13 November | Pravets, Bulgaria [Paulo Macedo]
The beautiful town of Pravets, Bulgaria, hosts this year’s edition of the Global Adventist Internet Network (GAiN) Europe conference, drawing 255 communication and media professionals from an impressive 37 countries. Under the powerful theme, “Let There Be Light!”, the five-day gathering (November 12-16) serves as a spiritual movement and a premier networking platform dedicated to innovating digital mission across one of the world’s most challenging regions.
The conference, hosted jointly by the Inter-European Division (EUD), the Trans-European Division (TED), and Hope Media Europe, is the essential annual gathering for Adventist communicators, content creators, and church leaders committed to sharing the Gospel in culturally relevant ways. Its central and existential question remains: “What must we do together to reach Europe for Jesus’ love?”
Setting the tone for the highly collaborative event was the opening address delivered by Pastor Brad Kemp, President of Adventist Media from Australia. His message galvanized attendees—who included filmmakers, social media managers, IT specialists, radio broadcasters, and church administrators—by reminding them that digital outreach must always be anchored in spiritual intent. As one leader noted, the community’s focus is clear: “The most important thing is that we seek the presence of the Lord.”
GAiN Europe 2025 provides intensive professional training across six specialized workshop tracks, including Institutional Communication, Social Media and Digital Evangelism, Technology, Filmmaking, Personal Ministries through Media, and Writing, Editing and Publishing. Participants gain exposure to cutting-edge trends in digital ministry through expert presentations, case studies, and hands-on learning sessions.
The genius of the GAiN event lies in its non-competitive, collaborative atmosphere. It fosters relationships that transcend national borders and denominational divisions, allowing creative individuals to freely share ideas and resources. Attendees are encouraged to bring their unique expertise and cultural insights to work on joint projects, recognizing that such efforts are “bigger than the sum of their parts.” Integration is the focus word.
Europe is widely considered a highly diverse, secular, and post-Christian mission field, demanding collective wisdom and innovation. GAiN Europe powerfully emphasised that to reach this modern audience, “context matters—first, last, and in between of all we do in mission.” Every perspective, whether from Iceland or Romania, is deemed invaluable to the broader understanding of how to effectively communicate Christ across the continent’s diverse cultures.
Beyond the professional development, the event served as a crucial source of spiritual renewal. Participants consistently report that the worship experiences and testimonies rekindled their love for the church and provided the “oxygen” needed to continue their demanding work.
[Photos: Nikolay Stoykov / Adventist Media Exchange (CC BY 4.0)]
