Whose Word, Whose Servant, and Whose Mission?

As I reflect on the events that have taken place since August 2024, I believe it is important not to forget what the enemy has done—and is still doing. It is time to decide whose word we are going to listen to, whose servant are we going to become, and whose mission will we fulfill

Scripture counsels: “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Ephesians 5:11). 

A Brief Recap of Events 2024 August – December

1.      Dr. Conrad Vine was banned (disciplined) by the Michigan Conference shortly before the Village Church’s second Religious Liberty event.  The senior pastor chose to honor the ban in hopes of finding a resolution. 

2.      I appealed to the Michigan Conference President to use Scripture and the Spirit of Prophecy to show Dr. Vine where he was supposedly teaching heresy.  He refused to do so.  

3.      The Michigan Conference President demanded that Pr. Ron Kelly write an open letter expressing disapproval of Dr. Vine. 

4.      The Michigan Conference withheld approval for the medical insurance required to open the Village clinic for medical missionary work. The approval was being withheld until: 

a.      Pr. Kelly wrote a letter in disagreement with Dr. Vine.

b.      Village Church leadership disciplined Dr. Vine. (noted below)

c.      Dr. Vine stepped down from his leadership roles at Village Church. (The Conference President suggested this in a meeting with Village Church elders.)

Pastor Mark Howard, a Michigan Conference employee speaking in an online video after the termination of Pr. Kelly, confirmed that the Conference was attempting to force disciplinary action:

“The conference who hired the pastor to feed and protect that flock had to step in and do the job the pastor refused to do… Even now the pastor in question and the elders in the church in question refuse to bring disciplinary action upon the Elder in question. There has been no discipline to date.” 

This statement makes clear that Conference officers were not merely seeking “clarification as to where the senior pastor and elders stood in regard to Dr. Vine’s position”—as they claimed in other meetings—but were actively insisting that the Village Church both discipline and remove Dr. Vine from his leadership roles. 

5.      Pr. Ron Kelly’s employment was terminated. Shortly afterward, Conference Officers convened a special meeting with all pastors. I raised two questions of concern with the Conference Secretary: 

1.      Why not wait until after the holidays to address Pr. Kelly’s situation?
The answer: The Executive Committee would not be meeting again until February.

2.      Why are you letting the interim senior pastor clear the Village Church’s calendar of events for three months—including Religious Liberty Weekend? The answer: That would not happen.

A week later the Conference President emailed the interim senior pastor to cancel the Religious Liberty event stating:

“It is essential to carefully evaluate how we, as a church body, relate to topics concerning COVID and religious liberty before moving forward.” (letter sent to the Interim Senior Pastor Dec. 19, 2024)

It is important to note that the wrong pronoun was used in saying, “It is essential to carefully evaluate how we… This should read “you,” because it was only the Village Religious Liberty event that was cancelled.

2025 January – April

1.      Ministerial meetings with all Michigan Conference pastors. 

When I gave an illustration (without mentioning Dr. Vine or Pr. Kelly) of the coercion being used by the conference officers through withholding the medical insurance, the Conference President replied in his attempt at self-justification: 

“Conrad and Ron are not in an authoritative position… So for them to look up at the GC and say, ‘You need to do this,’ is very different.” (Pulled from a transcript of the meeting)

After the letter canceling Religious Liberty Weekend was issued, and the statement made to me at the ministerial meetings by the Conference President, it became apparent to me and many others that the ban on Dr. Vine, the firing of Pr. Kelly, and the cancellation of the Religious Liberty event was all the result of Village Church’s stance on:

• liberty of conscience

• vaccine mandates that violated religious conviction

• discussions about current events in relation to religious liberty

• not submitting to the General Conference position in support of vaccine mandates, the mainstream narrative, and that we were using our religious liberty inappropriately by refusing a prescribed treatment for a virus.

Our religious liberty events were both informative and deeply meaningful. They helped people recognize the times in which we are living and inspired them to draw closer to Jesus. While not everyone appreciated everything that was said, no heresy was ever taught, and the truth was presented with clarity and conviction. Through these meetings, many believers around the world were encouraged and strengthened to stand firm in their convictions and to faithfully exercise their God-given liberty of conscience. Throughout the entire process, the Village Church Board and church in business session maintained a 100% pro-choice position on matters of personal conscience.

2. The Village Church Board in February formally appealed to the MI Conference Executive Committee and MI Lake Union President for a meeting as outlined in the Church Manual (20th ed., pp. 32, 35). This appeal was ignored, and the Michigan Conference President appealed later to the GC.

3. The Michigan Conference began systematically disciplining pastors who raised concerns about the unbiblical methods and the spirit in which leadership was handling matters.

4. I resigned in April from ministry in the Michigan Conference due to the un-Christlike behavior directed toward me for calling the leadership to account. I had served nearly eight years at Village Church before taking a call to another district in the MI conference. 

5. By the end of April, three pastors had been disciplined, and additional pastors transitioned out at a later date. The ministries at Village Church were largely stalled, except for the slow-moving medical missionary work led by Dr. Hess. The world mission emphasis, education reform, rapid advancement of medical missionary work, Religious Liberty events, and mentoring of young people—all were abruptly halted.

Is this an example of what will happen to every church body and pastor that stands up to challenge General Conference positions—such as those on COVID vaccines? In the statement below, it appears that whatever the GC is convinced of has priority over what a member may be convicted of. In addition, these actions suggest that leadership believes they have the final authority to determine whether a person is using their religious liberty appropriately. And when a church body protests what is an overreach of authority…the situation at Village Church seems to serve as an example of what may follow.

Let’s consider the GC’s conclusion to vaccine mandates from their Re-Affirmation statement of 2021

“The Seventh-day Adventist Church, in consultation with the Health Ministries and Public Affairs and Religious Liberty departments of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, is convinced that the vaccination programs that are generally being carried out are important for the safety and health of our members and the larger community. Therefore, claims of religious liberty are not used appropriately in objecting to government mandates or employer programs designed to protect the health and safety of their communities.” “Reaffirming Adventist Church Response to COVID-19.”

What would Jesus say to this statement today? Let’s review the story in Luke 9:51-56 Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem and sent messengers to a Samaritan village to prepare it for His visit. The Samaritans did not want Him there. This offended James and John so much they wanted to call fire down from heaven and destroy them. They were convinced that what Jesus had to offer should not be rejected—that the gospel was intended to deliver people from sin, protect them from Satan, and was ultimately for the good of the whole community. To them, the Samaritans’ exercise of God-given freedom of choice seemed completely inappropriate.

How did Jesus respond – “Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” And they went to another village . .

His rebuke to them is His rebuke to all that stand behind the GC’s position—that what they’re convinced of trumps another person’s conviction, and claims of religious liberty are not used appropriately in objecting to government mandates.

Jesus Would Defend Freedom of Conscience

Jesus respected the Samaritans’ freedom to reject Him. He did not shame them, punish them, or override their choice. He simply went to another village (unlike what took place by leaders and laity alike during COVID).

“There can be no more conclusive evidence that we possess the spirit of Satan than the disposition to hurt and destroy those who do not appreciate our work, or who act contrary to our ideas” (The Desire Of Ages p.487). 

Jesus would warn His followers that what they were convinced of as the common good for all did not justify force. Even when the disciples believed they were defending truth, Jesus rebuked them for trying to combine His mission with coercive power.

In the same reaffirmation statement, we were told,

“The Public Affairs and Religious Liberty department of the General Conference (PARL) regards COVID-19 as a Public Health crisis and views connection with vaccines accordingly. PARL provides support and assistance for members who are standing for the religious teachings and doctrines of the Church.”

But Fundamental Belief 22 states:

“We are called to be a godly people who think, feel, and act in harmony with biblical principles in all aspects of personal and social life. For the Spirit to recreate in us the character of our Lord we involve ourselves only in those things that will produce Christlike purity, health, and joy in our lives. This means that our amusement and entertainment should meet the highest standards of Christian taste and beauty. While recognizing cultural differences, our dress is to be simple, modest, and neat, befitting those whose true beauty does not consist of outward adornment but in the imperishable ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit. It also means that because our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, we are to care for them intelligently. Along with adequate exercise and rest, we are to adopt the most healthful diet possible and abstain from the unclean foods identified in the Scriptures. Since alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and the irresponsible use of drugs and narcotics are harmful to our bodies, we are to abstain from them as well. Instead, we are to engage in whatever brings our thoughts and bodies into the discipline of Christ, who desires our wholesomeness, joy, and goodness.”  (Gen. 7:2; Exod. 20:15; Lev. 11:1-47; Ps. 106:3; Rom. 12:1, 2; 1 Cor. 6:19, 20; 10:31; 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1; 10:5; Eph. 5:1-21; Phil. 2:4; 4:8; 1 Tim. 2:9, 10; Titus 2:11, 12; 1 Peter 3:1-4; 1 John 2:6; 3 John 2.)

Romans 14:5 states – “Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.”

But if PARL is convinced differently, that gives them the authority to deny this teaching of Christ and refuse to fulfill what they claim they are employed to do through tithe money. They tell the United Nations,

“The Department of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty exists to promote and maintain religious liberty and help Seventh-Day Adventists who are persecuted for their faith.”

LINK — (Click Consultative Status, then click year 1994 -1997 for statement p.2)

But they won’t lift a finger to defend Seventh-Day Adventists who are persecuted for their faith through government mandates on vaccinations and denial of religious exemptions. They even refuse pastors their responsibility to provide such exemptions on church letter head in defense of what Christ and the church teaches based on fundamental belief 22.

We don’t believe in mandating the health message and adherence to it, even though it has done more for the human body on a holistic level then any vaccine ever created. Why? Because while we claim to believe in freedom of choice, certain leaders and laity would defend and support mandated government vaccine health treatments.

As the Prophet of the Lord stated,

“We have far more to fear from within than from without. The hindrances to strength and success are far greater from the church itself than from the world…But how often have the professed advocates of the truth proved the greatest obstacle to its advancement! The unbelief indulged, the doubts expressed, the darkness cherished encourage the presence of evil angels, and open the way for the accomplishment of Satan’s devices” (1SM 122.3  (1887).

The question that many are asking is “Why won’t the GC will take down or change their statement on vaccines—that is clearly contrary to the Spirit of Jesus Christ and opposed to the liberty conscience?” Why won’t they just do this?  

Perhaps that answer has to do with the influence that the United Nations has on them—due to their NGO status.

Let’s consider statements they’ve made to the United Nations over the past 40 years. These statements appear to be influencing the emphases of the message and mission of our church and ultimately shaping the thinking of our leaders with those of the UN.   

"On May 10 the United Nations recognized the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists as a nongovernmental organization (NGO) in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations."  Adventist Review, June 27, 1985, p. 7

The mission statement by the General Conference placed on the 1985 UN NGO Application reads:

"The mission statement of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is to call all people to become disciples of Jesus Christ, to proclaim the everlasting gospel embraced by the three angels' messages (Rev. 14:6-12), and to prepare the world for Christs' soon return”. 

              (click profile, click activities and scroll to the bottom of the page for statement)

I strongly agree with that statement. But let’s examine more recent statements: 

1990-1993 – (Submitted in 1995 Quadrennial Report UN Economic and Social Council)

Aims and purpose
“…The mission of the church is to proclaim to all people the everlasting gospel as described in the Holy Bible. Acknowledging that development of mind and character is essential to God’s redemptive plan, the Church promotes the growth of a mature understanding of a relationship to God, His Word and the created universe. Affirming the biblical emphasis on the well-being of the whole person, the church makes the preservation of health and the healing of the sick a priority, and, through its ministry to the poor and oppressed, cooperates with the Creator in His compassionate work of restoration.”

General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (GC-SDA) section from the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) document E/C.2/1995/2 (Quadrennial reports, 1990-1993): (E/C.2/1995/2, pp. 47–48) Official Document System (section 15 pp. 47)

The reference to Revelation 14:6-12 and preparing the world for Christ’s soon return are both missing now.  

1999 session Review of quadrennial reports submitted by non-governmental organizations in general and special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council - states

"The Seventh-Day Adventist Church seeks to lead people to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ and to enhance the quality of life not only for its members but for people in all nations of the world."

LINK (Click Consultative Status, then click year 1994 -1997 for statement P2).

The gospel has nearly been removed.

2005-2008 Quadrennial Report UN Economic and Social Council

"The General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (GCSA) is the world governing body of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, a Christian organization that promotes a better life, both spiritual and physical, for individuals and communities.

…The values and principles of the Adventist Church find expression in a wide variety of activities that parallel United Nations goals, including health, education, humanitarian aid, youth training, women's issues, child development, religious freedom and human rights promotion."

LINK (UN Digital Library record for the 2005-2008 quadrennial reports section 3 p. 7)

It no longer talks of a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. 

2009-2012 Quadrennial Report UN Economic and Social Council

"The General Conference of Seventh Day Adventists actively affirms, develops and educates on the principles of religious liberty and freedom of conscience enshrined in the United Nations documents dealing with religious freedom. These include but are not limited to article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief."

UN document for the 2009–2012 quadrennial reports.

We started out with a clear statement on the biblical mission of our church and within 30 years they confess 100% support for the United Nations’ policies and agendas.

There is a great inconsistency between the mission statement that is stated publicly to the Church on the GC website and what is stated to the United Nations. Apparently, someone is being lied to.

Ancient Israel was repeatedly warned not to make alliances with the nations or united nations around them. But they ignored the commandment and counsel of God and these alliances led to their apostasy and downfall.

“You shall make no covenant with them, nor with their gods… lest they make you sin against Me. For if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you” (Exodus 23:32, 33).

God repeatedly warns against unholy alliances—partnerships with those who oppose His truth and seek to mislead His people. These examples serve as both instruction and warning for God’s people today. Scripture provides many examples—such as Jehoshaphat’s alliances with Ahab and Ahaziah—which demonstrate God’s disapproval of unholy partnerships. These narratives parallel our situation today.

Jehoshaphat

In 2 Chronicles 18, Jehoshaphat aligns himself with Ahab to confront a common enemy. Ahab represents those who do not walk with God—much like today’s United Nations—whose many agendas directly oppose biblical truth and aim to mislead God’s faithful. Jehoshaphat almost lost his life due to this alliance in the battle. 

Jehoshaphat is rebuked by the prophet Jehu for entering into this forbidden alliance:

“Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? Therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord” (2 Chronicles 19:2).

God’s disapproval is clear: aligning with those who oppose His will, does bring judgment, even when the intent seems strategic or beneficial.

The pattern repeats in 2 Chronicles 20 where Jehoshaphat forms an alliance with King Ahaziah, “a man who did very wickedly,” hoping the partnership would advance his own plans. 

“After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah allied himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted very wickedly… But Eliezer prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, ‘Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the Lord has destroyed your works.’ Then the ships were wrecked, so that they were not able to go to Tarshish.”

These events of the past serve as solemn warnings that unholy alliances with those who oppose God’s truth lead not to prosperity but to destruction—a lesson with clear parallels to modern relationships between the General Conference and the United Nations. 

The counsel remains the same: 

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?” (2 Corinthians 6:14–15).

From both Testaments, the lesson is unmistakable: God’s people must not form alliances that compromise truth, weaken conviction, or bind the cause of Christ to those who oppose it.  Such partnerships always lead to the same result—confusion, heartache, and the tragic loss of eternal life. 

“Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (1 Corinthians 10:11).

Here is a clear example, as it seems we have forgotten the great commission by Jesus Christ:

“All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 29:18-20).

However, ADRA’s website states the opposite:

“ADRA does not proselytize. God's love in ADRA's programs is expressed when it reaches out to those in need regardless of race, gender, and political, or religious affiliation. We work in harmony with a broad array of cultures, traditions, and people of non-Christian faith, respecting the human dignity of all. The positive impact of ADRA's contribution globally validates our heritage and belief in benevolent giving, as well as introduces the Adventist name to communities.” 

I fully support humanitarian aid—but it is only a means of introducing people to the goodness of the gospel. What good is it to provide food, clothing, and shelter, relieving suffering for a moment, only for a person to go down to a Christless grave? If we truly love others as Christ loves us, then we will obey God rather than man. True compassion meets physical need, yes—but it never stops short of introducing souls to Jesus Christ.

There is no power to save in the Adventist name. There is no freedom from the burden of sin in the Adventist name.  There is only one name under heaven by which we must be saved: Jesus Christ.  It is Satan who does not want the gospel preached. It is Satan who does not want people to know the saving power found in Jesus Christ. So we must ask:  Whose word are we listening to, whose servants are we declaring ourselves to be, and whose mission are we fulfilling when we reject a plain “thus says the LORD”?

The prophet of the Lord told us, 

“There should be no confederacy formed with unbelievers. …Then let every man work in God’s lines to convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. This is my work; this is the work of every colaborer with Jesus Christ. The agencies that are employed in any department of the work to transform the world must not form a confederacy with the world, to do what they shall or shall not do. We must obey the orders from above. Any suggestions made by those who receive not the truth, who know not what the work of God is doing for this time, weaken the power of the work. They drop Christ out of their counsels and accept the counsel of the gods of Ekron” (1888 Materials p. 926, 933).

Would not the rebuke from Isaiah to Israel of old apply to God’s church leaders today?

“Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion” (Isaiah 30:1-3).

Unholy alliances are the reason why we are told in our humanitarian aid we are not to proselytize. Unholy alliances are the reason why we have heard from leaders in the church and professors in our universities that Rome has changed. Unholy alliances are the reason why we hear in some of our pulpits that we are to affirm LGBTQ lifestyle, and that we will be sinning until Jesus comes. Unholy alliances are why we read statements such as you have no religious or faith-based reason not to get vaccinated.

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4).

How can leaders in the church openly violate clear biblical counsel and form alliances forbidden by Scripture, trespass openly against the commandments of God, and trample upon liberty of conscience and still remain employed? They are not doing this in ignorance. These are highly educated men and women that have been given a sacred responsibility to carry out the work of God.  

A Call to Repentance and Decision

Jesus declared: “No man can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24).

The time to repent and sever the unholy alliance between the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the United Nations is now.

The hour is late, and neutrality is no longer possible. The sacred trust committed to the remnant people of God cannot be carried forward while holding hands with the very powers we are called to warn the world about. We were not raised up to echo the policies of earthly institutions, nor to blend our mission with philosophies that contradict the law of God. We were raised up to proclaim a message that will cost something—a message that separates light from darkness, truth from error, loyalty to Christ from loyalty to the world and Satan. This is the responsibility Heaven has placed upon us.

This sacred commission cannot be fulfilled by a church seeking favor, protection, or credibility from the world. It can only be fulfilled by a people who fear God more than men, who love truth more than position, and who value conscience more than convenience.

If we fail to lift up Jesus Christ through the Three Angels’ Messages with clarity and courage, then the stones will cry out in protest. But if we stand firm—unbought, unbent, and unafraid—the power of God will attend His work as never before. Every member, every pastor, every administrator must decide: Will we stand with Christ and His truth, or with the world and Satan?

This is not merely about policies or personalities. This is not merely about disagreements or administrative actions. This is about allegiance and loyalty. This is about identity as God’s true church.  This is about whether we will finish the work or forsake the work.

The world is watching. Angels are recording. Eternity is approaching. And God is calling His people to stand – not with Babylon, not with worldly powers, but with the Lamb.

The choice is before us. Whose word will you obey? Whose servants will you be? Whose mission will you fulfill?

“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

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Pr. Dennis Page
Founder of Drop of Grace Ministries
dropofgrace.org