Adventist Crossroads
Apil - June 2003

Healthy, Committed, Reproducing
Editorial

On April 5, 2003 delegates at the 6th triennial session adopted the following as our vision: “Healthy Church, Committed People, Reproducing Disciples.” The intent of a vision statement is to describe in words and conjure up a similar picture of the destination that each of us, as a member of the body of Christ, ought to work towards together.
Way before the Session at the early stages of its development, this vision begged two questions that fuelled much of the discussion among the pastors and officers, namely, “where have we been?” and “where are we going?” We realized that our membership has for many years experienced little growth in numbers. This was compounded by a lack of a passion to make disciples of our converts so that they in turn could reproduce disciples.
Making disciples has to do with transforming communities, as well as human hearts; the creation of communities of love, of grace, of justice and hospitality like that of Jesus Christ’s. We want to be a beautiful part of the Bride of Christ, expressing the deep love, complete forgiveness and powerful healing given by Jesus. What makes healthy vibrant congregations who bring transformation to their communities? A healthy, fertile church who reproduce after its own kind—healthy daughter churches. And only as this transformation takes place can we be prepared to meet the Groom..
We adopted for our mission the following: “We exist to make disciples through the power of the Gospel.” Surprisingly making disciples is never accomplished with more programs or more seminars or more ministries. To reach the unchurched we, who claim to be disciples of Jesus, must model discipleship and invite discipleship. Those without are looking for authentic and vital faith. They want a relationship with God that matters in all parts of their lives. They are not satisfied with Sabbath morning piety and weekday apathy, which is what they see in many.
The implications for you and me are serious and challenging. If we want to reach the world we live in for Jesus, they need to see Jesus in us! Through the power of Jesus our words must lift Him up, our actions must reflect His grace, our priorities must reveal His place as our Lord. The purpose and function of the Church is to MAKE DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST. If we aren’t doing that then we aren’t doing what Jesus himself called us to do:
”Go forth therefore and make all nations my disciples” (Matthew 28:19).
The qualities of a healthy church were reiterated and adopted togther with the the unique biblical teachings of our Church as our core values—passionate spirituality, loving relationships, need-oriented ministry, inspiring worship, holistic small groups, functional structures, empowering leadership, and biblical teachings of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Core values are the never-changing definition of who we are and what we stand for— at the heart of the way we think and act and drives every aspect of our ministry.
Until we believe and live out all that our vision, our mission and our core values entail these statements would just remain no more than impressive-sounding words.

Promoting SYAS in China
Matthew Yuen, Board Member
San Yu Adventist School

Taking advantage of the relaxed student visa application regulation and the potential in the huge China market the San Yu Adventist School (SYAS) took to promotional activities. Recently, when Matthew Yuen and his wife, Noni were visiting China, they were asked to help promote our school in the cities of Chengdu (Sichuan)and Nanning (Guangxi).
Adverstisements were placed in two local newspapers: “Tian Fu Zao Bao” and “Chengdu Wan Bao” with the help of the managing director of the Chengdu Gateway Foreign Language School. Five thousands colorful enrollment brochures were printed for the SYAS promotion day.
Among a number of schools from a list provided by SYAS that they visited, a couple of private schools showed some interest. Some government schools were hesitant to respond positively because of a ruling that disallowed visits from overseas schools for enrolment purpose without prior permission from their Ministry of Education.
An encouraging visit was at the Long Xiang Wen Wu School located in the suburbs. This boarding school houses about 700 students from all over China both in the primary and the high school levels. The school was kind enough to allow meetings with the primary level students in the morning and the secondary level students in the late afternoon at the school canteen. It was obvious that the students were excited with the promotion program. Many of them asked a lot of questions.
Some 15 km away was the Hua Jia Senior High School established a year and a half ago with about 250 students. The vice-principal showed interest in our school promotion but could do little as the principal was away. Enrolment brochures were left for the student body with a promise from the school to help promote SYAS during their new school year in July and August.
With two days left, Matthew and Noni met with our current students’ parents and members of the public at a two-and-a-half hours promotional meeting.
From the responses of the parents and the students, many are still very keen to come to Singapore to study. They recognized that Singapore is a well-managed country with a Chinese majority, offering quality education and is not too distant from China. Another major consideration is the lower costs.