“My Witnesses to the End of the Earth ...” With this motto, the Executive Committee of the Inter-European Region (EUD) of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists (GC), held in Rome, Italy, from November 1-6, 2018, began its year-end meeting. The EUD Executive Committee includes all the officers from the various Unions of the Southeastern European countries, including institution directors, lay members, and guests from the GC. Among the guests was the President of the General Conference, Pastor Ted Wilson. The opening message was presented, as usual, by the President of the EUD, Pastor Mario Brito. His message was based on the second letter of the apostle Peter 1:16-21. “People can easily see who we are by the way we behave and act. They can easily understand if we are trustworthy or not. And this will make the difference,” followed Brito. He then asked where our authority comes from. There is only one answer: Jesus Christ. “How are we supposed to exercise authority in the church? Following Jesus’ example, as presented in the Gospels. He is the perfect model for all those who are called to exercise authority in the ecclesiastical sphere,” affirmed Pastor Brito. Jesus established loving relationships with people as he served them, won their confidence, and then invited them to follow him. "As we relate to people, showing real interest in their well-being and success, they will trust us and follow our instructions and advice. Many among them will eventually accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Are we really committed to helping people to follow Jesus? There is no better form of leadership than leading people to follow the Good Shepherd.” A leader earns his leadership authority by serving the people he has been called to lead. "Our mission is to help grow in the image of God. We should always keep this purpose in mind,” concluded Pastor Brito. “So, we are in great need of women and men that reflect the character of Jesus Christ, with pure hearts, following His unselfish example and having the same authority to go and preach the Gospel even until the end of the earth.
In the very male-dominated executive committee a few women's faces could be seen. Mrs. Nancy Wilson accompanied her husband and met the new Women's Ministries Director for the EUD, Dagmar Dorn.
A revised Mission Statement for the Seventh-day Adventist Church was voted:
Our Mission: Make disciples of Jesus Christ who live as His loving witnesses and proclaim to all people the everlasting gospel of the Three Angels’ Messages in preparation for His soon return (Matt 28:18-20, Acts 1:8, Rev 14:6-12).
Our Method—Guided by the Bible and the Holy Spirit, Seventh-day Adventists pursue this mission through Christ-like living, communicating, discipling, teaching, healing, and serving.
Our Vision—In harmony with Bible revelation, Seventh-day Adventists see as the climax of God’s plan the restoration of all His creation to full harmony with His perfect will and righteousness.
According to a report by EUDNews C.Cozzi and WM News