On October 24, Alsbach-Hähnlein served as the venue for the 15th annual Media Day, jointly organized by Hope Media Europe—a media center of the Seventh-day Adventist Church—and the German Adventist Youth (Adventjugend Deutschland). Operating under the central theme “Between Two Worlds”, the event reached full capacity with approximately 140 participants.
Designed as an interactive exchange and networking platform, the annual Media Day invites media enthusiasts and aspiring creators to showcase projects, expand their skill sets through specialized workshops, and discover and nurture young talent. The target demographic spans adolescents and young adults passionate about social media, media design, podcasting, videography, photography, creative and journalistic writing, software development, and gaming. Attendees ranged from individuals who had already initiated independent media projects to those seeking like-minded peers or guidance on future ventures.
Navigating the Tension Between Faith and Modern Culture
The overarching theme, “Between Two Worlds”, speaks to the modern Christian experience: navigating the same core questions, doubts, and challenges as the wider world while remaining anchored in a transcendent hope. According to the organizers, media can serve as a vital bridge between these realms. The gathering aimed to help young creators explore authentic ways to express this tension through contemporary channels.
Keynote by "The Voice of Germany" Winner Samuel Rösch
Singer-songwriter Samuel Rösch, winner of the eighth season of “The Voice of Germany” (2018), served as the keynote speaker. An active Protestant Christian with a background in religious education, Rösch regularly performs concerts and literary-musical events featuring songs and readings from his book “Ich glaub an dich” (co-authored with Beate Hofmann). He also collaborates with the charity Kinderklinik-Konzerte e.V., performing for children in hospitals.
Reflecting on the event's theme, Rösch remarked, “'Between Two Worlds'—that is my life.” Drawing from his dual experiences in the professional entertainment industry and the Christian community, he shared personal anecdotes and behind-the-scenes insights. He encouraged participants to engage honestly with others, step outside their comfort zones and ideological "bubbles", and ground themselves in personal identity by reflecting on foundational questions: “Who are you when the camera is off? When you are alone? Where do you hang your heart?” Rösch concluded his address by inviting the audience to join him in singing and humming along to several of his songs.
True North Wins the Inter-European Vision Song Contest
A major musical highlight of the event featured performances by the duo True North (Frank Morgan and Nina Catari) from Potsdam/Berlin. The day prior, their song, "Healing", won the Inter-European Vision Song Contest, hosted by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Modeled after the Eurovision Song Contest, the competition featured entries from four countries—Bulgaria, Germany, Portugal, and Spain—evaluated by national juries and online public voting.
The contest aims to unearth and promote musical talent across Europe with entries centered on Christian themes. The winning track, "Healing", addresses the emotional restoration that begins when broken individuals place their trust in God. Alongside "Healing," the duo performed other original compositions. A full recording of the Inter-European Vision Song Contest is available on YouTube:
Project Slam and the Media Day Award
During the traditional "Project Slam”, participants presented their independent works—primarily spanning film, software development, and music—in concise five-minute slots. Attendees subsequently voted for the recipient of the Media Day Award, which includes a €300 cash prize. The honor was awarded to singer-songwriter Melina Godina, whose emotional musical storytelling aims to instill hope in listeners.
Masterclasses and Professional Mentoring
Ten specialized masterclass workshops formed a core component of the program, allowing industry professionals to impart technical expertise and collaborate directly with attendees. Seminar topics included professional camera operation, narrative storytelling, musical arrangement, journalistic writing, vocal coaching, app development, and the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in modern media production.
About Hope Media Europe
Hope Media Europe operates an extensive portfolio of faith-based media ministries, including the television channel Hope TV, Hope Podcasts, correspondence Bible courses (Hope Kurse), and the Hope Hörbücherei audiobook library. Hope TV is part of the global Hope Channel network, which was founded in 2003 by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the United States and comprises over 83 national broadcasters. It provides informational, cultural, and family-oriented programming via satellite, cable networks across Germany.
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