Elbert Kuhn, associate secretary at the General Conference challenged Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) leaders to leave the Year-End Meetings as a mission force, saying the church must act like a battleship advancing its purpose rather than a cruise ship built for comfort.
Kuhn delivered the closing commitment before delegates took part in a responsive commitment service. He drew from Acts 13, where the church in Antioch worshiped, fasted and prayed before sending Barnabas and Saul to mission.
“When it was time to send the missionaries, they picked the best ones,” Kuhn said. “The Bible shows that they selected the best ones for mission.”
He said the believers gathered for spiritual renewal but did not remain together indefinitely. After seeking the Holy Spirit’s direction, they released capable leaders to carry the gospel beyond their community.
“They were built to be a battleship and not to be turned into a cruise ship,” Kuhn said.
Mission Decisions Create Lasting Influence
Kuhn traced a chain of Adventist witness from J.N. Andrews, the denomination’s first official missionary sent overseas, to early mission and publishing work in Brazil. He recounted how missionaries, pastors and literature evangelists passed their faith from one person to another across countries and generations.
In Kuhn’s family story, a book placed in a store remained on a shelf for two years before reaching his father, Elmo Kuhn, a young man of German Lutheran background. His father read The Great Controversy twice within 15 days, Kuhn said, setting in motion a spiritual influence that shaped the family’s future service.
“Do you understand the ripple effects of what can happen when we decide to follow the leading of the Lord and the impression of the Spirit, use the resources and send the best ones?” he asked.
Kuhn said five of his brothers studied theology, his sister studied education and the family committed itself to ministry. He used the account to show that a missionary decision may affect people whom the original messenger will never meet.
Meeting Described as a ‘Holy Huddle’
Turning to an American football illustration, Kuhn compared the Year-End Meetings to a timeout in which players gather for information, correction, encouragement and renewed direction.
He called the gathering a “holy huddle” but warned that a team cannot fulfill its purpose by remaining in the circle.
“A game is never won or lost in the huddle,” Kuhn said. “The way we go back and start playing will determine whether what we have done here and the commitments we have made will really make a difference.”
Kuhn asked delegates to evaluate whether the meeting would change their personal lives, budget priorities and efforts to involve people in the church’s mission. He emphasized action beyond committee discussions and called leaders to create opportunities for every church member to take part in God’s work.
“Timeout is over,” he said. “The game is about to start.”
Kuhn closed with Jesus’ words in John 20:21: “As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” He encouraged delegates to return to their fields with confidence in the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the hope of one day hearing Christ say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Delegates Make Shared Commitment
Following the message, administrators, treasury and stewardship leaders, communication and media representatives, pastors, departmental directors and other delegates stood for a responsive commitment service.
The service called each group to express the church’s mission through its area of responsibility. Communication and media representatives pledged to “communicate with compassion, creativity and cultural understanding, making every screen a pathway to Christ.” Other appeals focused on humble leadership, faithful stewardship, welcoming churches and compassionate service in schools, hospitals, workplaces and communities.
“Our responsibilities may differ, but our calling is one,” said Pastor Roger Caderma, SSD president. “Our methods may differ, but our mission is one. Our places of service may differ, but our Savior is one.”
Delegates concluded with a shared response: “We will go. We will reach. We will engage. We will connect. We will make disciples.”