Nevada-Utah Conference

The NUC virtual convocation was streamed on Zoom, Facebook, and YouTube Live, connecting church members from across the Nevada-Utah

Conference.

“What is the Church?” Virtual Convocation Helps Provides an Answer

By Joe Cadiz

What is the church? Seventh-day Adventists across the world are being forced to come to grips with this very question as church doors close and congregations cannot meet together. However, even more questions arise: If the church is closed, can I still worship God? How can I stay connected with my church family? When will I be able to worship with my friends?

Maybe the most important question isn’t “What is the church?” but “Who is the church?”

The leadership of the Nevada-Utah Conference (NUC) endeavored to answer these questions through a virtual convocation service streamed live on social media, unifying a membership that spans over 200,000 square miles of geographic territory

(Top) NUC Executive Secretary Carlos Camacho preaches on the story of Joseph from the book of Genesis. (Below) NUC President Leon Brown, Sr. continues the sermon time on the story of Joseph.

and covers four states.

On April 25, church members from the 57 churches in Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Reno, Bishop, Price, Ely, Quincy,

and everywhere in between fellowshipped together—sharing the blessing of corporative worship through Sabbath School, the worship service, and an afternoon program. Each service combined Bible study with prayer and music, showcasing the diversity of God’s people in the NUC. This diversity was especially apparent in the special music segments shared in their native languages by the Las Vegas Korean, Las Vegas Spanish, Las Vegas Filipino, Utah Samoan, and Utah Tongan churches.

At its conclusion, the NUC’s first virtual convocation had a viewership of over 6,000 people across Zoom, Facebook, and YouTube Live. This number is not just a lifeless statistic— it represents thousands of Adventist families that came together to worship God in unity and in truth. On YouTube, Norman Lujan commented, “Thank you to all the brothers and sisters who made this possible! God has a small church in every home represented [by each viewer]. Blessings to all, happy Sabbath!”

In this time of social distancing, God’s people must find ways to press together—if not physically, then spiritually. It can be argued that in this era of COVID-19, the churches in the NUC are closer than ever before. On Facebook, Stacy Mondesir exclaimed, “I wish we could do this every week… [I] feel much closer to our church family!”

Elder Dan Jackson, the president of the North American Division, put it

The Las Vegas Korean church shares a special musical selection in Korean, “The Lord is Behind Me.”

best as he introduced the convocation service to the NUC family: “How blessed and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! And though you are isolated at home, alone, during this period of the coronavirus, I know that God has a special blessing for you this day.”

What is the church? What happens when church buildings are closed and God’s people cannot congregate together as normal? Does the church disappear? Does worship cease? The answer to these questions could be found in the

Youth and Children’s Ministry Director Darriel Hoy creates an object lesson illustration with an egg, salt, and water during the children’s story.

blessings experienced during the virtual convocation.

In spite of separation, the church can find unity. In spite of distance, its people can find intimacy. Through a virtual convocation service, which employed the talents of so many across the NUC, an important truth was discovered: God’s church can never close, because as long as His people worship, His church exists.

What is the church? We are the church.

Who is the church? YOU are the church.

"And though you are isolated at home, alone, during this period of the coronavirus, I know that God has a special blessing for you this day."