A proposal to refocus Adventist churches for more effective outreach, the Focused Community Ministry Concept (FCMC) was presented to the Pacific Union Conference Executive Committee on June 3, 2003. It was voted as a recommendation to all churches through the seven conferences’ executive committees.

The proposal addresses a universal challenge: how to reach the communities around the local churches. "It is absolutely crucial we work together and share resources among churches as we attempt to reach communities for God," says Tom Mostert, Pacific Union president.

The FCMC has three evangelistic approaches: (1) The Unity Model – which recognizes the ethnic make-up of the church’s neighborhood and, in unity, reflects the diversity that exists; (2) The Network Model – which involves a collection of pastors, leaders and churches within a geographical boundary that work synergistically to achieve their mission; and, (3) The Team Model – which links multiple congregations for a sharing of resources and opportunities to work together, cooperating in such areas as shared staff and office space, with a common church board.

For example, in the Bay Area, Milpitas, a single church district, was expanded to a four-church district—Milpitas, Cambrian Park, Los Gatos and San Jose Central. Pastoral coverage was reworked with one senior pastor, one associate and two interns. Gifts and resource needs were evaluated and shared as needed. (One example: Pam Simpson, a member of Milpitas, was "sent" to San Jose Central to begin prayer and small group ministries.) Two church plants, Ethiopian and Hispanic, were started for these under-served language groups.

Pastor Ramiro Cano explains the steps taken:

First, a community of pastors and lay leaders came together to prayerfully seek God’s will and to unify to build God’s kingdom.

Next, each congregation took a self-inventory to see what spiritual gifts and resources were in abundance. (One church might have several pianists while a nearby church has none. The abundant church would "send" a pianist as a missionary of music and worship to the church in need.)

Finally, the congregations began to merge spiritual gifts and develop ministry teams with complementary strengths.

"We believe sharing resources in teams of lay and paid leaders maximizes strengths and builds unity," says Jerry Page, Central California Conference president. "Working together to evangelize our communities is our purpose." Central California Conference Executive Committee has voted to pursue the FCMC. Pilot projects can be established in communities upon requests by local members and pastors.