Unlocking the Potential: Building a Strong Foundation for the Development of Adventist DNA in the Core Group

Members of the core group gather on the steps of a building, dressed in formal attire, for a meeting focused on developing Adventist principles.

Church planting within the Adventist context requires more than establishing a worship space or gathering a group of believers. It involves creating a church that embodies the unique identity, mission, and vision of the Adventist movement. This is achieved by intentionally embedding Adventist DNA into the core group—the nucleus that will lead and influence the new church.

The concept of Adventist DNA revolves around core values, narratives, and behaviors that align with the prophetic identity of the church as described in Revelation 10, 12, and 14. Without these elements, church plants risk becoming culturally or theologically diluted, failing to contribute to the broader Adventist mission (White, 2006, p. 19).

1. Foundations of Adventist DNA

Adventist DNA refers to the unique theological, missional, and cultural characteristics that define the Seventh-day Adventist Church. These include:

• Prophetic Identity: Rooted in Revelation 10, Adventists understand their role as the remnant with a special end-time mission (White, 2006, p. 19).

• Prophetic Mission: Proclaiming the three angels' messages of Revelation 14 to prepare a people for Christ’s imminent return.

• Prophetic Foundation: Upholding the sanctuary doctrine, Sabbath observance, and the health message as integral to holistic discipleship and mission (Canale, 2004, p. 18).

Developing this DNA in the core group ensures that the new church aligns with the Adventist movement's unique identity and avoids becoming a generic evangelical congregation.

2. Core Adventist Values: The Building Blocks

Values form the foundation of any organization’s culture. For Adventists, these values are derived from the Bible, particularly the prophetic framework of Revelation. The church manual provides a clear expression of these values:

"To make disciples of all nations, communicating the everlasting gospel in the context of the three angels’ messages (Revelation 14:6–12), inviting them to accept Jesus as their Savior, and preparing them for His soon return" (Siqueira, Zukowski & Suárez, 2017, p. 29).

These values encompass:

1. Worship in the Context of the Great Controversy: Worship reflects the cosmic conflict between Christ and Satan. Revelation 14:6-7 calls humanity to worship God as Creator. This focus recognizes the Sabbath as a sign of loyalty to God and emphasizes a life lived for His glory (White, 2006, p. 78).

2. Christ-Centered Ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary: The sanctuary doctrine highlights Jesus’ ongoing intercessory work in heaven, which unites Adventist theology and mission (Canale, 2004, p. 28).

3. Urgency of the Second Coming: The imminent return of Christ motivates Adventist mission. This eschatological focus fosters urgency in discipleship and evangelism, shaping the church’s mission priorities (White, 1958, p. 113).

4. Characteristics of the Remnant: Revelation 12:17 identifies the remnant as those who "keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus." This identity calls Adventist churches to uphold biblical principles while actively engaging in mission.

3. Shaping Adventist Narratives

Values must be communicated effectively through narratives that inspire and guide behavior. Narratives are formed through:

• Stories: Testimonies of God’s work through the church.

• Celebrations: Milestones that emphasize mission accomplishments.

• Language: Shared terminology that reflects Adventist theology and vision.

For example, instead of focusing solely on attendance numbers, Adventist narratives emphasize discipleship and mission impact (McNeal, 2003, p. 56). Key questions include:

• From: “How many people attend our church?”

  • To: “How many disciples are being made and sent out?”

• From: “How do we grow this church?”

  • To: “How do we transform our community?”

These questions reorient the church’s focus toward mission and community impact.

4. Aligning Behaviors with Values and Narratives

Behavior reflects the practical outworking of values and narratives. For Adventist church plants, this means aligning worship, ministry, budgeting, and leadership development with the movement’s mission:

Aspect	Traditional Approach	Adventist Missional Approach
Worship Services	Focused on attendance	Focused on sending disciples
Budget Allocation	Centered on internal programs	Prioritized for community outreach
Leadership Development	Retaining leaders locally	Training and sending leaders
Ministry Focus	Maintaining existing members	Engaging with the unreached

5. Implementing Values in Core Group Development

The core group serves as the incubator for Adventist DNA. Developing this group involves:

1. Teaching Prophetic Identity and Mission: Core members must deeply understand Adventism's role as the remnant church with a unique end-time mission (Mueller, 2000, p. 120).

2. Centralizing Christ: Emphasize Jesus’ role as Savior, Lord, and Priest. White highlights this focus:“The sacrifice of Christ as an atonement for sin is the great truth around which all other truths cluster” (White, 2007, p. 315).

3. Training for Missional Living: Core group members must view themselves as missionaries, not mere attendees. Training should emphasize discipleship, community engagement, and evangelism (Hirsch, 2015, p. 47).

4. Creating a Reproductive Culture: The core group should embody the principle of multiplication, preparing to disciple others, develop leaders, and plant new churches.

6. Practical Steps to Embed Adventist DNA

• Weekly Core Group Meetings: Focus on Bible study, Adventist doctrines, and mission planning.

• Mission-Oriented Budget: Allocate resources to outreach, community service, and future church plants.

• Celebrate Missional Milestones: Highlight stories of discipleship, baptisms, and community impact.

• Develop a Language of Mission: Use terms like “discipleship,” “sending,” and “multiplication” consistently.

  
  

Conclusion

Developing Adventist DNA in the core group ensures that new church plants remain faithful to Adventist theology and mission. By aligning values, narratives, and behaviors, these churches become vibrant expressions of the Adventist movement, advancing God’s kingdom and preparing communities for Christ’s return.

References

1. Canale, F. From Vision to System: Finishing the Task of Adventist Theology. Journal of the Adventist Theological Society, 15(2), 5–39, 2004.

2. Hirsch, A. 5Q: Reactivating the Original Intelligence and Capacity of the Body of Christ. Columbia, MA: 100Movements, 2015.

3. Knight, G. The Apocalyptic Vision and the Neutralization of Adventism. Tatuí: Casa Publicadora Brasileira, 2010.

4. McNeal, R. The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2003.

5. Mueller, E. Ministry and Mission: Exploring Adventist Identity. Silver Spring, MD: Biblical Research Institute, 2000.

6. Siqueira, M., Zukowski, I., & Suárez, G. Manual da Igreja Adventista do Sétimo Dia. Brasília: Casa Publicadora Brasileira, 2017.

7. White, E. G. Selected Messages, Book 1. Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1958.

8. White, E. G. The Great Controversy. Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 2006.

9. White, E. G. The Acts of the Apostles. Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 2007.

10. Wilson, T., & Mancini, W. Dream Big Plan Smart: Finding Your Pathway to Level 5 Multiplication. Exponential, 2016.