Southern Asia Division Report Highlights Great Efforts in a Challenging Region

The Southern Asia Division (SUD) territory is marked by a rich diversity of faith, culture, and practices. India stretches across a majority of the region with a population of 1.43 billion people, 19,500 dialects, and eight major religions. India is the birthplace of Hinduism, and Christianity only represents 2.3 percent of the population. However, God has guided the work of his servants in India, and the church is growing. 

Bhutan is the second country making up the SUD, with a population of 800,000 people, most of whom practice Buddhism. 

Finally, the Maldives completes the SUD with a population of 500,000 living under the Islamic State. 

The region faces a host of challenges as a Christian minority presence, but God has provided opportunities for members to proclaim the everlasting gospel and make an impact on their communities. 

Secretariat Report 

As of 2025 the SUD has:

• 7 unions

• 39 sections

• 8 conferences

• 22 regions

• 2 attached fields

• 4,598 churches

• More than one million members 

The past five years has also seen a 9-percent increase in tithing and a 20-percent increase in offerings. The gospel has entered 300 new areas, resulting in a 4-percent growth increase. 

Digital Evangelism 

Across the SUD region, thousands have been introduced to the gospel through online content curated by Hope Channel India, Adventist World Radio, and supporting ministries. They are using TV broadcasts and radio to proclaim God’s final message to people in India, Bhutan, and the Maldives. 

Total Member Involvement

SUD is heavily promoting Total Member Involvement (TMI) and is providing opportunities for each person to have a role in the mission work of the region. 

Each church member is encouraged to be involved in sidewalk evangelism, Sabbath School initiatives, stewardship training, Global Youth Day outreach activities, and mission work.

Global mission is at the frontline of SUD’s outreach goals with a special focus on the 10/40 window. There are currently 300 mission projects occurring in the SUD. 

Impact 2025 

Impact 2025 is an event designed to bring together church members from across the world in a unified effort to share the hope of eternal life. 

SUD began efforts in 2024 and set out an ambitious plan. By the grace of God, the division has already conducted 2,000 evangelistic meetings and baptized 28,365 people. 

The GC initiative “I Will Go” is inspiring believers to bring the Advent message across the SUD region using evangelism, education, health, publishing, and outreach. 

Back to the Altar

Some regions across the SUD are not allowed to engage in public ministries. As such, Back to the Altar and the establishment of home churches plays a vital role in ministering to the people of these areas. 

Back to the Altar has encouraged members to have daily home worship and Bible readings in the home, and the establishment of home churches has allowed regions such as Andamand and Nicobar to have the gospel. 

Hope Channel India and Adventist World Radio are actively working to establish house churches in the Maldives, where the open expression of religious beliefs outside of Sunni Islam is prohibited. One of the most exciting initiatives out of the past five years was the establishment of a prayer ministry inside the Maldives. 

Living the Gospel 

A state in India was attacked by a group of extremists, and unfortunately the Seventh-day Adventist church was destroyed. However, worshippers continued to meet outside, boldly taking a stance for Jesus. 

The publishing ministries department of SUD has distributed thousands of copies of The Great Controversy, and as of 2025, 40,000 members have been brought to Jesus. 

Though this region faces challenges, God continues to work through the dedicated members of the church to continue to reach the unreached areas of the territory.

By ANN | July 8, 2025

The original article was published on the Adventist News Network news site.