From September 4th to the 9th, 2016, the first Joint Advisory of the Inter-European Region took place in Seville, Spain.
300 leaders from 20 European countries met to analyze the projects successfully completed up to this point. They also worked to put together an effective strategy for the next five years.
Every afternoon, each department had the possibility to get together in their meeting halls, under the guidance of the Reference Director of the Inter-European Division (EUD).
Also present were different leaders of the General Conference, who were given the opportunity to learn about the work carried out in the Inter-European territory, share their own advice and present the strategy of the General Conference on a world scale.
In the morning, there were plenary sessions in which all the participants met to listen to the meditations, sing together and help with general presentations.
The theme of the Advisory was “Growing Together”. The goal was to grow together in faith and to unite strengths, to present a united front in the mission.
The president of the EUD, Mario Brito, invited the Inter-European church to base its activities on prayer and communion with God: “It is not about programs, not about information, not about dogma, it is about the life of Christ in us. Plans are important, the doctrines of the Bible are important, but the first and most important thing is to have the life of Christ in us – that brings us together. This is the purpose for which we came here. At the EUD, we have a dream: The dream of being united in mission, to the Glory of the Lord.”
Many of the participants were touched by the effort to work, united, for God’s mission.
Frantisek Kolesar, Mission director of the Czecho-Slovakian Union, affirmed: “The division headquarters impresses now as a Team!”
Jean-Paul Barquon, Director of Communications and Public Affairs for the Franco-Belgian Union, declared: "This meeting was a success and it's a long time that the EUD had not accustomed us to such a program with a rich repertoire of advisory.”
Pedro Torres, expert in communications and social media, posted a status about the positive cooperation between the various sectors of the Church in the Inter-European Region: “To me this has been a more cooperative Advisory than ever, and I have seen more often projects that are based on multidisciplinary planning, where several areas are involved in a comprehensive way at the same time. I thank God for this opportunity of sharing ideas, supporting others and for have been able to serve our church so far.”
Jens Mohr, News Editor of APD, Adventistischer Pressedienst – the Swiss-German Adventist Press Agency – declared: “The entire meeting was characterized by a positive atmosphere. Maintaining contacts and exchanges with colleagues was enriching.”
The Vice President of the General Conference, Guillermo Biaggi, added: “I am very happy to be part of this EUD Joint Advisory. We have the willingness as a World Church to join together, through the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit. We want to be united and focused on God’s mission. We encourage all the Unions in the EUD region to join together – leaders, pastors and church members. We want everybody to be involved in God’s mission. Let us be united, because Christ is coming soon!”
Corrado Cozzi, EUD Communications Director and one of the principal creators of this event, offered a personal analysis on the Advisory and its mission in Europe:
“This project of a Joint Advisory is more than a demonstration of how we can work in tune, a fact that has its own importance; it has highlighted the need to be better equipped to face the difficulties that churches face in the EUD territories. They are difficulties in how to deal with secularism, individualism, the concept of consumerism that influences the Church because it creates an attitude of continual expectations of new methodologies, but it does not help retain the church members.
In fact, the common concern expressed by all the departments in the Joint Advisory is the continual flow of dropouts that is challenging the Church’s existence. The Adventist message is a beautiful one, jeopardized by a conflicted Church life and not always in tune with its fundamental mission. The commitment of all will make the difference.”
