31 August 2024| Belgrade, Serbia [Weiers Coetser with tedNEWS)
Thursday morning at the European Pastors Council (EPC) maintained the rhythm established over the previous two days. Many participants used the cool early morning hours to exercise, followed by a sumptuous hotel breakfast, a walk or a ride to the conference centre, and a rousing praise and worship session that culminated in an inspiring sermon.
Worship Matters
Throughout the EPC, the worship team, led by Kärt and Tihomir Lazić, provided a thematic undertone that highlighted the power of Christian experience to weave through moments of despair and scepticism—”when you feel depressed, lost, or uncertain.” They consistently testified to how our songs and practices of faith during such times have the ability to elevate us. “Despite our perplexity, we can still experience joy and a sense of the transcendent presence of God,” Kärt repeatedly said. Thursday’s worship was no exception, as the auditorium resonated with the lyrics, “In my wrestling, in my doubts, in my failures, you won’t walk out,” from the well-known Rend Collective song, “My Lighthouse.”
At a further point during the morning, Lazic introduced the idea that God is a “forward-leaning” God. She said, “God never sits back waiting for us to perform. Instead, He stretches out to get His fingerprints into our stories. As a result, we follow Christ in this forward-leaning posture. We don’t sit back with passive expectations but remain ready to move. We’re in the starting blocks—listening for His call, and then we go!”
“People will argue about almost anything, but you cannot argue love.”
Lidija Djordjevic Runic’s morning sermon beautifully built on this theme, offering an exposition of 1 Corinthians 11:1, in which Paul urges his readers to follow his example as he follows Christ’s.
She introduced the theme through the powerful narrative of a young man called Čeda, from Southern Serbia, raised in a God-fearing home by illiterate parents, the family only had one book in their home—a gift from two colporteurs who had visited them some years earlier. Although the family hadn’t purchased any books, they offered the colporteurs hospitality and a meal. The travelling salespeople come missionaries relied on selling books for income, which was not going well. Yet, out of gratitude for the hospitality, they gave Čeda’s mother a book, likely leaving them out of pocket.
When Čeda learned basic reading skills, he had only this book to practice with. It was a book on Adventist fundamental beliefs, which he would read aloud to his mother. In his twenties, he stumbled upon a Seventh-day Adventist and was surprised to find others who shared his beliefs. Upon joining the church, he faced rejection from his father and persecution from army officers where he was enlisted. His refusal to bow to pressure and renounce his faith resulted in a five-year jail sentence, of which he served half. After his release, he pursued a seminary education and became an Adventist pastor.
At this point, Lidija Djordjevic Runic revealed that Čeda was her father. She shared some of his wise observations about life throughout her sermon. When asked if there was a specific church that was his least favourite to pastor, he refused to answer. However, when pressed further, he responded that he had learned: “You must never argue with people and with congregations. People will argue about anything, but you cannot argue love.” She drew a parallel with Paul, who chose to love the Corinthian church even though it struggled with issues such as schism, sexual immorality, and other painful challenges.
Runic’s message emphasised that discipleship is not hierarchical but parental, highlighting love and sacrifice as the core tenets of Christian life. Her reflections on Paul’s teachings were particularly poignant, illustrating the necessity of love in guiding knowledge and freedom within the church.
Ideas Worth Sharing
David Neal and Vanesa Pizzuto then moderated a session in which three pastors gave 20-minute TED-style talks, delving deeper into various aspects of ministry and mission. The presentations culminated in a stimulating panel discussion between the presenters on the issues they explored. Every day brought a wealth of inspiration and vision for the participants. Despite following the same pattern on Thursday, the level of inspiration was no less intense.
Holy Smoke?
A perfect segue into the three talks that followed, Dan Serb told a humorous story about doing prison ministry in Cape Town, where they provided prisoners with Bibles. After some time, it was reported that the inmates loved the Bibles because the pages were the perfect thickness for rolling joints. For Serb, this illustrated how our intentions in communicating with the world don’t always align with the reality we encounter.
Serb argued passionately that we should take time to understand the context in which we intend to talk about God. He proposed an extended metaphor on the Biblical idea of “going fishing,” suggesting that instead of merely casting hooks or nets into unknown waters, we should “go swimming”—getting to know the sea, understanding her currents, and exploring the shallows. He argued that an enclave mentality, prejudice, and elitism pollute the waters and endanger our survival. Instead of simply “going fishing,” he proposed the slogan, “I will go swim.”
Just Do It!
In the second presentation, Atte Helminen delivered a powerful talk titled “Just Do It,” addressing the challenges of discipleship and leadership in ministry. Reflecting on his experiences, Helminen explained how excuses often discourage people from fulfilling God’s call. He emphasised the importance of overcoming these barriers and simply taking action.
Helminen stressed that discipleship is about forming genuine connections, beginning with friendship, inviting people into your life, and then patiently guiding them through incremental steps—nurturing friendship in a home environment, inviting them to small groups where leadership and teamwork are practised, and eventually inviting them to join a church.
Sharing his personal journey, Helminen recalled his early days in ministry, his struggles, and how coaching others transformed his approach. Rather than focusing on tasks, Helminen now prioritises raising new leaders, ensuring their success, and creating a supportive team environment.
His message urged pastors to rethink their roles—not as performers, but as mentors and coaches—helping others take ownership of the church’s vision. Helminen concluded by encouraging the audience to pray, build relationships, and “just do it”—celebrating the blessings and opportunities that come from following God’s call.
Wrestling and Growing
Wilfred Masih, the final presenter for the morning session, shared his journey of discovery in integrating faith and scientific knowledge. He explained the significance of such an exercise for church outreach. He emphasised that reconciling these two domains can help Christians engage with a scientifically literate society, demonstrating that faith is intellectually robust. “By fostering an approach that values critical thinking and scientific inquiry,” Masih believes that “it builds bridges rather than barriers.” This perspective encourages respectful dialogue with sceptics and deepens the believer’s understanding of both faith and the natural world.
Featured image: “Just do it!”, Atte Helminen, Finland Union Conference.
[Photos:James Botha & Tor Tjeransen, Adventist Media Exchange CC BY 4.0].
