Pastor Doug Venn, Assistant to the President for Adventist Possibility Ministries (APM) of the Adventist World Church, urged Southern Asia-Pacific Division leaders to give people with disabilities, Deaf and neurodiverse communities, caregivers, widows and other often-overlooked groups meaningful opportunities to participate in the church’s mission during a morning devotional at the SSD Year-End Meetings.
Speaking on the theme “Mission for All,” Venn said the church must reconsider not only whom it seeks to reach but also whom it empowers to serve and share a testimony.
He cited estimates that 1.3 billion people experience a significant disability, about 1 in 100 children has autism or another form of neurodiversity, and the global Deaf community includes 83.6 million people who remain largely unreached and unengaged.
Venn grounded the message in Jesus’ declaration in Luke 19:10 that the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost. He also cited Revelation 14:6, which describes the everlasting gospel going to every nation, tribe, language and people.
“Mission is for all,” Venn said. The gospel transcends economic status, language, tribal identity and ethnicity, he added.
Venn used the biblical image of the church as Christ’s bride to describe how divine love transforms believers for service. He illustrated his wedding to his wife, Dawn, and the recent weddings of their son and daughter.
He then traced his family’s seasons of ministry, including six years of urban mission in Thailand, service at SSD in the Philippines from 2012 to 2016, work at the General Conference and a period of caring for his mother-in-law after an accident left her unable to use her legs.
“Where God has called you is the place you should serve,” Venn said, challenging the idea that ministry at the General Conference represents a higher calling than service elsewhere.
The caregiving experience taught his family that mission changes with life’s seasons and can involve relatives, congregations and friends carrying a responsibility together, he said.
Venn also challenged church leaders to examine whether they create barriers for people who think differently or carry grief.
“What is in the way of their engagement in mission?” he asked. “Sometimes it’s me.”
He shared the story of Christina, a young widow whose husband suffered a fatal heart attack during a bicycle ride. Christina created the Instagram account “Aquí Seguimos,” Spanish for “We’re still here,” as a place where people experiencing loss or difficult seasons can find companionship and hope.
Venn then introduced Matthew, an artist and YouTube creator with Down syndrome from Jakarta, Indonesia. Matthew paints to bring joy to others and uses his channel, “I Will Be Handsome,” to share his experience with families of children with Down syndrome.
Matthew and his caregivers brought 30 paintings to a General Conference Annual Council after Venn initially requested three for a lobby display. The visit allowed Matthew to share his witness and meet church leaders, including evangelist Doug Batchelor and former General Conference President Ted Wilson.
Venn said Matthew’s ministry demonstrates how the church can give a platform to people it might not ordinarily place in a pulpit.
“This is the power of your story, whatever chapter you may have,” Venn said, drawing from Revelation 12:11 and its description of believers overcoming through Christ’s sacrifice and their testimony.
He also announced a Nov. 21 livestream, “Jesus Makes All Things New for His Kids,” focused on the church’s responsibility to care for orphans and vulnerable children. SSD will host the event in partnership with the General Conference Children’s Ministries Department.
Venn closed by asking leaders to empower people with disabilities, Deaf and neurodiverse communities, caregivers, those experiencing spousal loss, people with mobility challenges, orphans and vulnerable children to become active witnesses.
“Who will be a witness that God can make all things new?” he asked.