The Expo-Centro in Pombal once again served as the stage for the Seventh-day Adventist Church's major annual gathering. On Saturday, May 17, nearly 4,000 people gathered at the largest assembly ever held in our country, in a spiritual and intercultural atmosphere that also continued the celebration of 120 years of Adventist presence in Portuguese territory, which began last year.
A Celebration with Memory
The highlight of the morning program was a tribute to the local churches. On stage, 72 representatives of the 114 churches across Portugal received a commemorative token marking the arrival of Adventism in Portugal 120 years ago. Each local church selected a person to represent it in this highly symbolic moment, reflecting the unique journey of each community.
Next to the stage, a 10-meter-long banner displayed a chronological timeline highlighting the founding date of each local church in its respective location, along with a photo of the church building. Attendees were invited to take a photo next to the name of their church, reinforcing a sense of identity and belonging to the global mission through local action.
A Lunch that United Cultures
In a relaxed setting behind the stage, a multicultural lunch brought together around 600 people. In addition to the UPASD booth, 14 churches that had registered in advance were represented, and each of them organized locally, encouraging members to prepare and bring traditional dishes from their countries of origin.
The initiative was organized by ADRA, and with everyone’s collaboration, a true banquet of international flavors was prepared. This moment proved to be one of the most symbolic of the day, reflecting the diversity, spirit of cooperation, and sense of unity that marked this Spiritual Assembly.
Emiliana Malaquias, from Caldas da Rainha, shared her emotional experience at the lunch:
"It was a wonderful experience. We made new friends, and for me, this gathering was a small glimpse of what it will be like to sit together at the Lord's table when Jesus comes to take His people. I felt such deep happiness, as if we were getting a foretaste of eternity."
Testimonies that Inspire Us to Mission
The morning’s main sermon was delivered by Pastor Erton Köhler, Executive Secretary of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, who challenged the Church to remain united in mission.
In the afternoon, the program continued with testimonies from Bragança, Pedrógão Grande, Funchal, and Cascais, highlighting the church’s growth in different regions, even among people from different cultures.
Music, as always, held a special place in this assembly. A 20-member orchestra, conducted by maestro André dos Santos, lifted the atmosphere to what could be called a true “corner of heaven.” The afternoon program aimed to reflect the multicultural nature of the church. The African community from the Lisbon Region joined forces to form a choir specifically for the occasion, opening the afternoon with a musical “journey” to the African continent.
There were also performances by the Ministry Mais Perto, the group Unnamed, the Vocalis Choir, the Adventist Choir of Sertã, and the Hungarian singer Erzsébet Hillenkoetter, who not only impressed with her voice but also moved the audience with a powerful testimony of faith and loyalty.
The children also had a special moment when nearly 150 of them came on stage to perform the song “This Little Light of Mine.”
Tribute to Pastor António Tostes
One of the most emotional moments of the day was the tribute to Pastor António Tostes, affectionately known as “Toninho,” led by Pastor Pedro Esteves. The tribute highlighted the crucial role played by the current director of Novo Tempo Network in the South American Division in launching TV Novo Tempo in Portugal.
Leading the network since 2010 and having already announced his retirement for the end of this year, Pastor Tostes was a key figure in this process. From the start, he believed in the expansion of the “Channel of Hope” to Portugal, recognizing the potential of the shared language and supporting every step of this dream.
Before the event concluded, Pastor Pedro Esteves made a direct appeal to all attendees, encouraging them to take home the new magazine from TV Novo Tempo, The Great Controversy, which includes a series of Bible studies linked to the TV program of the same name. The appeal had an immediate impact, with hundreds of copies distributed within minutes—so many, in fact, that some people couldn’t get one due to the high demand.
United in Mission
The 2025 Spiritual Assembly was one of the largest events of the Adventist Church in Portugal since its founding. But more than just a number, the nearly 4,000 attendees represented a growing, vibrant, multicultural church—above all, united in mission.
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith."
— Hebrews 12:2
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