From September 26 to 28, 2025, the picturesque town of Elena—nestled in the heart of the Balkan Mountains in Bulgaria—played host to a transformative training event for family ministries leaders. Organized by the Family Ministries Department of the Bulgarian Union of Seventh-day Adventist Churches, this gathering aimed to address a pressing issue within the church community.
Many Adventist volunteers serving as department or community leaders often experience spiritual burnout, leading to doubts about their calling, feelings of frustration, abandonment, and criticism from church members. This state of overload and fatigue can result in disappointment and, in some cases, even the decision to leave the ministry or the church altogether.
Recognizing this challenge, the Family Ministries Department leaders in Bulgaria highlighted spiritual burnout as a significant concern in a survey conducted the previous year. In response, Pastor Stefan Stefanoff and his wife, Vesselina, took the initiative to organize this national training.
The training featured prominent speakers Pastor Corrado Cozzi and his wife, Elsa, who have extensive experience in youth ministries and communications, as well as children’s ministries within the Inter-European Division. Currently serving in a local church in Switzerland, they graciously shared their insights and experiences related to the challenges faced by church leaders.
Over 50 participants attended the event, including local family ministries leaders, leaders from other Union departments, and several pastoral families. The training was open to all leaders interested in participating.
The program consisted of five main sessions held throughout the weekend: Friday evening, Sabbath morning (two sessions), Sabbath evening, and Sunday morning. Key topics included “Volunteer in Christian Mission,” “Management and Delegation,” “Stress Management and Self-Care,” “Stress in Christian Service,” and “Volunteer Burnout Cycle.” Each session was engaging and informative, featuring presentations, interactive tasks, discussions, personality assessments, and games.
Participants gained valuable insights into their strengths and weaknesses, recognizing their limits and talents. A significant focus of the discussions revolved around time management and delegation. Many were surprised to identify “chronofagouses”, or "thieves of time", in their lives, realizing that they need not tackle everything alone—a burden of self-reliance not mandated by scripture. The concept that rest is a command, not merely an option, resonated deeply with many attendees.
The final meeting on Sunday morning concluded with a Question-and-Answer session, allowing participants to express their concerns and challenges as local leaders within the Family Ministries Department. Gratitude was extended to Elsa and Corrado Cozzi for their dedication, passion, and wisdom, generously shared throughout the training. Most importantly, participants expressed heartfelt appreciation to God for the calling to serve, and for the strength and passion He provides for this ministry.
As the weekend drew to a close, participants were reminded of the Bible verse: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). With hearts full of gratitude and joy, the gathering concluded, leaving everyone immensely blessed by the experience.
