From October 26 to 29, 2026, the Inter-European Division (EUD) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church held its Church Planting Conference in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Members of the EUD Executive Committee, mission leaders from the General Conference, and church planters from across Europe met to explore one central question: how can the Church share the gospel and plant new communities of faith among secular and post-Christian Europeans?
During the conference, EUDNews interviewed several speakers and participants. Here are some of their perspectives.
Florian Ristea
Director, Adventist Mission, Inter-European Division, and conference organizer
Ristea coordinated the conference through the EUD Adventist Mission office. He opened the program by explaining why the Division chose to focus on church planting and concluded by pointing participants toward the next steps. In his interview, he reflects on the purpose of the gathering and shares his vision for how it can inspire and support church planting efforts across Europe.
Pierre Omeler
Vice president, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Omeler shares his passion for church planting and his own experience as a church planter in the secular state of Massachusetts, United States, where he started eight churches.
Barna Magyarosi
President, Inter-European Division
Magyarosi warmly welcomed all participants on the opening evening and led an inspiring morning devotional on how God uses ordinary human beings as catalysts for the change in other people’s lives. In his interview, he speaks about why church planting matters for the future of the Church in Europe, along with considering the spiritual needs of young people. Magyarosi addresses church leaders across the EUD, sharing what he hopes that they will take away from the conference in Plovdiv.
Gary Krause
Director, Adventist Mission, General Conference
G. Krause gave the opening keynote, “Planting the Future.” In his interview, he shares his perspective on why church planting is important for the advancement of mission today.
Wayne Krause
Director, Adventist Mission, South Pacific Division
W. Krause spoke on “Belonging Before Believing”. In his interview, he describes the similarities between Europe and the countries of the South Pacific, and how church planting responds to challenges common to both territories.
Bledi Leno
Director, Center for Secular and Postmodern Mission, General Conference
Leno led sessions on the secular mindset and on conversion without a Christian background. In his interview, he expresses his certainty that church planting is effective in a post-Christian society and highlights the importance of belonging and community.
Pavel Eder
Church planter, Safe Point Church, Prague
Eder led workshops at the conference on digital evangelism as a pathway to church planting and on an intentional discipleship process for new churches. Here, he shares his experience of planting a church in Prague, in one of the most secular countries in Europe. Watch, also, the miraculous story of a life transformation, which Pavel shares in the video.
Michael Garkov
Church member, Bulgaria, and ASI leader
Garkov attended the conference as a participant from the host country. In his interview, he shares his impressions of the conference.
Mariarosa Cavalieri
Director, Personal Ministries, Italy
Cavalieri took part in the conference as one of the leaders responsible for mobilizing church members for mission. She reflects on her impressions of the conference and shares the renewed vision she brings back to Italy, along with the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
The interviews show a shared conviction: in a Europe where many people no longer look to the Church, new communities of faith built on relationships, belonging, and a clear focus on mission, can open new doors for the Gospel.
