Seventh-day Adventist Church leaders in the Euro-Africa administrative region (or division) of the world church have developed a series of “commitments” that will guide their planning, work, and use of resources for the next five years.  At a division-wide meeting of leaders held October 27 to November 1 in Jongny, Switzerland, pastors and administrators pledged to “work lovingly for the restoration of the image of God in human beings,” to acknowledge that their mission “goes beyond any local church interests and has a worldwide dimension,” and “to integrate children and youth in the life of the church and in evangelism.”

The unique document also calls on church leaders to make Adventist lay people “the front line of mission in fruitful cooperation with the pastors” and to “refrain from all useless theological discussion which could hinder us” in pursuing the church’s mission.

Church president for the Euro-Africa Division, Ulrich Frikart, spoke to delegates, reminding them of the need to work, with integrity, competence and passion, towards the goal of a church united in faith.  In other presentations, church growth in the region for the past five years was reported at 25.48 percent; the success of satellite evangelism was noted; and the need to increase pastoral care for church members and their families was emphasized.

The Euro-Africa Division of the Adventist Church has some 530,000 members, and encompasses countries ranging from Austria, to Mozambique, to Switzerland.