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My Witnesses to the End of the Earth ...

Inter-European Region Executive Committee discusses the priority of witnessing the message of Salvation to the end of the earth.

My Witnesses to the End of the Earth ...

Norbert Zens (left), EUD CFO, Mario Brito, EUD President, Barna Magyarosi, EUD Executive Secretary. (credit: C. Cozzi)

Rome, Italy.CD-EUDNews. C.Cozzi.

My Witnesses to the End of the Earth ...” With this motto, the Executive Committee of the Inter-European Region (EUD) of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists (GC), held in Rome, Italy, from November 1-6, 2018, began its works. 

The EUD Executive Committee includes all the officers from the various Unions of the Southeastern European countries, including institution directors, lay members, and guests from  the GC. Among the guests was the President of the General Conference, Pastor Ted Wilson, with whom the reports of the various departments involved in evangelization were shared.

The opening message of the work was presented, as usual, by the President of the EUD, Pastor Mario Brito.

His message was based on the second letter of the apostle Peter 1:16-21. The church of the first century was being challenged by several false doctrines. Those behind such teachings were not concerned about the well-being of their listeners, but about their own interests. 

The apostle reminded his audience that he was a servant and an eyewitness of Jesus, who was truly concerned about the well-being of all human beings. He gave himself completely to the mission of saving human kind. “Peter’s teachings and authority were not based on stories artificially conceived,” explained Pastor Brito. “He got to know Jesus personally. His knowledge and authority were based on what he learned from Jesus and on the testimony of the prophets.” Like Jesus, Peter was not moved by his own interests. He fully committed himself to the mission of serving others.

Challenging times are ahead of us. We are challenged from different directions. Are we grounded in the Word of God? Are we transparent? Are we truthful? Are we serving people? Do we serve people because we love them? These were some questions the President asked.

“People can easily see who we are by the way we behave and act. They can easily understand if we are trustworthy or not. And this will make the difference,” followed Brito. He then asked where our authority comes from. There is only one answer: Jesus Christ.

“How are we supposed to exercise authority in the church? Following Jesus’ example, as presented in the Gospels. He is the perfect model for all those who are called to exercise authority in the ecclesiastical sphere,” affirmed Pastor Brito. 

Jesus established loving relationships with people as he served them, won their confidence, and then invited them to follow him.

"As we relate to people, showing real interest in their well-being and success, they will trust us and follow our instructions and advice. Many among them will eventually accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Are we really committed to helping people to follow Jesus? There is no better form of leadership than leading people to follow the Good Shepherd.” 

A leader earns his leadership authority by serving the people he has been called to lead. "People can see who we are. They can read if we are trustworthy or not, " Brito explained.

"Our mission is to help grow in the image of God. We should always keep this purpose in mind,” concluded Pastor Brito. “So, we are in great need of women and men that reflect the character of Jesus Christ, with pure hearts, following His unselfish example and having the same authority to go and preach the Gospel even until the end of the earth.

The works continued with the presentation of some points related to the normal administration of the church and, concluding the first session of this EUD Executive Committee 2018, the adoption of the new revised Mission Statement of the Seventh-day Adventist Church: 

Our Mission: Make disciples of Jesus Christ who live as His loving witnesses and proclaim to all people the everlasting gospel of the Three Angels’ Messages in preparation for His soon return (Matt 28:18-20, Acts 1:8, Rev 14:6-12). 

Our Method—Guided by the Bible and the Holy Spirit, Seventh-day Adventists pursue this mission through Christ-like living, communicating, discipling, teaching, healing, and serving.

Our Vision—In harmony with Bible revelation, Seventh-day Adventists see as the climax of God’s plan the restoration of all His creation to full harmony with His perfect will and righteousness.