Impressions from St. Louis (5)

Thursday, the fourth day of the General Conference Session started with a more feminine touch. Madison Bishop sang her way into hearts with a beautiful rendition of “Alabaster Box.” The morning devotional speaker was a young woman, Charissa Torossian from Australia, who concentrated on the life of Mary Magdalene in her presentation entitled “Devoted for Life.”
The prayer team was led by Melody Mason and many experienced a blessed prayer time with the passionate words of Charissa still ringing in their minds and hearts.
The business was resumed with Church Manual amendments. Many delegates participated in the discussion, but the amendments mostly passed just as presented.
Later on, statements on the Bible and Confidence in the Writings of Ellen White were once again taken up and voted on.
In the afternoon, President Ted Wilson, Secretary Erton Köhler, and Treasurer Paul Douglas held a press conference answering questions from global communicators. Mission was at the heart of each answer. They addressed the need to have a greater focus on reaching urban areas and post-modern cultures. They also encouraged members to explore innovative approaches, centered in the Word of God, while also advocating to get our young people more involved in mission.
The devotional message at the beginning of the Night Session, “In the beginning there was love,” was presented by Noemí Durán of the Geoscience Research Institute. She closed her devotional with the words, “I am Noemí Durán, animal biologist, and I trust the Bible. Remember, Jesus is coming. Trust his word.”
After completing work on the amendments to the Church Manual, the business session was adjourned until 2021 (with applause for completing the work) and closed with a prayer by Pavel Goia.
As the session is being held in hybrid form, with delegates participating from time zones much in advance of St. Louis, church business had to be concluded before the Friday, which would already see the beginning of the Sabbath in eastern parts of the world. There will be a survey at the end, requesting the opinions of the delegates on the hybrid form for consideration as planning for the next session starts.
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