New General Conference President Calls Church to Rise Powerfully for Mission

Photo by Dallas Gregory Dunn

ST. LOUIS — In his first sermon as General Conference president, Erton C. Köhler called the global Seventh-day Adventist Church to "rise powerfully for mission" rather than focus on world tragedies, delivering a message of hope to delegates representing 212 countries.

Drawing from Matthew 24, Köhler structured his message around two groups of signs preceding Christ's return: a world falling dramatically toward destruction and a church rising powerfully for mission.

Two Groups of Signs

"We all agree that our world is falling dramatically for destruction," he said, acknowledging global crises from natural disasters to moral decay. He pointed to the symbolic Doomsday Clock, now set at 89 seconds to midnight—closer to global catastrophe than ever before.

However, Köhler emphasized that believers should concentrate on the church's mission rather than world conditions beyond their control.

"Our message is not a message of fear or sensationalism," he declared. "It is a message based on hope and security, not anxiety or fear."

Mission as Priority

Köhler made the mission the centerpiece of his presidency, quoting Matthew 24:14: "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."

"To finish the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom to all the world is the major sign of the second coming of Jesus," he said.

Drawing from missiologist Gottfried Oosterwal, Köhler declared that mission is "the heartbeat of the church. If it stops, the church ceases to be."

He challenged delegates to avoid becoming "a warehouse" and instead function as "a distribution center," warning against celebrating achievements unrelated to the church's core mission.

Rising Powerfully for Mission

"Is the church already rising powerfully for mission?" Köhler asked delegates. "If we are just an army in a trench, we are already a defeated army."

He called for the church to move beyond dealing with world destruction to prioritizing raising the church for mission. "If the power over the direction of this world is not in our hands, the responsibility to raise the church for mission is ours," he said.

Köhler emphasized that mission requires deep commitment to being "grounded on the Bible and focused on the mission, praying earnestly for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit."

Unity in Diversity

The president called for unity across generations and cultures, saying the church must move forward in an integrated way.

"Our differences are like musical notes: together, in God's hands, they can form the most harmonious and beautiful symphony," he said, quoting Ellen White: "Talk not of difference of opinion but unite in the love of the truth as it is in Jesus."

He stressed that growth in structure and complexity increases the risk of drifting from the church's sacred mission, advocating for measuring success through disciple-making rather than simple attendance, buildings and finances.

A 21st Century Church

Köhler described his vision of a church "born in the 19th century but prepared to face the challenges and needs of the 21st century," including using literature and technology to reach people "without barriers."

He called for "a warmer church" focused on people rather than functioning "like a club of saints," reminding delegates that Jesus "came for people, lived for people, ministered to people, died for people, and when He returns, He will take only people to heaven."

Call to Action

Quoting George Matheson, Köhler challenged the church to respond to God's call: "Send me to the hearts without a home, to the lives without a love, to the crowds without a compass, to the ranks without a refuge!"

He concluded with a vision of the church "with its feet on the ground, but its eyes fixed on heaven"—"a remnant church called to prepare this world for the second coming of Jesus, our blessed hope."

Looking Ahead

Köhler challenged church leaders to strengthen their relationship with God while providing mission opportunities for all members.

"We can see the world falling dramatically for destruction, but the Lord is calling us, as His representatives, the remnant church, to raise the church powerfully for mission," he concluded.

Background

Köhler was elected the 21st president on July 4 with a vote of 1,721 to 188 during the 62nd General Conference Session. The 55-year-old succeeds Ted Wilson, who led the church for 15 years.

"You can imagine how challenging this moment is. No one is prepared for this," Köhler said upon accepting the nomination. "But before any other work, I'd like to tell you that I'll move forward, renewing my confidence in the Lord and in His church."

He quoted Isaiah 41:10, a verse from his family's Friday worship: "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

Previously serving as division president from 2007 to 2021 and General Conference secretary since 2021, Köhler spearheaded the Mission Refocus initiative focusing on reclaiming missing members and disciple-making.

"We are a global church with a global mission," he said during his 2022 secretariat report. "We cannot focus only on our local needs; we need to look at our global challenges to finally preach the gospel of the kingdom to all the world."

The session marks the beginning of Köhler's five-year term leading the world's fifth-largest Christian denomination.

Written by Justin Kim