The Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) began its Year-End Meetings, November 9, 2026 with a morning devotional delivered by Brent Burdick, SSD associate treasurer, who urged delegates to inspire others through friendship, purpose and encouragement.
Brent Burdick called on Southern Asia-Pacific Division Year-End Meeting delegates to invest personally in others through friendship, meaningful responsibility and encouragement during a morning devotional titled “Called to Inspire.”
Drawing from Acts 11:19-26, Burdick focused on the relationship between Barnabas and Paul in Antioch. He said Barnabas helped develop the former persecutor into a missionary by believing in him, bringing him into ministry and encouraging him in his calling.
Burdick organized the message around three convictions he saw in Barnabas: Everyone needs a friend, everyone wants to feel needed, and everyone needs encouragement.
“People want real friendship,” Burdick said, contrasting genuine relationships with the large but often impersonal audiences people collect on social media.
He described friendship as a powerful influence on his own decisions. Friends led him into school sports, Pathfinders and choir, encouraged him to accept a conference treasurer position, challenged him to run his first marathon and helped him meet his wife, Angela. He also said his relationship with Jesus shapes his service to the church.
“I work for a Friend, and that makes a difference,” Burdick said, referring to Jesus. He said that friendship motivated him and his wife to leave Canada for Russia in 2010.
Burdick then said people need opportunities to contribute. He pointed to Barnabas’ decision to recruit Paul for the work in Antioch and urged care groups to give every member a responsibility, even a small one.
To illustrate that need, Burdick told the story of Benji, a kindergarten student who used a wheelchair. Classmates eagerly competed to push him, but Benji wished another student also used a wheelchair because, he said, “I would like to help someone, too.” Burdick said the child wanted the same joy his classmates experienced when they helped him.
The devotional’s final section emphasized encouragement. Burdick cited Barnabas — whose name means “son of encouragement” — as a model for leaders, spouses and teachers whose words can redirect a life.
“The heart of encouragement is to communicate a person’s value,” Burdick said.
He said God encourages people through Scripture and the Holy Spirit, then works through them to encourage others. A word, a look or a note can tell another person that someone noticed them, cares about them and considers their work significant, he said.
Burdick closed by asking delegates whether they should seek a small influence on millions or a significant influence on a few. Jesus concentrated his earthly ministry on 12 disciples, he said, while Barnabas’ personal investment in Paul helped expand the church’s mission to the Gentile world.
He challenged each delegate to identify one person — perhaps a young person, a secular person or someone in a position of responsibility — and become a friend, provide a meaningful role and offer encouragement.
“God has called you for this mission,” Burdick said. “You will make a big difference in that person, and you will help change the world.”