THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH is growing at a constantly accelerating pace in Inter-America. Ac cording to a study done in 1970 by Read, Monterroso, and Johnson on the growth of evangelical churches in Latin America (Latin American Church Growth [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1970]), Adventists were either in first or second place growthwise in eight out of nine Spanish-speaking countries in the Inter-American Division. In the one remaining country we were in third place. The study also showed that our growth has been steady over the years as com pared to some other churches whose growth patterns have often been erratic.
According to the statistical report presented at the 1976 Annual Council, the Inter-American Division grew at a rate of 8.75 percent during 1975, surpassed among Adventists only by the Southern Asia Division. Nearly 17 per cent of all Seventh-day Adventists in the world reside in Inter-America. During 1976 the division surpassed its long-held goal of baptizing more than 50,000 persons in one year.
If our churches on the island of Jamaica were spread out in a straight line there would be a Seventh-day Adventist church at one-mile intervals over the entire island. Some islands in the Caribbean are almost entirely Adventist.
What is the Inter-American secret?
A prevalent conception of Inter- America groups its inhabitants into a common mold and gives the impression that church growth is relatively simple because the majority of the population is more or less homogenous in culture and life style. In reality, however, Inter-America is as heterogenous as any place on earth. We have four major language groups, English, Spanish, French, and Dutch, and hundreds of indigenous dialects and peoples within the territory of the division. Peoples of all kinds of backgrounds and cultures compose the cosmopolitan membership of the Inter- American Adventist Church.
While some cultural realities do play a part, there are other elements that have been motivating factors behind the evangelistic advance in the Inter-American Division.
We do admit to some advantages. In spite of the diversity of our population, certain basic social structures make it easier to develop methods that will be effective in nearly any part of the division. The English- and French-speaking areas share a common heritage, and the Caribbean littoral is fairly homogenous in social structure. The same holds true for the Spanish-speaking areas of the division.
Family ties are close and seldom be come individualized as is the case in so many contemporary cultures. Even though the family members may mi grate from rural areas to urban centers, the ties with the group left behind re main close, and communication is constantly maintained. Whatever transpires with one member of the family is immediately known, analyzed, and studied by the other members. This situation is of great advantage in evangelism. A chain reaction is established that produces multiple results.
We have the advantage of relatively stable congregations. Except for periodic migrations in search of employment in some newly prosperous areas, we do not face the problem of what some have called "Winnebago Adventists." The church is the center of the social life of most church members, and consequently it is possible to develop long-range programs, knowing that the human potential for carrying them out is available and stable.
Another advantage enjoyed in Inter- America is the commitment to high standards of Christian behavior and at tire. The general spiritual tone of our churches is good. The conservatism of the early pioneer workers, coupled with the Spanish heritage in many areas, has produced an ingrained adherence to church standards.
Latin American society has been shaped and molded by Catholicism. This has produced a pattern of thinking that runs through all our society and can be identified and utilized as a common denominator when dealing with people at almost any level. Adventist evangelistic methods have been built on this com mon denominator and found to work wherever this situation holds true, in spite of national boundaries or language differences.
We are fortunate in the fact that theological controversies and conservative-liberal tensions are almost un known in Inter-America. Our ministry is dedicated to the fundamentals of the faith and is preoccupied with carrying this message to the general population. There is also unanimous commitment to the inspiration of the Spirit of Prophecy.
The Humanization of Inter personal Relationships
Those who visit Inter-American committee meetings are always astonished at the spirit of brotherhood manifested, even in the heat of the decision-making process. While differences of opinion may exist, they are minimal compared to the overall "family of God" spirit that reigns throughout the division. Our leaders have gone out of their way to humanize the administrative process and place the emphasis on people rather than machinery. It is difficult to find a truly unhappy worker in this division. Administration is not looked upon with fear and trembling, but rather is looked to for counsel and guidance. This approach has produced a spirit of enthusiasm that is infectious and multiplies itself into a dynamic program at the grass-roots level.
No one in this division has any doubt at all where our priorities lie. Inter- America is synonymous with evangelism. In response to an opinion poll a local mission president wrote: "In Inter- America we believe in the urgency of preaching and announcing the soon coming of Jesus. Since we must prepare ourselves for that great event, and in harmony with that belief, deeply in grained in us, we cannot remain inactive while souls are perishing without Christ. This is why we do not try to 'save' money at any level when it comes to evangelism. We are pushing the accelerator to the floor, preaching in sea son and out of season, using all the forces of the church—children, youth, adults, laity, and ministry—because we want to finish the job as soon as possible."
The evangelistic methodology used in the Spanish-speaking areas of the division is the result of many years of experimentation and analysis. Much of it was developed in South America and implemented in Inter-America. Early attempts to import North American methods failed.
The real father of Latin American evangelism was Walter Schubert. Pas tor Schubert recognized the need of understanding the basic psychology of Catholic society. The methodology he and his colleagues developed is still in use today, though modified to meet con temporary conditions. Emphasis is placed on making a total impact on the city or area where a campaign is to be held. The speaker invariably appears on television, speaks at service clubs, at colleges, and on radio until he becomes well known in the location. No other religion is attacked in any way. Truth is its own best defense and proof. The initial topics presented deal with home and family relationships. Five-Day Plans to Stop Smoking are used and tied in directly to the crusade itself. The doctrinal subjects are usually presented through a teaching approach, using a Bible course and Bible marking. The average crusade runs two to three months. By the time a candidate is baptized he has usually gone through a series of studies with a layman, the crusade, a series of studies during the crusade, and possibly an advanced Voice of Prophecy course.
Commitment and Participation by the Laity
Inter-America is committed to the concept that "every true disciple is born into the kingdom of God as a missionary" (The Desire of Ages, p. 195). The laity of the Adventist Church in Inter- America is a vital key to the growth in membership. Laymen win thousands of converts every year. The clergy is as signed to districts so large that it would be impossible to attend to all the needs without the help of committed laymen. Lay workers are fully capable of preparing candidates for baptism and holding crusades on their own.
The laity is involved in running the church machinery, as well as in evangelism. This participating by the laity produces a spirit of interest and commitment to the church and its progress that is lacking if members are expected only to warm the pews on Sabbath morning. To be named a local church elder is a privilege that is taken seriously. Election as a delegate to a conference constituency meeting is not taken lightly. The Adventist Church in Inter-America is "our" church as far as the laity are concerned, and they are vitally interested in its progress and ultimate destiny. Lay preachers abound, and pastors seldom have to worry about filling their pulpits if they must be absent.
