The Southern Asia-Pacific Division Annual Council Meeting concluded on November 9, 2022, at the Life Hope Impact Center in Silang, Cavite, Philippines. The commitment message was presented by Pastor Erton Kohler, executive secretary of the Adventist World Church, and it was a call to action for church leaders to live lives in service to God's cause.
Christians are always in MISSION
Matthew 24:14
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
In his commitment sermon, Kohler breaks down Matthew 24:14's significance into five key mission elements, explaining the directive Jesus left for the church. Through this biblical verse, he explains the foundation of our identity as a church and how the mission is ingrained in our lives as followers of Christ.
“A boat in the harbor is safe and secure, but that is not what boats were built for,” Kohler stressed, reminding leaders that we are called on a mission not to have comfortable lives but to carry the burden of sharing the gospel to the world.
“We are not called to stay in the office, to stay safe and live comfortable lives. We are called to be out there in the field, in the seas, on the streets fulfilling the mission,” Kohler added.
According to Kohler, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has a mission. In addition to proclaiming God's love for the Lord, the church is tasked with sharing the message to people that Jesus will return soon and that the kingdom of glory is already within reach of those who place their faith in Him. The church is called to spread hope in the Savior's impending arrival as Seventh-day Adventist Christians and second-coming believers. A select set of people are responsible for preaching about the second coming of Christ. Those who believe Jesus will return soon are the ones who bear accountability.
The manifestation of the final signal is the mission's second certainty, says Kohler. The end will come when the gospel is taught throughout the world, according to God's message in Matthew 24:14. Jesus is coming when His church has completed its task of spreading the good news of salvation to all people, not when there are wars, rumors of wars, tragedies, or unrest. Preach the gospel if you want to see Jesus riding on the clouds of heaven, said Kohler.
The third tenet of the mission is that the gospel of salvation is for everyone and is not meant to be an exclusive message. The church's mission is global. We consider the church's mission not just for those with whom we are familiar but also for those outside our comfort zones. Our churches will need to look beyond the needs of their neighborhood to identify opportunities to leave and reach out to people in need.
“How can we feel comfortable having a successful evangelistic campaign in Manila when there are thousands of people who have not heard of the gospel in Damascus or in other parts of the world,” Kohler asked. “God is asking us to look beyond our borders. While He is blessing us here, we need to find ways to be a blessing there,” he added.
“God will not only return to the places where the mission has been successful, but He will also return for the entire world.”
The assurance that the gospel of His second coming will be preached all over the world is the fourth certainty of the mission. Jesus promises in this verse that He will return, whether or not His followers go with Him. He will come up with means to spread the word and return those who trusted in His promise to Him.
“We have 7,111 languages in the world. We are preaching the gospel in 516 of them,” said Kohler. The challenge of sharing the gospel with the world is immense, and numbers show how much work needs to be done.
The completion of the mission is a miracle, which brings to the fifth and final mission certainty. It is impossible to complete the mission of the gospel given the difficulties the church will face in reaching various racial, cultural, and ideological groupings, but Matthew 24:14 promises that it will be done. It will serve as proof of God's involvement and a demonstration of his miracle in these latter days.
“God did not call us to lead an institution, but He called us to lead the mission of the church,” Koehler reminded church leaders as he concluded the commitment service.
Edward Rodriguez, SSD Communication Department