As followers of Jesus, we know our mission. He told us to “go and make disciples of all nations” to baptize them, and teach them his commands. The official mission statement of the Seventh-day Adventist church declares that we should “make disciples of all people” and lead them to “unite with His remnant church.”

But how do we lead others to Jesus? When friends, coworkers, or strangers look at you and me, do they see someone happy? Someone who loves everyone? Does your life make people want what you have? As Adventist Pioneer Ellen White wrote, “Harmony and union existing among men of varied dispositions is the strongest witness that can be borne that God has sent His Son into the world to save sinners.”

Even secular organizations, like the tech giant Google, are realizing how much impact relationships can have. The Washington Post reported that although “Google originally set its hiring algorithms to sort for computer science students with top grades,” research actually showed that, “among the eight most important qualities of Google’s top employees, STEM expertise comes in dead last.” As it turns out:  

The seven top characteristics of success at Google are all soft skills: being a good coach; communicating and listening well; possessing insights into others (including others different values and points of view); having empathy toward and being supportive of one’s colleagues; being a good critical thinker and problem solver; and being able to make connections across complex ideas. Read more

After this study, Google changed its hiring practices to prioritize these qualities, hiring workers with strong soft skills like listening and conflict resolution. The Oregon Conference Relational Ministries department wants to help churches master these same soft skills.

Every human soul who steps through the door of an Adventist church should want to stay and be loved. People should be so deeply impressed by the loving, balanced, and mature people that they meet in Christ’s family, that they’ll want to learn more about Jesus.

We want every church, in Oregon and beyond, to be a safe place for everyone.