Seventh-day Adventists in Europe are renewing their efforts to establish new congregations following a week-long training conference in August, reports Pastor Peter Roennfeldt, ministerial association secretary for the Adventist Church in the Trans-European region.

“Church Planters X-Change 02,” held at the Swedish Junior College in Ekebyholmsskolan, attracted church leaders and church planting “coaches” from the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, England and Hungary, along with 120 church planters, core group members and future planters.

The teaching was done through a range of case-studies of church planting projects in Europe, including the more than 20 new Adventist church plants established during the past couple of years.

“It was one of the most encouraging experiences in my ministry,” says Roennfeldt. “This is happening where many have suggested ‘it could not be done’! Lost people are coming to God. Adventist churches are being revitalized and new churches are being planted. We sense a movement has started. And God is raising up young men and women as planters and teachers of church planting principles.”

“It is very stimulating and uplifting to be in the presence of 120 church planters,” says Rudy Dingjan, church planting co-ordinator in the Netherlands. “With such vibrant young adults around, the gospel certainly has a future!”

Roennfeldt says the event was just one in a series of similar training programs. “Ten church planting field schools and conferences are being conducted in Europe this year,” he says, “with some such as this X-Change in Sweden focused upon planting churches in post-Christian, postmodernist Europe.”