The president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific, Pastor Laurie Evans, called on Adventist church members to recommit to the gospel commission at the opening of the mid-year meetings of the executive committee of the Church’s administrative South Pacific Division, headquartered near Sydney (Australia).

Pastor Evans referred to the tsunami tragedy in southeast Asia and the death of Pope John Paul II as signs of the times, during his report. "If ever the world needed to hear about the hope we have in Jesus Christ, it is now," he said.

He reminded committee members of the goals he set to make effective ministry a priority for 2004/05. While noting the progress, he spoke at length about the following challenges:

Lack of church leaders: Pastor Evans said the Adventist church is now experiencing the predicted decline in the growth of the workforce, with the loss of a generation of ministers in the 1980s compounding the "critical nature" of the problem. The church needs more administrators, auditors, financial managers, health professionals and lecturers, particularly in the Pacific islands where governments and private sector pay a high price to employ graduates from church training institutions. "Believing the Lord will provide is not enough," said Pastor Evans. "He expects us to do our part in addressing such issues."

He also noted how some employers "care for employees better than we do." He suggested the church must: become employers of first choice; review the process of appointing and electing leaders at sessions; increase spending on leadership development in the Pacific islands; and focus more on human resource practices and policies that recognize the value and worth of the individual employee and their family.

Pressures on remuneration: The Church president also spoke of the impracticalities of offering a common wage scale to church employees across the South Pacific region. "As much as we believe in the priesthood of all believers, employment conditions are not the same for all of the priesthood," he said.

He foreshadowed changes to the church’s remuneration policies in the Pacific islands and for principals and their deputies, warning that unless the church has an intentional strategy, "ministers in the field are likely to be the casualties." He also spoke of the need to reverse the ratio of how the Adventist church spends the tithe dollar, from 45 per cent for field ministry to at least 60 per cent.

Church growth: Pastor Evans encouraged members of this protestant mainstream church in Australia and New Zealand to try new and effective methods of evangelism, along with traditional methods. He made specific mention of church planting, friendship, health and small groups, challenging church leaders and members to help offset the difference between the growth of the church in these countries with the growth in the Pacific islands. One of the keys to growth will be the revitalization of the local church, he said, adding a note of caution about inadvertently fostering a congregational mentality.

Addressing these and other challenges in light of the state of the world could result in the church’s "finest hour," concluded Pastor Evans. "Our message is relevant and all power has been promised to proclaim it. The only variable ingredient is our commitment and dedication."

The South Pacific Division territory, includes Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the islands in the Pacific lying south of the Equator, and Kiribati north of the Equator, with more than 366,700 adult baptized Adventist Christians worshipping in 5,169 Adventist churches and groups. The Adventist Church in the South Pacific is also operating 249 primary and secondary schools; four tertiary colleges and universities, two hospitals and 48 clinics and dispensaries and 8 Health Food factories.