More than 150 people joined the 777 Commitment Club during the Upper Columbia Conference Camp Meeting, held June 18–19 at Walla Walla College. The "777 Commitment"-themed conference-wide convocation featured General Conference president Jan Paulsen as the keynote speaker.

"The 777 Commitment involves a deliberate effort to follow the example of Jesus in seeking and saving the lost," said Gordon Pifher, Upper Columbia Conference executive secretary. "We’re asking members to spend at least seven minutes per day in prayer; to spend seven hours per week in Bible study and to make seven new friends who are not connected with the Adventist Church."

Shawn Boonstra, It Is Written associate speaker, told the audience that recent secular polls have discovered more than two thirds of Americans believe the book of Revelation is describing real events that will happen in our world. And he believes that we, as Adventists, should not miss this opportunity to share the true meaning of the message.

"I believe the reason we aren’t attracting a lot of new people to the church is because we often don’t have many real friends outside the church," says Max Torkelsen, Upper Columbia Conference president, "and we need to make a deliberate effort to change that. If we commit ourselves in prayer each day and immerse our minds in the word of God and go out of our way to develop relationships with non-believers, I think we will see miracles happen."

Those who made the commitment at camp meeting received a notebook designed to help them keep record of their commitment efforts. It has sections for prayer journaling, Bible study notes and a place to keep information about the friends with whom they are developing relationships.

Enrollment in the 777 Commitment Club will continue throughout the year at other conference convocations and in various publications. Inquiries and enrollment cards have been coming to the conference office every day since camp meeting.

Plans are being made for a convention in Moses Lake in 2005. At the convention those who have made the commitment will be able to report on the things they have done and join in a special praise celebration for the miracles that God will no doubt perform in people’s lives as a result of the 777 Commitment efforts.

To learn how you can make the commitment and receive the materials write to: Secretariat Department, Upper Columbia Conference, P.O. Box 19039, Spokane, WA 99219. Or you can e-mail your request to ucc@uccsda.org.