On October 16, the EUD Mission & Communications Advisory officially began in Budva, Montenegro.
Around 80 participants, most from the Inter-European Division (EUD) of the Adventist Church, gathered to work out common strategies in the field of communication and mission.
Particularly welcome was the presence of Adventist leadership: EUD Division President Mario Brito, General Conference Vice-President Gugliermo Biaggi, and several officials from the General Conference in the field of Adventist mission, communications and media.
Florian Ristea and Paulo Macedo, respectively, Director of Adventist Mission and Director of Communications of the Inter-European Division, as organizers of the event together with their staff, presented the first meeting, welcoming all participants and explaining the motivations and objectives of this important meeting.
"We are here to take up a challenge," said Macedo, "to create a synergy between communications, mission and media institutions of the Adventist Church. This is a vision and a perspective that will bear great fruit by God’s grace," Macedo concluded.
"We are here to make sure that, in the future, people will no longer remember the fact that Church departments only worked individually, without cooperation with other departments," said Ristea. "We are trying to build a more effective way of seeing the mission of the church."
After Vice-President Biaggi's prayer, the floor was given to the president of the EUD Division, Pastor Mario Brito.
The devotional
Pastor Brito began by sharing a moving testimony in which he recounted his personal conversion experience, during which he had to struggle against prejudice and opposition. He highlighted that he lived in a country that was deeply Catholic and his first appointment as a pastor was to an inland region, distrustful of what was considered a sect. Brito gave those present an important key to success in evangelization, namely, a deep and daily personal relationship with God.
“We have to change mentality of mission,” stated Brito,” we need to change our approach. We often start mission campaigns with programs, goals, numbers, and strategies. I remember during an evangelist mission, in the past, that we distributed 15,000 brochures. The result was only 1 interested person, by that means. The ones who came, came as an acquaintance of a church member,” continued Brito.
“In John 17, verses 1 to 5, Jesus shows us the starting point from which to succeed in the mission, which is to have a constant and sincere relationship with the Father and to have an attitude of humility and prayer, always glorifying God in everything we do,” explained Brito. He advised, “Always give credit to God and glorify Him, be humble. A selfish attitude will lead you to nothing”.
“Before going for mission, we need to know God profoundly,” underlined Brito. “God is going to help us, so we need to cooperate with Him. Let us be women and men of prayer so that the Holy Spirit can transform us!”
Finally, Pastor Brito revealed what he considers the one and only real motivation for mission: love. “If you have other purposes and goals when you go for mission,” stated Brito, “let it go, because you will fail for sure. Partner with Jesus, put yourself in His hands, love people, pray and stay humble, and you will have success in mission.” He concluded, “Be grateful and always give credit to God.”
After an intense moment of prayer in groups, the first day of the Advisory ended. The Advisory will run until October 18.
Pictures by Jose Luis Herranz
