In response to the world church program, I Will Go, the Adventist Church in West and East Indonesia organized their respective Sabbath School Congresses, which were attended by approximately 3,100 Adventists from all around the country. Both congresses exemplified a display of unity and determination, as delegates gathered with the purpose to ignite their faith and learn how to share God's message more effectively, especially in this end-time generation.
The Adventist Church in West Indonesia held its Sabbath School Congress at Siantar, North Sumatra, from April 5 to 9 while the Sabbath School Congress of the Adventist Church in East Indonesia took place from April 12 to 16 at Universitas Klabat in Manado.
Delegates arrived at the meetings, eager to partake in the spiritual feast prepared for them. Both congresses met for four days, each with a program suited to a diverse audience. It featured inspirational sermons and vibrant discussions centered on the theme "I Will Go, Be His Witness."
Encouraged by the necessity of sharing the gospel and the imminent return of Jesus Christ, delegates from both congresses were motivated to remain faithful and to continue spreading God's word, regardless of the challenges they may experience.
Pastor Stephen Salainti, vice president of the Adventist Church in the Southern Asia-Pacific region, delivered the opening night message, emphasizing the nurturing, discipleship, and reclamation of every member of the church. He emphasized the importance of each church member taking responsibility for not only participating in initiatives that benefit the church but also for finding ways to create a space where people seeking hope and healing in Jesus can experience it in an Adventist Community.
"Our churches should be a safe place for people who are seeking answers to their life's questions," Salainti said. "As a church, it is our role to reflect Jesus in our actions, in our relationships, in our character, in our families, so that people will understand and see how life with Jesus can make a difference," Salainti encouraged.
The gathering allowed members to come together and share their experiences and knowledge of the Adventist faith. The Sabbath School Congress, according to organizers, has been an opportunity for church members to reunite and create camaraderie despite how infrequently they see each other. Members were delighted to see how each other had progressed in their respective ministries after not seeing each other for several years due to the pandemic.
One of the highlights of the Congress was the presentation of various speakers on topics about overcoming the challenges of evangelizing in today's world, how to use technology to spread the word of God, and how to reach out to diverse people groups.
Both congresses emphasized a holistic approach in the topic lineup, as it addressed issues relevant to many aspects of the Sabbath School Department. Some talks focused on how to make the Sabbath School lesson relevant to Gen Zs and millennials, who account for more than 40% of Indonesia's population.
“We grew up with a mindset that the Sabbath School lesson is a resource intended only for Seventh-day Adventists; we are urged that every church ministry should be an opportunity for us to share Jesus, and the same is true for our Sabbath School lessons,” one of the speakers expressed.
Pastor Segundino Asoy, Sabbath School director for the Southern Asia-Pacific, spoke of the power of the Holy Spirit in empowering the ministry to achieve new heights through those who dedicated their life faithfully.
"There are people who respond to the Holy Spirit's call, and it is through faith and submission that church members are empowered to lead ministries that will introduce the gospel to the world," Asoy added.
Church members, leaders, and administrators who attended the Sabbath School Congress gave excellent feedback. Pastor Agus Inaray, Sabbath School and Personal Ministries director for the Adventist Church in East Indonesia expressed gratitude to everybody who attended the meeting and was blessed by it.
"Organizing a large event like this is never easy, but with people who are passionate about the ministry, pulling off such a feat is an opportunity to see God's providence throughout the program," Inaray said.
Pastor Albertho Tulalesi, Sabbath School and Personal Ministries director for the Adventist Church in West Indonesia, on the other side, shares his experience as an organizer of the congress. The territory covered by the West Indonesia Union Mission includes Jakarta, the country's capital.
"To see how the church responded in this region encourages our leaders of how enthusiastic church members are in the furtherance of the Lord's work," Tulalesi stated. "The work is not yet finished, and there is still much work ahead of us," he added, "but God will empower us to advance His mission in various parts of the world through united efforts of prayer and ministry."
The Sabbath School Congress was a huge success, giving Adventist members in West and East Indonesia new ideas and inspiration to keep moving forward in their mission of winning people to God.
Next year, the division's Sabbath School Department envisions hosting a division-wide congress with thousands of attendees from the division's fourteen countries. This is the division's response to the world church's Mission Refocus program.
Edwasrd Rodriguez, SSD Communication Department