The World Church’s Executive Committee meets twice a year, at Spring Meetings in April and Annual Council in October, to vote on critical items that affect the church's operation. This year, Annual Council occurred from October 6 - 12 at the GC headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland.
The Inter-European Division (EUD) is represented by its officers, Union presidents, and delegates. On Monday, October 10, the president of the EUD, Pastor Mario Brito, presented his report. Here some insights:
The Inter-European Division region is a difficult territory. The traditional churches are losing hundreds of thousands of members each year, whereas the Adventist Church remains almost stable. European citizens have a lot of ideas and philosophies in their heads and there is an invasion of new trends and ideas coming from everywhere.
The Adventist Church is made of committed members, yet successful missionaries from all over the world come to Europe and still don’t succeed. That means that Europe is a difficult territory, not that workers aren’t committed. ‘We work hard’, despite the slow increase of members.
President Brito infused encouragement in his report, declaring, “We will have a big harvest through God’s grace and growth will come. We have to be patient and faithful and pray a lot. The church in Europe is moving forward. There are several signs that show us that the church is alive.”
Projects
Many of the Inter-European Division’s projects are made together and in cooperation with the GC.
‘When the war in Ukraine started, our institutions were ready to help and prepared. Very quickly, they organized help and support, through ADRA and other departments. Governments and people were astonished at how quickly the Adventist institutions reacted. Our churches were open and, everywhere, everyone was active.”
Usually, when we speak about Germany, we think it is a secularized country, but one cannot imagine how many Ukrainians - Adventists and non - found refuge in Adventist homes in Germany. ‘So many refugees find shelter in Adventist Churches.’
‘It is clear that the love of Christ is operating. Members sacrifice themselves because they love other people.’
Small Groups
In the EUD territory, there are many small-group activities that allow members to meet regularly, pray and stick together.
“I, myself, joined a small group where we meet and pray for critical cases, and God opens many doors.”
In Europe, there are hundreds of young people committed to these small groups that can be found in all the EUD countries.
Media
Along another line, the EUD is focusing on connecting media with local churches which has led to many people being baptized.
‘Our media teams are doing an exceptional work. We believe in reaching people through media.’
The reality is that it is very difficult nowadays to knock on doors because people are skeptical and afraid. The church has responded to this difficulty by reaching people through media. In Spain, for example, 1,200 people are studying the Bible through the work of Adventist social media. 400 pastors and lay members have been trained to do mission through social media.
Schools
One significant project that the EUD has been developing is the opening of new schools. The European public institutions know that Adventists prepare students well and open doors for new schools. The number of students has also been consistently growing because many parents are alarmed by recent trends and are sending their children to Adventist schools.
In the same spirit of positive education, the EUD is also investing in leadership training, with the idea that “we want to help our leaders to have a more relational approach, to get to the hearts of people – to have a more pastoral approach. We are preparing also European missionaries because we believe that mission outside stimulates mission inside.”
Lifestyle Centers
Positive contributions to the EUD region means featuring several lifestyle centers that have given many people the opportunity to come and meet Jesus. These centers are an excellent means for evangelism because the people that go there are restored, evidence that miracles are happening every day.
Miracles
A story that proves miracles still happen is that of a young man who was addicted to drugs because he had had a difficult life. One day, he took an overdose and fell from the window, becoming instantly paralyzed. During his recovery, he found a small group of young Adventists who worked with homeless people and drug addicts. Little by little, as he continued to interact with them, he started having some hope. Although the doctors said he would never walk again, predicting that he would be wheelchair-bound, he prayed fervently with his small group and made efforts to walk again. He slowly recuperated until he finally quit taking drugs and decided to give his life to Jesus Christ. This young man got baptized and started walking again, and he has become a new person.
Centers of Influence
The EUD also has centers of influence, built to positively contribute to the community. In Romania, such centers of influence include 52 bookshops where people can go, read, and have a conversation and have a drink. They have 5,000 enrolled students and many people attending are non-Adventists. ‘We run many centers of influence in continental Europe, and they are always a great blessing’.
Prisons
A final project to highlight is the prison ministry that the church runs, through which Adventist pastors and lay members visit prisons on various occasions. Authorities are happy that the pastors and members are visiting prisoners and they encourage us to continue this work. As a result, several prisoners have been baptized already in the EUD territory.
Conclusion
Pastor Brito concluded his report, saying, “The Holy Spirit is working in Europe, pray for us. We are giving priority to mission. We are committed. We are spending our money for mission. We are united and believe that great results are coming.”
