Euro-Africa Division delegates voted several new department leaders into office at a July 1 business meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. Leaders and delegates are in Atlanta as part of the General Conference Session, which is the highest administrative body of the Seventh-day Adventist Church that selects church leaders and decides on church policies. Leaders, both at the world level and the Euro-Africa Region level, are elected for a five year term. The following people have been elected to serve in the Euro-Africa Division:
Denise Hochstrasser, director of Women's Ministries, comes from Switzerland. Mrs. Hochstrasser, 56, has studied languages and secretarial skills. She has worked for several companies and church institutions in England and Switzerland. She has served as the women's ministries director for the German Swiss conference since 2006. Mrs. Hochstrasser is married and has three daughters.
Paolo Benini, director of Personal Ministries and Sabbath School, currently lives in Italy. Pastor Benini, 58, received his degree in theology from Collonges Adventist Seminary in France. He has worked in Italy since 1979, serving as a church pastor in different districts, departmental leader and church administrator. He was the president of the Adventist church in Italy from 1990-1995. Pastor Benini is married and has three adult children.
Barna Magyarosi, director of Education and Family Ministries, comes from Romania. Pastor Magyarosi, 36, has a bachelor's degree from the Romanian Adventist Theological Institute, a master's degree from Andrews University and a doctorate in theology from the University of Bucharest. He spent 6 years as a pastor and 2 years as the Sabbath School Director in the South-Transilvania Conference. Later, he worked 4 years as the Spirit of Prophecy Department Director in the Romanian Union. For the past 5 years, he has served as the president of the Adventist Theological Institute in Cernica, Romania. Pastor Magyarosi and his wife, Noemi, have one daughter, Blanka.
Stephan Sigg, director of Youth Ministries, studied at Bogenhofen Seminary, Marienhoehe, and Newbold College. Currently, he is completing his doctoral studies through Andrews University. He served in Switzerland as a pastor for 4 years and the youth director for 10 years. In addition to his doctoral studies, he currently teaches practical theology at Friedensau University and assists with the European Valuegenesis research project. Pastor Sigg is married and has 2 young-adult children.
Mario Brito, Ministerial Association Secretary, formerly served as the Personal Ministries and Sabbath School director for the Euro-Africa Division.
Viriato Ferreira was re-elected as the Health Ministries Department director, and Karel Nowak was re-appointed as the director of the Communications and PARL departments.
