The Southern Zambia Union Conference (SZUC) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church officially launched the OneVoice27 project on January 31, 2026, at the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA) in Lusaka. The initiative marks the beginning of a church-wide evangelistic campaign under the theme “Mission for All.”

The project aims to mobilize church members for active participation in mission and evangelism using both traditional media and digital platforms. The initiative is part of preparations for the 2,000-year commemoration of the baptism of Jesus Christ in 2027.

Through OneVoice27, church leaders seek to equip members to share the gospel using contemporary communication tools, with the goal that every platform becomes a pulpit.

The launch brought together members from the Lusaka and Woodlands Conferences, frontline ministers, elders, and local church members.

Among those in attendance were Southern Africa–Indian Ocean Division (SID) President Harrington Akombwa; and the Southern Zambia Union Conference officers led by Dr. Vanny Munyumbwe.

Leaders emphasize mission and unity

Speaking during the launch, Akombwa expressed gratitude to all attendees and commended the Government for providing the venue. He underscored the importance of the initiative, noting that a similar OneVoice27 programme held on the Copperbelt had attracted about 10,000 participants.

He further revealed that the Seventh-day Adventist Church has close to 25 million members globally, with 4.3 million in the SID—making it the second-largest division after the East-Central Africa Division—and that the project has already been launched in Northern Zambia Union and Malawi.

Drawing from Matthew 3:1, Akombwa said OneVoice27 reflects the message of repentance and baptism, anchored on the biblical principle of “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5). He urged the church to remain faithful in worship, highlighting the Sabbath as God’s rest for all creation, while cautioning against teachings that undermine the biblical account of creation.

“As a church, we are going to commemorate the baptism of Jesus in AD 27, which marks 2,000 years in 2027. It is against this backdrop and message that the project is being launched,” Akombwa said.

Referencing Matthew 24:12, he noted that one of the often-overlooked signs of the end times is the decline of love among people. He stressed the urgency of proclaiming the Gospel so that all may have the opportunity to choose salvation.

“With the commemoration of Jesus’ baptism, we must go forward. That is why we cannot afford but to speak with one voice. This is no time for spectators,” he said, adding that Christ’s return is imminent.

Addressing delegates before the dedicatory prayer, Munyumbwe announced the establishment of a strategic committee to guide the implementation of OneVoice27. He called on all ministers, elders, and church members to fully commit themselves to the initiative, inviting them to affirm the declaration: “A timely method for a timeless message — I will go.”

He further explained that by September 2027, the church’s media focus would shift from being predominantly church-operated to member-driven, with strong emphasis on digital evangelism. Members will be empowered to use mobile phones, social media platforms, and other media tools to actively share the Gospel, reinforcing the vision that every platform can be a pulpit.

The preparations for OneVoice27 will also include a global prayer-led initiative, focused reflections on the life of Christ through The Desire of Ages, and in-depth study of the prophetic books of Daniel and Revelation.

The launch program concluded with a dedicatory prayer led by Munyumbwe, officially ushering in the OneVoice27 mission across the Southern Zambia Union Conference.

This article was provided by the Southern Zambia Union Conference in the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division.