Economic Uncertainty Hasn’t Stopped God’s Blessings, Church Officers Say

Amid “the highest economic policy uncertainty ever,” the financial officers of the General Conference (GC) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church said they are thankful to God for what they called His intervention in the financial affairs of the church. “We praise the Lord for the strong financial position of the church, considering the prevailing global economic conditions,” said GC treasurer Paul H. Douglas at the 2025 Spring Meeting of the denomination in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States, April 8. 

Douglas reported that the GC ended the financial year with approximately US$338 million in net assets, 94 percent of which was in cash and investments. “We have been faithful stewards of the resources God has provided to advance the cause of His kingdom,” he said. At the same time, he emphasized that the financial strength of the GC “is not because of our own accomplishment—it is rather God’s divine purpose to provide us what we need to do His work.” 

A Growing Shift 

For 2024 the GC received approximately $4 million more for its share of tithes than the approximately $82 million that was planned for in the budget, Douglas reported. Tithes, however, showed an uneven pattern since 2019 that can be attributed to the implementation of a tithe parity agreement between world church regions, which effectively reduces the contribution of the North American Division (NAD) to overall budget, he reported. Also, in 2024 a significant strengthening of the U.S. dollar against foreign currencies resulted in a smaller amount of tithe received from certain countries around the world. 

Offerings have again surpassed what had been budgeted. Douglas explained that there is a growing shift in the tithe-offerings pattern of contributions. Tithes went from contributing 58 percent to the budget in 2020 to just 45 percent in 2024. “The growing shift in offerings exceeding tithe suggests that an interest in the global mission of the church is being reignited in the hearts and minds of our church members,” Douglas said. “Without a doubt, there will be a reflex influence on the local work of the church that will become more prosperous because of the purposeful attention being afforded to the global work.” 

“What we are seeing here in terms of offerings is a dream,” commented GC stewardship director Marcos Bomfim after approaching one of the microphones. “It’s a reason for joy, and I think we can grow even more.” 

by Marcos Paseggi, Adventist Review | April 9, 2025

The original article was published on the Adventist Review website.