7 July 2026 | Auckland, New Zealand [Vanesa Pizzuto]
Nearly 250 Seventh-day Adventist Hope Channel leaders, communicators, and content creators celebrated the official opening of Hope Channel Croatia with prayer and applause during the Hope Channel Network Leadership Conference (NLC), held from 2–7 July 2026 in Auckland, New Zealand.
Pastor Vyacheslav Demyan, Hope Channel International (HCI) Director, set aside time on Monday, 6 July, to highlight the new channels joining the network following changes to the licensing and strategy process; a paradigm shift intended to ensure that Hope Channels are mission-focused and designed to engage an external, rather than primarily an internal, audience.
Pastor Dario Kovačević, a YouTuber and Director of Hope Channel Croatia, was invited onto the stage to receive a warm welcome and a special prayer from Raymond Whalen, General Conference (GC) Under-Treasurer. “It is such a joy to be part of the Hope Channel family, united by a shared mission to bring the message of salvation to people through media,” Kovačević said.
“Every new Hope Channel represents another expression of God’s mission in a unique culture and context,” Demyan shared. “Welcoming Hope Channel Croatia into our global network expands our capacity to reach at least one billion people with the message of eternal hope by 2030, bringing us one step closer to fulfilling Christ’s commission to take the gospel to the ends of the earth.”
During NLC, it was also announced that two additional countries within the Trans-European Division, Wales and the Netherlands, have begun the process of obtaining a Hope Channel license, opening new opportunities to share the message of hope through locally relevant media ministries.
Mission Intelligence
Part of the new licensing process involves implementing a tool aptly called Mission Intelligence. Designed to help Hope Channel leaders better understand the communities they serve, the tool guides teams through refining their target audience and developing a clear viewer persona. By building a detailed profile of their ideal viewer, content creators can better address the real needs, questions, and interests of a specific audience; ultimately increasing both engagement and missional impact.
“What does ‘Christ’s Method Alone’ look like in the digital space? Mission Intelligence answers that,” commented Pastor Robbie Berghan, HCI Vice President for Global Media and Engagement. “We believe that by beginning our engagement journey with an intentional commitment to understanding the people in our region, our content will naturally become more relevant.”
Hope Channel Croatia offers a practical example of this philosophy in action. Rather than simply producing content, the team has intentionally built a digital ministry around understanding and engaging a clearly defined audience. “Hope Channel Croatia has clear and effective journey maps for its target audience,” commented Ramiro Quero, HCI Director of Network Strategies. “Many are on that journey, and Dario’s team continues to engage and guide them in their journey to Jesus and the local church.”
Secrets of YouTube
Hope Channel Croatia is a prime example of a digital-first ministry. Operating from a small but highly optimised studio, the team broadcasts directly to YouTube, where videos have reached up to 105,000 views, far exceeding their 15,000 subscribers.
The channel’s success reflects a growing trend among several European Hope Channels, which have developed innovative, budget-conscious production models without compromising quality or mission impact. Their experience offers valuable expertise that can be adapted by media ministries across the global Hope Channel network.
Kovačević, who also runs his own successful YouTube channel, BIBLIJA na dlanu (Bible in Hand), was invited to lead one of the workshops, “Mastering YouTube for Hope Channel.” During the session, Kovačević shared insights from his experience, recently distilled into his book, Secrets of YouTube (Stanborough Press).
“I was encouraged by the great interest in the Mastering YouTube for Hope Channel workshops,” Kovačević shared. “Many participants left inspired to start their own channels and apply the strategies we explored. It was also a joy to see every copy of my book quickly claimed by participants.”
[Photos: Vanesa Pizzuto]
