GC President Urges Adventist Leaders to Focus on One Priority: Scripture and Mission

President Erton C. Köhler of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists called leaders of the Inter-American Division to focus on the church’s “one priority” during his keynote address at the I Will Go—Living the Mission Leadership Summit in Riviera Maya, Mexico, on March 1, 2026. The three-day event brought together administrators from 25 unions and 156 local fields to strengthen alignment and mobilize members for gospel-sharing efforts over the next five years.

Köhler emphasized that the church’s focus should be singular, rooted in Scripture and mission. “There are no priorities—there is only one priority,” he stated, urging leaders to define their purpose clearly. He warned that without such clarity, distractions and external pressures could shape their direction instead.

The president described strong leadership as being guided by a clear purpose rather than trends or popularity. “Leaders who are strong know where they are going,” Köhler said. He encouraged leaders to commit their lives to this singular mission, stressing that personal dedication is essential for effective leadership.

Köhler framed the church’s direction as being “grounded in the Bible and focused on the mission.” He referenced Isaiah 37:31, saying, “take root downward and bear fruit upward,” to illustrate the connection between a clear identity and a strong mission. “The deeper the roots, the more abundant the fruit,” he explained.

The summit provided a platform for leaders to align on strategies and initiatives aimed at advancing the church’s global mission. With over 500 administrators in attendance, the gathering underscored the importance of unity and purpose in fulfilling the Adventist Church’s calling.

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