24 February 2026 | Huis ter Heide, Netherlands [Algemeen Nieuws with tedNEWS]
From 29 January to 1 February, ACTS, a support system for church planters, took place in Huis ter Heide, Netherlands, bringing together 27 participants representing 11 active church plants in their early stages across the country. The training marked a significant step forward in equipping leaders for sustainable, mission-focused church planting.
The programme welcomed pastor Sylvia Cariotoglou, Trans-European Division (TED) Director for Adventist Mission and Evangelism, who shared devotionals centred on spiritual formation and leadership identity within the demanding context of church planting. Her contributions, alongside other key sessions, encouraged participants to deepen both their spiritual lives and their strategic thinking.
Sessions were also led by Pastors Choni Miguel, Anderson Londono and Tiago Pereira, with group discussions facilitated by Tabitha Purple and Josué Gomez. A highlight of the weekend was the contribution of leaders from the first ACTS cohort, who shared testimonies and lessons learned. Their involvement reinforced the programme’s aim of developing leaders who invest in the next generation.
Lila Jones, who participated in the first ACTS cohort and now serves as a collaborator, said, “The weekend was amazing. It was a very positive and eye-opening experience. The content was truly helpful and gave all participants a new perspective. The devotionals were excellent, the food was great, and the sessions were engaging and well presented.”
Enrico Karg, Netherlands Union of Churches Conference (NUChC) Executive Secretary, also addressed the group. “It is very important to see how our leadership has been prepared for the challenges we are facing today,” he said. “It has been inspiring to see them flourishing in God’s mission. From the Union’s perspective, we see the present and the future as very promising for the mission in our field.”
Tiago Pereira, NUChC Church Growth Director, described the training as “a major step towards building a continuous leadership development cycle, capable of facing the challenges of our context with clarity, competence and full dependence on the Holy Spirit.”
ACTS is now in its second cohort. Of its four modules, three will be held locally this year, while the final module will be organised jointly by the Nordic countries and the Netherlands, with TED support, in the first quarter of 2027. In the coming months, participants will take part in a structured coaching process designed to support leaders as they translate learning into practice within their local contexts.
[Photos: Courtesy of Netherlands Union of Churches Conference]
The original version of this article was posted on the Netherlands Union of Churches Conference website.
