Adventist Education: Training Ground for God’s End-time Army

Abstract

TOGETHERzil and through the conference, the energy and excitement was palpable! 6 From Concept to Action in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)To illustrate the power that an idea can have, consider this example: Rudatinya Mwangachuchu, North East Congo Union Mission president, was one of the attendees. Upon his return to Goma, DRC, he lost no time in implementing lessons learned. The union mission purchased a house and barriers to enrollment, and outcomes of enrollment in Adventist schools such as improved retention in church, higher rates of marriage to an Adventist, and mature faith development. A statement on Adventist education was voted at Annual Council 2016 (see Sidebar), and this was accompanied by a cascade of initiatives across the world field, some of which are described in this article. K-12 EducationChurches in the Shape of Schools Andrew Mutero, director of education for the East-Central Africa Division (ECD), and Edgard Luz, then director of education for the South American Division (SAD), collaborated to help ECD develop capacity, expand education, and build schools. From February 1 to 13, 2017, a group of African church and education leaders visited primary, secondary, and tertiary schools in São Paolo and Brasilia, Brazil, to study school design, learn about best practices in marketing and managing schools, and develop action plans for advancing the ministry of education in their institution or field. They also observed the role of the Brazil Publishing House in supporting education. The group included union leaders, especially ECD Board of Education members, university council chairs, chancellors, institutional managers/treasurers, publishing leaders, and selected other union and conference administrators.The SAD provided an inspiring model for Africa. President Erton Ko hler explained, "We don't have schools. Rather, we have churches that we build in the shape of schools!" Schools are a powerful engine for church growth and discipleship in this division, where the church is young and energetic. These concepts found a ready reception among the African leaders.Immediately upon returning from Brazil, the group participated in one of the four regional LEAD conferences, this one held in Rwanda, for church and educational leaders from ECD, the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division, and the West-Central Africa Division. Informed by what they learned in Bra-This statement is based on and draws largely from True Education, an adaptation of Education by Ellen G. White, along with the 28 Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Its scriptural support includes: