Pastor Gee SungBae was elected as the new president of the Pakistan Union Section during the Pakistan Annual Council, marking the beginning of a new chapter of leadership. In response, the Communication Department of the Northern Asia-Pacific Division conducted a written interview with Pastor Gee, in which he shared his reflections on being elected, outlined the core visions that will guide the future of the church in Pakistan, expressed his expectations for cooperation with the Northern Asia-Pacific Division and its member countries, and conveyed his prayer requests to the church and its members.
Below is the interview in a question-and-answer format.
1. How do you feel about being elected as the new president of the Pakistan Union Section?
Over the past nine years of ministry in Pakistan, I have experienced a wide range of challenges and complex situations. In particular, while serving as a volunteer at Pakistan Adventist Seminary & College, there were many moments that felt like walking on thin ice amid difficulties and uncertain circumstances. Yet every part of this journey, up to this day, has been entirely by God’s grace.
Now that I have been entrusted with the greater responsibility of serving as president of the Pakistan Union Section, I feel both the heavy weight of this calling and a deep awareness of my own shortcomings. However, just as I have carried out my ministry under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and by God’s grace until now, I will continue to fulfill the responsibilities entrusted to me with an even more humble attitude.
2. As you take on this important responsibility, what mindset and commitment do you have?
I believe that all the fruits of mission accomplished in Pakistan have not been built on individual effort or ability, but on God’s grace and the continual intercessory prayers of countless church members and coworkers. With this truth deeply in mind, I intend to begin and continue the work ahead by humbling myself before God in prayer. I will constantly seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that every decision and direction may be carried out within God’s will.
I also intend to hold on to the pure sense of calling and the posture of learning that I had when I first arrived on the mission field in Pakistan. I will listen carefully and sincerely to the life experiences and counsel of local church members and leaders. Rather than relying on an outside perspective or personal judgment, I desire to practice a leadership that respects the voices of those on the ground, walks together with them, and shares their concerns. Through this approach, I will devote myself to helping local leaders grow in a healthy and self-reliant way, and to strengthening the local church so that it may faithfully uphold its Adventist identity and mission, and become more firmly established both spiritually and organizationally.
3. What are the new vision and priority tasks for leading the Pakistan Union Section?
Going forward, the Pakistan Union Section seeks to set the direction of its work around three core visions: Reformation, Revival, and Refocus on Mission.
First, Reformation focuses on strengthening the faith identity of the Seventh-day Adventist Church based on the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, in order to more clearly establish its Adventist identity. It also includes actively expanding children’s and youth ministries to nurture the next generation of leaders. In addition, strengthening the foundation for financial self-reliance in mission work and building a sustainable mission structure are key priorities.
Second, Revival aims at the spiritual restoration of both the church and the home. By restoring family worship, the church seeks to promote the spiritual growth of its members and to strengthen systematic spiritual training for pastors and teachers, thereby building a firmer spiritual foundation for the church. The core goal is to move beyond formal faith and encourage genuine spiritual transformation and commitment.
Third, Refocus on Mission is directed toward systematically advancing disciple-making and church-planting strategies in unreached areas. By developing mission strategies suited to local contexts and establishing sustainable disciple-training systems in regions where the gospel has not yet been sufficiently shared, the church seeks to practice its missionary calling more clearly and faithfully.
Among these three visions, the most important priority is to prepare and raise local leaders who will lead mission institutions (hospitals and schools) and local churches. I believe that when healthy leadership is established, both the church and mission can grow in a stable manner, and, in the long term, a self-reliant and sustainable mission structure can be firmly established. Therefore, we plan to make strategic investments in leadership training and capacity building in order to solidly prepare for the future of the church in Pakistan.
4. Is there a role or direction you hope for through cooperation with the Northern Asia-Pacific Division and its member countries?
I hope that through the Northern Asia-Pacific Division and its member countries sharing their respective mission strategies and experiences, we will be able to develop more effective and concrete mission strategies that are well suited to the situation of the church in Pakistan. In particular, under the understanding that the Pakistan Adventist Church is rebuilding its organizational and mission foundations from the ground up, I believe that the focused guidance and ongoing support of the Northern Asia-Pacific Division will be of great help.
5. Are there any priority prayer requests or messages you would like the church and members to pray for together?
As Pakistan is an Islamic republic, I believe that sharing the three angels’ messages through medical mission is the most effective mission strategy. For this reason, financial support and continual prayer are needed so that the reconstruction of the Karachi Adventist hospital and the establishment of a nursing college may proceed in a stable and sustainable manner.
In addition, due to financial limitations, there are challenges in securing sufficient pastors and teachers. I ask for intercessory prayer that the needed workers may be raised up and established well. I also request your prayers for the safety and protection of the missionaries and pastors serving on the mission field.