2022

“The Sabbath Was Made for Man:” Global Perspectives on Sabbath-keeping

“The Sabbath Was Made for Man:” Global Perspectives on Sabbath-keeping

The Sabbath is central to Seventh-day Adventists; in fact, it is so important that it is part of our name! From the very beginning of time, God set the Sabbath apart as a day of rest and restoration: physical, mental, and especially, spiritual. When Jesus spoke on this topic, He emphasized what a gift the Sabbath is, saying, “…The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath” (Mark 2:27, KJV). God knew how busy we would become and how desperately we would need time to reconnect and refocus. How do you feel about the Sabbath? Does it help you to deal with stress? Are you glad you received this gift? Let us explore how Adventist church members worldwide feel about the Sabbath.

Global Prayer Meeting Attendance Trends and Belief in the Power of Jesus’s Name

Global Prayer Meeting Attendance Trends and Belief in the Power of Jesus’s Name

Do you pray for others? Have you experienced the power of prayer in the name of Jesus? In Matthew 18:20, KJV, Jesus promises that “…where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Do you believe that? Do you pray for and with others during a prayer meeting? Do Adventist church members worldwide believe in the power of prayer? Let us explore some research findings regarding prayer in the name of Jesus.

The Importance of Prayer

The Importance of Prayer

How important is prayer to you? Do you pray daily or once in a while? How do you meet your day-to-day challenges? Prayer is a vital part of spiritual growth. It connects us to our Heavenly Father and helps us grow in Christ. The apostle Paul called us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess 5:17 KJV). Prayer has become a subject of scientific research. Seventh-day Adventist Church members were asked questions regarding prayer and the findings of the 2017–18 Global Church Member Survey (GCMS) may surprise you.

“The Type of Church I Attend:” Preferences in Church Size and Setting by Age

“The Type of Church I Attend:” Preferences in Church Size and Setting by Age

The 2017–2018 Global Church Member Survey (GCMS 2017–18) was conducted globally to understand different aspects of church life. One area studied was the impact of church size on different aspects of church life. A total of 63,756 surveys were collected. While the opinions of survey participants were subject to the participant him- or herself, these … Continued

Gender Statistics in the Adventist Church

Gender Statistics in the Adventist Church

Have you ever wondered what our worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church membership looks like in regards to gender and age? The Annual Statistical Report (ASR) presents all kinds of membership information collected from around the world. Statistics on baptisms, tithe returned and offerings given, and membership numbers are just a few of them. The recent 2021 ASR added a new table (Table 20, p. 14) and several graphs (pp. 5-6) on gender statistics. Today we will examine these gender statistics and look at some interesting findings

Women’s Involvement in the Adventist Church

Women’s Involvement in the Adventist Church

International Women’s Day was observed in many countries on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. On this day, people express their appreciation of what women do for us and celebrate the successes and achievements of women worldwide. According to the 2021 Annual Statistical Report (ASR), the percentage of women inside the Adventist Church is higher than that of men. Women are an integral, important part of the Body of Christ and a central part of churches’ function. The Bible tell us in Proverbs 31:30b NKJV:”…a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” How is the gender distribution in your local church? How do the women in your congregation experience spirituality? How do they live out their faith? Are they actively involved in your local church ministries? Today, we will examine research findings on the involvement of women in the Adventist Church.

What are the Objectives and Philosophy of Mission-Effectiveness Evaluation?

What are the Objectives and Philosophy of Mission-Effectiveness Evaluation?

Did you know that it has already been more than ten years since the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists has commissioned the Office of Archives, Statistics, and Research (ASTR) to conduct and coordinate research in different areas of church life and ministry? Church leadership recognizes the need for professional research into the operations of organizations and programs, to determine the effectiveness of initiatives established to fulfill specific purposes within the overall mission of the Church. How do you feel about the evaluation and assessment of church programs? Do you agree that church programs and initiatives should be evaluated? Do you know if your church program is effective? Do you conduct regular assessments to know where you could improve?

Involvement of People with Disabilities in the Church (Part 2)

Involvement of People with Disabilities in the Church (Part 2)

Have you ever considered how God is able to use anyone, even in spite of their weaknesses? When we look at the story of Moses in Exodus 4:10–12, we discover that Moses thought he had a good understanding of his limitations, but God had other plans for his life. Once Moses got out of his own way and let God work, he was led to do amazing things. This story reveals of how God can use anyone to do something great. Today, we take a closer look at some research findings from the 2017-18 Global Church Member Survey that examines church involvement of people with disabilities.

Involvement of People with Disabilities in the Church (Part 1)

Involvement of People with Disabilities in the Church (Part 1)

Have you ever wondered if people with disabilities feel valued in their local church? Are they invited and enabled to participate in church ministries? The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 12 that everybody is needed in the Body of Christ. No matter how we feel about ourselves – insignificant or significant – God calls us to be an active part in His church. We won’t know if someone is capable in a specific area of church ministry until we give people a chance to participate in church ministry and mentor them as needed. Today, we like to look at some research findings from the 2017-18 Global Church Member Survey that examines church involvement of people with disabilities.

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