This Month's Issue

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How to Reach Those Who Have Walked Away

By K'dee Crews

According to official Seventh-day Adventist statistics, since 1965, four out of every 10 members have left the church. How can we, as a church body, reach those who have walked away?

1. Show them respect. They didn’t just wake up one morning and decide to leave. They have reasons. Respect their opinion. You can disagree and still be respectful.

2. Listen to them. Maybe you’ve had a pleasant church experience, but they haven’t. It’s not your place to judge. When you take the time to listen to someone’s story, you can better understand them. You can’t know how to approach something and someone without knowing what the problem is.

What We Need to Know About Generation Z

Image by Phan Minh Cuong An from Pixabay

Barna research has recently released a new report examining who Gen Z is and how they “uniquely contribute to our collective society, their communities and their faith.

Here are five things from that study you might find helpful when trying to reach this generation:

  1. Gen Zers feels held back from fully being themselves.

  2. They prioritize happiness, stability and good health.

  3. They are online, but still value in-person connection.

  4. Morality is often subjective.

  5. Most Gen Zers say they’ve prayed in the past week.

The Power of Pizza

Image by zuzana gazdikova from Pixabay

Story by Tamyra Horst

Looking for a unique ministry to try in 2025?

Andrew Christiansen, a pastor who serves in the Pennsylvania Conference, believes in the power of pizza.

Earlier this year, he invited members of his church district— Coudersport, Derrick City, Mount Jewett, and Warren—and anyone else who wanted to come to his annual pizza bake.

With more than 90 people who attended—40 from the community—they set a new record for the numbers of pizza made at this yearly event: 147.

The Pew-Filling Formula

Chesapeake Conference, Andre Hastick, The Pew-Filling Formula, Seventh-day Adventist church

Editorial by Andre Hastick

As a father of three, I have had my fair share of visits to urgent care. The check-in process is always systematic and predictable. “What brings you in today?” they ask. The patient shares their symptoms, and the doctor eventually provides a diagnosis.