STRATEGIC PLAN
2025–2030
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STRATEGIC PLAN
2025–2030
CONTENTS
Mission Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Strategic Plan Objectives and Goals . . . . . . 8
Communion with God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Identity in Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Unity Through the Holy Spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Mission for All . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Strategic Planning Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Scripture quotations are from the (NASB®) New American Standard
Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman
Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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MISSION STATEMENT OF
THE SEVENTH-DAY
ADVENTIST CHURCH
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Make disciples of Jesus
Christ who live as His loving
witnesses and proclaim to all
OUR people the everlasting gospel
MISSION of the Three Angels’ Messages
in preparation for His soon
return (Matt. 28:18-20, Acts 1:8,
Rev. 14:6-12).
Guided by the Bible and
the Holy Spirit, Seventh-day
OUR Adventists pursue this mission
METHOD through Christ-like living,
communicating, discipling,
teaching, healing, and serving.
In harmony with Bible
revelation, Seventh-day
OUR Adventists see as the climax
of God’s plan the restoration
VISION of all His creation to full
harmony with His perfect will
and righteousness.
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INTRODUCTION
G od has called the Seventh-day Adventist
Church to a prophetic mission and redemptive
message of Scripture, as declared by the Three
Angels of Revelation 14:6-12. The Holy Spirit
empowers and directs the Church in fulfilling this
mission and proclaiming this message. God calls
each church member to lovingly proclaim the
everlasting gospel by using the spiritual gifts He
has given them. He also calls each Adventist entity
to this mission of restoration and redemption.
The soon return of Jesus Christ compels us to
urgently advance this unique Adventist mission
and message. Doing so successfully requires a
close relationship with God, nurtured by prayer,
nourished by Bible study, and strengthened by
mission and service. It also requires a strong and
distinctive Adventist identity anchored in Christ
and His righteousness, along with a profound
sense of unity through the Holy Spirit. This gives
Seventh-day Adventists a strong foundation for
their mission to every nation, tribe, language,
and people.
All Seventh-day Adventists are committed to
faithfully fulfilling the sacred purpose to reach
the world and are connected to Christ’s Advent
movement that is global in scope, yet local in
strategic implementation. The I Will Go strategic
plan has a far-reaching vision that seeks to align
resources with measurable goals and expects
all church entities and church members to
implement their own action plans.
Through the power and authority of the Holy
Spirit, the Seventh-day Adventist Church will focus
on four strategic priorities:
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COMMUNION
WITH GOD
2
IDENTITY
IN CHRIST
3
UNITY
THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT
4
MISSION
FOR ALL
These four priorities are the foundation of the
I WILL GO strategic plan for 2025-2030.
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STRATEGIC
PLAN
OBJECTIVES
AND GOALS
COMMUNION Seventh-day Adventists
will grow into spiritually
WITH GOD mature disciples through
daily communion with
God.1 Prompted by
the Holy Spirit, a deeper
relationship with Him is
nurtured through prayer,2 the
study of Scripture,3 mission and
service, stewardship,5 and application of the inspired
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instructions of the Spirit of Prophecy.6
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MEASURABLE GOALS
Significant increases in:
1.1 Time spent in daily unrushed prayer, Bible study, and
meditation on the life of Christ and biblical themes7
Responsible Parties:
1.2 Daily family worship participation
Responsible Parties:
1.3 Daily usage of the Sabbath School Bible study guides for
all ages
Responsible Parties:
1.4 Weekly participation in prayer meetings or small groups
Responsible Parties:
1.5 Weekly reading of Ellen G. White’s writings
Responsible Parties:
1.6 Weekly worship attendance at Sabbath School and
church services
Responsible Parties:
1.7 Practicing the stewardship principles of time, talents,
tithe, offerings, and health
Responsible Parties:
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IDENTITY Affirming our identity as
God’s children, we are
IN CHRIST alive in Christ, rooted
and established in faith
and truth, keeping the
commandments of God,
seeking things that are above,
and bearing fruit in every good
work.8 Through the power of the
Holy Spirit, the Advent Movement is joined together
in love, joyfully sharing the eternal gospel with the
whole world, emphasizing the urgency of its end-time
prophetic message of hope.
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MEASURABLE GOALS
Significant increases in:
2.1 Acceptance and practice of Bible-based, Christ-
centered beliefs with special emphases on the church’s
characteristic and unique doctrines,9 which point to a
loving, gracious God
Responsible Parties:
2.2 Understanding, experiencing, and sharing of the joy of
forgiveness (justification) and holiness (sanctification)
through the power (righteousness) of Christ
Responsible Parties:
2.3 Understanding and practice of a biblically based
wholistic lifestyle10 that expresses our relationship with
Christ and invites all others to God’s abundant life
Responsible Parties:
2.4 Knowledge and affirmation of Adventist identity and the
Lord’s leading throughout Adventist history11
Responsible Parties:
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UNITY
The Seventh-day
THROUGH THE Adventist Church is
HOLY SPIRIT united in the body of
Christ through the Holy
Spirit.12 We express
our unity through the
teachings of the Word,13
loving fellowship,14 worship,15
witnessing,16 serving the needs of
others, and preparing for the latter rain of the Holy
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Spirit.18 We unite in sharing with the world the prophetic
message of Revelation 14:6-12 and Christ’s message of
reconciliation in anticipation of His Second Coming.19
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MEASURABLE GOALS
Significant increases in:
3.1 Church members embracing worldwide church unity in
the body of Christ through biblical truth as understood
by Seventh-day Adventists, led by the Holy Spirit
Responsible Parties:
3.2 Cooperative working relationships across church,
organizational, and institutional boundaries/structures
to advance mission
Responsible Parties:
3.3 Community and harmony in local churches and in
church organizations at all levels of church structure,
through the power of the Holy Spirit and training in
biblical reconciliation and conflict resolution
Responsible Parties:
3.4 Commitment to zero tolerance of physical, emotional,
spiritual, and sexual abuse through regular review of
policies, background checks where possible, and clear
and prompt action to deal with abuse
Responsible Parties:
3.5 Cross-cultural appreciation, respect, mission to, and care
for all people groups, including the poor, the vulnerable,
and people with disabilities
Responsible Parties:
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MISSION Equipped and
FOR ALL empowered by the
Holy Spirit,20 Seventh-
day Adventist members
and church entities are
engaged in personal and
public proclamation of the
“eternal gospel . . . to every
nation, tribe, language, and people”
(Rev. 14:6). The Great Commission to make disciples21
requires creative and modern means while remaining
true to Christ’s incarnational22 and wholistic approach
to mission.23 Christ mingled, showed sympathy,
ministered to needs, won confidence, then invited
people to follow Him.24 The goal is to take a genuine
interest in people, leading them to Christ and inviting
them to unite with the Seventh-day Adventist Church
as disciples of Christ who make disciples.
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MEASURABLE GOALS
Significant increases in:
4.1 The number of church members sharing the gospel and
making disciples
Responsible Parties:
4.2 The work of spiritual nurture and evangelistic training
after baptism so that new believers become part of Total
Member Involvement in the mission of Christ
Responsible Parties:
4.3 New groups of Seventh-day Adventist
believers worldwide, particularly in urban areas, in the
10/40 Window, and among Post-Christians
Responsible Parties:
4.4 Mission by young people and to young people
Responsible Parties:
4.5 Mission engagement by all church entities through
promoting wholistic health, humanitarian care,
education, and outreach to displaced persons
Responsible Parties:
4.6 The use of traditional and new media to proclaim the
Three Angels’ Messages and connect people to Adventist
worshiping groups
Responsible Parties:
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ENDNO TES
1 Psa. 16:8; Luke 6:12; John 14:23; 1 John 1:3; Rev. 3:20
2 Mark 11:24; Acts 2:41-47; Rom. 8:26; 1 Thess. 5:16-18; Phil. 4:6
3 Prov. 4:10-13; Matt. 4:4; 2 Tim. 2:15; 3:16-17; Heb. 4:12
4 Prov. 11:25
5 Psa. 24:1; Prov. 3:9; Matt. 25:21; 1 Cor. 4:2; Col. 3:23-24
6 Amos 3:7; 2 Chr. 20:20; Rev. 12:17; 19:10
7 Jos. 1:8; Psa. 1:2, 63:6, 77:12, 119:15, 97, 145:5; Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, pp.
82-83, 207, 271; Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, pp. 112-13.
8 Eph. 2:4, 3:17; Col. 1:10, 11; 2:7; 3:1, 2; John 14:15; 15:1-8; Rev. 12:17; 14:12
9 In view of data received from the world field, it is suggested that special emphases
should be given to the following Fundamental Beliefs (FB): the Bible and its interpre-
tation (FB 1); the Trinity (FB 2); Holy Spirit (FB 5); Creation (FB 6); salvation by faith (FB
10); the state of the dead, the power of prayer over witchcraft, and spiritualism (FB 11,
FB 26); the remnant church (FB 12, FB 14); the Gift of Prophecy (FB 18); the Sabbath (FB
20); the sanctuary/investigative Judgment (FB 24); and the Second Coming (FB 25).
10 In view of data received from the world field, it is suggested that special emphases should be
given to principles of healthful living (FB 22) and biblical views of marriage and family (FB 23).
11 Ellen G. White, Life Sketches, 196.
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12 Rom. 12:1-14; 1 Cor. 12; Eph. 4:1-16; John 16:5-15; 17:1-26
13 Prov. 4:2; Mal. 2:6; 1 Tim. 6:3; 2 Tim. 4:3
14 Acts 2:41-47
15 Heb. 10:25, 1 Pet. 2:5
16 Matt. 4:19; 24:14; 1 Pet. 3:15
17 Luke 4:40; James 1:27
18 Deut. 11:14; Joel 2:28-32; Isa. 44:3; Jam. 5:7-8
19 2 Cor. 5:17-20
20 1 Cor. 12:4-27; Eph. 4:11-12
21 Matt. 28:18-20
22 John 1:14, Phil. 2:5-16
23 Matt. 9:35-38
24 Ellen G. White, Ministry of Healing, p. 73
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EVALUATION
In order to assess the impact of the Church’s
strategic plan and to shape future strategic
planning, research will be commissioned
in the 2025-2030 quinquennium which
will measure the extent to which stated
Measurable Goals have been achieved.
The attainment of many of the listed
Goals will be measured by surveys
of church members and some
denominational employees. Instruments
for such research projects will be aligned
with the Themes and Goals of this
strategic plan.
In addition to surveys of
attitudes, perceptions, practices, and
beliefs, the divisions and General
Conference departments should each
make their own assessment of the
degree to which they have achieved the
Goals of the strategic plan and the extent
to which Goals have or have not been
reached. This qualitative data will be
added to the large-scale human-subject
research outlined above.
This process of research and evaluation will
be a key foundation for strategic planning
for the 2030-2035 quinquennium.
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STRATEGIC PLANNING CYCLE FOR THE
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
CONCEPTUAL
OVERVIEW
OF I WILL GO:
PLANNING AND
IMPLEMENTATION
RESEARCH
I WILL GO
MISSION ISSUES/NEEDS STRATEGIC
STATEMENT
FOCUS
DIVISIONS AND GC
DEPARTMENT INPUT
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COMMUNION PROJECTS/
GOALS
WITH GOD INITIATIVES
IDENTITY IN PROJECTS/ EVALUATION
GOALS
CHRIST INITIATIVES
UNITY THROUGH PROJECTS/
GOALS
THE HOLY SPIRIT INITIATIVES
MISSION PROJECTS/
GOALS
FOR ALL INITIATIVES
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STRATEGIC PLANNING CYCLE FOR THE
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
STRATEGIC
PLANNING
PROCESS
Biblical
Understanding
Evaluation
Mission
of Projects &
Statement
Global Trends
Implementation Data Collection
Action Plan Issues
Goals
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STRATEGIC FOCUS
2025–2030
IWillGo.ORG
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