SSD Leaders Hold Send-off Ceremony for More than 30 Missionaries

After a send-off ceremony, more than 30 missionaries from the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) will soon embark on their journeys to establish Adventist presence in countries and regions that have not yet been reached.

The world church’s Mission Refocus program aims to establish Adventist missions in regions that are yet to experience the Adventist Church’s presence. The SSD, based in the Philippines, has decided to reach beyond its own territory to support other regions. Through collaborative evangelistic campaigns held outside its borders, SSD leaders have shown solidarity with neighboring divisions, leaders reported. As part of the Mission Refocus initiative, 32 missionaries are gearing up for service in more than 12 countries, they said. 

During the send-off ceremony, SSD administrators and representatives from the church’s Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding outlining each organization’s responsibilities in supporting and accommodating Mission Refocus missionaries. This agreement solidifies a collaborative commitment to ensure the missionaries are well equipped and supported as they begin their work in new regions, leaders said.

David Trim, General Conference director for Archives and Statistics, attended the event, which marked the largest number of missionaries ever sent at one time from any Adventist division, according to regional church leaders.

Trim, drawing from the biblical accounts in the books of Judges and Joshua, delivered a message of encouragement and hope. Citing passages such as Judges 2:7 and Judges 3:11, 12, and 15, he highlighted how Israel’s history shows that wherever sin is found, God’s redemptive power is already at work.

“Redemption does not come from human strength but through divine intervention,” Trim emphasized, referring to the story of Ehud, the left-handed judge from the smallest Israelite tribe, Benjamin, through whom God brought deliverance. He explained that just as God used an unexpected hero in the Bible, He also uses missionaries who may feel inadequate, uncertain, or overwhelmed to do heroic things.

In his address, Trim shared three key reflections for the missionaries to hold onto as they step into the unknown. He began by highlighting the importance of history, urging the audience to recognize, “Our history matters.” These stories of God’s people are more than past events; they serve as living examples of God’s active work in His people’s lives, Trim said. He emphasized that the stories preserved in church archives are powerful metaphors of God’s consistent, redeeming love throughout time.

Moving to the second point, Trim reassured the missionaries about God’s strength in human weakness. He reminded them that moments of doubt and uncertainty are not obstacles but rather unique opportunities for God to reveal His plans.

“God doesn’t rely on human strength,” he said, “but He reveals His glory in our weakness.” He explained that times of doubt are precisely when God’s unfailing guidance becomes most evident, encouraging the missionaries to embrace these moments as part of their journey.

Finally, Trim reminded missionaries that each one of them has a mission, a specific calling from God. Drawing from the example of God’s redemption plan for Israel, he emphasized that no matter the challenges or uncertainties ahead, every missionary has a purpose within God’s grand design.

“God has a mission for each of you,” he said. “So trust in the divine purpose that has led them to this path.”

The original version of this story was posted on the Southern Asia-Pacific Division news site.