As secularism continues to reshape Europe’s religious landscape, the Seventh-day Adventist Church is rethinking its approach to mission. In societies where traditional religious expressions often seem distant or irrelevant, small, transparent communities have emerged as an effective way to connect with people. These groups offer relational spaces where faith can grow naturally and take root in everyday life.
Historically, however, small group ministry has struggled to gain traction in European Adventism. Large-scale events, public evangelistic campaigns, and institutional programming have often taken priority, while the relational model of small groups has remained underdeveloped in many regions.
The Arthur Daniells Institute of Mission Studies (ADIMIS), based at Friedensau Adventist University in Germany, is working to shift this paradigm. Through research, training, and networking, ADIMIS supports the church across Europe by analyzing church growth trends, training church planters and pastors, and equipping small group leaders.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, ADIMIS was asked to create an online training program for small group leadership. In response, Dr. László Szabó, ADIMIS director, developed a new model that integrates training into a participatory, team-based format. Rather than simply studying theory, participants engage in small groups themselves, practicing leadership and learning through shared experience.
“The program creates a dynamic environment where participants don’t just learn about small groups—they live them,” Szabó explained.
The initiative has received strong support from the Inter-European Division (EUD) and has drawn wide participation. To date, 1,045 individuals from 15 countries have joined the training program. This posed a unique challenge for project manager Szilvia Szabó, as each participant is expected to contribute actively in their group, take on leadership roles, and provide and receive peer feedback. Scaling such an interactive model while preserving its personal and practical qualities required detailed coordination and a robust support system.
ADIMIS leaders emphasize that the goal is not to promote a single model of small group ministry, but to help participants develop practical leadership skills, navigate group dynamics, address challenges, and discover evangelistic opportunities in their local contexts.
Currently, two training cohorts are active: one serving the French-speaking Conference in Switzerland with over 20 participants, and another for the Italian Union with more than 120 participants.
As interest grows, ADIMIS continues to support a church-wide shift toward mission that is more personal, participatory, and sustainable—especially in regions where traditional outreach methods are no longer effective.
The original article was published on the Inter-European Division news site. Join the ANN WhatsApp Channel for the latest Adventist news.
