According to the Book of Isaiah, the “remnant” (Hebrew: שְׁאָר shear) is a small group of Israelites who will survive the attack of evil forces. Furthermore, the remnant is promised that they will one day be brought back to the Promised Land by Yahweh (Isaiah 11:11–16). In Romans 11:5 the apostle Paul states that “at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.” With the theme “The Faithful Remnant,” the Lay Congress 2017 was held at the Youth Training Center in Mongolia Mission (MM) from March 22 to 25, 2017. More than 140 attendees came from all over the country to be trained and to share their experiences, receive spiritual encouragement, and overcome together by faith their local missionary challenges.
The biggest aim of this meeting was to gather leaders (pastors/elders) and church lay members in order to train and empower them to accomplish their ministry whole-heartedly and carry out God’s mission. However, this year’s emphasis, as reflected in the title of the event, was to highlight and celebrate our historical roots in doctrine and mission as well as to rediscover our prophetic identity as Seventh-day Adventists, “the Remnant Church, the Israel of God” (LaRondelle, 1983). As Dr. George Knight says, we are inevitably engaged in an “ongoing search for identity” (Knight, 2000).
The biggest aim of this meeting was to gather leaders (pastors/elders) and church lay members in order to train and empower them to accomplish their ministry whole-heartedly and carry out God’s mission. However, this year’s emphasis, as reflected in the title of the event, was to highlight and celebrate our historical roots in doctrine and mission as well as to rediscover our prophetic identity as Seventh-day Adventists, “the Remnant Church, the Israel of God” (LaRondelle, 1983). As Dr. George Knight says, we are inevitably engaged in an “ongoing search for identity” (Knight, 2000).
The 13th Fundamental Believe of the Seventh-day Adventist Church states the following: “The universal church is composed of all who truly believe in Christ, but in the last days, a time of widespread apostasy, a remnant has been called out to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. This remnant announces the arrival of the judgment hour, proclaims salvation through Christ, and heralds the approach of His second advent. This proclamation is symbolized by the three angels of Revelation 14; it coincides with the work of judgment in heaven and results in a work of repentance and reform on earth. Every believer is called to have a personal part in this worldwide witness. (Rev. 12:17; 14:6–12; 18:1–4; 2 Cor. 5:10; Jude 3, 14; 1 Peter 1:16–19; 2 Peter 3:10–14; Rev. 21:1–14.)” (Seventh-day Adventist Fundamental Belief # 13).
All departments of the church were fully represented, presenting relevant seminars/workshops for distinct groups, eight in total. Despite the variety of spiritual gifts and ministries, each one of us is serving the same Lord. We are only one people with only one purpose and only one mission, namely, to preach the gospel and make disciples according to the great commission in Mathew 28:19-20. That’s why MM truly believes we must put “Mission First in All Activities to Reach the World,” and this is what we did during this training. The church members and local leaders also had the opportunity to share their practical experiences in the local church and to express their own points of view, based on the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, about relevant theological, ecclesiastical and missiological issues.
“I really love the place, the vegan food; everything was quite well prepared. I was longing to attend every single class because the themes were so interesting and useful for us,” said Uka from the Amgalan Church.
“I really love the place, the vegan food; everything was quite well prepared. I was longing to attend every single class because the themes were so interesting and useful for us,” said Uka from the Amgalan Church.
Sansartsetseg, a member of Nisekh Church, expressed her impressions about the training: “The Lay Congress was certainly a turning point in my life. Now I know that I need to be faithful to God and His mission no matter what. We are part of the Prophetic Remnant, and God Himself will guide His people to accomplish His will in the last days.”
One of the most important moments happened during the “Festival of Faith,” where around 140 new church members who were baptized last year at the end of a huge evangelistic campaign, “Mission 16,” gathered together on March 25 on Sabbath, in order to receive inspiration and encouragement to remain faithful. The leaders made a commitment to nurture and empower them to accomplish the mission of the Remnant on this earth. Pastor Richard Sabuin, Sabbath School and Personal Ministries (SS/PM) director of the Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD), conducted this part of the program by preaching and appealing to the audience.
“I’m very grateful for everybody who presented workshops and seminars. We had strong support from MM and NSD leaders. Our keynote speakers, NSD stewardship ministries director Kwon JohngHaeng and lay pastor Wesley McDonald from the North American Division were also a great blessing for our church leaders, delivering powerful messages every day,” said Pastor Nyamsurem, MM SS/PM director.
To sum it up, the MM Lay Congress 2007 aimed to provide both church leaders and new baptized members with an overview of what Seventh-day Adventism “is all about.” Please pray for faithful remnants in Mongolia!
One of the most important moments happened during the “Festival of Faith,” where around 140 new church members who were baptized last year at the end of a huge evangelistic campaign, “Mission 16,” gathered together on March 25 on Sabbath, in order to receive inspiration and encouragement to remain faithful. The leaders made a commitment to nurture and empower them to accomplish the mission of the Remnant on this earth. Pastor Richard Sabuin, Sabbath School and Personal Ministries (SS/PM) director of the Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD), conducted this part of the program by preaching and appealing to the audience.
“I’m very grateful for everybody who presented workshops and seminars. We had strong support from MM and NSD leaders. Our keynote speakers, NSD stewardship ministries director Kwon JohngHaeng and lay pastor Wesley McDonald from the North American Division were also a great blessing for our church leaders, delivering powerful messages every day,” said Pastor Nyamsurem, MM SS/PM director.
To sum it up, the MM Lay Congress 2007 aimed to provide both church leaders and new baptized members with an overview of what Seventh-day Adventism “is all about.” Please pray for faithful remnants in Mongolia!
Ariticle by By Yure Gramacho – MM Communication Director
References: Knight, George R. (2000). A Search for Identity. Review and Herald.
LaRondelle, Hans K. (1983). The Israel of God in Prophecy. Andrews University Press.