The president of the Inter-European Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (EUD) shares reflections and perspectives on mission in a continent undergoing rapid change and searching for credible answers.
How can the good news of Jesus be proclaimed in a Europe shaped by cultural, social, and spiritual transformations? And how can churches—diverse in language, approach, and sensitivity—collaborate for a common testimony? Following the exclusive interview with Erton C. Köhler, president of the General Conference, the focus returns to our continent with Pastor Barna Magyarosi, president of the EUD, the administrative region that includes the Italian Adventist Union. During his recent visit to Rome, Magyarosi met with Pastor Giuseppe Cupertino, director of Messaggero Avventista. The video interview was recorded by HopeMedia Italia.
Mission in a Changing Europe
In the ongoing cultural shifts, Magyarosi perceives surprisingly open doors. "People are asking questions that are difficult to answer," he states, "and the Bible offers those inspired answers." Following a season marked by the deconstruction of values and beliefs, many young people are showing a renewed interest in spirituality. "More and more sociologists are speaking of meta-modernism. Post-modernism deconstructed every aspect of society and communal living," the pastor explains, "but there is a generation that has grown tired of deconstructing and is trying to build, turning to God and religion."
Transnational Identity
The Inter-European Division (EUD) brings together countries widely separated by history, culture, and traditions. Cultivating a shared vision requires dialogue, mutual listening, and the ability to appreciate each other's distinct characteristics, Magyarosi summarizes. His own biography reflects this international dimension: of Hungarian origins, raised in Romania, and residing in Switzerland, he experiences daily exchanges between cultures that, at first glance, seem distant. "One of the most solid proofs of the transforming power of the Gospel is seeing people of different backgrounds and languages coming together in peace and understanding," he emphasizes.
While acknowledging that Europe is often fragmented into a puzzle of well-established historical national identities, the EUD president urges looking toward a sense of belonging that goes far beyond individual origins. "When we understand that our primary identity comes from God, from salvation, and from the Gospel, then we become more open toward others and toward ways of living together in love."
Along this journey, young women and men play a decisive role. "They are often more critical of any form of segregation and possess a broader worldview," Magyarosi observes, also recalling the experience of his own family and his daughter, who speaks six languages—an example of a generation that navigates multicultural contexts with ease.
The Role of Women
Another essential topic is the female voice in the Church and in leadership roles. In Europe, the contribution of women to community life is vast and significant but, according to Magyarosi, there is still room to make the most of it. "60% of the European Adventist Church is made up of women. Unfortunately, their presence in positions of responsibility is not balanced, and there is room for growth," he states.
"I believe there is an enormous benefit when women are fully involved in ministry. They bring their perspective and sensitivity, their way of viewing life and relating to others. We need you. You are an enormous blessing to the Church," commented the EUD president.
OneVoice27, a Shared Voice for Europe
Magyarosi then addresses OneVoice27, the global missionary project of Adventist churches. "It is an initiative that aims to engage all the opportunities offered by media to share the good news of Christ," he explains. "As we mentioned, Europe has traditionally been divided by national borders and, often, our churches have also remained rather isolated. OneVoice27 is a call to do things together—each with their own style, but in the same spirit of testimony." The goal is, therefore, not uniformity, but the creation of a network that values the specificities of every voice, making relationships and field experience creatively available.
Encouragement for the Church in Italy
In closing, Pastor Barna Magyarosi looks straight into the camera to address Italian Adventist members and communities. "Remain faithful to the Lord. A faithfulness that does not exhaust itself in mere participation in church life but embraces the entirety of everyday experience. Wherever you are, do something for God. Ask yourselves: ‘What is my gift? What am I capable of?’ And then put those talents to use to be a blessing to the lives of the people around you, right where you are.”
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