“Is it true that you left the Adventist Church?” asked our friends and former church members in Burkina Faso, concern and disappointment written on their faces.
In 2005 we reached the end of our mission call to Burkina Faso where we worked for four years pastoring and coordinating Gospel Outreach and Global Mission lay workers. Feeling a call to minister among unreached people groups, we joined AFM and began working among the Dendi Muslim people of northern Benin in December 2006. In the past seven years, we have visited our former mission field in Burkina Faso four times, and every time someone raises the question of whether or not we are still with the Adventist Church.
Initially, I found the question disturbing and offensive. It didn’t make any sense to me. From the very beginning of our association with AFM, it was clear to us that the organization worked very closely with all levels of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In fact, most of our AFM training in Berrien Springs, Michigan, took place in various local Adventist church buildings.
Recently, I came to the conclusion that our members in Africa don’t yet understand what it means to be part of a supporting ministry. Even some Union officers and many mission presidents in our division still ask me about the relationship between AFM and the Adventist Church.
This confusion isn’t just an African phenomenon. As recently as the 1990s, there was widespread misunderstanding in the North American Division about the proper role of supporting ministries. Many people wondered if the General Conference was out to destroy supporting ministries.
General Conference President Robert S. Folkenberg responded with a resounding “No!” explaining his conviction based on the Bible and spirit of prophecy: “Organizations demonstrating by their fruit a commitment to the mission of the church merit both the descriptives supporting and ministry as well as the appreciation and backing of church members and leaders. For these, “organizational independence” is only a matter of function and legal status, not mission. Their loyalty to the church and zeal for proclaiming present truth are indistinguishable from that of the church itself . . . The concept of an active laity and supporting ministry of the church is not only encouraged by Ellen White, but found in the example of the apostle Paul, who, by his own labor, supported himself and others as they spread the good news . . .”
Elmire and I have just returned from attending a youth camp meeting in Burkina Faso where we were privileged to address more than 200 young people and many church members. I took the opportunity to clear up any confusion about our work. I hope the question is answered once and for all. Elmire and I pray that we will always remain loyal to the message and mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and we pray that our fruits give evidence of our commitment to hasten the second coming of our Lord and Savior. Maranatha!
