North Pacific Union Conference (NPUC) executive committee members affirmed an updated unionwide strategic plan during their Aug. 22, 2018, meeting in Ridgefield, Wash. This plan also serves as a catalyst for a continuing emphasis on young adult engagement through the Growing Young cohort project.
The collaborative approach to mission, combining input from union and local conference representatives​, is an effort to move toward a common goal without diminishing the unique roles for local and regional areas of the church.
Here are the core elements of this mission-directed strategy.
Our Northwest Mission
Our mission is to reach all people within the North Pacific Union and the world with the distinctive, Christ-centered, Seventh-day Adventist message of hope and wholeness.
Our Northwest Vision
To see people within the North Pacific Union prepared for the Second Coming of Christ by His people reflecting the character of Christ, manifesting His unconditional love for all people, and passionately sharing the gospel with every person.
Our Northwest Strategic Priorities
- Young adult engagement;
- Growing together in Christ;
- Total member involvement in mission;
- Leadership development;
- Growing healthy churches and schools.
Our Northwest Core Values
- Integrity and Authenticity: We will be honest and accountable in everything we do.
- Excellence: We will do our very best in all things.
- Love, Respect and Inclusion: We recognize the inestimable value of every person as a child of God.
- Collaboration: We believe by communicating and working together we will accomplish more.
- Growth in Christ: We will foster a culture of discipleship.
Our Northwest Motto
Moving Forward Together
The key priority of young adult engagement has already led to the pilot project of Growing Young. During the past year, a cohort of 10 Northwest churches have collaborated on a training program, directed by Ben Lundquist, Oregon Conference young adult leader, and facilitated through Fuller Youth Institute in Pasadena, Calif. It was designed to reach, love and empower younger generations, while better engaging all generations in the mission of Jesus.
Positive results from this pilot have led the NPUC executive committee to authorize a second year for the project. Growing Young 2.0, as Lundquist describes it, will not only take the original churches further in the journey, but train a team of leaders from those churches to serve as Adventist project coaches for a new round of cohort churches. More details of this new phase will be shared in a future issue of the Gleaner.
