Pacific Union
the One project: T
he One Project. Few other Adventist gatherings have garnered as much attention, conversation and critique. Even so, much of what people believe about the movement comes not from personal experience, but from hearsay and gossip. Because the One project’s next major event is in San Diego next month — the Pacific Union’s territory — we caught up with Japhet De Oliveira, senior pastor of the Boulder, Colo., Seventh-day Adventist Church and chair of the One project board of directors, to get answers to some common questions.
What is the One project, and how did it start? Who are the principal organizers and facilitators? The One project organizes gatherings, focused around a different theme each event, encouraging participants to develop a closer relationship with Jesus. These gatherings typically take place at a hotel or other conference center and last for two days. Short talks by a variety of dynamic speakers are followed by informal conversations around round tables and are interspersed with music from a live band. There are large lunch breaks allowing those attending to continue their conversations as they catch up with old friends and meet new people. The large North American gatherings typically have 700-1,200 attendees. Gatherings in Australia and Europe are significantly smaller, but retain many of the same characteristics and innovative expressions. The seven original founders of the One project are me (Japhet),Alex Bryan (senior pastor of the Walla Walla University church), Tim Gillespie (lead pastor of the CrossWalk church in Redlands, Calif.), Dany Hernandez (Lifesource Adventist Fellowship church pastor, Denver, Colo.), Sam Leonor (La Sierra University chaplain), Terry Swenson (Loma Linda University chaplain) and Eddie Hypolite (Avondale College church pastor). Rod Long has since joined the team as producer for the Australian gatherings. Zan Long creates all the TOP kids children programs. David Smith coordinates generationOne — the teen program. Dilys Brooks, Paddy McCoy and Becky De Oliveira are also heavily Japhet De Oliveira involved.
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Where have TOP meetings been held previously? Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, England, Denmark, and several locations in the USA, including Atlanta, Seattle, San Diego, Chicago, Boulder, etc.
In your estimation, why is the focus of the One project important and relevant? Why have people responded so favorably to it? Churches are facing challenges in contemporary society as many people — especially young people — become disillusioned with what they see as misplaced priorities and hypocrisy. The Seventh-day Adventist Church faces its own challenges as we battle perceptions of legalism and judgmental attitudes. We decided that focusing on Jesus — simple as it may sound — might provide a way for us to infuse our local churches with more love, a greater sense of purpose, and better engagement with each other and with our communities. As Ellen White pointed out, “It is only by connecting with Jesus through faith that the sinner becomes a hopeful, believing child of God.” We think people have responded to the One project because they do really want to be engaged in a life of faith, and they want church to be powerful and meaningful in their lives. The One project reminds them that it really can be. They listen to the amazing presentations by our speakers, meet with other people who share their desire for discipleship and a richer walk with Jesus, and this helps them remember what church can be. It doesn’t have to be dry or tedious or rife with controversy and petty arguments. Seventh-day Adventist Christians can band together to