The Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD) of Seventh-day Adventists opened the first-ever GAiN (Global Adventist Internet Network) Asia Conference at the NSD Leadership Training Center on Jeju Island, South Korea, from September 13–17, 2023. This event intends to explore the connection between communication and technology in achieving the church's mission.
The 2023 GAiN Asia Conference brought together digital technology leaders and professionals to stimulate collaborative efforts in merging content and technology to share the Gospel message across varied platforms. With over 300 delegates from the Northern Asia-Pacific Division, Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD), Southern Asia Division (SUD), Hope Channel, Adventist World Radio, and other pertinent organizations in attendance, this conference set out to redefine the role of technology in ministry.
The General Conference (GC) Communication Department, led by Pastor Williams Costa Jr., is committed to promoting ministry via faith and digital technology. He underlined the significance of collaboration in his inaugural address. He underscored that while content and technology have been instrumental in reaching wider audiences, the spotlight should always remain on Jesus.
"We're not here to applaud content or technology. We're here to show how to use technology to share Jesus," Pastor Costa stated. "Content always goes hand in hand with technology. The separation of technology and content is dead. But the connection between technology and content produces life, blessings, and innovation."
One of the groundbreaking concepts offered by Pastor Costa was the use of AI (artificial intelligence) tools to create content that can smoothly translate video and audio materials into other languages while retaining the spirit and character of the original form. This idea has the potential to break down language barriers and spread the Gospel to a global audience.
The GAiN Asia Conference is a venue for revealing new developments and highlighting accomplishments in communication technology. It seeks to inspire and motivate ministries and individuals to adapt and improve their workflows in response to the changing landscape of digital ministry.
GAiN was created in 2004 with the primary goal of developing a global network of Adventist communicators, technologists, and media professionals. GAiN aims to use communication, technology, media, and the internet to help the Adventist Church fulfill its mission of communicating the everlasting Gospel with individuals of "every nation, tribe, tongue, and people."
After 16 years of having annual GAiN conferences in various locations throughout the world, the GC decided to organize continental gatherings in 2022. This year, GAiN events were held across the globe, with the NSD sponsoring the Asian leg of this global program.
Pastor Costa stated his delight at being in Asia, a continent comprising mainly non-Christian countries, with a population of more than 4 billion people. This regional focus emphasizes the importance and relevance of the Communication Department's efforts to spread the Gospel through various media channels, particularly within the difficult 10/40 window.
As the GAiN Asia Conference took place on Jeju Island, it ushered in a new chapter in the synergy of faith and technology, with the message of hope and salvation serving as a beacon guiding the way forward.
GAiN Europe 2023
Last year, in 2022, more than 180 Seventh-day Adventist communicators met in Bucharest, Romania, for the 2022 Global Adventist Innovation Network (GAiN Europe) gathering on October 14-18, 2022. The “Forward: Keep Moving” event gathered communication leaders and experts from 35 countries, all of whom work in Adventist journalism, radio, TV, and social media.
This year, GAiN Europe will take place from October 20 to 24 in Budva, Montenegro. If you are a leader, content creator, IT expert, consultant, student, or trainee and want to participate, please find more information here.
For more information about the 2023 GAiN Asia Conference, please visit this link.
The original version of this story was posted on the Southern Asia-Pacific Division website.
