The Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) is a Protestant Christian denomination that originated in the United States during the mid-19th century. Its members observe Saturday as the Sabbath and believe in the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ. The SDA is also known for its emphasis on health and well-being, including a vegetarian diet and abstinence from alcohol, tobacco, and other harmful substances. The church operates numerous schools, hospitals, and humanitarian organizations around the world.
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SDA Mission Statement
SDA’s mission statement is: “Make disciples of Jesus Christ who live as His loving witnesses and proclaim to all people the everlasting gospel of the Three Angels’ Messages in preparation for His soon return.”
SDA’s mission statement is a concise summary of the denomination’s purpose and goals. Let’s analyze its different components:
“Make disciples of Jesus Christ”: This means that the SDA Church seeks to help individuals develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ based on biblical teachings and to follow His example in their daily lives.
“Who live as His loving witnesses”: This implies that being a disciple of Jesus involves not only personal growth but also a commitment to share His message of love and salvation with others through one’s actions and words.
“And proclaim to all people the everlasting gospel”: The SDA Church believes that the gospel, or good news, of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, is for everyone, and it seeks to spread this message through evangelism, missions, and other outreach programs.
“Of the Three Angels’ Messages”: The Three Angels’ Messages are a set of biblical prophecies that the SDA Church believes have particular relevance for the modern world, and they emphasize the importance of obedience to God’s commandments, including observing the Sabbath on the seventh day of the week.
“In preparation for His soon return”: Finally, the SDA Church believes that Jesus Christ will return to earth soon, and its mission is to prepare individuals and communities for this event through spiritual growth, evangelism, and service.
SDA’s mission statement reflects its focus on personal and community transformation through faith in Jesus Christ, obedience to God’s commandments, and preparation for His imminent return.
SDA Vision Statement
SDA’s vision statement sounds as follows: “In harmony with Bible revelation, Seventh-day Adventists see as the climax of God’s plan the restoration of all His creation to full harmony with His perfect will and righteousness.”
SDA’s vision statement is a broad statement of the denomination’s understanding of God’s ultimate plan for the world. Let’s analyze its different components:
“In harmony with Bible revelation”: This indicates that the SDA Church’s vision is based on its interpretation of the Bible, which it considers to be the inspired word of God and the ultimate authority on spiritual matters.
“Seventh-day Adventists see”: This implies that the SDA Church holds a particular perspective on God’s plan for the world, which it shares with its members and others who are interested.
“As the climax of God’s plan”: The SDA Church believes that God has a specific plan for the world, which will culminate in a final, ultimate goal.
“The restoration of all His creation to full harmony with His perfect will and righteousness”: This is the central theme of the vision statement, which refers to the idea that God’s ultimate goal is to restore the world to the way it was meant to be, in perfect harmony with His will and righteousness. This restoration involves healing relationships, overcoming sin, and achieving spiritual and physical wholeness.
In short, SDA’s vision statement expresses the denomination’s belief that God has a plan for the world, which will culminate in the restoration of all things to their original, perfect state. This vision is based on the Bible, and it includes the restoration of relationships, overcoming sin, and achieving spiritual and physical wholeness.
SDA’s core values are a set of six principles that guide the behavior and activities of its members. Here’s what they mean:
“Christ-Like Living”
This value emphasizes the importance of following the example of Jesus Christ in one’s daily life, including demonstrating love, compassion, and humility towards others and striving for personal growth and transformation.
“Christ-Like Communicating”
This emphasizes the importance of effective communication, both in words and actions, as a means of sharing the gospel message and building healthy relationships with others.
“Christ-Like Discipling”
This emphasizes the importance of mentoring and nurturing others in their spiritual growth based on the principles of Jesus Christ’s teachings.
“Christ-Like Teaching”
This emphasizes the importance of education, both formal and informal, as a means of transmitting knowledge and values that are consistent with the principles of Jesus Christ’s teachings.
“Christ-Like Healing”
This value emphasizes the importance of holistic health and wellness, including physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, as an essential aspect of Christian service and ministry.
“Christ-Like Serving”
This emphasizes the importance of selfless service to others, following the example of Jesus Christ, and using one’s talents and resources to meet the needs of those who are less fortunate.
Overall, SDA’s core values reflect its commitment to following the example of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life and service. These values emphasize the importance of personal growth and transformation, effective communication, mentoring and nurturing others, education, holistic health and wellness, and selfless service to others.
SDA Mission Statement History
Here is a brief history of SDA’s mission statement, grouped by year from newest to oldest:
2015-Present Day
SDA’s current mission statement was approved at the General Conference Session held in San Antonio, Texas, in July 2015. The statement reads: “Make disciples of Jesus Christ who live as His loving witnesses and proclaim to all people the everlasting gospel of the Three Angels’ Messages in preparation for His soon return.”
2005-2015
In 2005, the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists adopted a new strategic plan that emphasized the importance of evangelism and mission work. The plan called for increased resources and support for evangelism and outreach efforts, as well as a renewed focus on personal spiritual growth and discipleship.
1995-2005
In 1995, the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists adopted a comprehensive mission statement that reflected the denomination’s commitment to holistic ministry and service.
The statement read: “The mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is to proclaim to all peoples the everlasting gospel of God’s love in the context of the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14:6-12, and as revealed in the life, death, resurrection, and high priestly ministry of Jesus Christ, leading them to accept Jesus as personal Savior and Lord and to unite with His remnant church; and to nurture believers as disciples in preparation for His soon return.”
1980-1995
In 1980, the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists adopted a mission statement that emphasized the denomination’s commitment to spreading the gospel message through a variety of means.
The statement read: “The mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is to proclaim to all peoples the everlasting gospel in the context of the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14:6-12, leading them to accept Jesus as personal Savior and to unite with His church, and nurturing them in preparation for His soon return.”
1965-1980
In 1965, the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists adopted a mission statement that emphasized the denomination’s commitment to evangelism and outreach.
The statement read: “The mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is to call all people to become disciples of Jesus Christ, to proclaim the everlasting gospel embraced by the three angels’ messages (Revelation 14:6-12), and to prepare the world for Christ’s soon return.”
As we can see, SDA’s mission statement has evolved over time, but it has always emphasized the denomination’s commitment to spreading the gospel message of Jesus Christ and preparing individuals and communities for His return.
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has a rich history and a clear mission and vision statement that guides its activities and behavior. The denomination’s mission statement emphasizes the importance of making disciples of Jesus Christ who live as His loving witnesses and proclaim the everlasting gospel of the Three Angels’ Messages in preparation for His soon return. Its vision statement envisions the restoration of all creation to full harmony with God’s perfect will and righteousness.
SDA’s core values reflect its commitment to following the example of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life and service. The denomination has undergone changes in its mission statement over time, reflecting its evolving understanding of its role in spreading the gospel message and serving others.
Overall, SDA’s mission and vision are firmly rooted in the teachings of the Bible and reflect a deep commitment to following the example of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life and service.
SDA Mission Statement History
SDA mission statement remains unchanged through 2020 and 2021
