3000 youth in conversation with our church leaders
What would happen today if we would have the Adventist Church lead by young adults? It was after all young adults who started the Advent movement in the 18hundreds, and often we hear citations about young people finishing “the work”. But would we really dare to unleash such potential? What kind of solutions would they have for evangelism, church planting, and our identity as a church or our financial thinking? What would they say to the world about our lifestyle, our environment, religious freedom and justice in the world, and what would they say about the end time?
Are you curious? We will know more about this after the European Youth Congress in Munich this summer (5th to 9th of August).
Can you picture in your mind the biggest conversation ever, between our young people and our church leaders? This historic moment will take place in August at the Youth Congress in Munich where 3000 young people will be challenged to think creatively about real challenges that the church is facing today.
Through an interactive process, where the youth will work in small groups, they will report to a bigger panel, where the small group’s conclusions will be presented to church leaders from two Divisions. Young Adventists will be in real dialogue about real issues affecting the Adventist church of today and tomorrow.
Three thousand is a number which reminds us how Gods Spirit worked the church’s early years. Could it be that the same Holy Spirit will do exciting things in Munich as well? Why not? We don’t know what will happen when three thousand young Adventists will come together, and in an open and dynamic way begin to dream about what God might have in store for his church. One thing is sure, and that is that the Division leaders want to take the conclusions and thoughts of young people seriously and a report from the youth congress in Munich will be taken with them to their boards and on the General Conference.
Are you still curious about what will happen? Join us for the youth congress in Munich, 5th to 9th of August this year, and you will find out what young people in the Adventist church in Europe want to see and dream for the future.
Join us in praying together and asking for the Holy Spirit to be there in the process, not only in August, but that we will have guidance and thoughts that will lead us in the preparations for a discussion this size. It’s Your Turn to do something, and make a decision to influence your church for the future.
by the Nordic Team who are responsible for the morning sessions
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List of workshops
1. How to know God’s will?
Workshop facilitator: Gabriel Monet
Friday Room 1 - English
What is the will of God for my life?
How can I use my free will and still be constructing my life according to the project of God? are there concrete and practical possibilities to know if my choices are in accordance with what with what God is wanting from me?
Gabriel Monet is the Director of the Jose Figols Center for Youth Ministry, located at the Saleve Adventist University in France.
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2. Adventist Identity – What Does It Mean Today?
Workshop facilitator: Daniel Duda
Thursday Room 2 - English
Friday Room 2 - English/German
A thought-provoking seminar for those who like to be challenged.
How was Seventh-day Adventist identity perceived throughout the church’s history?
What about the New Testament understanding of Christian identity? Where do we go today to maintain our identity and make it relevant?
Theologian and educator Daniel Duda will look at these questions and provide answers from the Bible and history of Seventh-day Adventist Church.
3. Being Adventist in a Media World!
Workshop facilitator: Bojan Godina
Friday Room 21a - German
Opportunities and challenges in a media saturated world.
What influence do the media have on our way of thinking, our world view and the principles that govern our lives? Just how powerful is the media? And what is its true potential and influence? Through a careful study of how modern media works, this workshop will give you practical ideas and techniques for communicating the Gospel in a Media dominated world.
Pastor and evangelist, Dr. Bojan Godina, from the South German Union, will lead you through these questions and introduce you to a Bible based Adventist response to media. He will be assisted by Burkhard Mayer, a teacher at Marienhohe School and free evangelist.
4. Reaching YOUR generation through Planting Churches
Workshop facilitator: Janos Kovacs-Biro
Thursday Room 4a - English
Friday Room 4a - English/German
What would a church for your friends look like?
If we don’t do something to share the Good News with this generation, then who will? Through church planting we build the church while taking seriously the questions being asked by our secular friends. This workshop will look at the Biblical principles and tools for successful church planting. You will find out how you can get started, gather a team, and develop a strategy that is incarnational and holistic.
Janos Kovacs-Biro is a church planter and evangelist from Hungry and now works full time with church planters throughout the Trans-European Division.
5. Help, I am stressed out!
Workshop facilitator: Paul Clee
Thursday Room 22b - English
Friday Room 22b - English
How do you cope with the stress of modern living?
Is it bad to be under stress? Come and find out about some simple remedies for feeling better when things are tough. This workshop will combine Biblical principles, Science and humour, as we explore some mechanisms that will help you cope with 21st Century living.
Pastor Paul R Clee has acquired over the years a unique combination of wit and wisdom that makes him a much sought after speaker. He is currently the Communication & Health Director of the Trans-European Division.
6. Ellen White – her use and relevance today
Workshop facilitator: Jean-Luc Rolland
Thursday Room 12a - English
Friday Room 12a - English/German
Who was Ellen White?
And, what role should she have in our church today? How do we go about authentically reading and using her work? How do we avoid misusing her work? Jean-Luc Rolland would like to share with you how a 87-year old grandmother, who wrote at the beginning of the 20th century, has impressive actual and releasing things to say to young believers living in 2009.
Jean-Luc Rolland is the EUD White Estate director and teacher of history at the Saleve Adventist University in Collonges, France. He was pastor in South France for 17 years. He is married to Valérie, father of four children. He loves trekking, cooking, the sea and classic music. He is himself a musician, playing the piano.
7. How to Make the Right Choice
Workshop facilitator: Didier Oppliger (ex snowboard champion)
Thursday Room 12b - English/German
Friday Room 12b - English
Don’t dream your life, live your dreams!
Have you ever dreamed of becoming famous? This is a good dream since God exhorts us to “wake up the mighty men” (Jo 3.9). But the question is…HOW? Didier tried extreme sports – he was a snowboard champion - and almost lost his life! Listen to his amazing story and about how God has led him since he nearly died. You, also, will be challenged to think about your dreams through from a God perspective.
Former snowboard champion from Switzerland, Didier Oppliger, has recently finished a M.A. in Theology and is now setting up a “ranch project” for troubled youth.
8. “And the Bible is still right” – Archaeology and the Bible
Workshop facilitator: Friedbert Ninow
Friday Room 3 - German
Just how much of the Bible is made up and unfactual?
With the rise of the critical age many have questioned various historical aspects of the biblical account. In order to support the biblical view or substantiate critical positions archaeology has been frequently used. What is the relationship between the Bible and archaeology? What can archaeology do – what can it not do? These and other questions will be dealt with in this workshop.
With a Ph.D. in Palestinian archeology, Friebert Ninow knows a thing or two about the historical truth of the Bible. Since 1997 he has been teaching at Friedensau Adventist University. He is the director of the Northern Moabite Plateau Survey Project and Excavations at the Moabite Site of al-Balua.
9. Living and Leading in Urban Areas
Workshop facilitator: Eddie Hypolite
Thursday Room 1 - English
Living and Leading in Urban areas looks at the tension faced by young people, as they seek to maintain faith and Christian identity in the big cities of Europe.
Eddie Hypolite is a church planter and teen coordinator in the South England Conference.
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10. Internet Evangelism: Meeting people where they are.
Workshop facilitator: Matthew Vincent
Thursday Internet Café - English/German
Friday Internet Café - English
Have you updated YOUR status today?
This workshop will introduce the LIFEconnect concept, which aims to empower young people with resources and a large network of like minded people to be able to use the Internet as an evangelistic tool. We all do it – we email, twitter, keep up with our friend all over the world. Jesus commissioned us to go out into the world and meet people where they are. What does this mean in relation to the internet? And how can we create space for Jesus there?
Matthew Vincent works for the Trans-European Division where he is developing a brand new Internet Ministry called LIFEconnect. This allows him to combine three of his main passions: spirituality, archeology, and technology.
11. "Work for the success of the city..." Advent hope and world responsibility.
Workshop facilitator: Rolf Pöhler
Thursday Room 4b - English
Does our world still have a future?
What does it mean to be an 'Adventist' today? How should the church relate to the contemporary world and its needs? Can one believe in the soon return of Christ and still work for a better world here and now? The answer to these questions may affect your career and your plans for the future.
Rolf J. Pöhler is an experienced pastor-teacher currently teaching theology at Friedensau Adventist University in Germany. He has written several books on the Adventist faith. Rolf likes jogging, hiking, traveling and photography.
12. I want to be filled by the Holy Spirit
Workshop facilitator: Rolf Pöhler
Friday Room 4b - German
Steps to spiritual renewal
I want to be filled by the Holy Spirit – steps to spiritual renewal
Have you already experienced the power and presence of God in your life -- or are you praying for it? What happens when someone is 'filled' or 'baptised' by the Holy Spirit? The early Christian and Adventist church provides practical insights into the nature and growth of true spirituality.
Rolf J. Pöhler is an experienced pastor-teacher currently teaching theology at Friedensau Adventist University in Germany. He has written several books on the Adventist faith. Rolf likes jogging, hiking, traveling and photography.
13. Adventist Landmarks in the 21st centrury
Workshop facilitator: Franz Tóth
Thursday Room 3 - German
Why we believe what we believe.
The pioneers of the Adventist Church understood several of their doctrinal beliefs to be immovable landmarks. Counted among these are: The hope in the second coming of Christ, the Sabbath, the Sanctuary and the mortality of the soul. This seminar will ask some gripping questions: What are the origins and meaning of the landmarks? Where does the cross of Christ fit in? And what is the relevance of the landmarks for the SDA Church in the 21st century?
Franz Tóth is presently an academic staff member in the theology faculty of Friedrich Schiller University in Jena and simultaneously employed as an academic fellow and guest lecturer at Friedensau Adventist University. Born in Romania, Franz has lived most of his life in Germany, working as a youth pastor and teacher.
14. Valuegenesis
Workshop facilitator: Manuela Casti
Thursday Room 22a - English/German
Friday Room 22a - English
Manuela Casti has served as youth leader and lecturer in Italy and France. She has also been director of the EUD-TED Centre for Youth Ministry and project leader of the successful European Valuegenesis survey. She is presently working on her doctorate in Practical Theology at King's College, University of London.
15. Understanding the world we live in
Workshop facilitator: Jeroen Tuinstra
Thursday Room 11 - English
Being youth or leading a youth group in the 21st century is not easy.
What does religion, faith and particularly Adventist faith mean in a post-Christian and post-modern society. During this workshop you will get an overview of postmodern thought and its influence on the perception of faith and religion.
Jeroen Tuinstra, 33 years old, youth director Netherlands Union since 2002, interested in grasping the postmodern mind.
16. Leading youth in a postmodern era
Workshop facilitator: Stephan Sigg
Friday Room 11 - German
Leading young people is a challenge.
That is especially true in such a time of transition we call postmodernism. Leadership today has no longer to be understood in hierarchical terms but rather as a concept of relationship. What are fundamental, spiritual principles of such an understanding of leadership and how does it apply to your youth group and the church? After all, what has the Bible to say about leadership in a postmodern world? This workshop will give you some ideas and answers regarding your own leadership challenges.
Stephan Sigg, 43 years old, youth director in Switzerland for 10 years, now lecturer for Practical Theology at Friedensau Adventist University.
17. And now - what would ADRA expect from me?
Workshop facilitator: Jörg Fehr
Thursday Room 21b - German
What is my motivation to use my talents for God?
Could I offer my services to ADRA? What would ADRA expect from me? This workshop will help you to find answers.
Jörg Fehr building technician, former SDA volunteer, 13 years experience as building technician in 5 African countries, former Country Director ADRA Switzerland where he has sent out many ADRA Volunteers. At the present time he is the Executive Director of the ADRA Euro-Africa Division.
18. ADRA - where it's your turn!
Workshop facilitator: Steve Cooper
Friday Room 21b - English
Whether its volunteering or regular employment, ADRA looks for dedicated, energized young people to serve God through this special ministry. Learn what it means to be on the front line. Find answers to your questions. ADRA - Guaranteed to be life-changing.
Steve Cooper is currently the Director of ADRA Trans Europe, after 15 memorable years working for ADRA in Africa and Asia.
Youth Forum 9.00 - 10.45 a.m.
The work of the church in 2009 - It’s your turn!
Who are we Adventist? – It’ your turn
Organizing the Church for Action - It’s your turn!
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Mike Pearson is Vice Principal of Newbold college. He loves vigorous debate and believes that good answers come as a result of good questions.
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Laurence Turner is Principal Lecturer in Old Testament and Research Degrees Director at Newbold College. He likes to challenge his student’s answers with the question “so what?”
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Hall 1
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Hall 14
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Thursday |
Michael Pearson (Moderator)
Panel: Bruno Vertallier, Paul Tompkins, Radica Antic, Janos Kovacs-Biro, Elsa Cozzi
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Laurence Turner (Moderator)
Panel: Bertil Wiklander, Corrado Cozzi, Paul Clee, Günther Machel, Manuela Casti
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Friday |
Laurence Turner (Moderator) Panel: Bruno Vertallier, Paul Tompkins, Günter Machel, Miki Jovanovic, Elsa Cozzi
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Michael Pearson (Moderator) Panel: Bertil Wiklander, Corrado Cozzi, Ryszard Jankowski, Manuela Casti, Eddie Hypolite
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