The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Côte d'Ivoire launched "One Voice 27" on Sept. 5 in Yopougon, with Pastor Udoh, to mobilize believers to witness for Christ through 2027.
ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire — September 5, 2026. — A new missionary momentum is taking shape within the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Côte d’Ivoire. On Sabbath, September 5, thousands of members from different congregations across Abidjan gathered at the Yopougon Seventh-day Adventist Church for the official launch of “One Voice 27,” an initiative designed to mobilize the Church from September 2026 to September 2027 around a common mission: to testify about Jesus Christ and proclaim His soon return.
The ceremony was held in the presence of Pastor Bassey E. O. Udoh, President of the West-Central Africa Division (WAD); Pastor Konan Lazare, President of the South and East Côte d’Ivoire Conference; and representatives from the General Conference.
A Church United Around One Mission
In an atmosphere of enthusiasm and commitment, Pastor Udoh welcomed the strong mobilization of church members and expressed his joy at seeing the Church gathered around a shared vision.
“We are all united for one goal, one mission, and one kingdom as One people. Together, we are strong. We are Christ’s messengers with a powerful voice when we engage in unity.”
For the WAD president, unity is an essential strength for effectively fulfilling the Church’s mission. “One Voice 27” therefore represents an invitation to move beyond congregational boundaries and work collectively to make the Gospel known.
“Our Phones Must Be a Special Tool”
Pastor Konan Lazare, for his part, emphasized the importance of unity and the use of technology in fulfilling the mission.
“It is through unity that we will accomplish our goal. Let us tell the world that Christ’s coming is at hand, using every possible means to achieve this. Our phones must be a special tool for reaching our goal.”
This statement highlights one of the distinctive features of “One Voice 27”: encouraging members to view their digital tools, particularly mobile phones, as genuine instruments for mission.
Social media, digital platforms, and various communication channels can thus become spaces for witnessing and sharing Christian hope.
“You Are the Light of the World”
Speaking on behalf of “One Voice 27,” Pastor Marcelo, who is responsible for liaison between the General Conference and the West-Central Africa Division, based his message on Matthew 5:14–15:
“You are the light of the world.”
Drawing from this biblical passage, he urged church leaders and members to fully commit themselves to the initiative and to make their daily lives a testimony to God’s transforming power.
“We must glorify God through the lifestyle we live. This is the time to proclaim what God has done for us and through us. Let us use our phones to proclaim Christ and His return in glory. Go and witness for Him.”
He also reminded the congregation of the importance of personal communion with God:
“Let us spend time studying the Bible. Let us serve the Lord with joy and dedication. Christ is coming very soon to put an end to our cries of distress.”
September 2026 to September 2027: A Mobilized Church
The launch of “One Voice 27” marks the beginning of a year-long period dedicated to missionary mobilization, from September 2026 to September 2027.
The initiative calls on every member to play a part in the mission, not only through public preaching, but also through personal testimony, lifestyle, commitment to Bible study, and the use of digital communication tools.
The goal is to make every believer an active messenger of hope in Christ—someone capable of witnessing within their sphere of influence and reaching new people through the opportunities provided by communication technologies.
A Launch Marked by Commitment
The highlight of the ceremony was the official public launch of “One Voice 27” by Pastor Bassey E. O. Udoh.
Before a large gathering of members from various churches across Abidjan, the WAD president officially set the initiative in motion, ushering the Church into a renewed dynamic of witnessing and evangelism.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, one message clearly emerged: unity strengthens the mission, the Bible nourishes our witness, and digital tools can significantly expand the reach of the Gospel.
With “One Voice 27,” the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Côte d’Ivoire is embarking on a new year of missionary mobilization, driven by a shared conviction: Jesus is coming again, and every believer is called to be a light that bears witness to this hope.
Nestor BOLLET - Communication Department - WAD.
Email: wadnews@wad.adventist.org
