From September 23 to 26, Fribourg hosted the European Congress of Adventist Laymen’s Services & Industries (ASI), an independent organization affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Approximately 600 participants from across Europe and the Americas—predominantly entrepreneurs, professionals, and leaders of missionary initiatives—convened for a multi-day event focused on collaboration, professional development, and outreach.
The primary purpose of the congress is to synthesize missionary experiences gained both individually and through programs largely funded by ASI member donations. These diverse initiatives share a common objective: leveraging professional skills, resources, and expertise to serve communities and advance the Gospel. Projects presented at the congress spanned multiple sectors, ranging from healthcare and humanitarian aid to spiritually focused initiatives dedicated to sharing the biblical message upheld by the Adventist Church.
Featured speakers for this edition included Erton Köhler, president of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and missionary Jan Harry Cabungcal, formerly engaged in neurological research. Their addresses prompted attendees to reflect on the privilege and responsibility of “Sharing Christ in the Marketplace,” integrating faith into professional and corporate environments.
In addition to keynote presentations, approximately ten guest speakers led diverse workshops designed to inspire, equip, and revitalize the participants' outreach efforts. Complementing the main sessions, a comprehensive missionary exhibition was established in the hall adjacent to the auditorium. Approximately 42 European exhibitors showcased their projects alongside international participants from Kazakhstan, England, and Venezuela, providing an interactive space for attendees to engage directly with frontline ministry leaders.
The event was characterized by a strong sense of fellowship, reinforced through spiritual services, networking sessions, and musical performances. Notably, the Anabasis Ensemble from Poland provided musical accompaniment throughout the congress and hosted a Saturday evening concert featuring instrumental arrangements of Christian hymns. In keeping with tradition, a special offering for the featured missionary projects was collected during the Saturday morning worship service. Historically vital to the realization of numerous initiatives, this year's collection nearly met the total requested funding of approximately €350,000 across 59 submitted projects. The Fribourg congress concluded by providing attendees with actionable insights, new project frameworks, and a renewed mandate to integrate faith into their daily vocations, businesses, and communities, effectively transforming professional resources into avenues of service.
To read the original article, please go here.
