Council of Elders Meets to Update Strategic Plan

Atlanta, Georgia—From Nov. 11-13, 2025, the Council of Elders, president, treasurer and operation managers met to update our strategic plan. Mr. Wilkinson, founder of Leadership Strategies, facilitated the discussions and conducted similar facilitation work for the Council back in 2008. Two council members, Victor Kubik and Aaron Dean, remembered his work and were impressed by his ability to draw out the best contributions from each participant. Mr. Kubik suggested Mr. Wilkinson to support us again.

Our specific purpose in gathering was simple but vital: to clearly define our goals, objectives and strategies so we can continue fulfilling the mission Christ has given His Church. Our mission remains unwavering—to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God, and to prepare a people to serve in God’s Kingdom. Yet, the world around us continues to change. Therefore, every three years, we take a fresh look at how to best carry out that mission in a shifting landscape of new technologies, evolving societal norms and emerging opportunities.

Michael began our meetings with training on understanding the dynamics of working together to form long-term plans. We discussed how disagreements arise and the three levels at which they tend to occur: differences in information, differences in values, and conflicts rooted in unrelated issues. Exploring how to resolve each type was eye-opening and deeply beneficial.

Those on the Council and in the administration who had been involved with outside consultants in previous roles were impressed with the meetings. Treasurer, Ted Budge, shared his perspective, stating, “In my professional experience with the strategic planning process and different facilitators, Michael Wilkinson has been the most engaging and effective. His guidance kept the process on track and ensured meaningful participation from everyone.”

We spent most of our time doing the actual work of developing the plan. We reviewed the distinctions between goals and objectives, and we examined the critical success factors and barriers that can influence our ability to achieve what we’ve set out to do. Over the course of three days, we made great progress and continued the momentum with follow-up meetings in December. From there, the president and administration will develop action plans and monitoring systems to ensure our strategies are carried out effectively. Ultimately the plan will be sent to the General Conference of Elders for review and approval in May.

Meals served in the adjacent room kept us moving efficiently, and a warm invitation from Jonathan and Bridgette (Sexton) Beam to dine at their home nearby added a much-appreciated personal touch. A few council members who remained in the area through the Sabbath were also able to visit and speak in nearby congregations before heading home.

Overall, these days together were deeply encouraging. We are grateful for the unity, dedication and thoughtful collaboration shown by everyone involved. With God’s guidance, we believe the plans we’re shaping will strengthen our efforts to carry the gospel forward and continue caring for those He calls.