Miami, Florida, United States….[Libna Stevens/IAD]
“You are the ones upon whom God counts to motivate and to stimulate His people in the Inter-American Division to be strongly engaged in witness,” said Pastor Jan Paulsen, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, to church leaders who gathered at the IAD headquarters office for the first ever summit on “Tell The World” Evangelism and Mission, on Jan. 15, 2006.
Dozens of church leaders from throughout the church in Inter-America sat and listened to the message from the Adventist world leader. Pastor Paulsen invited all leaders to partner with the rest of the world church in finishing God’s work through the church’s “Tell the World” initiative launched at its 2005 Annual Council. Pastor Paulsen emphasized their role and responsibility as God’s chosen leaders.
“Having been chosen in the office that you currently carry, you have been chosen to be a leader in witness and for that the Lord with hold you accountable,” he added.
Drawing from Isaiah 6, the message God had entrusted Isaiah regarding Israel–His people, Pastor Paulsen also reminded Seventh-day Adventist leaders to remember that “such sense of being special before God, of having been chosen as we may very appropriated have relates directly to mission.”
Just as God had chosen Israel, so “we have been chosen because God has a plan,” said Pastor Paulsen.
Pastor Paulsen went on to say that “the church is the only organization which exists exclusively in the interest of those who are not members…or maybe exclusively is very strong but it is primarily for those who are not members. The church is God’s instrument to reach the people whom he loves and longs to save.”
When God’s people engage in mission, they are never alone, tell our people that…let those who are young who feel that the task is too difficult…tell them they are not alone.”
Throughout his message, he appealed to the church leaders to involve the youth in this partnership and involve new members in active evangelism work.
“There is something irresistibly powerful seeing a young person, find the strength and courage to stand up in public and being a voice for God. Make a special effort to include young people, for young men and women can speak more effectively to those young people of this generation than the adults.”
With Inter-America’s 2.3 million membership, Pastor Paulsen still challenged the leaders to continue strong in gathering more people for the Kingdom.
“God hasn’t got enough, and we have to go back and we have to find those who are are yet to be reached and touched. This is God speaking to His people.”
“I believe that the Seventh-day Adventist Church has been entrusted with a very unique assignment and with a special understanding of the Bible to communicate to people in these last days of earth’s history.
“I don’t know how much time we have left, but my sense is that we don’t have that much time. And I feel that the assignment that God has given to His church is one that can be completed in this generation, by use of the printed pen, by activating all of our people, by radio, by television and internet evangelism. This has a huge capacity. We can let it and circle the globe as a belt that covers the whole earth. We can do it in this generation, invite our people to come and take part in the finishing chapters of this world.
He concluded his message, re-emphasizing to the leaders as they return to their territories to make sure “that this sacred task of evangelism and mission be given first and foremost prominence in the thinking and planning in the family of church.”
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