Church administrators, leaders, and lay members from across the Inter-European Division (EUD) gathered in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, from October 30 to November 3 for the Division's Annual Council—the first major gathering following the General Conference Session held earlier this year in St. Louis, Missouri.
The momentous meeting brought together representatives from the six conference unions and five unions of churches that comprise the EUD's 20-country territory, spanning from Portugal to Romania and from Germany to Malta. Delegates convened with a unified purpose: to develop a comprehensive strategic plan that would guide the Division's mission in an increasingly secularized European context.
A Call to Personal Ministry
Division President Barna Magyarosi opened the council with a powerful devotional message titled "The City, God, and You," drawn from Jeremiah 29:1-14. The message established the theological framework for the weekend's discussions, challenging attendees to reconsider their relationship with the post-Christian societies they serve.
Magyarosi's opening address explored the uncomfortable reality that Christians in contemporary Europe live as "exiles"—not deported to another country, but inhabiting societies whose fundamental structures have shifted away from Christian foundations. Drawing from Jeremiah's counsel to the Jewish exiles in Babylon, he presented God's counter-intuitive command: "Seek the peace and prosperity of the city... Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper" (Jeremiah 29:7).
The message rejected two common but inadequate responses to cultural exile: assimilation, where believers compromise their identity to advance personally, and isolation, where they withdraw into religious enclaves. Instead, Magyarosi called for a third way—integration and service—that would make Christians "the most exemplary citizens of the earthly city."
Referencing historical accounts by sociologist Rodney Stark, the president illustrated how early Christians transformed the Roman Empire not through political power but through sacrificial service during plagues and crises. "Christianity didn't capture the imagination of the cities by trying to take control," Magyarosi emphasized. "They gained power and influence through humble service."
The devotional's theological climax pointed to Christ's own exile outside Jerusalem's gates (Hebrews 13:12-14), establishing that believers enter God's city through Jesus' sacrifice, enabling them to serve as "salt and light" in earthly cities—not because they need something, but because they have something to give.
Administrative and Financial Foundations
Following the opening message, the council addressed essential administrative and financial matters necessary for the Division's operations. Delegates reviewed and voted on budgets, policies, and organizational structures that would support the strategic initiatives ahead.
“I Will Go Seek Your Good”
A Framework for Contextual Mission
The centerpiece of the Annual Council was the development and approval of a new strategic plan titled "I Will Go—I Will Seek Your Good," explicitly echoing both Jeremiah 29:7 and Psalm 122:9. The plan emerged from extensive consultation with field representatives and ministry leaders, reflecting genuine grassroots input from across the Division's diverse territory.
The strategic framework rests on a clear vision: "A Spirit-led movement where every believer lives in communion with God, unity with others, reflects Christ's character, and actively participates in the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church." This vision is supported by a commitment "to empower individuals and communities to deepen their relationship with God, embrace their identity in Christ, foster authentic unity, and engage in transformative mission locally and globally."
Nine core values undergird the plan, including Biblical Authority, Christ-Centeredness, Spirit-Empowerment, Human Dignity, Integrity and Accountability, Stewardship of Creation, recognition of the Body of Christ, Stewardship and Leadership, and Collaborative Service.
Four Strategic Focus Areas
Following the General Conference model, the plan organizes the Division's mission around four integrated focus areas, each addressing critical needs identified across the territory:
Communion with God emphasizes renewing daily spiritual rhythms, re-centering congregational worship as formative encounter with God, building pathways for deeper biblical understanding, and multiplying mentors who anchor these practices in ordinary life. Strategic objectives include revitalizing personal and family spiritual life, improving worship experiences, and cultivating deeper biblical understanding.
Identity in Christ focuses on rooting the community firmly in Christ's story, forming habits that align daily conduct with that identity, and training members to articulate their faith in public and private spheres. Goals include nurturing Christ-centered communities, encouraging believers to reflect Christ in daily life, and empowering the sharing of the Christ-centered message in meaningful, relevant ways.
Unity Through the Holy Spirit acknowledges that the Spirit forms one body from many members, distributing gifts so all may contribute. The plan calls for normalizing habits of listening and shared discernment, teaching and training reconciliation, and positioning local churches as bridge-builders. Objectives include building a Spirit-led culture of belonging, promoting compassion, and strengthening local churches as catalysts of unity.
Mission for All asserts that every member is a witness in the fabric of ordinary life. The Division commits to fostering a culture where mission is a way of life, equipping members to respond to their contexts, coordinating ministries around shared outcomes, and clarifying discipleship pathways. Six strategic objectives address mission as a lifestyle, discipleship pathways, innovation and contextualization, integrated planning, participation in society, and contribution to worldwide mission initiatives.
Answering the Call to Contextualize
The strategic plan represents the Division's direct response to the urgent need for contextualization and innovation in mission across European territory. Operating from headquarters in Bern, Switzerland, the Inter-European Division provides inspiration and resources to its member territories across 20 countries in 18 languages, serving diverse cultures from the Atlantic to the Black Sea.
Europe's post-Christian landscape presents unique challenges that generic approaches cannot address. The plan's emphasis on contextual church planting, innovative methods appealing to contemporary societies, and intentional advocacy with official, civil, and religious authorities reflects hard-won wisdom about what effective mission requires in this particular context.
Notably, the plan encourages "participation and service in society," including expanding educational institutions, lifestyle centers, and ADRA and AIDLR initiatives at local levels. This practical expression of seeking the city's peace demonstrates how the opening devotional's theology translates into concrete action.
Looking Forward
As the Annual Council concluded, delegates departed with more than approved budgets and strategic documents. They carried a renewed theological vision of what it means to be God's people in exile—neither retreating from society nor being absorbed by it, but actively seeking the welfare of the cities where God has placed them.
The strategic plan's title, "I Will Go—I Will Seek Your Good," captures both the missionary impulse and the servant posture that characterized the council's discussions. In framing their work around communion, identity, unity, and mission, the Inter-European Division has charted a course that honors biblical foundations while addressing contemporary realities.
The gathering in Plovdiv marks a pivotal moment for Adventist mission in Europe. Whether this strategic framework will succeed in revitalizing churches across the Division's vast territory remains both a commitment and a hope. What is certain is that leaders and members alike left the Bulgarian city with a clearer understanding of their calling: to be exemplary citizens of earthly cities while remaining faithful citizens of the city to come, serving not because they need something from society, but because they have something invaluable to give.
