28 August 2018 | Belgrade, Serbia [Victor Hulbert]
According to a headline in the UK’s Telegraph newspaper, if you are ‘[t]ired of overpriced, overcrowded city breaks? Go to Belgrade’. Pastors from across the Trans-European Division must be in the know, as they are flocking into the city today in preparation for the European Pastors’ Council (EPC).
That may mean the city gets a bit more crowded 28 August – 2 September as 1,200 pastors, Bible workers, department directors and spouses meet at the city’s Sava Centre for spiritual refreshment, networking, inspiration, and sharing ideas on how best to ‘reach Europe’.
Starting Tuesday evening, 28 August, top speakers and trainers from across the TED and the global Adventist church will share their vision of how to build the church in Europe. There will be honest discussion, prayer and planning. For instance, the Sabbath morning mission appeal will tell a story of declining membership in one part of Europe, yet how three new, innovative church plants are starting to reverse the trend.
P
atrick Johnson, Ministerial Association Secretary, notes that the days are specifically geared to connect, inspire and change, offering both biblically based theology, innovative worship, practical workshops, and time for sharing ideas.
Raafat Kamal, in a staff worship noted from the book of Acts that when the apostles were connected together through prayer and the spirit, they could both inspire people and change the world.
Quoting Acts 4:10-12 he shared how Peter, who just a few weeks earlier had denied his Lord, could now stand in front of the religious leaders and challenge them that “it is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
His prayer is that, following these powerful pastors’ meeting, as we return home people will note that, like Peter and John, “they have been with Jesus.”
While designed primarily for pastors, all plenary sessions will be live streamed so that leaders and members across Europe and the rest of the world can also be inspired. Follow the live stream from 8:00 pm central European time, (7:00 pm UK time) by visiting the dedicated EPC page on the TED website.
Further reports from EPC will be posted on the TED website during the week with additional photos and coverage on the TED Facebook page. [tedNEWS]
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tedNEWS Staff: Victor Hulbert, editor; Sajitha Forde-Ralph, associate editor
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tedNEWS is an information bulletin issued by the communication department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Trans-European Division. Readers are free to republish or share this article with appropriate credit including an active hyperlink to the original article.
