8 July 2025 | St Louis, USA [David Neal & Vanesa Pizzuto]
Upon his election as Trans-European Division (TED) president in June 2022, Dr Daniel Duda shared his vision for local churches to become communities of service, ministry, and outreach, emphasising that with diverse strengths and gifts, everyone has a role to play – and that we are stronger together.
Working with his fellow officers and department directors, the strategic emphasis from 2023 to 2025 focused on three key areas under the theme #Engaged in Mission: Extending Love to the Whole Person, Growing Lifelong Disciples Together with All Ages, and Multiplying Communities in People Groups and Places.
Drawing on his pastoral and academic background, Duda helped shift the focus beyond visionary ideals, emphasising that as the TED serves its 13 Unions and attached fields, key ministry areas must reflect the values that drive our mission to build and strengthen the church.
Breathing Life
Key to understanding mission and how leaders are called to extend God’s love, one of Duda’s first insights for church leaders following his 2022 election, was to recognise that there are two different kinds of people, “There are those who add air to your balloon and there are those who take air out of your balloon… some people breathe life into you, reminding you that our God is a good God.” The result is clear, he added, when people breathe life into you: “The anxiety level goes down, while hope and trust go up, and believing is somehow easier.”
Growing in Christ by Growing Others
Duda’s love for delving into scripture, interpreting it, and then applying it is central to his ministry, shaping how he teaches in the classroom, guides as a leader, and oversees as an administrator. But he is acutely aware that the local church is the church, where holistic discipleship succeeds or fails. “Think about people that attend your local church”, he says, “Real people you know. If new people came to your church, found Christ, and turned out to be just like the people who are already in your church, would that change the world and bring us closer to Jesus’ second coming?” He continues, “Evangelism is not selling Jesus, but showing Jesus. True evangelism is not mere telling about Christ, but about being Christ-like.”
Reflecting on how discipleship works in practice and offering insight into his own leadership journey, Duda draws on the illustration of Barnabas, who encouraged the disciples to trust Saul (Acts 9:27-28). “Barnabas found joy in helping Saul grow”, said Duda, “Balcony people have this incredible gift: they believe people can change with God’s help. They don’t let who you were yesterday limit or determine who you might become tomorrow. It’s a wonderful gift. You and I are here because somebody saw potential in you.”
Loving Disciples Produce New Communities
Duda emphasises that the essence of ultimate reality is rooted in a God who exists in relationship, as a divine community. This foundational truth, he explains, is why extending love and growing lifelong disciples must naturally lead to the formation of new communities, reaching new people groups in new places. Reflecting on the European context, Duda acknowledges that in a post-Christian and pluralistic society, both Christianity and Adventism must be freshly contextualised for each generation and culture.
“We must discover new expressions of faith without compromising commitment,” he continued. “If we are serious about mission, we must reach people we are currently not reaching – because in many cases, we’re simply replicating people who are already like us.” His appeal is, “Wherever you go, whatever area of life you engage in, there is something you can do wherever you are to be in the service of God. The New Testament calls us to serve in the church by using our spiritual gifts for the good of the community.”
Going Forward
In a video interview for tedNEWS, Duda shares his top priorities for the next quinquennium, reflects on the challenges facing the European church in the years ahead, offers a key leadership lesson he has learned, and envisions what the local church could look like by 2030.
Duda is married to Viera. The couple have two adult sons, Marek and Roman. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Duda enjoys cars, computers, and photography.
Featured Image: Patricija Oberte and Vanesa Pizzuto interviewing Daniel Duda. [Photos & Video: James Botha]
