First 10/40 Global Mission Congress Calls for a ‘Mission Refocus’

Event sought to energize church members, leaders for mission in challenging places.

March 24, 2024 | Northern Asia-Pacific Division, and Adventist Review

The first 10/40 Global Mission Congress of the Seventh-day Adventist Church opened on March 14 at Sahmyook University Church in South Korea, with a call to embrace a “Mission Refocus.” Korean Union Conference hosted the meeting under the theme “From the End of the World to the Ends of the Earth.”

The March 14 opening featured guest speakers from the General Conference (GC) and included a mini music concert. Attendees included people from the Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD) and Korean Union Conference (KUC) — directors, pastors, theology students, and professors, among others — gathered to listen to church leaders and recommit to Adventist mission.

GC secretary Erton Köhler delivered a message titled “The Five Certainties of Mission.” These certainties include a special call for Seventh-day Adventists, mission as the last signal, and the mission being both global and local (glocal). At the same time, Köhler focused on the certainty that the mission will be accomplished and that the nature of Adventist mission is miraculous.

Kim Sun Hwan, director of the NSD Adventist Mission department, introduced the “Ramadan Intercessory Prayer” initiative and appealed for the attention and participation of many believers as Adventist members seek to connect with their Muslim friends and neighbors.

“God has called us to be intercessors. The Northern Asia-Pacific Division and the Korean Union Conference have been given a tremendous mission: ‘The 10/40 Window Evangelism,’ ” Kim said. The 10/40 Window is the region where most of the population of the world lives but Christians are a minority. Most people living inside that “window” are Muslims, Buddhists, or Hindus, among other major world religions.

Gary Krause, director of GC Adventist Mission, proclaimed the message “Why We Need Mission Refocus.” “God told us that our vision and our focus is ‘too small a thing,’ ” Krause said, quoting Isaiah 49:6 from the Bible. “He wants to expand our mission vision and open up a new focus for our attention.”

Kleyton Feitosa, director of Global Mission Centers for the General Conference, delivered the message titled “10/40 Window, the Greatest Challenge of Christianity.” “When God looks at the 10/40 Window, He doesn’t see a challenge but a harvest,” Fleitosa said. “The challenge is that the laborers are few while the harvest is plentiful. So, let us pray for missionary work for God.”

The 10/40 Global Mission Congress closed March 16 with testimonies from Adventist missionaries serving in the 10/40 Window; a dedication worship service; musical concerts; and announcement of various initiatives.

The original version of this story was posted on the Northern Asia-Pacific Division news site.