Date: May 19-20, 2025
Location: Middle East University, Beirut, Lebanon
Dr. Merlin D. Burt is the director of the Ellen G. White Estate and a field
secretary for the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. He is
the founding director of the integrated Center for Adventist Research at
Andrews University, where he has significantly influenced Adventist
historical studies. As a professor of Church History at the Seventh-day
Adventist Theological Seminary, he has mentored numerous graduate
students in Adventist theology and historiography. His dissertation
explored the development of Sabbath theology, the sanctuary doctrine,
and Ellen White’s role in early Sabbatarian Adventism.
Dr. Burt has authored numerous scholarly articles and book chapters,
contributing to the academic study of Adventist heritage. He is the
author of Adventist Pioneer Places and is currently writing a
comprehensive textbook on the development of Seventh-day Adventist
theology. Through his leadership in research, publishing, and
conference organization, Dr. Burt has shaped the academic discourse
on Adventist history and theology, ensuring that historical scholarship
informs contemporary faith and practice.
Dr. Petras Bahadur is the director of the Global Center for Adventist- Muslim Relations (GCAMR) at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. He holds a Doctor of Ministry from Andrews University in Urban Ministry and is completing a Ph.D. at Oxford specializing in Christology for Non-Christian Worldviews. With 21 years of business experience, Dr. Bahadur has combined strategic leadership with mission work, playing a key role in training leaders and developing resources for cross-cultural ministry. He has contributed to interfaith dialogue and contextualized ministry, particularly in integrating Muslim Background Believers (MBBs) into house churches in London. A church planter and author, he established the first Asian church in London and has written seven books on the Muslim worldview, equipping scholars and practitioners in Adventist-Muslim relations worldwide.
Dr. Rick McEdward is the president of the Middle East and North Africa Union (MENA) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He holds a PhD in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary, where his research explored missiological strategies for cross-cultural engagement. Prior to his leadership in MENA, he contributed to academic discussions on church planting and mission strategies in Southeast Asia, serving as a mentor for emerging leaders in the field. His expertise in contextualized mission has influenced educational programs and leadership training initiatives within the church.
Jonathan Contero is the associate director of the Center for Secular
and Post-Christian Mission (CSPM) under the Global Mission of the
General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. He holds a Master’s
degree in Theology and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Missiology
at Andrews University, focusing on mission strategies for secular and
post-Christian societies.
As the founder of Cero Church in Madrid, his practical experience
informs his academic contributions to secular and postmodern
mission studies. His leadership in CSPM includes training church
leaders, developing curricula, and fostering scholarly discussions on
effective engagement with non-religious communities. Through his
research and fieldwork, he is shaping new paradigms for mission in
highly secularized contexts.
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