How proud are you of family? Family is an important concept to most. Family can be a constant challenge also to most. We have an inner longing to ever improve our family dynamics. I am proud to be a Seventh-day Adventist Christian today because of its devotion to ever improve family.
Our church was organized with the purpose of being a worldwide family. We have over 21 million members in our growing, global church membership. Worldwide there are 13 divisions, 122 unions, 600 local conferences which are all serving 140,000+ congregations. These congregations are found in 208+ countries, worshipping in 924+ languages, and they all want to connect with you and consider you to be a part of their family.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church proves it is proud of its worldwide family through its unique tithe system. Whereas many churches keep all the tithe for their own use, we send 100% of our tithe to our local Conference where it is spread far and wide through the unions and major divisions to continuously equip its churches and work throughout the world. This work is about strengthening the lives of its family members and future family members through education, medical work, disaster relief, publishing work, and local church congregations.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church proves it is proud of its worldwide family through its unique diversity. It is the most racially and ethnically diverse religious group in the United States, according to a report released by the Pew Research Center, a respected non-partisan organization in Washington, DC. If a study was done for worldwide diversity, I'm sure the results would be the same. People from all cultures, races and ethnicities are welcome to be a part. This includes liberals and conservatives alike.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church seeks to ever improve its families by improving the health of each family member in mind, body and spirit. Growing by taking our minds captive to Christ; growing healthier through lifestyle habits (such as diet and exercise); growing in God's grace and love - all are vital parts of the mission of this worldwide church.
How proud are you of family? The Seventh-day Adventist Church wants to help everyone grow ever prouder of family. You have a worldwide family within it that ever desires and teaches that God is the answer to keeping all families growing stronger and stronger in Him.
-Pastor Michael Brackett