Christ came to this earth with a singleminded focus—to crush the head of the serpent of death and open a door of opportunity for every human being to step from the few, miserable years of our lives into eternity by His side.

A few days before returning to His Father, Jesus tasked His followers with a single minded focus—to tell the world what He had done for them. “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’” (Matt. 28:18-20 NIV).

Thirty-five years ago this month, a few seminary students at Andrews University took Jesus’ command seriously. No excuses. After all, He had placed all authority in heaven and on earth at their disposal. AFM was incorporated on September 18, 1985. Like most seeds, we started small. Our office was an 8-by10-foot room above the local drugstore. Adventist Frontiers magazine began as two Xeroxed black-and-white pages.

Thirty-five years later, as we look back over what God has accomplished through His servants, it takes our breath away. We are eternally grateful for each and every one of you who has accepted Christ’s call with us and given of your prayers, your money, or your lives in service as AFM missionaries. The results of your sacrifice are impossible to quantify this side of heaven. How do you attach a value to the joy of the communion God will share with His redeemed throughout ageless eternity? Until the day when we will know even as we are known, let’s stay single minded and keep our eyes on the prize.

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