Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15 NIV).
As Seventh-day Adventists, we often quote the many Scriptures urging us to share Christ’s message of salvation with the entire world. The first epistle of Peter specifically tells us to be ready and willing always to explain gently and respectfully to others why our hope in Christ shines through us. The 2023 Institutional Church Workers’ Survey asked employees how often they shared their faith or beliefs with non-believers or people from other religions, with answers ranging from once or more a day, through a few times a week, a few times a month, seldom, and never.
Across the world, an average of 60% of teachers and lecturers, and 70% of healthcare workers, ADRA personnel, publishing house employees, and employees of media centers shared their faith with non-believers or people from other religious backgrounds a few times per week or more often. Only 4.2% of teachers and 5.3% of non-educational employees reported that they never shared their faith.
Broken down by Division, the highest percentages of educational employees who shared their faith with others daily were found in the East-Central Africa Division (29.3%), the Inter-American Division (28.8%), and the South American Division (27.7%). The highest percentages of workers reporting that they never shared their faith with others were found in the Southern Asia Division (15.5%) and the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (11.9%), while the Trans-European Division and the Euro-Asia Division reported 6.5% and 6.3% respectively. The remaining Divisions reported the rates of less than 5% for employees who never shared their faith.
Among non-educational employees, the highest percentages of those sharing their faith daily were 50% in the West-Central Africa Division, 27.2% in the East-Central Africa Division, and 26.3% in the Inter-American Division. In contrast, 27% in the Southern Asia-Pacific Division and 13% in the Southern Asia Division reported that they never shared their faith with others. The remaining Divisions reported less than 5% never sharing their faith.
Educational employees share their faith with others a little more frequently than non-educational employees, but the figures are close: 47% of educational employees share their faith multiple times a week, and 40% of non-educational employees. Thus, institutional employees as a whole are taking (or creating) opportunities to share their faith with non-believers or people from other religions. This is encouraging!
Mrs. White wrote that “God could have reached His object in saving sinners without our aid; but in order for us to develop a character like Christ’s, we must share in His work. In order to enter into His joy,—the joy of seeing souls redeemed by His sacrifice,—we must participate in His labors for their redemption” (Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 142). Although many of us regard sharing our faith as a burden, the very act of explaining our hope in His salvation and soon return to others is His gift to us—a way to draw closer to our Savior and share in His joy over every lamb returned to the safety of the fold.
You can access the full report here.
Created in collaboration with the Institute of Church Ministry.
Published by ASTR on 09/07/2026