11 August 2025 | Värmland, Sweden [Tor Tjeransen]
Six young Latin American missionaries are bringing fresh energy to LifeStyleTV in Sweden, working to share faith and healthy living in one of the world’s toughest mission fields — the Post-Christian Window. This region, which includes much of Europe, North America and Oceania, faces a sharp decline in church attendance and growing secularism.
Since he was 17, Miguel Mamani (26) from Bolivia has been committed to serving God in mission. That year, a powerful experience of God’s grace confirmed his life’s calling: to serve God wholeheartedly wherever he is led.
“I never imagined studying abroad, let alone serving as a missionary on another continent. It’s incredible,” says Miguel, marvelling at God’s guidance.
Miguel is among six Latin American volunteers currently serving at LifeStyleTV, a ministry supported by the Trans-European Division and working closely with Hope Channel Norway and the Norwegian Union Conference. Their goal is to reach people in the Post-Christian Window — one of the church’s greatest mission challenges, alongside the 10/40 Window and Urban Window.
According to Adventist Mission, “The Post-Christian Window covers Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other countries rapidly moving away from Christian values, reflected in falling church growth and rising apostasy, especially among young people.”
Stark Contrasts
Miguel is studying communications at River Plate Adventist University (UAP) in Argentina. After three years of study, he is spending a year in Sweden before returning to complete his degree.
Life in Sweden is a world away from his bustling hometown, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, with 2.4 million residents. Bolivia has 137,000 Adventists worshipping in 550 churches among a population of 12.3 million. By comparison, the Swedish Union of Churches Conference has about 2,900 members in 35 churches for a population of 10.5 million.
Connecting With Secular Europe
LifeStyleTV runs a small retreat hotel and a plant-based restaurant under the brand LifeStyleSTAY. These ventures help build relationships with the community and support the ministry’s aim to be financially self-sustaining.
Miguel plays a vital role — whether welcoming guests, maintaining the grounds, washing dishes, photographing, or editing videos — all part of the mission to reach secular Europeans.
Nourishing Body and Soul
Vianka Aranky (23) from Honduras is another Latin American volunteer. After earning a bachelor’s degree in nutrition from UAP, she was uncertain about her next step.
“What am I going to do with my life now?” she asked herself.
A friend encouraged her to volunteer with the Adventist Volunteer Service, advice echoed by a teacher. After applying for several opportunities without success, she thought perhaps this path was not meant for her.
Then, unexpectedly, she was invited to serve as a nutritionist at LifeStyleTV in Sweden — a perfect fit. She packed her bags and was soon working in the LifeStyleSTAY restaurant, which serves fully plant-based meals.
When the summer season ends, Vianka will use her expertise to provide nutritional information for the restaurant’s dishes, contribute recipes for cooking shows, and create content for LifeStyleVIEW magazine.
“In many ways, I’m helping people in secular Europe get good nutrition for both body and soul,” she says.
Sharing Faith Through Health
Vianka relishes opportunities to interact with guests. As a guide on nature walks, she shares health advice alongside biblical principles.
“I used to find it hard to start conversations with strangers, but now I feel confident sharing both health and faith,” she says.
Raised in a large Adventist church, she now serves in a small church plant meeting in the LifeStyleSTAY hotel.
“This is very different from home, but it’s the purpose of what we’re doing. I’m not knocking on doors — language and culture make that difficult — but I know my work supports the mission. And when new people come to church, I can welcome and talk to them.”
A Grateful Director
Claus Nybo, founder and director of LifeStyleTV, is full of praise for the Latin American volunteers.
“They are all positive, with a sharp eye for what needs to be done. We’re thrilled with how they’re helping us reach people in Scandinavia,” Nybo says.
A New Mission Reality
Latin American missionaries serving in Europe reflect a new era of global mission — workers moving from everywhere to everywhere.
This echoes the call by current General Conference President, Pastor Erton Köhler, at the 2022 session in St Louis, “If we want to see Jesus return, this is the time for the global church to rise powerfully for mission.”
Young people from Latin America are rising powerfully, meeting the challenge of the Post-Christian Window head-on.
Tor Tjeransen is a retired pastor from Norway who, for the past fifteen years, served as the Communication Director of the Norwegian Union Conference.
Featured image: left to right, Vianka Aranky from Honduras; Cintia Stoletniy from Argentina, Delfina Dupont from Argentina, Miguel Mamani from Bolivia, and Isaías Arias from Argentina. Volunteers at LifeStyleTV, wearing the Adventist Volunteer Service T-shirt. Natalia Cárdenas from Guatemala was not present when the photo was taken. [Photos: Tor Tjeransen / Adventist Media Exchange CC BY 4.0].
