Benjamin Schoun – Vice President of the General Conference clearly stated that this summit is a “Presidential initiative” assuring us that while it is Commissioned by the President of the World Church, it is indication of highest support within the leadership of the SDA church, in line with the mission God has entrusted to the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
He further declared: “the purpose is not merely to listen to inspiring presentations. It is to develop strategies and proposals for moving our church forward. Communication is foundational to the work of the gospel.”
Noel Sibanda, SIDmedia Director and one of the delegates to the Communication/Media Summit said that the outcome of this summit will further the mission of the church.
Dr Ted Wilson, president of the world church called for a collective submission of our plans to God. He said that media is creating a world culture and we need to work strategically in order to take the gospel to the entire world. Pastor Wilson used specific texts from the Bible to set the tone of the meeting. “We are living in critical times and most of the world is living on credit” making it ripe for the reception of the three angels message.
I Thessalonians 5:2-6: “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others, but let us watch and be sober.” Knowing the time, now is the time to wake out of our sleep.
Quoting from the book: Evangelism, p. 16, 19, he called for a unified vision. “We should now feel the responsibility of labouring with intense earnestness to impart to others the truths that God has given for this time. We cannot be too much in earnest … The time has come, the important time, when, through God’s messengers, the scroll is being unrolled to the world. The truth comprised in the first, second, and third angels’ messages must go to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people; it must lighten the darkness of every continent and extend to the islands of the sea… .” Pastor Wilson called for the wisest planning for the success of the work. “Let this summit Active proactive planning,” he said.
“Often we have been told that our cities are to hear the message, but how slow we are to heed the instruction. I saw One standing on a high platform with arms extended. He turned and pointed in every direction, saying, “A world perishing in ignorance of God’s holy law, and Seventh-day Adventists are asleep.” Evangelism, p. 32.
Pastor Wilson finally said that this Summit will be the “catalyst to help the church and the world wake up to the soon coming of Jesus Christ.”
Yes, “We cannot go to every door but we can enter every home…”
Dr Paul Charles
Communication Director, Southern Africa Indian Ocean Division
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