ADVENTIST UPDATE: South Pacific

ADVENTIST UPDATE: South Pacific

A news article titled, "Massive Growth, Challenges Confront Adventists on Papua New Guinea," appears to contradict the grandiose title. The article begins by talking about how quickly the church is growing on Papua New Guinea, yet midway through the article one reads about massive attrition! Assistant Editor Jarrrod Stackelroth reports, "…according to outgoing general secretary Neone Okesene's report, the number of people who have left the church is alarming: 'In the past 15 years we brought in 152,843 new members but lost 55,046, or 36.02 percent,' " the report states. "This is equivalent to losing one whole Australian Union Conference in 15 years! Or one North New Zealand Conference every three years." Adventists are often quick to attempt to validate their religion by citing its quick growth; in that light, what does this kind of "massive growth" mean?

Source: Adventist Review, January 13, 2011, p. 12