2020: A Year of Growth and Guidance for the Adventist Church

To say this year has been a crazy one would be an understatement. A world-wide pandemic, fires, hurricanes, elections, economic recession – you name it, 2020 has thrown it at us! And all of this has affected the Adventist Church in countless ways. However, instead of focusing on the challenges that this year has thrown at us as a church, I want to look at how 2020 has changed and grown the Adventist Church for the better.

This year, churches had to get creative. Most churches entered the brave, new, virtual world. While many churches had been offering online services before, this year forced many church leaders to take the plunge to be able to reach all of their members. This change has allowed churches to touch other people as well, far beyond their own congregations. Sabbath School teachers found fun ways to interact and connect with their students. Pastors worked hard to keep members connected with each other through prayer meetings and virtual get togethers. Through this experience, we learned the value of the church community and had the determination to keep that community alive. 

2020 also gave us ample opportunities to reach out and help those around us. While people have suffered and gone through so much, the Adventist Church has stepped up. Church members around the world worked together to stay connected and reach out to the people around them when they couldn’t meet in person. They collected and distributed food to those who were struggling. Amid wildfires and hurricanes, they lent a helping hand to their neighbors who were in need. Through societal tension, violence and hate, members reached out the hand of peace and friendship. The church truly showed itself as the hands and feet of God. 

While 2020 has been quite the year, it has been one of immense growth in the Adventist Church. It has been a year where we can see God leading His people to be a light to the world. As we move into 2021, we can look forward in hope, knowing that there will be more opportunities for growth and, more importantly, that God will continue to lead us as a church.

Hannah Olin is a Sophomore

History Ed Major from

Princeton, Illinois