Sunday morning started, once again, with the inspiring music offered by Vestige, the group that introduced the devotional moment of Jonatan Tejel, EUD’s Youth Director.
Focusing on the story of an adulterous woman from John 8:1-11, Tejel explained the concepts of justice and grace in the eyes of Christ and ended with a quote from Ellen White: “Those who are forward in accusing others, and zealous in bringing them to justice, are often in their own lives more guilty than they. Men hate the sinner, while they love the sin. Christ hates the sin, but loves the sinner. This will be the spirit of all who follow Him.” (Desire of Ages 462)
A global overview
Global Adventist communication leaders brought an overview on the global church’s needs connected to communication and media.
“Without communication, relationships die,” stated Williams Costa Jr., Global Communication Director. “Communication is a lifestyle, not only a department we are called to lead.”
Costa gave a glimpse into the history of Global GAiN. “The idea of GAiN was conceived, in 2004, at the General Conference, in the US. We started with little funds and poor technical means, but we persisted and developed the concept until today. GAiN has grown into a global strategy implemented by hundreds of Adventist communicators worldwide,” concluded Costa.
Sam Neves, GC Communication Associate, delivered information and data, on a global level, regarding the communication of the Adventist Church.
“Building relationships online is the best way to reach people nowadays. And it is cheap,” explained Neves. “Nowadays, if help is needed, people go on Google, not to a church. We better be prepared to connect to those help requests, often dealing with existential challenges,” continued Neves.
Alyssa Truman, Adventist News Network Director, gave insight into the deep work that is done regarding news at a global level. “If our local, national, regional, and global news operators would join forces and connect, we would become the largest news operator in the world”, suggested Truman, concluding, “Let’s collaborate and keep this dream alive.”
Artificial Intelligence and Young Creatives
Norel Jacob, editor of the Signs of the Times Magazine, gave the audience detailed information regarding advantages and risks connected to Artificial Intelligence (AI). “Use artificial intelligence,” said Iacob, “but always remain authentic, because AI is a support, not a replacement of yourself,” he concluded.
A high point of the Sunday program was certainly the Young Creatives contest. A group of young creative influencers, who won the contest and, therefore, were invited to participate in GAiN 2024, attracted the attention of the audience by showing how social media can be used to motivate and inspire thousands of youngsters.
One of them is, for example, Timi Bahun from Slovenia, 21 years old. Through his TikTok and Instagram accounts, he motivates his peers by delivering inspiring messages based on Bible verses.
In the end, all Young Creatives were invited on the stage and the EUD’s and TED’s Communications directors, Paulo Macedo and David Neal, offered a prayer for them.
Following the Young Creatives program, other experts and leaders in the fields of communication, media, press, social media, and publishing provided further training and presentations.
Private screening of the Dietrich Bonhöffer movie
Another highlight of the Sunday program was certainly an exclusive and private screening of the movie “Bonhöffer”, that will be released in theatres on November 22. Angel Studios authorized GAiN 2024 organizers to host a private screening for its participants.
As the world teeters on the brink of annihilation, Dietrich Bonhoeffer is swept into the epicenter of a deadly plot to assassinate Hitler. With his faith and fate at stake, Bonhoeffer must choose between upholding his moral convictions or risking it all to stand for his Church and save Jews from genocide. Will his shift from preaching peace to plotting murder alter the course of history or cost him everything?
The movie moved the audience and brought everyone to deep reflections and conversations.
On Monday, in addition to background presentations and projects from around the world, there were six different tracks dealing with subjects ranging from films and documentaries, and Internet security, to writing and editing, and institutional communication.
GAiN Europe 2024 is drawing to a close. But the spirit of collaboration and joint involvement in the mission grows with each edition. This time, more than ever - CONNECTED.
