End of The One Project

[JoeMo]

I received the very sad news today that after the Feb. 11-12, 2018 gathering in San Diego, The One Project will be no more.  A sad day to see one of the most meaningful forums in Adventism disappear. 

[JoeMo]

"The final One project gathering will take place in San Diego, California, February 11-12, 2018. This bittersweet but ultimately celebratory gathering—which will no doubt contain as many tears as smiles—will focus on the theme “Oh, How I Love Jesus!”

The final three gatherings in our calendar—Atlanta (Oct 21-22, 2017), Sydney (February 3-4, 2018), and San Diego (February 11-12, 2018), will be available only to those physically present. No audio or video recordings will be made.

Thank you to every one of you who have faithfully supported the One project over the past seven years, whether through your attendance at gatherings, your donations, your kind words of affirmation, or your prayers. We will always treasure the Christ-centered relationships we've built as the result of the One project. We won't say "goodbye;" we'll simply say "until."

We are already looking forward to the next chapter in our local churches. If you're interested in collaborating with people from all over the world on local church ministry, it might be a good idea to save this date: October 19-23, 2018.

Jesus. All."

The above is a quote from The One Project Leadership.

[Gregory Matthews]

What Jo Mo quoted above was taken from an official statement from the founders of The One Project.  It is true that The One Project is closing up shop.  Following the Gathering in San Diego, it will be no more.

However, it is planning to restructure.  The founders of The One Project plan to raise from the ashes of The  One Project something not only new, but something that will go in a different direction, while being a vital part of the SDA denomination in both mission and in ministry.  This is at such an early stage of development that it would be pre-mature for any one to attempt to tell us about that reorganization.  So, any attempts to do so will probably be false.

The only thing that I will say is this:  If you have any interest as to how this new development might be integrated into the mission and ministry of the SDA Church, keep the dates of October 19 - 23 open.

 

[Gregory Matthews]

It is not so much that it is mysterious, as it is that it is   in the developmental stage and it is not yet in a concrete form that can be stated.  

[Gregory Matthews]

The founders of The One Project expect to release a public statement as to the direction they are going near the end of this year.

[Gregory Matthews]

The following is a statement by Adventist Today about this:

https://atoday.org/the-one-project-announces-final-event/

If you read it, you will see that TOP intends to continue on in a different form with a focus on the needs of individual congregations.

De Oliveira said that at a leadership retreat this summer, leaders wrestled with the question of whether The One Project events were the best way of answering “the call that Jesus had on our lives to make Him central in All things.”

Leaders decided that the best way to spread the message of Jesus as the center of the Adventist faith was through local churches. “What is better than our local churches? Nothing!” said De Oliveira. “I am sure, that until Jesus comes back, they [local churches] will always need more love and more ideas … so I look forward to this new chapter.”

 

 

[Gregory Matthews]

In 1776, when some 56 people signed the Declaration of Independence they said in part the following:  

Quote

. . . we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

Our historians tell us that those were the costs that were paid by those who so signed.

It is probably little known that the five (5) founders of The One Project also pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor.  No, none has died as a result.  But, there has been an emotional toll.  In order to carry on the  mission and ministry of TOP, they have personally been responsible for six-figure debts incurred by TOP.  Their commitment to the Lord and the SDA denomination has been challenged.

The One Project is winding down as I write.  With the end of the San Diego Gathering   in February 2018, it will be over and done with.  

Like the mythical Phoenix of Herodotus, out of the ashes of TOP will arise a new creation, a new organization focused on the mission and ministry of the SDA denomination and the local congregations.  

A public announcement of this is expected in late December.  Until than the details are being formulated.  The bird (the Phoenix) is expected to fly this next January.