If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead (James 2:15-17 ESV).
While prayer, Bible study, and preaching are rightly held to be crucial for Christians, we sometimes forget how important it is to reach out to fill needs in our community. The New Testament is full of examples of Jesus and the Apostles healing, feeding, clothing, counseling, and raising money to help the vulnerable in society.
In the 2023 Global Adventist Pastors Survey (GAPS), pastors were asked: “What community activities are promoted by your congregation(s)?” and were provided a list to indicate which options applied:
- Distributing food and clothing
- Providing health education
- Community development
- Prison ministry
- Childcare for single parents
- Family and marriage seminars
- Other community activities
Community Activities Promoted by Congregations
Globally, the most common response, by some distance, was food and clothing distribution: 25.8% of the pastors who answered that they were involved in food and clothing distribution were located in the South American Division, while the lowest percentage, 0.9%, were in the Southern Asia Division. Providing childcare for single parents showed the lowest involvement worldwide.
Pastors’ Personal Involvement in Community Service
Pastors were also asked whether they were personally involved in some form of community service. On average, 78% of pastors reported that they participated, although this varied by Division. In the Southern Asia-Pacific Division, it was 95%, while in the Northern Asia-Pacific Division, it was only 55%.
Perceived Impact of Our Congregation in the Community
When asked what non-Adventists in the community thought about their congregations, an average of 69% of pastors around the world indicated that a significant part of the community knew the church as “active in the community” and was comprised of “good citizens and neighbors.” Naturally, this varied by Division, with lows of 46% in the Inter-European Division and 51% in the Northern Asia-Pacific Division, and highs of 93% in the Ukrainian Union Conference, and 87% in both the East-Central Africa Division and the Southern Asia-Pacific Division.
Ellen White told us that “the spirit of unselfish labor for others gives depth, stability, and Christlike loveliness to the character, and brings peace and happiness to its possessor. … Those who thus devote themselves to unselfish effort for the good of others are most surely working out their own salvation” (Steps to Christ, p. 80).
Thus, working for others, with no thought of reward, not only helps those in need, but also grows our own characters to be more Christ-like—and isn’t that the ultimate goal of Christianity?
You can access the full report here.
Created in collaboration with the Institute of Church Ministry.
Published by ASTR on 12/16/2025.