The Sabbath School and Personal Ministries (SS/PM) Department Advisory Meeting was held at the Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD) headquarters from March 23 to 25, 2016. The Union and Conference/Mission directors of the department attended the meetings.
Pastor Ramon Canals, associate director of the SS/PM department of the General Conference, shared with the group that his conversion into the Seventh-day Adventist Church was because of a powerful personal ministry. NSD president, Dr. Jairyong Lee, also challenged everyone to trust in the Lord and to work together to reach the goal of Vision One Million 2020.
Everyone was excited about the different materials and ideas on how to enhance Sabbath school programs and how to use small group disciples in action. Issues on retention and reclamation were also discussed. The SEEK initiative was introduced, an acronym that stands for Seek, Encourage, Empower, and Keep people until Jesus comes.
Pastors Akeri Suzuki, Kim SiYoung, Kwon JohngHaeng, Joo MinHo, and Mrs. Nilde Lust stressed the importance of personal testimony, mission, stewardship, Total Member Involvement and children’s ministries in connection with Sabbath School and Personal Ministries.
At the end of the advisory, a mission consensus statement declared the commitment of the SS/PM department of the NSD:
In the spirit of Vision One Million 2020, the Sabbath School and Personal Ministries department of the Northern Asia Pacific Division is committed to fulfill the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, namely, to call all people to become disciples of Christ, to proclaim the three angels’ messages (Revelation 14:6-12), and to prepare people for Christ’s soon return.
This vision and mission may be accomplished by Total Member Involvement in doing personal ministries through Sabbath School disciples in action in which every disciple is equipped and trained to become like Christ to win souls and to SEEK people for God’s kingdom, for “the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).
The challenge is great, but we will move forward because our God is great. Vision One Million 2020 is possible because we have a great God. This was the message delivered by Pastor Richard Sabuin, the NSD SS/PM director, who emphasized that although we have great challenges with the NSD Vision One Million 2020, we have a great God who will enable us to conquer the challenges and turn them into great opportunities.