Seventh-day Adventist leaders from across the Southern Asia-Pacific region were reminded to refocus on the church’s mission and spiritual identity during the Sabbath morning worship message delivered by General Conference President Pastor Erton C. Köhler at the Leadership Summit held March 3–7 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Speaking to administrators, department leaders, and mission workers gathered for the regional leadership event, Köhler emphasized that the future strength of the church depends on establishing clear priorities grounded in Scripture and guided by the Holy Spirit.
“The most important question for the church today is simple,” Köhler told the delegates. “What will be the church’s priority? If we do not define our priorities, someone else will define them for us.”
Drawing from Isaiah 37, Köhler highlighted the biblical image of the remnant taking root downward and bearing fruit upward, describing it as a powerful representation of the church’s calling in the last days.
“The Bible says the surviving remnant will take root downward and bear fruit upward,” he said. “The deeper the roots, the more abundant the fruits. Our mission will only be strong when our spiritual roots are deep in Christ.”
Köhler stressed that the church’s identity must remain firmly anchored in Scripture and the proclamation of the Three Angels’ Messages, reminding leaders that Adventists are called to be “people of the Book.”
“Our identity does not come from the size of our institutions or the strength of our organization,” Köhler said. “It comes from the power of God’s Word and our faithfulness to His calling.”
He also warned against allowing programs, structures, or institutional success to overshadow the spiritual foundation of the church’s mission. According to Köhler, genuine transformation begins not with strategy but with spiritual renewal.
“Our priority must be to become a church that transforms lives, not a church that simply impresses people,” he said. “Cosmetic changes in programs or structures will never transform hearts. Only the power of the Holy Spirit can do that.”
Throughout the message, Köhler repeatedly emphasized the importance of prayer and dependence on the Holy Spirit in advancing the church’s global mission.
He encouraged leaders to guard the integrity of the Adventist message and ensure that the church’s methods never contradict its beliefs.
“Our methodology must never conflict with our theology,” Köhler said. “If our methods begin to reshape our message, we must return to the mission Christ has given us.”
Köhler also called for courage and perseverance in fulfilling the church’s mission, reminding leaders that the gospel commission requires dedication and sacrifice.
“God is calling men and women who are willing to risk everything to save souls,” he said. “The mission of Christ was clear—to seek and to save the lost. That same mission continues today through His church.”
Referring to Christ’s commission in Acts 1:8, Köhler concluded by urging leaders to strengthen both disciple-making within the church and evangelism beyond it.
“The church exists to prepare the world for the soon coming of Jesus,” he said. “Our mission is both internal and external—making disciples within the church and sharing the gospel with the world.”
The Leadership Summit gathered church leaders from across the Southern Asia-Pacific Division to strengthen collaboration, spiritual leadership, and strategic mission planning as the region continues to expand its evangelistic and discipleship initiatives.