A spirit of mission

by Ray Coombe

During the recent global financial crisis, economists frequently compared our situation with conditions during the Great Depression. It's therefore interesting to recall that 88 years ago, the Adventist Church found itself with a budget deficit of a quarter of a million dollars. Without money to continue financing mission projects around the world, church leaders were faced with the discouraging possibility of recalling missionaries.

Delegates to the business meeting of the Adventist world church at the time prayerfully asked church members around the world to give a week's wage in a once-a-year sacrificial offering. Despite the difficult economic climate of the 1920s, the church responded by giving over $US350,000 to what has become the annual Week of Sacrifice Offering. The missionaries were able to continue their work, the church's mission was not suspended and members were blessed by their act of personal sacrifice.

Over the years, the annual Sacrifice Offering has continued. Although the average gift is now significantly less than a week's salary, this offering is one of the "big" offerings that support the worldwide work of the church. The annual Sacrifice Offering goes to front-line Global Mission work to establish new churches in unentered territories.

In the last three years, the annual Sacrifice Offering in the South Pacific has averaged $A185,000. However, I believe that if we truly sacrificed, we could more than double that amount. Next Sabbath, we have the opportunity to help the gospel message reach the unreached people of this world.

Did you know there are still 26 countries or areas of the world where there are no Adventist churches? There are 20 countries where for every one Adventist, you have more than 100,000 who are not. Did you know there are communities, towns and villages around the world where you cannot find a group of Adventists to worship with, even if you wanted to?

As Adventists, we long for Jesus to come and end all the suffering, end all the wars and end all the evil. We want Christ's work on earth to be finished and for the gospel to reach all people.

Every country, state or province, every island and village, every language group and community must have the chance to hear God's good news. Its an enormous task but God has promised to be with us in this mission.

At the recent Festival of Mission in Brisbane, it was encouraging to see members from around the Pacific embracing the urgent sense of mission. This is a Godgiven task, one in which we all share and contribute. We belong to a world church, and have the privilege to participate next Sabbath in supporting the global challenge of taking God's message to the unreached corners and people of the world.

Global Mission initiatives were first launched at the General Conference Session in 1990. Since then, intentional strategies have seen an Adventist presence established in many of the previously-untouched countries. The Holy Spirit has opened doors and new people groups have been reached.

Within the South Pacific, we have seen work commence recently on Wallis Island, and Tokelau. Next week's RECORD will bring a report of other Global Mission projects that are operating in the South Pacific and around the world.

Every person born into the family of God through a conversion experience and daily relationship with Jesus is to be a missionary. The call to mission begins locally with our own family, friends, neighbourhood and community. But it also extends to the whole world. Many young people taste the adventure of mission through volunteer service opportunities and STORM Co. Others give a lifetime of cross-cultural ministry and serve in other countries. But we can all support the world mission of the church through our offerings and donations.

During this coming week, please prepare to give a special sacrificial offering. Every dollar given for the annual Sacrifice Offering goes to start new groups of believers in unreached areas, or untouched people groups. Let's keep the spirit of mission alive!

This was an editorial from Record, October 31, 2009

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