‘The biggest sermon ever heard is the one we live’

Almost 80 church leaders and delegates from the Adventist Church’s West-Central Africa Division (WAD) met for regional year-end meetings in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, November 3-6, 2019. 

Church leaders reported that the series of meetings assessed the activities and goals accomplished in the past four years, at this last annual gathering before the General Conference Session of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 2020. It also allowed them to plan and present projects for next year.

Adventist Church president Ted Wilson preaches at the West-Central Africa Division year-end meetings in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. “We are saved to do the will of God. The biggest sermon ever heard is the one we live,” he told the delegates. [Photo: West-Central Africa Division News]

Leaders from the Adventist Church world headquarters also attended the event, including Adventist Church president Ted Wilson. Wilson invited each participant to honor the call he or she received from the Lord, as he reminded them that they are the watchmen appointed by the Lord to a crumbling world. It is something, Wilson said, that requires the involvement of each individual.

“Everyone has a role to play in our mission, which is to draw other people to Jesus.” Based on the apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, Wilson urged delegates to increase their consecration and determination.

“We are saved to do the will of God. The biggest sermon ever heard is the one we live,” he said.

Wilson also added that there is no more time for sermons that are just amusing and try to tell a story. According to him, every sermon should include an invitation to the listeners to renounce sin and accept God’s salvation.

Regional Reports

Delegates from the various church regions comprising the territory reported on challenges and achievements in their areas. According to delegates and leaders present, most reports carried a positive tone, even though in several areas, terrorists are making the life of neighbors and church members difficult.

During this meeting, leaders also introduced the mission book of the year for 2020 before the delegates. WAD publishing ministries director Abraham Obaya urged every union region president and institution head to make every effort to ramp up the distribution of Mark Finley’s book, Hope Beyond Tomorrow. A massive, region-wide distribution drive has been planned for April 18, 2020.

Regional year-end meetings were presided over by WAD president Elie Weick-Dido, executive secretary Kingsley Ononaba, and treasurer Emmanuel Manu. Besides Wilson, guests from the world church included Geoffrey Mbwana, a general vice president of the Adventist Church; associate secretary Gerson Santos; and associate treasurer Daisy Orion, among others.

The original version of this story was posted on the West-Central Africa Division news site.