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The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Southern Africa firmly believes that the health and prosperity of society is directly related to the well-being of its constituent parts "the family unit." And at a time when modern family life is disintegrating, the Southern Africa Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists encourages every family member to strengthen his or her spiritual dimension and family relationship through mutual love, honor, respect, and responsibility.

God blesses the family and intends that its members shall assist each other toward complete maturity. Ellen G. White, one of the instruments God used as a founder of the church, stated: "The work of parents underlies every other. Society is composed of families, and is what the heads of families make it. Out of the heart are the 'issues of life' (Prov.4:23); and the heart of the community, of the church, and of the nation is the household. The well-being of society, the success of the church, the prosperity of the nation, depend upon home influences." The Ministry of Healing, p. 349.

Because of our strong belief in the preservation and potential of a family unit to impact society, as a church, we are mobilizing family units to reach out to other family units with the intention of mutually strengthening each other as we prepare for the soon return of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

A simple magnifying glass has the potential to concentrate the rays of the sun allowing it to penetrate through, by an uncomplicated adjustment in the way it is held, thereby setting alight a blade of grass causing a veldfire.   Likewise, the Christian family has the potential to become the greatest evangelistic instrument in the hands of God Almighty.    It is the  desire of the Lord for us to have an individual experience with Him but in order for the church to fulfill its role in spreading the good news of salvation in Christ to a dying world, we need to experience God as whole families.   The more fragmentation that occurs in Christian families, the more power and opportunity is lost to spread the Gospel.  

Can you imagine the impact of a family adjusting itself to allow the 'rays of the Son of Righteousness' to penetrate through its members unhindered?   If families reach out to families, then families would be drawn to Christ.   The momentum created by such a commitment to evangelism will make satan fumble and the gates of hell tremble.   Yes, to evangelize cannot be delegated to a department or program of the church but should be the heartbeat of every Christian believer and family.   If only we would act together, in concert, we would move the world for Christ.    Every Christian family should illustrate to the world the power and excellence of Christian influence (Adventist Home, p.19). Putting on the armor of heaven, whole families must go forth to the warfare, willing to do and dare for God, knowing that His omnipotence will supply their need.   The family environment creates the appropriate non-threatening atmosphere needed for many to develop friendships and special connection with believers, not normally available in a regular church setting.  

When we accepted the blood of Jesus, we also accepted the spirit that prompted Him to leave heaven and submit Himself to torture, shame, pain and eventually death for those who did not even know him.   To accept Christ as Lord in our lives is to submit to that same missionary spirit.   If families embrace the same spirit, our churches will become maternity wards where the cries of new-born babes in the faith are constantly heard.   In the family of God, every one is a missionary.  

Yes, God wants to and can save you as an individual, but what thrills heaven even more is when you and your family is saved.   Greater still, what makes heaven rally together, align resources and support fully, is a family fully engaged in winning another family to God.  

In Southern Africa, it is our intentional drive to strengthen and mobilize families to that end.  Let us with determined and resolute commitment allow God to transform our families into channels of His grace to reach our neighbors and friends with the life-saving truth found in Christ Jesus.  

Pastor Francois Louw

President: Southern Africa Union Conference