‘Each of Us Represents Landmarks of Mission Worldwide’

At Andrews University, GC president calls for remembering the past in order to move forward.

October 23, 2024 | Berrien Springs, Michigan, United States | Marcos Paseggi, Adventist Review

Adventist mission is all about God’s power and His miraculous intervention in His remnant church, General Conference president Ted N. C. Wilson said during a pastoral address to the Pioneer Memorial Church (PMC) at Andrews University on October 19.

Wilson’s message, which coincided with an Adventist Mission Symposium at the university’s campus in Berrien Springs, Michigan, United States, called on every church leader and member to give witness of God’s leading to reach others for Him. “Local churches, institutions, organizations, administrative entities, and church members are landmarks,” he said, “that tell the world that mission is alive and progressing.”

General Conference president Ted N. C. Wilson addresses church leaders, members, and guests attending the Adventist Mission Symposium at Andrews University, October 19. [Photo: Magdiel Pérez Schulz]

2024 is also meaningful for other reasons, Wilson reminded PMC members and visitors. It marks the 150th anniversary since Andrews University opened as Battle Creek College to prepare young people to serve and advance mission. It’s also the 150th anniversary of the arrival of John N. Andrews and his family as the first official Adventist missionaries to Europe, he said.

“Seventh-day Adventist mission has progressed from those humble beginnings 150 years ago to a worldwide church,” Wilson said. “The foundation of this Advent movement is Christ Himself and His command to go into all the world as His last-day remnant church.” In that context, “each of us here today representing this worldwide church are to carry the legacy of Adventist Mission initiated 150 years ago,” he said.

Spiritual Landmarks

Wilson based his remarks on the story of the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River, found in Joshua 3. He reflected on God’s powerful interventions in Israel’s history as well as in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. “Many times, God leads us into difficult or impossible situations so we will give Him the glory when we see how He delivers us,” he said. But as humans are usually forgetful, “God wants us to remember His interventions in our lives and set up landmark memorials in the form of physical and spiritual events,” Wilson explained.

According to the biblical account, God requested 12 representatives of the people to take a large rock from the riverbed to represent their tribe in setting up a memorial. “There has always been a need to remember,” Wilson said. “That was the purpose of the stone landmark monument of the Israelites’ crossing — to remember what God did for His people. That’s exactly why He wants us to remember 150 years of Seventh-day Adventist mission and what He has done through many of you all over the globe.”

Ted N. C. Wilson, president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, called every church leader and member to get involved in mission. [Photo: Magdiel Pérez Schulz]

Wilson, however, emphasized that remembering what God has done is not an end in itself. “As much as we enjoy reviewing history, God intends for us to look forward to what He will do for His remnant church all over the world in every local church and community as we anticipate Christ’s soon return,” he said.

Consequently, Wilson emphasized each one of us should be like the faithful spies described in Numbers 13, who told the people of Israel that in God’s power, facing every challenge would be attainable. “So, what kind of report will you bring back from this Adventist Mission Symposium and the 150th anniversary filled with lectures, presentations, and inspiration?” Wilson asked as he addressed symposium participants. “Will you bring a good report or a bad report? Will you see things only from a historical perspective or will you see things from the big picture of eschatology and the end-time setting?”
Grasshopper Complex

Wilson called every leader, member, and guest to avoid “the grasshopper complex” — the feelings of inadequacy the unfaithful spies of Numbers 13 expressed when facing the daunting challenges of conquering Canaan. “We are not grasshoppers, we are Seventh-day Adventists!” he said. “At this 150th-anniversary landmark today, let’s determine, by God’s grace and power, to never take on the “grasshopper complex” as we face the last great final cry and mission advance before Christ’s soon return.”

Wilson then called on every young person to get involved in mission and, avoiding the grasshopper complex, be ready to share what it means to be a Seventh-day Adventist, without de-emphasizing the church’s distinctive beliefs. Among other Bible-based truths, he called everyone to uphold the teachings declared in our name, including the Sabbath (“Seventh-day”) and the second coming of Jesus (“Adventist”). “Our powerful, heaven-borne message is a proclamation of hope,” Wilson reminded his audience.

A Good Report

“What kind of report will you bring back from this symposium?” Wilson asked again at the end of his message. “A retreating report away from the distinctive Seventh-day Adventist message and its mission? Or will you rally under God’s guidance and ask Him to lead you toward the Promised Land with even greater accomplishments in Adventist mission globally leading to Christ’s return?”

Wilson closed with an appeal. “Let’s [bring] back a good report of complete involvement in mission — Jesus is coming soon!”