At the 62nd General Conference (GC) Session in St. Louis, Missouri, the intersection of faith and technology took center stage. As booths across the exhibit hall showcased. how Seventh-day Adventist institutions are leveraging innovation to advance mission, outreach and education.
One of the most striking displays came from the Middle East and North Africa Union (MENA), where visitors to the Israel booth donned VR headsets and explored life in the region’s 19 countries from Morocco to Iran. Amid stunning landscapes, guests also confronted sobering realities: only one in 99,000 people in MENA is Adventist, and visa issues have forced the deportation of pastors and members.
To drive the message home, MENA digital manager Eduardo Bovo offered an immersive challenge: find the lone Adventist in a virtual village of 99 people represented by a character holding a lantern. Those who succeeded were given a mini lantern and named ambassadors for MENA. “We want people to experience the challenge, not just hear about it,” said Bovo. “Experiences are what people remember.”
Science as a Quiet Witness
At the Walla Walla University (WWU) booth, science came alive literally. Phil and Paul, two bioengineering robots designed by students. captivated onlookers with a coordinated display. Phil constructed microscopic tissue scaffolding. While Paul manipulated a ping-pong ball, inscribed it with the university’s initials (“WW”) and sent it down a chute.
More than a demonstration, it highlighted WWU’s pioneering work in tissue engineering. Students use this scaffolding to grow functional human muscle tissue. offering potential hope to patients needing. more than what skin grafts can provide. “We’re building engineers of faith,” said Jodi Wagner, vice president for marketing and enrollment. “People who will serve with their hands and hearts in every area of life.”
WWU students also apply their skills globally. designing One Day Church attachments. innovation purifying water in remote regions and assisting with communication infrastructure through Engineering Without Borders. President Alex Bryan summed it up: “If it’s engineering, it’s Walla Walla.”
Ministry Meets Modern Tools
In another section of the hall, Brazil-based IATec (Adventist Institute of Technology) showcased digital tools streamlining church operations across South America. From finance to education and HR systems. IATec supports church management with platforms like the Adventist Church Management System (ACMS). And the 7me mobile app, which connects members with local church resources, spiritual content and giving options.
“Our solutions help fulfill the mission and share Christ’s message,” said project manager Wilson Carlos Da Silva.
AI for the 10/40 Window
Hope Channel International’s booth brought cutting-edge tech to outreach through Jetstream Voice Dubbing. An AI tool that translates recorded messages into multiple languages within minutes. Visitors recorded short videos and received translated versions via email in under 15 minutes.
The tool’s potential is significant especially in hard-to-reach areas like the 10/40 Window. “When we can’t physically be there. These tools help us reach people with the gospel,” said theology student and booth representative Jonathan Deyman. “Hope Channel’s goal is to reach 1 billion people by 2030.”
Digital Evangelism for a New Generation
Also focused on digital ministry, 7Play, a media initiative from the South American Division. It streamed engaging Bible-based content for children and youth at their booth. Described as an innovation faith-based alternative to Netflix. The platform offers animated series, documentaries and films rooted in Adventist values.
Originally launched as Feliz7Play, the platform now reaches a growing non-Adventist audience. People find the church through our content. Some even use it to evangelize in jails. shared executive producer Kimberly Dias.
Virtual Theology: The TheoVerse Legacy
Bridging faith and immersive learning, the Inter-American Division Theological Seminary unveiled. The TheoVerse Legacy is a virtual reality Bible study experience. Visitors journeyed through the seven days of creation, encountering challenges and visual storytelling designed to deepen theological understanding.
Backed by a companion book and educator-led discussions. The experience has already sparked interest from regional Adventist schools and international educators. We believe people remember what they experience, ” said Carlos Robles, the project lead and president of institutional effectiveness at the seminary.
Developed over two years with funding from Adventist and non-Adventist partners. The tool aims to make complex spiritual concepts come alive for learners of all ages.
From virtual reality to bioengineering, AI translation to faith-based media. The 62nd GC Session booths served as blueprints for a new kind of mission. one where innovation is not just embraced but infused with purpose. Adventist schools are creatively advancing. The gospel whether in the laboratory. In the field, or via a computer screen, demonstrating to the world. That the message of hope is alive, pertinent and always adaptable.
Most of the world’s unreached people live in a swath. including sections of North Africa. The Middle East and Asia known as the ten/40 window. It is still a target strategy for Adventist missions.
Conclusion
From artificial intelligence -driven tools and robotics to immersive media and virtual theology experiences. Each exhibit provided a glimpse into a future. innovation technology is used not for its own sake but rather as a tool to serve, educate and evangelize. The 62nd General Conference Session in St. Louis powerfully showed how faith and invention may work hand in hand to advance the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Whether via a VR headset, a dubbed video or a child’s preferred Bible-based program, Adventist schools are developing imaginative, spirit-led answers to touch the globe. As these mission plans keep changing. They confirm a timeless truth: The gospel is most effective when it speaks to the heart and meets people where they are.
