Within the worldwide SDA Church, the Biblical Research Institute of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists coordinated a study into the topic of deliverance ministry beginning in 1980 and concluding with a publicly available report on the topic in 1983 (https://www.adventistbiblicalresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/Spiritual-Warfare-Deliverance.pdf). This report included the following two statements among its conclusions:

1. “The Seventh-day Adventist Church believes that there is a place for ministry to those who are tempted and controlled by Satanic agencies; and furthermore, it is not a ministry to be limited to professional clergy, psychologists, and psychiatrists.”
2. “Christians may be called upon to participate, or even to lead out, in prayer services for victims of Satanic harassment or possession. An important work of personal preparation is spelled out in Scripture and in Ellen White’s writings which includes close self-examination to discover the possible presence of sin which needs to be repented of, confessed, and forsaken before confrontation with the supernatural forces of evil. Fasting and prayer may be an important part of this preparatory work. There is a place for this kind of ministry, conducted properly . . .”

Since 2015, deliverance ministry has been included in the Elder’s Handbook and the Minister’s Handbook, both published by the Ministerial Association of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. The fundamental belief “Growing in Christ” was voted at the 2005 General Conference Session, partly in response to the growing need to provide biblical counsel for missionaries working in regions where spirit and ancestor worship are powerful cultural forces. The text of this fundamental belief explains the importance of gaining victory in Christ over personal attacks by demonic forces:

“By His death on the cross Jesus triumphed over the forces of evil. He who subjugated the demonic spirits during His earthly ministry has broken their power and made certain their ultimate doom. Jesus’ victory gives us victory over the evil forces that still seek to control us, as we walk with Him in peace, joy, and assurance of His love. Now the Holy Spirit dwells within us and empowers us. Continually committed to Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we are set free from the burden of our past deeds. No longer do we live in the darkness, fear of evil powers, ignorance, and meaninglessness of our former way of life.”

After a conference coordinated by AFM and personnel from the SDA Seminary’s Missiology Department at the AFM Center (MI) in February 2018, AFM published a deliverance ministry manual in 2018
(www.setfreeinchrist.org), available for free download in English, French, Spanish and Romanian, and soon in Portuguese.

Today, recognizing the rapidly growing demand for deliverance among Adventists experiencing demonization and among the unreached, AFM has established the Set Free in Christ Institute (SFCI), led by Dr. Michée Badé, an experienced AFM church planter with significant deliverance ministry experience. The SFCI provides deliverance ministry consultations to individual Adventists upon request, training for SDA pastors and church elders around the world in an Adventist approach to deliverance, and is developing supplements to the manual, dealing specifically with the practicalities of deliverance ministry among Hindus, Buddhists, Animists, Muslims and secular communities. 

In earth’s closing hours, God sends forth messages, born by three angels, calling the inhabitants of the earth to worship Him as Creator (Revelation 14:6-12). Likewise, Satan sends forth three demonic messengers, calling the world to join in battle against God Almighty (Revelation 16:13-14). In this time, the time of the end, the forces of darkness will be a major source of deception and demonization, seeking to deceive and destroy the very elect of God. Thus, this first-of-its-kind ministry in the worldwide SDA Church is a ministry for our time.

Please keep Dr. Badé, his family and colleagues in your prayers as they minister to those caught in Satan’s grip. We minister in the name of Jesus Christ, who has never lost a battle with Satan, and we drive back the prince of darkness in the name of the Light of the World.

If you would like to support the SFCI, please consider donating to or lifting up the arms of Dr. Badé and his colleagues in prayer. In all things, to God be the glory.

• Twitter