Journal Article
1 January 2025
Current Issue
Volume 21, Issue 1 (2025)Read More
Current Articles
- Journal Article1 January 2025
Full Issue
This issue of the Journal of Adventist Mission Studies marks a high point in Adventist missiological literature, for all the authors of the articles reside outside of North America. - Editorial1 January 2025
Editorial
These international contributions are important because mission in the Adventist Church is a shared task with more of the Adventist divisions becoming sending divisions. - Journal Article1 January 2025
A Qualitative Study on the Cultural Adaptation Process of Adventist Volunteers in Central Asia
The cultural adaptation process for the volunteers who participated in this study follows, according to their own perceptions, a progressive sequence of five stages: Awe/Confusion, Denial, Observation, Integration, and Habituation. As shown, this process is not without difficulties and negative feelings such as confusion, discouragement, sadness, anger, and rejection, which are inherent to the processes of uprooting and cultural change. However, it is evident how experiences evolve as time passes, culminating in acceptance, learning, comfort, adjustment, and adaptation. - Journal Article1 January 2025
Impact of Medical Mission in Sub-Saharan Africa: History and Present Implications
Early medical missionaries and gospel workers understood the importance and place of health, especially in view of the counsel of Ellen White when she suggested that medical work is “the right arm of the gospel.” Intuitively, this remains the case, even during these end times. This calls for the Adventist Church and its health system to look into effective ways and means to save the hospitals that face existential issues and help them return to effective ministry in their communities. However, the old model of running hospitals could also be improved by considering some of the suggested recommendations. The Divine, physicians, other health professionals, chaplains, and laity could work together to engage in the health ministries of the Seventh-day Adventist Church by developing new partnerships, new approaches, and new sources of funding. - Journal Article1 January 2025
The Massai People and Wealth: A Stewardship of Totality
The concept of wealth among the Massai people differs significantly from the traditional understanding in contemporary societies. To the Massai people wealth is not measured by money as commonly perceived by people today, but rather exhibits itself by land, social status, and livestock. This article examines a few terms used by the Massai people to define the idea of wealth in order to comprehend their unique cultural dimensions. Terms that are related to wealth will be investigated, such as “land” (enkop), “red God” (enkai Nanyokie), “black God” (enkai Narok), “cattle” (inkishu), “goats and sheep,” “wealth” (emali), and “dowry” (Inkishu/ Olpisiai). The article also investigates the God (Engai) of the Massai as the source of wealth and blessing, and, in turn, imposes social responsibility upon them. Engai encourages the Massai to share some of their resources with the needy and the marginalized. - Journal Article1 January 2025
The Growth and Decline of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Southern Asia Division from 1997–2021
Based on literature from journals, books, and archival research, this article offers an overview of the membership growth and decline in the Indian Adventist Church in the Southern Asia Division (SUD). This article reviews the numerical data for church membership of the SUD as available from the website of the Office of Archives, Statistics and Research (ASTR) at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, the trends in church membership, and the evidence for growth, stability, and decline. The article focuses on church growth and decline by observing the annual church statistics from 1997 to 2021. - Journal Article1 January 2025
From Consumers of Mission to Contributors to Mission
Seventh-day Adventists in many parts of the Global South have been able to plant self-governing, self-sustaining, and self-propagating churches. One of the immediate results of this successful missionary and evangelistic work has been an explosive growth in membership and financial resources. More importantly, they have given evidence of intense passion, growing qualifications, and remarkable capabilities for international missions. For this reason, leaders of the church in those regions should continuously work on expanding their mission-sending structure to allow young people, professionals, and pastors to fulfill the cross-cultural missionary call the Holy Spirit places on their hearts. - Journal Article1 January 2025
Spiritual and Theological Foundations for a Contextual Ministry for Muslims
This article explored a contextual ministry’s spiritual and theological foundation by referencing Old and New Testament passages. It emphasized the importance of faith, obedience, forgiveness, inclusivity, and spreading God’s love universally. The article discussed influential figures such as Paul, Peter, and Ellen White and their contributions to sharing the gospel and incorporating faith into everyday life. It also touched on the importance of interacting with Muslims, the transformative impact of encountering Jesus and the significance of medical ministry work in demonstrating Christ’s love.