ANN: Wilson Calls Adventists to ‘Go Forward’

Wilson Calls Adventists to ‘Go Forward’
Greetings from Obama read at Sabbath worship
3 Jul 2010, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Mark A. Kellner, Adventist Review

Addressing a crowd of 69,989 Seventh-day Adventists and friends, Ted N. C. Wilson, in his first Sabbath sermon as General Conference president, urged members to “go forward” in confidence through the days ahead.

Wilson’s message — delivered as he was surrounded by the Church’s 13 division presidents, nine general vice presidents, and his two immediate predecessors — came in a morning service where worshippers heard the fourth movement of Felix Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 5, the “Reformation Symphony,” and where the world church leader read words of welcome from United States President Barack Obama.

“Throughout history, faith has shaped our philosophies, our perspectives, and our lives,” Wilson read. “As we face the challenges and opportunities of this unique moment in history, may faith move us to unite in common cause to serve our fellow brothers and sisters. … I wish you all the best for a wonderful event.”

Wilson began his sermon stressing the “heaven-directed journey” of the Seventh-day Adventist Church: “With the power of His truth, God has carved out of this chaotic world the Seventh-day Adventist Church. We are to be a peculiar people, God’s remnant people, to lift up Christ, His righteousness, His three angels’ messages of Revelation 14, and His soon coming,” he said.
“God is the Creator and is to be worshiped on His Sabbath day as a sign of our loyalty to His Word and creative power,” Wilson said, adding later, “Brothers and sisters, look to the Almighty God who can take you through anything you will face in the future. Never lose your full confidence and trust in Him. Always obey His command to ‘Go Forward.'”

“God has a plan for your life and for this church,” Wilson urged the massive crowd. “Never doubt the destiny of this mighty Advent movement. It is in God’s hands. God has given us prophetic instruction to know the culmination of the great controversy — God is the Victor.” (Read more)

10 thoughts on “ANN: Wilson Calls Adventists to ‘Go Forward’

  1. Like President Obama, Elder Wilson appreciates the power and significance of the spoken word. But as President Obama has learned the hard way, translating words into deeds is a slow and laborious task, requiring patience and persistence and a calm spirit.

    Now the hard part begins. The challenge of reversing half a century of departure from Bible-based Adventism will be arduous and fraught with peril. But by the grace of God and our own diligent effort, it can be done.

    Let us keep Elder Wilson in prayer each day, and encourage him all we can with letters, e-mails, and vocal statements of support.

    God bless!

    Pastor Kevin Paulson

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  2. This IS a turning point in Adventist history.

    We have had many many years where old fashioned simple adventism has been ridiculed, misrepresented and looked upon with contempt.

    Now God has placed a true adventist on the top position. What he preaches and represents will and is already having an impact in the same way as a general encourages the whole army by giving the trumpet a certain sound.

    The preaching of viewpoints Ted Wilson expresses has been signally blocked and hindered in our part of the world. But lets follow the example of Ted by speaking the truth uncompromising and boldly. Full of love to and faith in this wonderful adventist movement.

    The gates of hell will not prevail. Our church is under a serious siege and has been for years – FROM WITHIN! (As open resistance from without would just have forwarded our mission)

    We expect the enemies of truth soon will show their true colors, leave our movement and join our persecutors. But in the meantime – lets preach and teach like never before to wake people up before its forever to late.

    To Shane and his team: Thank you so much for this homepage and ministry. Its a real eye-opener and a school how to meet this kind of problems in a Christlike way. Keep on the good work! There are a lot of other issues that need to be met in the same candid way exposing the spin and showing what really is going on, holding our leaders accountable.

    To my fellow soldiers in the army of Prince Immanuel.

    Julian Gudmundsson, Denmark

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  3. @Julian Gudmundsson:

    This IS a turning point in Adventist history.

    We have had many many years where old fashioned simple adventism has been ridiculed, misrepresented and looked upon with contempt.

    That is the key point. In addition we have a new Ministerial Secretary and he has been given the unprecidented leeway to select his own departmental leaders at the explicit request of Elder Wilson.

    This has come at the perfect time. God is in the process, directing and guiding. Prayers are being answered.

    Payers of thanks to God, regarding this matter, are in order.

    in Christ,

    Bob

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  4. All who want to see what our Church would be like if the liberals ruled everywhere, instead of just in the Pacific Union Conference should read Erv Taylor’s latest piece […] on AT entitled “Retrograde Adventism.”

    Yeh, Erv dislikes Wilson because he’s “retrograde!” Actually believing and practicing biblical principles are leading us back to the “dinosaurs” of our faith, such as Ellen White, etc.

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  5. The backward thinking posts over at AToday are bent on leading the church backward to the dark ages – to a time when the Bible had no value when it came to man-made-tradition and guesswork.

    in Christ,

    Bob

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  6. God Has Always Had a people … True and loyal Followers in every age whose love for him .. Committtment to Him -is too strong & deep to be shaken .to stand separate from error & compromise & counterfeits.. to Defend & Proclaim His Truth …I Know Gods Hand was over Elder Wilson
    being chosen to lead Gods People in these last days I am praying for a revivel in us all Jesus is coming soon .. We Serve a Mighty God

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  7. The backward thinking posts over at AToday are bent on leading the church backward to the dark ages – to a time when the Bible had no value when it came to man-made-tradition and guesswork.in Christ,Bob  

    Exactly Bob. We all gotta read what humanists say first, then evaluate that with what the bible says. If they disagree, then the humanists must be right, since they’re more sophisticated, more educated, and more intelligent than those ancient bible guys, who were so influenced by their “culture!”

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  8. Not only is Wilson “retrograde” but he’s also “Third World!” Yeh, according to Adventist Today’s editors, “Ted Wilson articulates well the central theme of Third World Adventism.” [edit]

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  9. @<a href="http://www.educatetruth.com/news/ann-wilson-calls-adventists-to-go-forward/comment-page-1/#comment-15862"Ron Stone M.D.:

    Sam Pipim has a great discussion, in several of his books, of this “third world” mentality and how liberals like to use it to belittle our brethren in other nations. Yeh, these unsophisticated christian babies just don’t understand the bible like the First Worlders, who are so much smarter and wiser!

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