We recently had a 12-day marathon experience. Jackie and I arrived in St. Louis on Tuesday afternoon, June 28. I scurried off to my first meeting at 2:00 p.m. with the General Conference executive committee. We thought we might have to meet the rest of the day and start in again at 8:00 a.m. the next morning. There was such a wonderful spirit of cooperation that we finished by 6:30 p.m.—our work was complete in one afternoon. This was to be the enduring spirit for the remainder of the time at this historic Seventh-day Adventist 58th General Conference Session.

Each division's caucus met to recommend their representatives for the nominating committee. I was privileged to be one of the members from the North American Division chosen to serve on the nominating committee. It was my very first time to be accorded such an opportunity. A total of 200 members were elected, and 196 were present at each meeting. The events that followed were most amazing to me.

Picture this: 196 people from many different nations and cultures, speaking many languages, in a room praying for consensus on five and one-half pages of offices to be filled! There was much prayer, and then we went to work. I listened as many struggled to be understood in the English language. Some needed translation. We heard French, Spanish, Russian, German, and Swahili. If you are not careful in that setting, ethnocentricity will invade your thinking. By the way, I learned that jaw-breaking word back in my freshman year in college. I am sure you know it indicates an attitude of superiority in one’s feelings about culture, ethnicity, and language. In other words, “Why don’t these people get with it and learn English; it is clearly superior.” But when you have prayed for unity, such thoughts cannot take root.

I found myself looking on with wonder at the thought, “These are my brothers and sisters from around the world, and the blessed Savior has made us one.” We finished our agenda in record time by the following Tuesday afternoon. But we were reluctant to leave each other. There was bonding and love and respect that we didn’t want to give up just yet. The Spirit of God had walked in our midst, and what started out as an uncomfortable beginning evolved into a feeling of camaraderie and empathy.

“And they will know you are Christians by your love” (See John 13:35).