{"id":21789,"date":"2025-01-30T14:20:28","date_gmt":"2025-01-30T14:20:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/?p=21789"},"modified":"2025-02-04T21:26:39","modified_gmt":"2025-02-04T21:26:39","slug":"agape-ensemble-celebrate-40-years-of-sharing-the-gospel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/agape-ensemble-celebrate-40-years-of-sharing-the-gospel\/","title":{"rendered":"Agape Ensemble Celebrate 40 Years of Sharing the Gospel"},"content":{"rendered":"

30 January 2025| Zagreb, Croatia [David Neal]<\/p>\n

A crowd of 2,000 gathered at the Zagreb Vatroslav Lisinski Grand Hall on Sunday, 26 January, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Agape Ensemble<\/em> with a memorable concert titled In Praise of Him.<\/em><\/p>\n

Hosted by Darko Kova\u010devi\u0107, the event honoured the enduring legacy of a musical journey that began in 1982. Agape’s ministry began when a group of enthusiastic young musicians from Zagreb\u2019s Adventist churches\u2014led by Valerija Markov, Darko Kova\u010devi\u0107, and Mihael Abramovi\u0107, former members of the band Credo\u2014decided to come together to sing at worship services. Their first major concert under the name Agape took place in Ba\u0161ka on the island of Krk in the summer of 1983. From 1985 onwards, their dedicated musical and missionary journey began, leaving a lasting impact on the Adventist Church in Croatia and the wider society to this day.<\/p>\n

Rooted in the Gospel, the ensemble\u2019s journey has unfolded through more than 600 concerts, reaching audiences large and small across Croatia and beyond. Over the years, three sons were born into the Kova\u010devi\u0107 family, and each naturally joined the <\/span>Agape Ensemble<\/em> in their own time. In recent years, they have formed their own group, <\/span>Agape Family Quartet<\/em>, also known as\u00a0 <\/span>Dad & 3 Brothers<\/em>, performing independently alongside the ensemble. This journey has also led them to participate in <\/span>Supertalent<\/em> and other performances. Their music has often intertwined with humanitarian work, amplifying their mission of faith and service. Their greatest supporter, Roberta Kova\u010devi\u0107 (Mum), is also a dedicated member of <\/span>Agape Ensemble<\/em>. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Darko Kova\u010devi\u0107 serves as a pastor for the Croatian Conference, also serving at one time as Communication and Media director.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kova\u010devi\u0107 continues to regard his music ministry as frontline evangelism. Following the concert, he commented, “With all tickets sold, 70% of those attending were from Croatian society – civic leaders, church leaders, representatives from media and culture, professional musicians, and the wider community who love hearing us sing.” He continued, “In a nation where to be a Seventh-day Adventist is considered to belong to a small and strange denomination, we believe our concerts to be heaven-sent opportunities to be ambassadors for Christ.”<\/p>\n

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“We believe our concerts to be heaven-sent opportunities to be ambassadors for Christ.”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Concert Programme\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

“The blend of traditional and contemporary musical genres is entirely intentional,” explains Andrija Kova\u010devi\u0107, the Ensemble\u2019s artistic director. “We also incorporated both sacred and secular pieces because we understand the importance of meeting people wherever they are on their spiritual journey.” He continues, “This concert, like all our performances, is about more than just entertainment\u2014though some may see it that way.”<\/p>\n

To illustrate his point, Kova\u010devi\u0107 highlights the concert’s diverse repertoire, which ranged from Nat King Cole\u2019s timeless classic Smile<\/em>, offering a message of hope, to Side by Side We Stand<\/em>, a powerful and moving song of commitment with an open and overt invitation to connect with Christ. And if there is one principal test their singing of whatever genre must pass, Matija Kova\u010devi\u0107 describes it in one word – “harmony”!<\/p>\n

For this anniversary concert, the Ensemble were joined by the Zagreb Stars Orchestra under the leadership of their conductor, Zdravko \u0160ljivac , with guest star appearances from popular Croatian artists Jacques Houdek and Ivana Kindl, adding their personal touch to the multiple music genres on offer – classical, pop, blues, country and jazz.<\/p>\n

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Zdravko \u0160ljivac, conductor of the Zagreb Stars with instrumentalists including Lidija \u0110idara, Vanja Popov, Jani Lipi\u010dnik and Alja\u017e Ogulin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In what has become a tradition at anniversary concerts, Agape Ensemble members spoke about their activities over the past forty years and the Adventist church they belong to as an integral part of their lives. A few days before the concert took place, the Agape Family Quartet appeared on the Croatian national television show Good Morning Croatia.<\/a><\/p>\n

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The Agape Ensemble from left to right: Jakov Kova\u010devi\u0107, Ljiljana Njega\u010d, Karolina Kova\u010devi\u0107, Branka Vukmani\u0107, Marina Dara\u017eac \u0110idara, Darko Kova\u010devi\u0107, Roberta Kova\u010devi\u0107, Andrija Kova\u010devi\u0107, Martina Maja Halu\u017ean, Anita Dara\u017eac, Katja Lipi\u010dnik, Tajana Dobravc i Vjeran Dobravc.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Support from Friends and Followers<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sponsorship partners include the Trans-European Division, the Adriatic Union Conference, the Croatian Conference, from among Croatian and Serbian members around the world. But the lead and biggest sponsor supporting Agape’s ministry is Zagreb City Council.<\/p>\n

Some who had travelled from Serbia were notable by their presence – members of churches in the South East European Union Conference centred in Belgrade, Serbia. Their is a strong bond between the Adriatic and South-East European Union conferences, with Agape Ensemble singing in Serbia.<\/p>\n

As Neven Kla\u010dmer, Communication director for the Adriatic Union, commented, “The Agape Ensemble is a tremendous support in helping our members share their faith. I have seen many examples tonight of pastors and members bringing friends in the community they connect with to the concert.”<\/p>\n

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Zlatko Musija, President of the Adriatic Union, Slobodan ‘Bobo’ Mar\u010deta, President of the Croatian Conference, and Slavica Mar\u010deta catch a brief conversation before the concert begins.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

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Svjetlana Veble (Executive Secretary of the Adriatic Union Conference), Neven Kla\u010dmer (Executive Secretary of the Croatian Conference), and \u017delimir Stani\u0107 (Executive Secretary of the South-East European Union Conference) share in the joy following the concert.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In Praise of Him<\/strong><\/p>\n

“It all started”, says Matija Kova\u010devi\u0107,\u00a0 “when I was a young child and my dad had a tall Double Bass standing in the corner of the room. As he moved it out of the corner to play, it caught my attention, and I remember walking up to the Bass and trying to pluck the string as he was. That’s my first real memory of a musical gene weaving through our family. We are so grateful for the support we receive to help make our music connect and improve people’s lives. Building bridges with the people of our nation and beyond for Christ is at the heart of all we do. That is why our anniversary concert has the title ‘In Praise of Him’, because we want all at the concert to know that our music is all about Him.”<\/p>\n

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“tata i 3 brata” – meaning “dad & 3 brothers” – Agape Family Quartet. The Kova\u010devi\u0107 family from left to right: Jakov (Bass), Darko (2nd Tenor), Andrija(1st Tenor) and Matija (Baritone).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

Featured image and photos: Anja Patricija Cika\u010d (stage photos) and David Neal (church leaders) and Marina Kova\u010devi\u0107 (hall panorama)<\/p>\n

You can see more of the Agape Gospel Ensemble on:<\/p>\n

Facebook: Agape Musician\/band; Agape Family Quartet<\/p>\n

Instagram: @Agape__official<\/p>\n

YouTube: Gospel ansambl Agape; Agape Family Quartet<\/p>\n

Thanks to Neven Kla\u010dmer for his collaboration in this report.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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