Global Mission is the frontline mission arm of Adventist Mission, an office of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s world headquarters. The organization sends volunteer missionaries, typically for one or two years, to reach people in areas of the world where there are no Seventh-day Adventist members. Together Global Mission pioneers and cross-cultural Seventh-day Adventist missionaries are working to "Tell the World" about the love of Christ in some of the world’s hardest-to-reach places. Global Mission was voted at the 1990 General Conference Session as a special initiative to reach people in the so-called 10/40 Window with the gospel. Typically Global Mission pioneers work within their culture and language group. Unlike typical missionaries they already know the culture, and are thus more easily accepted by the community.
Pioneers
Global Mission sponsors laypeople, called pioneers, who volunteer at least a year to establish a congregation in an unentered area within their own culture. They have the advantage of knowing the culture, speaking the language, blending with the local people—and being far less expensive than foreign cross-cultural missionaries. More than 2,500 Global Mission pioneers are now working around the world. Since 1990 pioneers have established more than 11,000 new Seventh-day Adventist congregations around the world. Global Mission pioneers share the gospel through a holistic ministry including: caring for the sick, teaching agricultural skills, running literacy programs, holding evangelistic meetings, and giving Bible studies.
Study centers
Global Mission has created study centers on the world to research various people groups and belief systems in order to more effectively share what Adventists believe. There were 5 centers specializing in the study of Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, secularism/postmodernism and Islam, but now only 4, with Buddhism and Hinduism combining to form "East Asian Religions and Traditions". These are named the Global Center For Adventist-Muslim Relations led by Lester Merklin, World Jewish-Adventist Friendship Center led by Richard Elofer, Center for East Asian Religions and Traditions led by Greg Whitsett, and The Centre for Secular and Post-modern Studies led by Kleber Gonçalves.
Funds Allocated
2006 was financially a record-breaking year for Global Mission. They distributed some $5.3 million to more than 1,800 projects around the world. Combined with funds from local church organizations, the projects totaled $13,994,745 worldwide.
