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If we are asked this question, “Who is Jesus to You?” what would be our answer?

People around the world give many different answers based on what they have heard, what they have seen in surveys, or what they have read in books. Some also see Him as just an idea, a person from history, or a "friend" only when life is easy.

We live in a time when we know about many things without really knowing them. We know the stories of political leaders, the art of people like Michelangelo, and the lives of people who changed things. In the same way, it is possible to spend your whole life in church, knowing all about Jesus, without ever meeting Him.

There was a story about a man who asked the church members whether God really exists and how to prove it. It took a long while for anyone to answer, until a man came forward and said, “God exists because I spoke to him this morning and he answered me.”

Do we see the significance of the man’s answer? He knows Jesus more than how he must have heard or read about Him.

A "second-hand" faith is fragile. It relies on parents' testimony, textbook research, or the atmosphere of a church building. But when the storms of life arrive, or when the "hard questions" of the next generation arise, a borrowed faith rarely holds. The vital question remains: Is Jesus a historical figure you’ve heard about, or a Person you have encountered this morning?

The "Nokia" Warning: The Danger of Rigid Tradition

The history of the corporate world offers a haunting parallel for the spiritual life. Nokia was once the undisputed leader of its industry, known for building the world's most durable phones. Yet, when the "new technology" of a changing world arrived, they remained anchored to their old successes. They didn't necessarily do anything "wrong"; they simply failed to change at the right time.

As a church, we are facing a "Nokia moment" with our young people. If we hold on only to old traditions and strict teaching while not showing a real, living relationship with Christ, we might lose the next generation. Our children are smart; they notice when what we say does not match how we live at home. When they see us being fake, they do not just leave the church—they leave their faith.

The Two Conversions: From Religion to Relationship

The journey of faith often involves two distinct encounters. The first is the "identity encounter," where a child raised in an Adventist home begins by embracing the church’s rules, culture, and community. While this stage provides a necessary foundation, it is not the final destination.

The second is the "surrender encounter," akin to a "Jeremiah moment" or an "Enoch walk." This typically unfolds when our own plans collapse—perhaps when a career door closes, or a personal crisis leaves us feeling lost. In this moment, we shift from trying to use God to fulfill our desires to asking God to use us for His purposes.

Our Sacred Duty

In our homes, we cannot force our children to have an encounter with God. We cannot predict it, nor can we manufacture it. We can, however, facilitate the transition. We do this by listening to their doubts and answering questions prayerfully rather than judgmentally. It requires living transparently—showing them a faith that is real, even when it is struggling, rather than a mask of perfection. We must ensure that there is no mismatch between what we preach and how we act.

Isaiah 54:13 says, "All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children." Let’s claim this promise and believe that when we do our part to teach and live out the truth, the Lord Himself becomes the teacher of our children.

The goal of our mission is not just to fill seats or maintain an organization. It is to ensure that every individual—from the veteran leader to the youngest child—moves beyond the "idea" of Jesus and into a "personal encounter" with Him.

𝘈𝘥𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘞𝘢𝘵𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘍𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘪𝘴, 𝘋.𝘔𝘪𝘯., 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘑𝘢𝘯. 15, 2026, 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 the fourth day of the 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘞𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳.

Lyn Lucero / East Central Philippine Union Conference Communication Department