United in the Great Commission

ADRA was established by the Seventh-day Adventist Church to serve humankind and follow the example of Jesus, who, during His earthly ministry, showed special concern for the poor and the oppressed.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church and ADRA are united in their mission – the mission of Jesus. There is only one gospel, one body, one Lord, and one faith, and both ADRA and the Church are meant to contribute to and complete this single mission together.1

Jesus’ final command was to make disciples of all nations and to baptise them.2 This “Great Commission” is rightly considered the key summary of the mission for all followers of Jesus and the Church. But what does that look like? How do you make disciples of all nations?

Jesus’ life and ministry on Earth provides the divine blueprint for how to make disciples of all nations. His sermons, teachings, and parables serve as the foundation for our faith. At the heart of this is the Sermon on
the Mount3, which outlines His kingdom’s values. This sermon urged personal righteousness, seeking justice, serving others, and loving enemies.

While Jesus’ teachings explore the “what” of our faith, His example is the foundation for our ministry. Jesus didn’t
simply teach: He met people where they were, reached the ostracised, healed the sick, attended to their needs, and once in their confidence he bade them “follow me.”4,5 

In this way, he showed us the path to making disciples of all nations: proclaiming God’s kingdom means embodying it through acts of compassion and service. 

Understanding the Great Commission as Jesus’ holistic ministry and compassion means we are called to genuinely, practically, and intentionally seek the good of those in our communities and worldwide. In doing so, we are not just performing good deeds but we are serving, honouring, and proclaiming Jesus. 

In this way, ADRA is an essential arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, providing a crucial and practical dimension to our collective efforts to fulfil the Great Commission. It embodies the very compassion and practical
ministry that Jesus demonstrated and commanded, making it an indispensable part of our “holistic gospel” outreach. ADRA is an integral, vital and indispensable part of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s unified mission to serve, honour, and proclaim Jesus to a world in need, both physically and spiritually. 

ADRA’s Ministry in Action

ADRA Chaplains

On 26 March, we celebrated National ADRA Chaplain Day, a day where we acknowledge the important work our chaplains do across many of our ADRA activities in Australia.

Many people that ADRA serve are experiencing loss, isolation, trauma, or ongoing hardship. A chaplain can be a comforting presence for people in their most vulnerable state. A quiet conversation over a cup of tea, a reassuring word after a difficult day, or simply standing with someone who is overwhelmed can become a
powerful moment of dignity and hope.

“You will also hear the stories and get up close with the people in your community and be the support that Jesus calls you to be,” says Pastor Rian Van Deventer, Chaplain at ADRA Bairnsdale in Victoria.

Chaplains also play a vital role in supporting volunteers and staff. In emotionally demanding environments, they offer encouragement, debriefing, and care for those on the front lines, helping sustain resilience and compassion within ADRA teams.

We are grateful for our ADRA Chaplains, who serve with love on a daily basis. In moments that may never make headlines, their presence helps transform aid into connection one conversation at a time.

Spiritual Restoration

As a humanitarian agency, ADRA’s primary purpose is to provide aid, relief, and long-term sustainable solutions to the most vulnerable communities. But as an Adventist organisation, we rejoice to see those we serve restored not just physically but also spiritually.

Cocoa farmer Barnabas from the Solomon Islands was baptised in his youth but left the church shortly afterwards. However, his involvement with ADRA’s cocoa farming project is what led Barnabas back to
church at 67 years old.

“I decided to come back to Jesus when the ADRA director prayed for me,” he said. “The encouragement I received from the ADRA team also played a big role in helping me to leave my past life behind.”

It was also through an ADRA project in Victoria, Australia, that Evie decided to give her life to Christ. On the disability pension and struggling to make ends meet, Evie sought help from her local ADRA project.

ADRA helped meet Evie’s social and physical needs, but she was also seeking spiritual fulfilment. So Rebecca Auriant, Conference ADRA Director in Victoria, introduced Evie to a local Seventh-day Adventist Church. It wasn’t long before Evie was attending regularly and decided to be baptised.

“The other team members and I have seen Evie grow through attending the ADRA program each week, and now we all smile because she has found her heavenly Father,” says Ms Auriant.

1 Ephesians 4:4-13 
2 Matthew 28:19-20 
3 Matthew 5-7 
4 The Ministry of Healing, 143 
5 Matthew 11:5