Everyday Mission in Action at ASI Lake Union Spring Fellowship 

“If you’re not giving personal Bible studies, pray the prayer that I prayed and say, ‘Lord… help me have spiritual discernment to understand who it is that I might be able to approach and share Christ with,’” said Danny Houghton, Adventist-Laymen Services & Industries (ASI) National president, sharing his experience during the ASI Lake Union Spring Fellowship at Troy Seventh-day Adventist Church.

What began as a simple prayer in a shared office space soon turned into a growing Bible study. Houghton said he asked God to open a door to study the Bible with someone at work. Shortly after, he noticed a coworker with a Bible on his desk. A conversation followed, and that led to regular Bible study meetings.

Over time, those studies grew deeper. They moved from basic questions to studying books like Daniel and Revelation chapter by chapter. What started as one conversation eventually expanded into a small group Bible study, including others who joined through personal connections.

Stories like this set the tone for the weekend gathering, where ASI members from across the Lake Union came together under the theme, “Everyday Mission: Work, Witness, Worship.” from April 24–26, 2026.

Opening the event Friday evening, ASI Lake Union president Gianluca Bacchiocchi challenged those in attendance to rethink how they see mission. “There’s no such thing as an ordinary day for a Christian,” he said. “Every day is mission day.”

He encouraged members to look at their daily lives differently. “Where you work, where you live, who you meet, none of that is by accident,” Bacchiocchi said. “God has placed you there for a reason. Every moment is an opportunity to share Christ.”

He further described the theme as one connected life. “Work is where God has placed you. Witness is why He placed you there. And worship is what gives you the strength to keep going,” Bacchiocchi said.

That message was reinforced by Michigan Conference Executive Secretary Israel Ramos, who pointed to the shared responsibility of both individuals and churches. “There’s a work for us to do as individuals, and there’s a work for us to do also as churches,” Ramos said. He added that ASI exists “for that very purpose… of sharing Christ in the marketplace and fulfilling the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.”

Ramos said the goal is to see “signs of new life” through baptisms and active involvement, encouraging every member to participate in Bible studies. He reminded the congregation that “your work for the Lord is never wasted.”

Throughout the weekend, testimonies from lay members and ministries showed how this “everyday mission” is being lived out in practical ways. Business professionals shared how they give Bible studies at work. Healthcare providers described how they share faith with patients. Others spoke about using their skills and resources to support mission projects locally and globally.

The central message of the weekend came from keynote speaker John Bradshaw, speaker and director of It Is Written, who spoke during the Sabbath divine service. He framed the Christian life as a spiritual battle and called members to take mission seriously in their daily lives. “We are in a war,” Bradshaw said, pointing to Ephesians 6 and reminding the congregation that the struggle is not against people, but against “spiritual wickedness.” Because of that, he said, the church cannot stay neutral. “Every congregation is a missionary center, and every place we live is a mission field.”

Referring to Jesus’ command to “go,” Bradshaw stressed that the call is personal. “Not just someone else, you,” he said. He warned that many churches have become comfortable and focused inward instead of reaching others. Instead, he encouraged members to see their daily lives: work, school, and community, as their mission field. “It’s not the church’s job to reach your neighbors,” he said. “It’s your privilege.”

To make this practical, Bradshaw shared the story of a young servant girl in 2 Kings 5 who pointed her master Naaman to God. Though she had no power or status, she simply spoke when she had the chance. “She spoke up in the marketplace… as she could, with what she had and it wasn’t much,” he said. Yet her small act of faith led to Naaman’s healing and conversion. Bradshaw used the story to show that witnessing does not require perfect conditions or special training. “There are desperate people all around you,” he said. “Just waiting for someone to say, ‘Have you looked in the direction of God?’”

During the sabbath evening message, Bradshaw turned to the book of Romans to explain what it means to live a real Christian life. He walked through themes of faith, grace, and transformation, explaining that salvation begins with faith in Christ but must grow into a daily experience. “If all your experience is just intellectual… you’ve missed it,” Bradshaw said, calling members to move beyond knowledge and develop a personal, active faith.

To illustrate his point, Bradshaw shared the real-life story of Welsh IT engineer James Howells, who in 2013 accidentally threw away a hard drive containing access to about 8,000 Bitcoin, now worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The drive ended up in a landfill in Newport, Wales, and despite years of effort, he has not been allowed to recover it. Bradshaw used the story to show how easily something extremely valuable can be lost. He compared it to spiritual life, warning that people can lose something far greater when they neglect their faith. “Jesus is greater than any fortune,” he said, warning that people can lose something far more valuable when they drift away from Christ. He added that fear and self-doubt often hold people back from witnessing, but God is not asking for perfection. “He doesn’t ask us to be successful, He asks us to be faithful.”

Friday seminars explored how members can live out this mission in practical settings. Michael Cafferky, a longtime scholar of faith and business, addressed the challenges of maintaining Christian integrity in the workplace, drawing from his research and writing on navigating faith in professional environments.

Janine Lim, associate dean at Andrews University Global Campus, presented on the growing role of artificial intelligence in ministry. She highlighted both opportunities and risks, encouraging participants to use AI tools thoughtfully while maintaining ethical and spiritual awareness.

Sabbath programming moved from theory to practice. Organizers drew attention to the fact that mission is not just something to talk about, but something to demonstrate. During Sabbath afternoon, participants joined a community outreach led by Streams of Light Ministries, distributing copies of The Great Controversy across the surrounding area.

In approximately two hours, volunteers distributed more than 300 books and secured eight Bible study interests, reflecting the event’s focus on immediate, hands-on engagement.

Earlier testimonies during Sabbath school also highlighted ongoing community service efforts, including medical outreach initiatives that provided hundreds of free health services and built lasting relationships in the Detroit metro area.

Attendees were invited to support several mission initiatives through the 2026 ASI Lake Union offering, with a goal of $20,500. Featured projects included refugee evangelism among the Karen community in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; agricultural and health training through FARM STEW in Burkina Faso; digital Bible study outreach for young adults through Gospel Outreach; and housing support for missionaries in Guyana through Living for Jesus Ministries.

Houghton and Cody Francis, ASI National secretary/treasurer, also promoted the upcoming ASI International Convention, scheduled for July 29–August 1 in Phoenix, Arizona, encouraging continued involvement in mission work.

The weekend ended on Sunday morning with a “Network Nibble” session, a chance to connect, share ideas, and talk about how to apply what they learned over the weekend.

In his final message, Bradshaw pointed to the story of the prophet Elijah. He described how Elijah experienced both great moments of faith, like calling fire down from heaven, and deep discouragement, when he felt alone. Bradshaw said that even then, God gave him new work to do right away. He reminded attendees that faith is not just about big moments, but about continuing to serve, and that the final reward for that faithfulness is eternal life.

Reflecting on the weekend, especially Sabbath messages, Bacchiocchi expressed appreciation for the impact of the presentations. “Thank you, Pastor Bradshaw, for helping us understand more clearly the joy of our faith and what Christ has done for us—and what that should lead us to do for others,” he said. He added that the illustration about the lost treasure left a strong impression. “It made me think about the people we are losing every day,” Bacchiocchi said.

He closed with a reminder of the weekend’s central message: “Every day, every place is mission territory.”

Stanton Witherspoon is a freelance writer and assists ASI Lake Union with communication.