional evangelism effort. Alongside MissionReach 26—part of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division’s Five-Year Strategic Plan under Global Total Member Involvement—these initiatives encourage churches, families, and individuals in Malaysia to reach neighbors, coworkers, and online communities with the love of Jesus. In one seminar, Pastor Joe Reeves said, “A disciple is a loving, self-denying soul-winner, like Jesus,” and emphasized the importance of planting seeds of service early, beginning in the home.
Participants from across the Union shared testimonies of encouragement and renewed commitment. Merlon Duak from Lobou I Church in Menggatal said the seminars were practical, easy to understand, and meaningful. “Those of us who attended now have the opportunity to help other members through learning and training, so more people can share the gospel and be reached,” Dual said.
In his seminar, Pastor Segundino Asoy reminded attendees that mission goes beyond large evangelistic meetings and is also carried out through daily conversations, acts of kindness, and personal discipleship. After the event, several participants expressed appreciation for the focus on total member involvement. Lainah Sulukang from the Adventist Church in Sabah said, “It is important to involve all members, not just pastors. We, as regular church members, can and should disciple others as well.”
During the Commitment Ceremony, Pastor Daniel urged attendees to respond to God’s call to serve as gospel workers and prayed for the Holy Spirit to guide members in sharing the message through Bible study.
Church members across Malaysia were encouraged to live out Christ’s love and take part in the mission wherever they are. Pastor Ewoddy Abnor of the Kunak SDA Church said, “We cannot just be members of the church. We must be workers—active workers—sowing the seeds of the gospel.”
As MAUM continues to nurture these initiatives, departments are developing resources, training programs, and discipleship support to equip members for MissionReach 26 and the broader OneVoice 27 emphasis. Congregations are encouraged to integrate these mission focuses into their church calendars, small groups, prayer initiatives, and evangelistic planning.