God is faithful in his His unwavering, consistent, and trustworthy character. He always keeps His promises, never abandons His people, and acts in accordance with His nature regardless of human circumstances. It is a divine, daily mercy that persists even when people are unfaithful, serving as a secure foundation for trust and a shield against despair. Psalm 33:4 states, “For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.” This verse serves as a source of comfort, affirming that God is dependable in all His actions and promises.
In the recent 2025 Annual Statistical Report, the Office of Archives, Statistics and Research (ASTR) published data on church member accessions and losses over the past 5 years. The findings showed that 2024 accessions climbed steadily from the year prior. In fact, with 1.887 million people added to the church, 2024 saw the highest number of net accessions of any year in church history, exceeding the 1.465 million added in 2023. To put that in perspective, that equates to 5,167 new members added every day, 215 per hour, almost 4 per minute.
Accession by Division Over 5 Years
Most noteworthy was the large increase in accessions in the South Pacific Division (SPD), with a remarkable 479% increase from 2023. The SPD accessions were 37,585 in 2023 but were 217,560 in 2024, as a result of the “PNG for Christ” evangelistic campaigns in Papua New Guinea. The SPD was followed by the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) with an impressive 182% increase from the previous year. The SSD accessions were 127,457 in 2023 and were 359,517 in 2024.
Changes in World Membership Over 5 Years
It should be highlighted that, even as accessions increased, the number of losses also increased by 7% in 2024. With a total of 897,712 living losses, 2024 was the second highest year for net losses.
Starting in 1965, a total of 47,005,367 people have become members of the Seventh-day Adventist church. Of those members, at least 20.29 million have chosen to leave, which equates to a net loss of 43.17%. Essentially, more than 4 out of every 10 church members have left the church. It is vital that our church focus both on nurturing new members and reclaiming former members.
Ellen G. White stated, “The love of God is a golden chain, binding finite human beings to Himself. This love passes our knowledge. Human science can not explain it. Human wisdom can not fathom it. Parents love their children, but the love of God is larger, broader, deeper, than human love can possibly be” (Signs of the Times, July 13, 1904, para. 1).
To minister effectively to the world, it is vital to monitor our growth as a church and identify areas of improvement. Examining church growth metrics is essential to understanding our past, evaluating our present, and preparing for the future.
You can access the full report here.
Published by ASTR on 4/07/2026.