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A two-day Leadership, Education, and Development (LEAD) Conference was held in the Southern Asia-Pacific Region starting Tuesday morning, August 23, via a virtual platform. More than 1000 Adventist leaders representing various organizations and institutions within the Southern Asia-Pacific territory joined the meeting, enthused to learn and be empowered by the messages and inspiration shared in this meeting.

This year’s conference focused on spiritual resiliency despite the ministry’s challenges in the end days. After being on lockdown for more than two years, countries worldwide are reeling from the effects of the pandemic that wreaked havoc on their economy, national security, and health. This turbulence did not spare Adventist churches; however, the LEAD conference reminded its delegates of God’s presence amidst the storm.

Ted N. C. Wilson, president of the Adventist World Church, emphasized holding fast to God’s mission and being an instrument for completing God’s mission worldwide. Wilson reminded the delegates to hold fast. Holding fast to God’s identity, holding fast to the Bible message, holding fast to the mission, to the biblical foundations of belief, to God’s promises, to His soon return, and the blessed hope. 

Elder Arthur Stele, vice president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, opened the meeting with a compelling devotional on the importance of the church’s mission and commitment to its completion. In his message, he shared two unchangeable pillars of the Adventist faith: message and mission.
“No matter what situation we are in, God’s message and mission will remain the same, and this is the core of our identity as Christian believers,” Stele said.

David Trim, Director of Archives of the General Conference, portrayed the church’s 159 years of existence through historical facts, statistics, and research.  Trim shared how the church grew and expanded in different parts of the world. He shared historical accounts of how the message was imparted to different nationalities and how Adventists worldwide took part in the gospel commission.

“We all need rest and individual quality time with God,” Gerson Santos, Associate Secretary of the General Conference, shared this vital reminder to LEAD attendees. Santos explained that our work could occupy so much of our time that we lose sight and control of what’s in our hearts. He reminded the delegates that no matter how much effort they put into their work if they were spiritually torn and empty, they would attain no direction. Time with God to rest, rejuvenate, and listen allows individuals to see things from a different perspective and to have a clear view of God’s mission.

Lowell Cooper, former Vice President of the General Conference, discussed egotism and its effects on people in leadership. In his message, he pointed out five critical thoughts on leadership: 1. A leader should have exemplary conduct - this prioritizes Christian character, 2. One who knows to manage time - prioritizing a balanced life for self and others; 3. Serving with integrity - priority of building trust; 4. Working relationships towards others - prioritizing understanding one’s role, responsibility, procedures, and 5. Leaving a legacy - following Jesus’ example of developing others for discipleship. 

On the second day of the meeting, the executive secretary of the Adventist World Church, Pastor Erton C. Köhler, joined the virtual gathering and tackled the importance of a holistic approach to extending care to church workers during a crisis. People working in the church are perceived as individuals with high spirituality; in this regard, people in the church don’t need much caring and attention. In his message, Köhler stressed that, like anyone, church workers need attention and support. Faced with church organization and leadership challenges, ministers and church workers also need console, encouragement, and sympathy.

Undersecretary of the General Conference, Elder Hensley Moorooven shared valuable experience and reminders on what leaders do to thrive in the ministry amid crisis. Empowering a crisis management team activates a group of individuals designated to protect the church from possibilities of threats and reduce the impact felt by it. It is a process to minimize the damage a crisis can inflict on an organization. Moorooven stressed the importance of planning and creating contingency plans to sustain the church and achieve its functionality despite exceptional situations.

Former assistant to the president for Communication for the North American Division, Elder Kermit Netteburg, reiterates that as a church, a crisis should never be a reason for the mission to be halted. An established plan rooted in prayer and thorough planning will help an organization make prudent decisions.

“Do not let a crisis take your organization’s focus completely away from the mission,” said Netteburg. “We should respond immediately to the crisis. Implement contingency plans, but never lose sight of the mission,” he added.

Netteburg said the worst thing that could happen is facing a crisis unprepared. Planning and thinking proactively puts the organization in a position of stability and focus. According to Netteburg, it allows the organization to focus more precisely on the mission while responding to the crisis.

“A Crisis Management Team is essential; build basic message points to establish an identity for individuals outside the organization and empower your communication channels. Find ways to send the message across all platforms the fastest and most accurate way possible,” said Netteburg.

The LEAD seminar was concluded by a commitment message delivered by former president of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division and now associate secretary of the General Conference, Elder Saw Samuel. According to him, leaders of the church are entrusted with an important responsibility to serve God’s people and channel His love and message to others. He added that spiritual leadership reflects God’s character to others.

“From time to time, we need to reevaluate ourselves because spiritual leadership is more about being, not about doing,” Samuel said.

Edward Rodriguez, SSD Communication Department