Evangelism responsibility – both Global and Local

Tonight we begin a week of Revival with pastor Fred Nichols preaching the Word of God.  This whole month the focus of our mid-week prayer is on the Adventist Heritage.  The Church School kids will have a special day of reflections on October 22, remembering pioneers of our movement.  As I reflect on the recent annual meetings of the Adventist church leaders I cannot help but think about the great work done so far by our church in proclaiming the Three Angels message since 1844, and also about the enormous task that is ahead.  The chart below represents change/growth in Adventist presence in the world. 

“N” stands for “Global North” and represents United States, Canada & Europe. 

“S” – the “Global South” – the rest of the world, including Russia & North Asia.

Whereas in 1960 46% of Adventist church lived among 25% of population of European descent, the work over the past five decades entered every area of the world, and the world membership is very similar to the world population.

The church is truly global, and the mission is not so much “out-there” as it is here, in our backyard!  In fact the proportion of those who carry the Three Angels Message is lower in North America than in Africa, Asia, South America, Caribbean or Central America.  If we compare Canada and USA, our Canadian Adventist presence, compared to the population, is 3 times smaller than that in USA.  Canada is matching by secularity Sweden, Denmark and other European countries.  We got work to do here, at home, in London, in Ontario!  The great news is that our local churches are representative of the global trends, as the membership consists of many immigrants coming from the “Global South.”  One of our pioneers wrote “The prosperity of the home work depends largely, under God, upon the reflex influence of the evangelical work done in countries afar off.” (Ellen White, Testimonies, Vol. 6, p.27).  As we continue investing in mission afar, it blesses us at home!  Our focus has to be both – mission at home, and mission abroad.

As we invite friends and neighbours to be inspired and challenged this week with the Gospel Commission and the Message of Hope in the Soon Coming of Jesus, let’s keep in mind our global responsibility to ALL people groups, already present among us.