The General Conference, headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland, formally launched the OneVoice27 initiative among its own staff on September 3, two days ahead of the initiative’s worldwide Global Launch Day. Employees were invited to a special prayer dedication featuring song, testimony, and prayer in multiple languages.
General Conference President Erton Köhler led a devotional explaining the purpose of the initiative. “OneVoice27 is about mission,” he told staff. “Your mission is to proclaim the second coming of Jesus.” Global Launch Day, September 5, aimed to mobilize at least one million Seventh-day Adventist Church members worldwide to post how Jesus makes “all things new” on social media, using the hashtag #allthingsnew, drawn from Revelation 21:5.
Köhler was candid about the scale of the goal. “My first reaction is: it is impossible,” he said. “It is impossible when we think about our internal problems. OneVoice27 is bigger than us. The only way we can announce to the whole world that Jesus will come is through a miracle. That is the only way.” He gave staff four reasons to keep praying for the initiative: the mission is too large for human effort alone; opposition can be expected as the work moves forward; the initiative calls the whole church to unite in one voice; and only the Holy Spirit can supply the power the mission requires.
General Conference Vice President Audrey Andersson led a group prayer asking God to unite church members “not only in this building but in our churches and our homes,” while staff led corporate prayers in Spanish, Portuguese, and French. Employment specialist Dora Desamour closed the gathering with a personal consecration, inviting staff to ask God to “equip us… guide us… shape us… mold us” as the global movement launched two days later.
Source: Adventist News Network
