The Adventist Church of Rome Lungotevere experienced two days dedicated to deepening an important moment in community life. On Friday, June 13, and Saturday, June 14, a training event was held for the Adventist churches of central Italy, organized by the Sabbath School (SdS) and Personal Ministries (MMPP) departments. The guest of the initiative was Pastor Florian Ristea, director of the Sabbath School and Adventist Mission departments for the Inter-European region of the Church.
On Friday evening, many participated in the Zoom meeting for the training exchange appointment. Mariarosa Cavalieri, the director of SdS and MMPP at the national level, introduced the evening by recalling the four main objectives of the Sabbath School: the study of Scriptures, fellowship, engagement in society, and the promotion of worldwide mission. Director Ristea then elaborated on how important the role of Sabbath School groups is for the Church to enjoy excellent spiritual health.
On Saturday morning, M. Cavalieri spoke to welcome and introduce Pastor Ristea to the assembly. The focus was placed on the deep value of the Sabbath School, aiming to make it a dynamic space centered on various dimensions that need to be kept balanced: caring and brotherly relationships, involvement in one's surroundings, study and deepening of the Bible, mission and evangelism, and testimony. Pastor Ristea, originally from Romania, shared his personal experience—the long period during which he was agnostic, until his personal encounter with Christ and his decision to become a minister. He emphasized how precious the Sabbath School has been in his journey. In his sermon, he compared studying in small groups and the relationships formed within them to a kind of lantern that should always be kept lit in a social context thirsty for hope and truth. The aspect of brotherhood, of mutual knowledge among the members of the same Sabbath School group, is also vital. Often, people do not know each other well and do not show interest in one another. The community dimension should become a laboratory of relationship and meeting, that can expand and include others.
The day was enriched by the participation of people from various communities in central Italy. The choir from the Piazza Vulture church, in Rome, accompanied the Saturday service with intense songs.
After having lunch together, the reflection continued in the afternoon. Pastor Ristea presented some global data that helped us understand the relevance of the Sabbath School in our churches today. He spoke about the role of the facilitator and the care that this person should have for the group entrusted to them. He reminded us that the Sabbath School is a very important tool that the Lord established even before Adventism took the form we currently know. We can define it as the very beating heart of the Church and, as such, it can and must never cease to beat.
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