Adventists launch effort to start churches

SILVER SPRINGS, Md., — A committee of the Seventh-day Adventist Church has approved spending $1 million to start new congregations across the globe.

The plans approved by the Global Mission Operations Committee will fund 732 projects, the Adventist News Network reported.

“Each project plan comes direct from leaders in the local area,” said Mike Ryan, director of the denomination’s Global Mission initiative.

“The vast majority of these projects are to fund Global Mission pioneers — lay church members who volunteer to move to a new area within their own culture and start a new congregation.” The projects will cost a total of $2.5 million, with local church organizations supplying some of the funding.