10/26/2026
Arise and Build
by Steve Dickman
“The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build” (Nehemiah 2:20, KJV). This scripture is a call to collective readiness and action, a reminder that God’s people are called not merely to believe the message but also to live it. God’s people cannot afford carelessness, delay, or spiritual complacency when the needs of the world are so urgent and the coming of Christ is so near.
Nehemiah had a divine calling to rebuild the wall, and OCI has a calling that matters deeply in this hour. OCI exists to empower ministries to thrive in support of the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church by promoting the gospel in action. As world conditions continue to worsen, the global need for lay-led ministries that help people find hope is greater than ever. The vision of OCI is simple: a global network of thriving supporting ministries in every country of the world, revealing the love of Christ.
A movement like that is built in practical ways. It requires trained leaders, connected ministries, and relationships strong enough to sustain long-term gospel work. For that reason, OCI focuses its efforts on three main needs: equipping leaders for effective service, building authentic community among ministries and missionaries, and strengthening partnerships that help the work grow.
Leadership development remains crucial, because conviction alone does not always produce lasting ministry. Workers need biblical grounding, spiritual maturity, practical tools, wise advice, and mentoring relationships. Younger missionaries need a pathway to responsible service, where zeal is shaped by discipline and experience. Healthy ministries are rarely accidental. They are usually the fruit of prayerful vision,
godly leadership, and steady investment in people.
Community is just as important. Isolated ministries often struggle with discouragement, limited perspectives, and unnecessary duplication. But when leaders learn from one another, share burdens, exchange ideas, and build trust across regions and specialties, something stronger begins to form. Ministry becomes less fragmented and more coordinated. A genuine family of mission begins to take shape.
Over the past year, OCI organized more than 30 events held around the world, gathering hundreds of ministry leaders for worship, learning, fellowship, and collaboration. These events showed how a shared vision can strengthen the bonds between supporting ministries and renew their commitment to the broader mission
of the church.
OCI is planning to hold many more events this year, including a global convention in Zambia from April 28 to May 1, 2027. It envisions this gathering as a strategic and spiritual opportunity for leaders, missionaries, young workers, and ministry partners to come together for mutual strengthening and renewed consecration.
The Zambia convention will include training seminars designed to equip ministry leaders with practical insights for effective service. It will feature inspiring speakers who challenge hearts upward and outward simultaneously, anchoring mission in Scripture, surrender, and the Holy Spirit’s power. It will also create space for meaningful networking, allowing attendees to form new friendships, deepen existing relationships, and explore collaborations that can enhance ministries well beyond the convention.
This combination matters. Training helps leaders serve more faithfully and skillfully. Inspirational preaching keeps mission from becoming merely technical or administrative. Networking builds community and strengthens partnerships, which are essential for a growing global family of ministries. In that sense, the Zambia gathering will not simply host meetings; it will help foster the kind of movement OCI aims to promote worldwide.
At the heart of it all are the deeply held values of OCI. Ministries thrive when they serve with love, remain unified in mission, and stay committed to action. Love keeps the work alive. Unity shields it from rivalry and fragmentation. Action prevents conviction from turning into mere discussion. These are not slogans; they are qualities that help ministries stay faithful under pressure and remain fruitful over
time.
God continues to raise up ministries, connect workers, and open doors in places near and far. He is building a group of people who are learning to not only speak the message but also to live it. The call, then, is plain. Arise. Build. Strengthen one another. Reveal the love of Christ. May that shared commitment deepen into a stronger, holier, and more united movement for the finishing of God’s work.
