It was under the banner of relational evangelism that the 2024 edition of the Reflection and Action (RéA) weekend was held, organized by the Federation of Adventist Churches of Southern France (FFS). From September 13 to 15, young and old gathered for a time of training, sharing, and fellowship.
Commitment to the mission was at the heart of the reflections by Daniel Monachini, president of the FFS, who urged the participants to fully invest themselves in the mission of the Church. Relational evangelism, at the heart of the FFS strategy for several years, was at the center of the discussions. This concept, developed especially by Adventist pastor and evangelist Peter Roennfeldt, emphasizes the establishment of authentic relationships with people outside the Church as a prerequisite for sharing the faith.
A new team and new faces to energize the mission
The RéA weekend was also an opportunity to present the new FFS communications team, led by Marianne Penner. In addition, the seven new pastors who joined the federation over the past year were officially introduced. A significant fact is that one of them will exercise his ministry as a chaplain to students in the Lyon region, an unprecedented presence for the FFS.
Relational evangelism: an approach adapted to today's world
The FFS thus reaffirms its commitment to young people and its desire to offer evangelism adapted to the realities of today's world. The emphasis on relational evangelism reflects this desire for openness and dialogue with society.
Inspired by the work of Peter Roennfeldt, this approach encourages the creation of sincere bonds of friendship as the basis for sharing the faith. It favors a progressive approach that respects the pace of each person, where the testimony of the Christian life becomes a privileged vector for transmitting the evangelical message.
Concrete initiatives for daily relational evangelism
Concretely, the FFS encourages the establishment of home groups, participation in social and community projects, as well as the organization of friendly events to build bridges with the surrounding community. The objective is to create a welcoming and non-threatening environment where everyone can question the meaning of life and discover the Christian message.
The RéA 2024 weekend was, therefore, part of a dynamic of openness and dialogue, reflecting the FFS's desire to adapt its message and its methods of evangelism to the realities of the 21st century.
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