Signs of Renewal: Secretariat Report 2021–2025

Signs of renewal are beginning to appear across North Pacific Union, and the secretariat office has served as a rain gauge for the Holy Spirit’s work by tracking accessions, supporting governance and credentialing, preparing for constituency and preserving the records that help tell what God is doing among His people.

During the past five years, encouraging signs have emerged in three important areas: gathering again, lives changed and church vitality. Behind these signs of renewal, the secretariat office continues to strengthen the church through governance, records and organizational support.

Gathering Again

When the pandemic disrupted church life, attendance naturally dropped sharply and many congregations experienced the challenge of scattered participation. It has taken time for the church family to reassemble in person.

Over the past year, combined in-person and online participation has climbed to 40%, up from less than 20% in person in the years immediately following the pandemic. Like the first raindrops after a drought, these numbers remind us that the Holy Spirit is still drawing people back into community, worship and mission.

Lives Changed

Accessions — a term that includes both baptisms and professions of faith — help tell the story of how people are joining the church family.

Behind every number is a life changed — someone who has chosen to follow the Lord and unite with His remnant church. The last time NPUC recorded more than 2,200 accessions in a single year was 2013. That changed in 2025 when accessions reached 2,268 — the highest total in more than a decade.

These stories reflect the continued commitment of conferences, pastors and members to the mission of the church. As a result of this ongoing emphasis on evangelism, NPUC membership reached 104,543 at the close of 2025.

Church Vitality

Across the quinquennium, conferences and local churches faithfully shared the gospel through Bible studies, public meetings, small groups, acts of service and personal invitations.

Pentecost 2025 — a North American Division initiative that encouraged coordinated evangelistic outreach — became a particularly meaningful experience as churches and schools across the Northwest worked together and witnessed many individuals make decisions to follow Christ. As churches renewed their focus on mission and sharing the Adventist message in their communities, additional signs of new life began to emerge in the vitality of our churches.

In 2020, a large majority of congregations were identified as declining, with relatively few churches experiencing measurable growth. By 2025, the number of declining congregations had decreased substantially, the number of growing churches had more than doubled and several congregations had entered a multiplying phase of ministry.

Across more than 500 congregations, these trends reflect churches rediscovering purpose, reconnecting with their communities and finding fresh energy for ministry — encouraging signs that the Holy Spirit is continuing to work throughout NPUC.

Strengthening the Church

The secretariat office continually seeks to support and strengthen the church in its renewal and growth by providing the structure, records and processes for effective ministry. This work includes coordinating executive committee actions, maintaining official records, supporting the credentialing process and assisting with bylaw and policy matters.

Significant time was devoted to assisting conferences with leadership evaluations, supporting nominating committees as they prepared for constituency meetings and helping ensure that the constitutional and governance processes of NPUC were followed carefully and consistently.

The secretariat office also works closely with conference secretaries to maintain accurate membership records and promote consistent accession, membership and attendance reporting throughout NPUC. Though much of this work happens quietly, it strengthens the foundation of the church and supports the mission taking place in each local congregation.

This quinquennium was also marked by several significant leadership transitions across NPUC and its institutions. The secretariat office assisted in transitions, including NPUC vice presidents for Hispanic ministries and regional ministries, NPUC chief financial officer and the presidents of Walla Walla University, Alaska Conference, Montana Conference, Oregon Conference and Upper Columbia Conference.

I am deeply grateful for the privilege of serving NPUC during the past five years. I have been continually encouraged by the dedication of conference leaders, pastors, church members, conference secretaries and our conference and union office staff whose faithful service continues to advance the mission of the church across our territory.

Watch for God’s Rain

The work of the secretariat office helps the church recognize where God is moving, strengthen the church for today and prepare faithfully for what comes next. We see regular examples of how it’s beginning to rain.

The signs of renewal we have seen during this quinquennium — people returning, lives changed, churches growing stronger and congregations engaging more fully in mission — are fresh signs of God’s rain among His people.

We look to the future with confidence, trusting that the God who has begun this good work will continue to bless the ministry and witnessing of NPUC in the years ahead.