Religious Liberty Sabbath
Stand in solidarity with our persecuted brothers and sisters
Every year on the third Sabbath in January, Seventh-day Adventists around the world take time to remember the God-given gift of religious freedom.
On Religious Liberty Sabbath we take time as a world church to pray for the many millions of men, women, and children who continue to suffer harassment, discrimination, and even imprisonment or physical harm, because they choose faithfulness to God, no matter what.
We encourage you to make religious liberty a special part of your Sabbath program. Through our prayers, we can support our brothers and sisters around the world, and we can express our support for freedom for all people, no matter what their faith.
Religious Liberty Sabbath offers an excellent opportunity to invite public officials in your community to take part in the day's activities, or to invite other community groups to join with the Adventist Church in speaking out for the principle of religious freedom.
Whether you plan a special sermon, a concert, a special afternoon program, or a Sabbath School feature, we hope you’ll find these resources helpful.
Please let us know how you marked Religious Liberty Sabbath in your church. We would love to receive your photos and stories. Email Bettina Krause, krauseb(at)gc.adventist,org.
2021 Resources
Videos
2021 Religious Liberty Sabbath Sermon ( 45 minutes). “Focus on Freedom: Biblical Insights About a Divine Gift,” by Dr. Ganoune Diop, Director, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Documents
2020 Resources
Videos
2020 Religious Liberty Sabbath Sermon (17 minutes). “Champions of Freedom and Love,” by Dr. Ganoune Diop, Director, Public Affairs & Religious Liberty, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Documents
2019 Resources
Videos
2019 Religious Liberty Sabbath Sermon (26 minutes). “A Faith-Based Perspective on Religious Freedom,” by Dr. Ganoune Diop, Director, Public Affairs & Religious Liberty, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
In these two short videos, Adventist Mission features the Adventist Church’s commitment to defending religious freedom for all people. These videos also provide an excellent general introduction to the work of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty around the world.
Documents
2018 Resources
Videos
2018 Religious Liberty Sabbath Sermon (18 minutes). “The Many Dimensions of Freedom: A Biblical Perspective,” by Dr. Ganoune Diop, Director, Public Affairs & Religious Liberty, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
“Freedom of Conscience – A God-given Right” (23 minutes) by Pastor Ted N.C. Wilson, president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
Pastor Wilson presented this topic August 23, 2017, at the International Religious Liberty Association’s 8th World Congress on Religious Freedom, which took place in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He spoke to some 550 attendees, representing many different faiths, nationalities, and backgrounds, and explained why Seventh-day Adventists defend and promote religious freedom for all people.
