The North Pacific Union Conference (NPUC) executive committee has adopted three general strategic priorities for Northwest ministry through 2020: 1) Re-engagement and relationship-building with young adults in every local church and community; 2) An emphasis on becoming one in Christ — finding unity centered in Him; and 3) Total Member Involvement (TMI), an initiative already gaining momentum around North America.
During their regularly scheduled meeting on May 3 in College Place, Wash., committee members also spent three hours in active training on priorities for young adult ministry. Moderated by Gene Heinrich, pastor of the Rockwood Church in Portland, Ore., members held multiple small group discussions on topics addressed by recent Adventist millennial research from the Barna Group. This training and emphasis will continue in the months ahead for various church leaders and committees throughout the Northwest.
Committee members also approved a new NPUC mission statement consistent with the North American Division mission and in harmony with world church priorities. The short version of the revised mission is “to reach all people within the North Pacific Union and the world with the distinctive, Christ-centered, Seventh-day Adventist message of hope and wholeness.”
A longer version of the mission expands the core statement: “This mission statement is a concise expression of the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church which is — To make disciples of all people, communicating the everlasting gospel in the context of the three angels’ messages of Rev. 14:6–12, leading them to accept Jesus as their personal Savior and unite with His remnant people, discipling them to serve Him as Lord, and preparing them for His soon return.”
NPUC leaders will update specific goals, objectives and core values to undergird this fresh look at mission.
The next official meeting for the executive committee is scheduled for Aug. 17, 2017, in Ridgefield, Wash.
NPUC executive committee members from Oregon Conference react and dialog to discussion questions from the front during the training session on young adult re-engagement.
