Nigel Coke, Inter-American Division, for ANN
One of the strategic plans of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is its focus on Global Mission. It has a long history of international mission work, dating back to its early days in the mid-19th century, when missionaries were sent to different parts of the world to spread the gospel of salvation.
A part of this effort involves collecting a special mission offering during the church’s quinquennial session, where the funds are allocated to a voted project.
At the 62nd General Conference Session, the two Saturday (Sabbath) meetings, July 5 and 12, will feature a special offering for Digital Strategy for Mission (DSM). Funds collected through electronic and traditional bucket methods will go directly to support local church and conference digital ministry applications, rather than being used by the General Conference. This decentralized funding model empowers local entities to develop contextual digital evangelism strategies using resources raised collectively by the worldwide church.
“Our Digital Strategy for Mission is not just an initiative; it’s a grassroots movement, rooted in our church’s legacy of innovation, from the printing press to pioneering the first nationwide radio broadcast of religious programming, television, and now the church is looking to innovate on the internet,” Richard Stephenson, an associate treasurer of the General Conference, said in an appeal.
Stephenson, who oversees the church’s digital strategy, further explained, “The purpose of this strategy is to meet people where they are—on their phones, tablets, watches, and any other internet device—turning screens into sanctuaries. I want to make this clear: the Digital Strategy for Mission is not about technology. It’s about connecting with seekers where they are at today—online. It’s about building bridges of faith, breaking down barriers of distance and language, and enabling the three angels’ messages [of Revelation 14:6-12] to reach every nation and language, tribe, and people.”
The offering represents the church’s recognition that digital ministry has become essential for modern evangelism, requiring financial investment at the grassroots level, where implementation occurs. Unlike traditional offerings that flow upward through the church structure, the DSM offering’s local application model reflects a shift toward empowering field-based innovation in digital outreach.
“The Inter-American Division [IAD], through its vast territory, is happy to participate in this special offering this year,” IAD president Elie Henry said. “Today more than ever, we face the challenge of bringing the message of salvation to millions who spend hours online and on social media, consuming ideas, images, and videos that offer no hope and distract from the eternal purpose.”
The goal of the strategy, he added, is not only to maintain an online presence, share the gospel, create content that communicates hope, and design digital outreach projects, but ultimately to lead people into a living relationship with Jesus.
“The leadership and strategic mission planners of the global Seventh-day Adventist Church must be commended for recognizing that the effective execution of end-time mission fulfillment must include technology,” Glen O. Samuels, president of the West Jamaica Conference, said. “The technological and financial equipment of the local congregation from urban to rural areas, in utilizing all the available digital modalities in mission, must be placed into action for its accomplishment.”
Samuels, one of the Caribbean’s top digital evangelists, believes that the local church, though blessed with talented youth, adept and armed with technological knowledge, lacks the needed resources to execute the mission digitally.
“I look forward with eager expectations for the unimaginable impact this revolutionary initiative will bring about,” Samuels added.
Undoubtedly, global mission offerings have contributed significantly to the growth of the church, which today has approximately 23 million members.
“Your support accelerates a movement that transforms screens into sacred spaces, where hearts encounter Jesus, and eight billion souls hear the everlasting gospel,” Stephenson added in his appeal at the Session. “Let’s seize this opportunity, giving generously to hasten Christ’s return by mobilizing resources for mission. This will enable each division and attached union/field to identify and implement innovative digital strategies for mission within that will facilitate the journey from contact to conversion and from decision to disciple, ultimately connecting the seeker with the Savior, and anchoring them within the local church,”
The DSM is a comprehensive world church initiative designed to integrate technology with the Adventist Church’s prophetic calling to share the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14:6-12 and prepare people for Christ’s return. It is built on the principle of synergy—working together as one church to maximize impact.
The entire strategy emphasizes that technology is a tool, not the goal. The mission of preparing people for Jesus’ return remains paramount, with digital tools serving to amplify and accelerate this divine mandate.
The original article was published at adventist.news.
