The Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Southern Asia-Pacific region (SSD) has approved the appointment of Adventist Muslim Relations (AMR) coordinators in local churches across Muslim-majority territories, establishing a more intentional approach to strengthening relationships with Muslim communities through friendship, mutual understanding and compassionate service.
The decision, voted during the division's 2026 Annual Council, establishes the position and responsibilities of local church AMR coordinators, who will help congregations engage respectfully with their Muslim neighbors while providing spiritual guidance and pastoral support to individuals interested in learning about the Christian faith.
The initiative falls under the leadership of Pastor Abner Dizon, SSD Adventist Muslim Relations director, and reflects the church's commitment to developing culturally sensitive approaches to mission in communities where religious beliefs and traditions are closely connected to family and social life.
The Southern Asia-Pacific Division serves 11 countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, where significant Muslim populations form part of the region's diverse religious landscape.
Building Bridges Through Friendship and Compassion
Under the approved guidelines, local congregations may elect spiritually mature, compassionate and responsible individuals to serve as AMR coordinators. These coordinators will work closely with pastors, church elders, church boards and conference AMR leaders to strengthen awareness and encourage meaningful relationships with Muslim communities.
The ministry emphasizes that engaging people of different religious backgrounds begins with understanding, respect and genuine concern for their well-being.
AMR coordinators will help church members better understand Muslim beliefs, traditions and cultural practices through training programs, seminars and other learning opportunities. These activities aim to equip members to develop friendships and engage in conversations about faith with sensitivity and mutual respect.
The approved responsibilities also encourage practical expressions of kindness during important occasions in Muslim communities, including Ramadan, weddings and times of personal or family hardship.
By participating in community life and responding to people's needs, local congregations can demonstrate Christian compassion while building relationships based on trust rather than religious differences.
Equipping Churches for Culturally Sensitive Mission
The newly approved position also strengthens the church's capacity to provide appropriate spiritual support for Muslims who express an interest in learning about Christianity.
AMR coordinators will help equip members to share their faith respectfully, avoiding confrontational approaches and recognizing the importance of personal choice, cultural sensitivity and religious freedom.
Working alongside pastors and conference AMR leaders, coordinators will organize training that prepares members for meaningful conversations about faith and helps them respond thoughtfully to questions about Christian beliefs.
The guidelines also provide for safe and suitable house worship gatherings for Muslim seekers and believers from Muslim backgrounds.
Such gatherings can offer opportunities for prayer, Bible study, fellowship and spiritual nurture while accommodating the circumstances and needs of participants.
The initiative recognizes that meaningful spiritual engagement often develops through personal relationships and continued care rather than one-time evangelistic activities.
Protecting Privacy, Dignity and Personal Safety
One of the most significant provisions of the approved policy is its emphasis on confidentiality and safety.
AMR coordinators are responsible for protecting the privacy, dignity and well-being of Muslim seekers, new believers and their families.
In some communities, individuals exploring a different religious faith may face sensitive family, cultural or social circumstances. The policy therefore emphasizes discretion, responsible communication and appropriate pastoral guidance.
Coordinators must carefully consider the safety of participants when organizing gatherings, arranging follow-up activities and coordinating with church leadership.
The guidelines also call for continued spiritual care and pastoral support, recognizing that individuals exploring Christianity may need personal guidance and a supportive community.
This emphasis on safeguarding reflects the church's responsibility to respect each person's dignity, freedom of conscience and individual circumstances.
Strengthening Coordination From the Local Church to the Division
The approved AMR coordinator role establishes a clearer connection between local congregations and the church's wider Adventist Muslim Relations ministry.
Coordinators will collaborate with pastors, church boards and conference AMR leaders in planning activities, organizing training, supporting members and providing regular ministry reports.
This structure is intended to encourage greater consistency in local church engagement while allowing congregations to respond appropriately to the cultural and religious circumstances of their communities.
It also supports the Southern Asia-Pacific Division's broader emphasis on integrated mission, in which church departments, institutions and local congregations work together to strengthen relationships, discipleship and community engagement.
Rather than treating Muslim relations as the responsibility of a specialized department alone, the approved initiative encourages local churches to participate in building trust, demonstrating compassion and fostering respectful dialogue.
Sharing Christ's Love Through Respectful Relationships
The approval marks a step toward strengthening the Adventist Church's engagement with Muslim communities across the Southern Asia-Pacific region.
Through the leadership of the Adventist Muslim Relations ministry, local congregations will have a designated coordinator to help members develop greater cultural understanding, respond compassionately to community needs and provide appropriate spiritual care.
The initiative also reinforces the importance of religious freedom, recognizing that meaningful conversations about faith must respect individual beliefs, personal decisions and the dignity of every person.
As local churches begin implementing the approved responsibilities, the emphasis will remain on building genuine friendships, serving communities and demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ through respectful relationships and compassionate action.
In a region marked by religious and cultural diversity, the decision underscores the church's commitment to sharing its message of hope while respecting and caring for the people and communities it seeks to serve.