‘Back to the Altar’ initiative energizes thousands from the Southern Asia-Pacific region.
Published on: 08-08-2024
The second and third conferences of the Back to the Altar initiative united more than 1,400 Seventh-day Adventist ministers across the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD).
The first conference, representing Malaysia and West Indonesia, was held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The second and third conferences took place at the Plagoo Holiday Hotel, Bali, Indonesia, August 1-4 and August 5-7. Delegates for these two events hailed from East Indonesia and Adventist organizations in the Philippines and Timor Leste. The last event for ministers attending this initiative will be held in the Baiyoke Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand, August 11-14, representing delegates from the Adventist churches of Southeastern Asia (Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam), Singapore, and Myanmar.
The event’s theme, “Chosen for Mission,” aimed to encourage and equip church workers with distinct cultural influences and spiritual zeal to care for and teach their church members, leaders said. The Back to the Altar initiative of the Adventist Church is a global appeal aimed at encouraging daily personal worship and communion with God. Recognizing the distractions and busyness of modern life, the initiative emphasizes the importance of returning to a foundational spiritual practice — spending dedicated, high-quality time in prayer and Bible study.
Addressing Key Church Challenges
This initiative is SSD’s response to the growing challenges the Adventist Church faces in reigniting faith among church members and reaffirming the importance of doctrines and biblical foundations amid rising confusion. One of the key issues identified is the disparity between membership numbers and active participation. According to the Adventist Church’s Office of Archives, Statistics, and Research, as of 2023, while the global membership stood at 22,785,195, Sabbath attendance was reported at 9,015,845, indicating that only about 40 percent of members actively participate in weekly worship services.
Additionally, the church experiences a high attrition rate. Since 1965, 45.6 million individuals have been baptized into the Adventist Church, but 18.5 million have left, resulting in a net loss rate of 42.5 percent. This trend underscores the need for effective member retention strategies and stronger spiritual engagement.
Inspirational Messages
Rudi Situmorang, the Ministerial Association secretary for the SSD, warmly welcomed all the participants to the second and third installments of the Back to the Altar series. “As we come together, let us remember God’s words. This conference is a call to return to the Bible and the altar. It is designed to equip everyone with God’s words as we continue our journey together while awaiting Jesus’ return,” he said.
The keynote message, delivered by SSD secretary Wendell Mandolang, resonated deeply with the theme “Chosen for Mission.” He emphasized the importance of personal spiritual discipline amidst the distractions of modern technology. “We are here to find our way back to the altar. God has chosen us to lead our people, our churches, and our districts during these challenging times when technology can distract us from our responsibilities, families, and spirituality,” he said.
Mandolang urged the delegates to evaluate the quality of their time with God, encouraging them, “Start building your altar,” even in solitude.
Several Bible scholars and church leaders were present at the convention. These included Ramon Canals, secretary of the Ministerial Association of the General Conference (GC), and his associates, Aurora Canals, Robert Costa, and Anthony Kent. Clinton Wahlen, Daniel Bediako, Alberto Timm, and Frank M. Hasel, all associate directors of the Biblical Research Institute (BRI), also attended. Their presence and contributions were instrumental in addressing the theological and ministerial issues discussed during the event, leaders said.
Moving Forward
The convention underscored the importance of addressing these issues with a balance of doctrinal integrity and compassionate outreach. “We need ongoing dialogue and education to better equip church members and leaders to navigate these complex topics,” leaders said.
The original version of this story was posted on the Southern Asia-Pacific Division news site.
Edward Rodriguez, Southern Asia-Pacific Division, and Adventist Review
To bind together the Adventist people as we wait for Jesus to come back, by sharing news and information about the church plus articles on doctrine, spiritual growth and mission.
