Q: If you were the General Conference President for one day, what would you do? What changes would you make?
Karlmax, 26, Birmingham, Alabama: This is a very interesting question. Jesus prayed for us in John 17 that God's people are to be united in love. The first thing I would prayerfully do because I know that Jesus is coming for a united Church. I would start by working to try and bridge unity within before I go out. That the issue of having different conferences like The Black Conference and the White Conference my be solved that we may be one family. Be different from the world. Let me say unique. Only God can help us on this and He wants to use someone.
Willie, 24, Eastern Cape, South Africa: 24 hours is all I have...the first thing would be to seek guidance from the Lord about the task at hand. In that one day I would like to be everywhere at the same time:
5am - Devotion from the first Chapter of Prophets and Kings
6am - Write an email to all division leaders in the world encouraging them
7am - Breakfast with the family
8am - Office meeting and devotion with the staff at headquarters.
10am Have a telemeeting with youths from Africa maybe our very own Heidelberg College...title of talk "Tell the world about Jesus."
12 - 13 pm: Have lunch with orphans
14 - 16 pm: Visit Loma Linda
Finally the greatest change I would like to make as a GC President is to be there where I am needed----- live a life that matters.
Nelson, 25, Brazil: If I were the president, I would first have a very long time of meditation and praise to the Lord, to have the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Then, I would enjoy all the opportunities to hear and give spiritual support to the people that search for me. If some changes have to be made, I would have reunions with the other leaders, pray and then make everything in the time it has to be made. The changes, like in the health, lifestyle, worship or any other must be gradual. But I would give preference to the changes that can give a better vision of the salvation and the grace of Christ. That God keep blessing the President and the church!
Imadylle, 23, Negros Oriental, Philippines: I would make the Hope Channel available through out the whole world because some of us here can't have Hope Channel. And also to add a two or three regular program on Hope Channel that would cater youth. A program that will help youth express themselves. A program also where in all the Adventist beliefs are presented in a manner that the youth will enjoy and understand easily and fully, a program also that makes us see how are other Adventist youth doing in other countries so that we will know that we are not alone and that we can also get ideas from them on how to improve our church and youth programs. And also to IMPROVE this site, where we can have live chat so that we can interact with youths who will log-on here. And also a report on how other youths are doing... to sum up all. Just an improvement on media and internet. Because it is the basic attraction of youths today and so that we youth will also feel that out Adventist community is concern about our interest and our views. Thank you for giving me a space here. God bless us all!!!!
Charlene, 24, Gweru, Zimbabwe: I think that sometimes the only way we can look up is by lying down. I think the Lord allows pain and suffering to Christians so that they can call upon Him. Suffering and pain is also there to remind us of the great controversy that is on between good and evil. The devil is out there to discourage us but we need to know that the Lord is still there. The Lord sometimes may want us to see a miracle out of that suffering/pain. As the song writer says that 'Sickness must be present for healing to take place' If Lazarus had not died, the Lord would not have resurrected him!
Solomon, 19, Sydney, Australia: If I were the General Conference President for one day, I would make telephone calls to the presidents of all the unions and divisions around the world, getting acquainted with the church situations around the world. I would encourage the writings of E.G. White to be translated into the languages in which her writings do not exist yet. I would also contact Exodus International, and establish a relationship of cooperation, just as in Q&A of this website mentioned the topic of homosexuality, I would try to push the Adventist church to step one step further in helping, caring and loving Adventists who are either in the homosexual lifestyle, struggling with the temptations, or those living according to the Scriptures but with an unwanted same sex attraction. Not only so, I would try to reach out to the "morally bottom", the sex workers, the drug addicts, and whoever may be viewed as desperate, hopeless by many church members, to show them the love just like the love Christ showed to the sinners in His time on earth.
Noxy, 16, Free State, South Africa: If I were the president the first thing I would do is to have a long hot shower in my presidential shower then have a gigantanormous breakfast with dessert and then I would get to work...I would ask my very own p.a to give me a list of all the churches in the world and what they are doing for evangelism and how it has worked for them. Then I would highlight all the most successful evangelism projects then implement these projects in the less scornful churches and make sure it reaches all of them. And after a long hard days work I would thank God by going out to dinner and going to a live VOP concert! then last but not least I would pray that I don’t forget this day and eventually when the clock strikes twelve, I would turn back into my usual teenage self and would evangelize like the world is coming to an end and in my own way, I will be the PRESIDENT of my own evangelism!!!!! The youth of today, let’s make a difference!
Jeaneth, 24, Philippines: It's good privilege for me to be a President of General Conferece...well...I want to direct all members of the Seventh-day Adventist church to be aware on the last day events and conduct a seminar throughout the world and be united in one in a unique worship or true kind of worshiping God, what we called the Art of Worship. How everyone will be aware the true kind of worship, is not only go to church, giving tithes, but we want a true worship individual. That's all...because in our days today we are now looking in a true service.
Teka-Ann, 24, CA, United States: Hmmmmmm. This is a pretty interesting question since there are so many emerging issues in the Adventist Church, especially where it relates to 'culture and the Adventist beliefs.' This, however, is one thing Id do: I'd organize a team (which I am member of) to take a deep look into the way different Adventists worship and live and weigh these against these to the TRUTH as taught by the Bible, then I’d pool the observations and send out a newsletter to all conferences with the results and a discussion and the conclusion my team arrived at. Most importantly, Id write where the disparities are and give guidelines on how to resolve these disparities. This sounds like a hard task, but as GC President I'd also think it is a necessary one. My concern develops out my own observations on the differences among Adventist Churches, even in the same country; the things that are accepted by a particular church and those that are not accepted. Take for example the wearing of jewelry – this is a definite NO-NO in some churches, yet in others it is accepted and in some even wearable on the platform. If we are of one faith, why do we have different beliefs? This is a pertinent issue I would address being the GC President.
Jared, 15, Michigan, United States: If I were the P resident of the General Conference for one day I would take time to stop and think about the direction of the Church. I would define our priorities, our beliefs, and consider if we really just want to "fit in" with other churches and the world or if we're sticking to the Message that the Lord gave us.
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