Programme
Workshops
Find Your Space. Grow Your Faith.
AYC26 workshops are more than sessions—they’re spaces to ask honest questions, grow in faith, and discover what it means to be made for more in Jesus.
Categories
Across six categories, you’ll find practical, creative, and spiritual experiences designed for real life:
Relate
Discover how to build deep, healthy connections that reflect the love of Christ.
Faith & Science
Explore big questions and think deeply with a resilient, vibrant faith.
Create
Uncover and use your creativity as a way to express faith and impact others.
Digital
Rethink your digital habits and use technology for growth and mission.
Grow
Deepen your relationship with God and grow as a disciple.
Gain practical tools to live and share your faith every day.
All Workshops
Category
Relate
Discover how to build deep, healthy connections that reflect the love of Christ.
Workshop
The Blueprint of You: How Your Early Years Shape Your Future
Helgi Johnson
Why do we react the way we do under pressure? Why do some relationships feel easier than others? This workshop dives into the “why” behind our emotions and health. We will explore how our earliest experiences and the challenges we faced growing up actually wire our brains and bodies for the future. By understanding this connection, we can better navigate our current mental health and take charge of our long-term physical well-being.
Dr. Helgi Jónsson is a psychiatrist and CBT psychotherapist based in Iceland. Educated in both Iceland and Denmark, he currently operates a private psychiatric clinic and has served as a consultant psychiatrist for vocational and fibromyalgia rehabilitation centres. Between 2019 and 2020, Dr. Jónsson held the position of Health Ministries Director for the Trans-European Division of the SDA Church. Outside of his clinical practice, he is an avid reader and watercolour painter. He has been married to his wife, Helga, for 30 years, and they have one son.
Workshop
Helgi Johnson
The way we see our selves often clashes with the pressure we feel from social media, friend and the world around us. These pressures can create a sense of shame – that uncomfortable feeling that we aren‘t „doing it right“ or that our feelings don‘t fit in.
We will explore what it means to have inherent value and how to carry that self-respect into your relationships and sexual health. By understanding where shame comes from, you can learn to set boundaries that protect your dignity, ensuring that your choices are always based on your own worth rather than someone else‘s expectations.
Dr. Helgi Jónsson is a psychiatrist and CBT psychotherapist based in Iceland. Educated in both Iceland and Denmark, he currently operates a private psychiatric clinic and has served as a consultant psychiatrist for vocational and fibromyalgia rehabilitation centres. Between 2019 and 2020, Dr. Jónsson held the position of Health Ministries Director for the Trans-European Division of the SDA Church. Outside of his clinical practice, he is an avid reader and watercolour painter. He has been married to his wife, Helga, for 30 years, and they have one son.
Workshop
Real love in the real world
Karen Holford
We are all wired by God to search for love. How do you recognise real love? How do you love well? And how do you handle the conflicts? Discover how simple ’secrets’ from the Bible can transform your relationships in the real world.
Karen Holford is a psychologist and family therapist, and the TED director of Family, Children and Health ministries. She is passionate about helping people to have healthy relationships with God and people. She is married to pastor Bernie Holford and they have three adult children and 5 grandchildren.
Workshop
Peacemaker
Karen Holford
We are all wired by God to search for love. How do you recognise real love? How do you love well? And how do you handle the conflicts? Discover how simple ’secrets’ from the Bible can transform your relationships in the real world.
Karen Holford is a psychologist and family therapist, and the TED director of Family, Children and Health ministries. She is passionate about helping people to have healthy relationships with God and people. She is married to pastor Bernie Holford and they have three adult children and 5 grandchildren.
Workshop
Sex and relationships off the rails
Mary Jo Vollmer
Sex is everywhere—shaping culture, media, and internal narratives as well. Yet the church has sometimes communicated an over-simplified message: sex is “okay” within a heterosexual marriage, and otherwise not. But is that enough to address the realities and complexities young people are navigating today?
This workshop offers thoughtful reflection and practical exploration of underlying principles for engaging today’s most pressing questions about sex—without fear, shame, or simplistic answers. Using clear, usable language for real conversations, we will address topics such as consent, boundaries, online influences, and how to recognize subtle coercion—so you can help young people ask honest questions and develop healthier patterns of connection, lasting into their marriage relationships.
Dr. Mary Jo Vollmer has worked with Forensic Pediatrics for over 25 years as a clinician, researcher, lecturer, and prevention specialist. A 5th generation Adventist and a pastor’s daughter, she has a passion for bringing together the harsh and often hidden realities of life with the healing gospel message. She grew up between the US and Ireland. She has four young adult children and a cat and resides between California and Norway with her pastor husband Vidar Hovden.
Workshop
When Stress Turns Toxic: Trauma, Resilience, and the Healing Gospel
Mary Jo Vollmer
Life is stressful—often from childhood onward—through family conflict, turbulence in romantic relationships, and the pressures of work or school. Many people don’t realize how deeply these stressors can shape health, emotions, and overall well-being. Does being a Christian offer us anything as we navigate these realities? And we’ll ask an important question raised in the session: Is the gospel we present a healing balm—or added pressure in an already painful existence?
In this workshop, we’ll take a trauma-informed look at stress and toxic stress—what it is (and isn’t), how it affects the body, how shame can become intertwined with coping, and what resilience actually looks like in real life. We’ll also explore how Jesus engaged suffering with both truth and compassion, and what it can mean to cultivate safety, connection, and healing in ourselves and our communities.
Dr. Mary Jo Vollmer has worked with Forensic Pediatrics for over 25 years as a clinician, researcher, lecturer, and prevention specialist. A 5th generation Adventist and a pastor’s daughter, she has a passion for bringing together the harsh and often hidden realities of life with the healing gospel message. She grew up between the US and Ireland. She has four young adult children and a cat and resides between California and Norway with her pastor husband Vidar Hovden.
Workshop
Love Is in the Air…
Silvia Palos
Love is definitely in the air… it’s literally in your hands! These days, there are tons of apps and social media platforms made to help you find love with just a click. But honestly, more often than not, these relationships leave people feeling unhappy and unfulfilled. Maybe it’s because “forever love” feels kind of old-fashioned and impossible to find nowadays… or maybe we’re just focusing on the wrong things. What if we took a step back and looked at how God actually designed us, so LOVE can be something genuinely good in our lives?
My name is Silvia Palos, and I’m from Zaragoza, Spain. I studied at Rigel Adventist School, and I’m a lawyer. I love summer camps, AEGUAE (the Spanish equivalent of AMiCUS), and traveling by van with my husband, Pep. Currently, Pep and I are actively involved in a Family Ministry focused on marriage preparation, and we enjoy sharing experiences with other couples who help us grow in our Christian marriage.
Workshop
Love Smart: Building Relationships That Last
László Szabó
Dreaming about love is not enough. Strong and healthy marriages rarely happen by accident — they are built intentionally. This workshop helps young people move beyond romantic ideals toward practical preparation for lifelong relationships through reflection, conversation, and proven relationship tools.
Participants will discover how the Prepare/Enrich assessment can help couples better understand their strengths, identify potential growth areas, and develop healthier patterns of communication, connection, and conflict resolution. The seminar also explores essential principles for building stable, resilient, and lasting marriages within today’s social and cultural realities.
Whether dating, engaged, or thinking about the future, participants will gain practical orientation and tools for building relationships that are not only meaningful but built to last.
László Szabó (PhD Wales) is a researcher and lecturer in mission studies at Friedensau Adventist University and serves as a field secretary for the Inter-European Division, where he trains pastors and church members in mission and leadership across diverse international contexts. His journey into ministry was not driven by a conventional sense of calling, but by a deep encounter with God’s work in real lives and stories that drew him into service.
Following his theological studies, he was profoundly shaped by his experience in East Africa, beginning his missionary work in Tanzania. He continues to be actively involved among the Maasai, where his passion for contextual mission and community engagement remains central.
His research focuses on the impact of social change in Europe on religiosity, community life, and individual identity. Together with his wife, Szilvia, he enjoys a strong, thriving marriage, and as a certified Prepare/Enrich trainer, he is committed to helping others build healthy, lasting relationships.
Workshop
I Fell in Love With AI – What AI Knows About Love and What It Can Teach Us
Gábor Mihalec
Artificial intelligence has irreversibly entered our everyday lives. For some people, interaction with AI now exceeds the amount of meaningful conversation they have with real, flesh-and-blood human beings. These interactions inevitably shape our personality, often in subtle and unnoticed ways. Experiences formed in dialogue with AI can easily spill over into our human relationships. This presentation explores where AI can genuinely enrich human connection—and where increased awareness and caution are needed to ensure that our use of technology does not undermine real-life relationships. Through refined sensitivity and concrete, real-life examples, the lecture guides participants through these timely and important questions.
Dr. Gábor Mihalec is an ordained pastor and a practicing couple and family therapist in Hungary. He is the author of several internationally successful books on relationships and a recipient of multiple professional awards in Hungary. Each year he works with hundreds of couples who are facing relational difficulties and are seeking renewal and deeper connection. He regularly leads trainings and lectures both in Hungary and internationally, teaching in three languages. What he teaches professionally, he strives to live authentically in his own marriage: he has been married to his wife, Dóra, for more than 31 years, and together they have two adult children, Viktor and Bogi.
Workshop
Love Across Borders – The Sobering Reality of Intercultural Relationships
Gábor Mihalec
Many believe that love overrides all differences and that cultural distinctions simply dissolve in the heat of romantic attraction. Yet when intercultural relationships move from idealization to everyday reality, couples often discover that although they understand each other’s words, those words carry very different meanings shaped by culture. Behaviors, expectations, and emotional responses are deeply influenced by cultural frameworks. This presentation explores how misunderstandings arise, how couples can truly understand one another, and how a shared “we-culture” can be intentionally formed. It sensitively highlights the factors that can strain intercultural relationships—even in the presence of strong love—and points to proven, practical approaches that help transform such relationships into something truly meaningful and enduring.
Dr. Gábor Mihalec is an ordained pastor and a practicing couple and family therapist in Hungary. He is the author of several internationally successful books on relationships and a recipient of multiple professional awards in Hungary. Each year he works with hundreds of couples who are facing relational difficulties and are seeking renewal and deeper connection. He regularly leads trainings and lectures both in Hungary and internationally, teaching in three languages. What he teaches professionally, he strives to live authentically in his own marriage: he has been married to his wife, Dóra, for more than 31 years, and together they have two adult children, Viktor and Bogi.
Workshop
Crucial Conversations
Barna Magyarosi
We all have conversations that we tend to avoid, or that usually end up in emotional arguments and hurt feelings. This workshop offers tools and conflict resolution methods to help us handle these conversations more effectively and to God’s glory.
Barna Magyarosi, ThD, DLead, has served as pastor and department director in the South Transylvania Conference, Romania as well as theology teacher and president of Adventus University. Subsequently, he worked as the education and family ministries director then as executive secretary of the Inter-European Division, where he currently serves as the president. He is married to Noemi Laura; together they have an adult daughter. He has authored several biblical-theological articles and books and is passionate about sharing Biblical knowledge with others and the Good News with those who search for meaning and purpose in life.
Workshop
Crazy Stupid Love
Kari Clewett
The science behind three things you can actually depend on to succeed in dating and maintaining purity.
Kari Clewett is a psychologist, sexologist, and couples therapist with studies in theology. She is the author of El buen sexo (The Good Sex) and Traición (Betrayal), and the founder of the +intimidad (+Intimacy) platform and The Good Sex Team counseling practice. Through the integration of clinical science and a biblical perspective, she helps married couples experience the good sex God intended for them. Her mission: to bring good sex back to the Church.
Workshop
To Kiss or not to Kiss… Is that even still a Question?
Kari Clewett
An honest and unashamed discussion on Gods amazing design for sex, love and intimacy and how that leads to healthy boundaries.
Kari Clewett is a psychologist, sexologist, and couples therapist with studies in theology. She is the author of El buen sexo (The Good Sex) and Traición (Betrayal), and the founder of the +intimidad (+Intimacy) platform and The Good Sex Team counseling practice. Through the integration of clinical science and a biblical perspective, she helps married couples experience the good sex God intended for them. Her mission: to bring good sex back to the Church.
Workshop
The Meaning of Male and Female: Following Jesus in Created Bodies
Janet Dean
In a culture filled with confusion about identity, many Christians are asking what it means to be male or female. This workshop explores the biblical vision of humanity as created male and female in the image of God. Rather than focusing on cultural stereotypes or rigid gender roles, we will examine the significance of our embodied existence, the equal dignity of men and women, and how Jesus reveals the beauty and purpose of human life. Together, we will consider how understanding ourselves as created, embodied persons shapes our identity, relationships, and discipleship.
Dr. Janet Dean is a pastor, professor, and ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene who is passionate about helping people connect their faith to real life. She loves exploring how Scripture shapes our understanding of God, ourselves, and one another, especially when it comes to some of today’s most challenging questions. Known for her thoughtful, approachable style, Janet encourages honest conversations, deep grace, and faithful discipleship.
Janet serves as Professor of Pastoral Counseling at Asbury Theological Seminary. She and her husband, Kevin, a retired U.S. Navy chaplain, have two adult sons, Jonathan and Rowan.
Workshop
Safe, Welcoming, and Helpful: Caring for Sexual and Gender Minorities in the Way of Jesus
Janet Dean
How can churches be places where sexual and gender minorities encounter both the truth and grace of Jesus Christ? This workshop explores the unique spiritual, emotional, and relational challenges often faced by LGBTQ+ individuals and their families. Drawing on insights from psychology, pastoral care, and Christian discipleship, we will consider practical ways to cultivate churches that are safe, welcoming, and genuinely helpful—places where people are heard, valued, supported, and invited to grow in faith.
Dr. Janet Dean is a pastor, professor, and ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene who is passionate about helping people connect their faith to real life. She loves exploring how Scripture shapes our understanding of God, ourselves, and one another, especially when it comes to some of today’s most challenging questions. Known for her thoughtful, approachable style, Janet encourages honest conversations, deep grace, and faithful discipleship.
Janet serves as Professor of Pastoral Counseling at Asbury Theological Seminary. She and her husband, Kevin, a retired U.S. Navy chaplain, have two adult sons, Jonathan and Rowan.
Workshop
A Better Story: God’s Vision for Sex, Marriage, and Human Flourishing
Janet Dean
In a world filled with competing messages about sex, relationships, and identity, the Christian faith offers more than a list of rules—it offers a compelling vision of human flourishing. This workshop explores God’s design for sexuality, marriage, and intimate relationships within the larger story of creation, covenant, and redemption. Together, we will consider how biblical teachings on sex and marriage point toward love, faithfulness, self-giving, and abundant life, helping us discover the beauty of God’s purposes for our bodies, our relationships, and our future.
Dr. Janet Dean is a pastor, professor, and ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene who is passionate about helping people connect their faith to real life. She loves exploring how Scripture shapes our understanding of God, ourselves, and one another, especially when it comes to some of today’s most challenging questions. Known for her thoughtful, approachable style, Janet encourages honest conversations, deep grace, and faithful discipleship.
Janet serves as Professor of Pastoral Counseling at Asbury Theological Seminary. She and her husband, Kevin, a retired U.S. Navy chaplain, have two adult sons, Jonathan and Rowan.
Category
Faith & Science
Explore big questions and think deeply with a resilient, vibrant faith.
Workshop
Talking with friends about Creation
Birgir Óskarsson
When questions arise about creation and science, the topic can often seem complex and intimidating. While scientific study may involve sophisticated methods and theories, the underlying assumptions and reasoning are often easier to understand than they first appear. This talk will introduce key concepts related to origins and offer practical approaches for navigating these discussions and communicating them clearly.
Birgir Óskarsson is a geologist from Iceland. He specialized in the field of volcanology and is active doing research on volcanic terrains and monitoring volcanic eruptions in Iceland. His work has drawn the attention of national and international media including Netflix and has taken him to various adventures around the world.
Workshop
Can I Be a Scientist and Believe in God? – The Journey of a Christian Volcanologist
Birgir Óskarsson
In this lecture, Birgir Óskarsson will share his journey as a Christian scientist working in the fields of geology and volcanology. He has participated in a wide range of fascinating projects, from monitoring active volcanoes to investigating the volcanic history of our planet. Drawing from his experience, he observes that many recent discoveries in the natural sciences appear to challenge the traditional framework of uniformitarianism and deep time. This talk will explore these findings and reflect on their possible implications for both the future direction of science and the Christian understanding of Origins.
Birgir Óskarsson is a geologist from Iceland. He specialized in the field of volcanology and is active doing research on volcanic terrains and monitoring volcanic eruptions in Iceland. His work has drawn the attention of national and international media including Netflix and has taken him to various adventures around the world.
Workshop
How to Survive as a Christian Science Student in the 21st Century
Noemí Durán
Studying science as a Christian can feel like stepping into enemy territory. Evolution. Materialism. Secular worldviews. Sound familiar?
But here’s the twist: these are actually good times to live your faith openly on campus. People are spiritually curious. They’re searching for meaning. They’re asking big questions — and you have something real to say.
In this workshop, we’ll discover how to move from surviving to thriving: developing rigorous scientific thinking grounded in a solid biblical worldview, learning to win hearts (not just arguments), and building a deep, authentic relationship with God that gives you courage in the lab, the classroom, and every conversation. Expect practical tools, honest discussion, and real strategies you can start using immediately.
You’re not on campus by accident. Let’s learn how to make it count.
Noemí Durán is a Bible-believing Christian and (yes!) a scientist.
She studied Biology and Socio-Environmental Education at the University of Valencia and completed here PhD in Marine Biology at Loma Linda University, researching sea turtle ecology and conservation. She currently serves as Director of the European Branch Office of the Geoscience Research Institute, where she actively promotes the harmony between faith and science.
She loves teaching and lecturing on biblical Creation and developing educational materials for children and young people. She wants them to see that science is not a threat to faith. On the contrary, studying nature in the light of the Bible helps us discover God’s extraordinary intelligence, intentional design, and deep care.
That message is especially relevant in today’s world: we are not here by chance. We were carefully designed, wonderfully made, and loved beyond imagination — and that’s a truth too good to keep quiet.
Workshop
Epigenetics: God, Genes & You
Noemí Durán
Epigenetics. Everyone’s talking about it. But what is it really — and why should you care?
In this workshop, we’ll unpack what epigenetics actually is (no PhD required) and explore what it means from a biblical perspective. What does epigenetics tell us about the character of God? Can we find any hints of epigenetics in the Bible? Is there a connection between this science and the healthy lifestyle the Adventist Church has promoted since the 19th century — long before epigenetics became a trending topic?
We’ll connect science, Scripture, and lifestyle in a way that is practical, thought-provoking, and deeply personal. Because this isn’t just about biology — it’s about you, your genes, and your God.
Noemí Durán is a Bible-believing Christian and (yes!) a scientist.
She studied Biology and Socio-Environmental Education at the University of Valencia and completed here PhD in Marine Biology at Loma Linda University, researching sea turtle ecology and conservation. She currently serves as Director of the European Branch Office of the Geoscience Research Institute, where she actively promotes the harmony between faith and science.
She loves teaching and lecturing on biblical Creation and developing educational materials for children and young people. She wants them to see that science is not a threat to faith. On the contrary, studying nature in the light of the Bible helps us discover God’s extraordinary intelligence, intentional design, and deep care.
That message is especially relevant in today’s world: we are not here by chance. We were carefully designed, wonderfully made, and loved beyond imagination — and that’s a truth too good to keep quiet.
Workshop
How to Survive a Faith Crisis
Harald Giesebrecht
A crisis of faith can arise in several areas: the head, the heart, or the habits.
Head: Intellectual tensions, contradictions within one’s faith, or inadequate biblical frameworks and answers.
Heart: Experiences that challenge our understanding of God or our will to believe.
Habits: A drifting away from the disciplines and practices known to sustain faith.
Learn how to strengthen your faith in each of these areas—and how one or two can help sustain you when the others are in crisis.
The speaker has personally experienced crises of faith in all three areas and speaks with pastoral compassion about the struggles and joys of remaining a believer.
Harald Giesebrecht has been involved in church planting and youth ministry his entire adult life. He is married to Kjersti, and they have two grown sons and a teenage daughter. All of them remain active in church life.
His first book, God? Really?, has been published in four languages. Harald is passionate about exploring and communicating what constitutes an intelligent and healthy faith that benefits both you and the people around you.
Workshop
Beyond Academia
Busi Khumalo
Students are challenged to step beyond their comfort zones and intentionally share the Word of God as everyday “apprentices of Jesus.” This means viewing their everyday friendships and campus activities—from dorm life to athletic teams—not merely as social circles but as strategic mission fields.
Pastor Busi Khumalo has worked in ministry for over 33 years: 10 years in pastoral ministry and 23 years in youth, chaplaincy, and public campus ministries. He served as a departmental director at the Southern Africa Union Conference from 2003-2010 and at the Southern African Indian-Ocean Division (SID) from 2010 to 2022. Busi’s passion for young people and youth ministries is inspired by the last part of the Pathfinder Pledge: “By the grace of God, I will be pure, kind, and true, I will keep the Pathfinder Law, I will be a servant of God and a Friend to man.”
Busi has been married to his incredible wife, Maipato, for 30 years, and together, they are the parents of two amazing children: a son, Sihe, and a daughter, Side. He also enjoys reading, running, and traveling.
Workshop
Is It Rational to Believe? Faith, Reason, and the Search for Truth
Norel Iacob
Can a smart person still believe in God? In a culture shaped by skepticism, confusion, and “my truth vs. your truth,” faith is often seen as a private preference rather than a thoughtful way of approaching truth. This workshop creates space for dialogue as we explore faith, reason, and what it means to seek truth in an intellectually honest and biblically grounded way. Come and discover why belief in God still makes perfect sense.
Norel Iacob teaches Systematic Theology and Apologetics at Adventus University. He also serves as Director of Adventus University Press and Editor-in-Chief of ST.network. An author and book editor, he has published several volumes, including The End of the Uncertainty: Returning from Exile, Purpose: Humanity’s Shared Quest, and, in Romanian, Why? Between His Will and Our Freedom.
Category
Create
Uncover and use your creativity as a way to express faith and impact others.
Workshop
Make your Creativity Transcendental
Álvaro Doladé
What if your creativity could actually change something in someone’s life? Learn how to use design tools to empathize, understand, ideate, test, and activate ideas with purpose, putting God and people at the center.
You’ll leave with real tools to understand people deeply and create things that truly matter.
Álvaro Doladé has been working in the creative industries since 2006, collaborating with brands like Nike, Ford, and Banco Santander, connecting business and people through strategy and creativity.
In 2026, he co-founded Central Arts in Barcelona, a ministry connecting artists, faith, and today’s culture.
Workshop
How to Turn Events into Meaningful Experiences
Álvaro Doladé
You know those moments you never forget? Learn how to design experiences like that using the 5 E’s Experience Model.
You’ll walk away knowing how to create spaces people actually feel, connect in, and remember.
Álvaro Doladé has been working in the creative industries since 2006, collaborating with brands like Nike, Ford, and Banco Santander, connecting business and people through strategy and creativity.
In 2026, he co-founded Central Arts in Barcelona, a ministry connecting artists, faith, and today’s culture.
Workshop
Evangelism Through Board Games
Vinicius Miranda
Many people see board games as a recent trend because of the rise of modern titles. However, since the very beginning of humanity, people have used games as a form of connection and entertainment. When we look at the Bible, we also find meaningful moments that happen around the table. This workshop explores how board games can open the way to genuine connection, reaching those who are not yet Christians, while also engaging young people and helping them discover biblical principles in a creative and interactive way.
Pastor, DMin candidate (Leadership) at Andrews University, writer, and game designer, Vinicius Miranda serves as a digital editor at Editorial Safeliz in Spain. He has authored dozens of books and developed numerous board games, focusing on creative ways to communicate faith and connect with new generations.
Workshop
Together, We Create!
Marisa Mártires
You are invited to take part in a collective art experience that unfolds throughout the congress.
Each day, participants will help create elements that become part of a growing installation on stage, a shared work that evolves over time.
No artistic experience is needed. Only presence and willingness to contribute.
This is a space where creativity becomes connection and individual gestures become part of something larger.
Together, each contribution helps shape the journey to share the gospel with others.
Together, we create!
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Marisa Mártires developed an early passion for art and creativity. Later in her youth, she moved to Portugal, where she currently lives in Faro.
She is a Professor in the Departmental Area of Art and Design at the University of Algarve and teaches visual arts, drawing and illustration in secondary education. Her line of research focuses on the creative process.
Her work as a visual artist, since 2006, is developed under the name Kwadalayo, meaning “The Creative Place” in Zulu. Her practice explores identity, culture, and creative expression.
She has exhibited internationally across Europe and Asia and develops collaborative art projects with young people through large-scale installations, murals, and mixed-media works.
Her focus is on creativity as a tool for expression, connection, and transformation, especially among youth.
Category
Grow
Deepen your relationship with God and grow as a disciple.
Workshop
The Power of One
Busi Khumalo
The Bible shares the personal experiences of courageous men and women who were trailblazers. They didn’t wait for crowds to join them before making an impact on others’ lives. This workshop will inspire you to step out of your comfort zone and become a spiritual influencer.
Pastor Busi Khumalo has worked in ministry for over 33 years: 10 years in pastoral ministry and 23 years in youth, chaplaincy, and public campus ministries. He served as a departmental director at the Southern Africa Union Conference from 2003-2010 and at the Southern African Indian-Ocean Division (SID) from 2010 to 2022. Busi’s passion for young people and youth ministries is inspired by the last part of the Pathfinder Pledge: “By the grace of God, I will be pure, kind, and true, I will keep the Pathfinder Law, I will be a servant of God and a Friend to man.”
Busi has been married to his incredible wife, Maipato, for 30 years, and together, they are the parents of two amazing children: a son, Sihe, and a daughter, Side. He also enjoys reading, running, and traveling.
Workshop
Masterclass: Discerning the Will of God for Your Life: Some Practical Steps in Discovering God’s Will
Frank Hasel
In this practical workshop we will explore what God’s will is for our lives. We will learn what factors impede the discovery of God’s will, how to discern and find out God’s will in practical decisions we have to make daily, and what the role of our human freedom is in this decision-making process.
Frank Hasel is a theologian and author and currently works at the Biblical Research Institute (BRI) at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. A native of Germany he served as a pastor, Bible teacher, and dean of theology in Europe before moving to the United States. Frank loves Jesus, delights in stimulating conversations, enjoys good humor, and is grateful for genuine kindness. He is the editor of the Biblical Research Institute Newsletter Reflections and the important book Biblical Hermeneutics: An Adventist Approach (Silver Spring, MD: Biblical Research Institute, 2020). His recent book Love Is! A Journey of Grief, Grace, and Gratitude (Cascade Books, 2024) is an encouragement for all who have lost a loved one. You can follow him on Instagram, Facebook, and www.frankmhasel.com
Workshop
How to Interpret the Bible Today — Dictation, Verbal, Thought Inspiration or What? What has Inspiration to do With the Interpretation of Scripture?
Frank Hasel
There exists great confusion about the inspiration of Scripture and the terminology that is used for it. In this workshop we will study and analyze four major models of inspiration and their influence in the history of Adventism and Theology. We will also explore some important implications for the interpretation and authority of the Bible that derive from different understandings of inspiration.
Frank Hasel is a theologian and author and currently works at the Biblical Research Institute (BRI) at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. A native of Germany he served as a pastor, Bible teacher, and dean of theology in Europe before moving to the United States. Frank loves Jesus, delights in stimulating conversations, enjoys good humor, and is grateful for genuine kindness. He is the editor of the Biblical Research Institute Newsletter Reflections and the important book Biblical Hermeneutics: An Adventist Approach (Silver Spring, MD: Biblical Research Institute, 2020). His recent book Love Is! A Journey of Grief, Grace, and Gratitude (Cascade Books, 2024) is an encouragement for all who have lost a loved one. You can follow him on Instagram, Facebook, and www.frankmhasel.com
Workshop
Masterclass: How Soon Is Soon? A Fresh Look at Daniel 2
Ivan Milanov
This is an explanation of the prophecy in Daniel 2 in the light of the original language and broader historical discoveries. It is an ultimate source of hope and joyful life.
Ivan Milanov (PhD, Wales) is Senior Lecturer in Old Testament at Newbold College, UK. During his almost 20 years of teaching experience, he has taught the following subjects: The Book of Daniel, Introduction to the Pentateuch, Introduction to Hebrew, Intermediate Hebrew, Old Testament Ethics, Old Testament Prophets, Biblical Hermeneutics, Cosmic Conflict. His specialty is the book of Daniel. Dr Milanov is also an ordained pastor who served the local churches in his native Macedonia and neighbouring Serbia. He enjoys preaching the Gospel to Adventist and non-Adventist audiences. Dr Milanov and his wife have a 15-year-old daughter.
Workshop
Fatal Attraction: Adventists and Conspiracy Theories
Ivan Milanov
Learn how to stay calm and not to be confused when you are ‘bombarded’ with spectacular explanations of the present state of affairs in the world and future events.
Ivan Milanov (PhD, Wales) is Senior Lecturer in Old Testament at Newbold College, UK. During his almost 20 years of teaching experience, he has taught the following subjects: The Book of Daniel, Introduction to the Pentateuch, Introduction to Hebrew, Intermediate Hebrew, Old Testament Ethics, Old Testament Prophets, Biblical Hermeneutics, Cosmic Conflict. His specialty is the book of Daniel. Dr Milanov is also an ordained pastor who served the local churches in his native Macedonia and neighbouring Serbia. He enjoys preaching the Gospel to Adventist and non-Adventist audiences. Dr Milanov and his wife have a 15-year-old daughter.
Workshop
Masterclass: Why Preaching still matters?
Jonathan Holder
Some sermons you have heard have been amazing, the majority haven’t. In this workshop we are going to look at ‘Why Preaching still matters?’ What benefits it can have for today and the blessing it can be to people when done well. Come whatever your view on preaching and leave knowing why preaching matters to you and why it should matter to everyone.
Jonathan Holder is passionate about Jesus. He has been happily married to his wife Sophie since 2018. Jonathan received his BD Theology and his MA in New Testament studies from Newbold College. After graduating in 2011, he spent a year in Australia as a student missionary. He was employed in 2013 interned in Birmingham at the Camp Hill and Yardley churches and then in the Leicester District of Churches. He formerly pastored the Leicester St Matthews & Loughborough church and now is the current pastor of Coventry Henley Green the Leamington Missioon and Rugby SDA churches. He is currently undertaking a PhD in Preaching. He enjoys music, reading, badminton, attempts to play piano and clarinet, supports Liverpool FC.
Workshop
Revive our Pockets
Jonathan Holder
Money is something people often avoid talking about—but it matters more than we think. It’s often seen as something negative, yet in reality, it can be a powerful blessing.
In this workshop, we’ll take a fresh look at what the Bible says about God, money, and how to use it wisely—so it becomes a source of purpose, freedom, and lasting security in your life.
Jonathan Holder is passionate about Jesus. He has been happily married to his wife Sophie since 2018. Jonathan received his BD Theology and his MA in New Testament studies from Newbold College. After graduating in 2011, he spent a year in Australia as a student missionary. He was employed in 2013 interned in Birmingham at the Camp Hill and Yardley churches and then in the Leicester District of Churches. He formerly pastored the Leicester St Matthews & Loughborough church and now is the current pastor of Coventry Henley Green the Leamington Missioon and Rugby SDA churches. He is currently undertaking a PhD in Preaching. He enjoys music, reading, badminton, attempts to play piano and clarinet, supports Liverpool FC.
Workshop
Masterclass: Death, then What?
Keldie Paroschi
What happens after we die? And why should you care now? In this workshop we will explore how the biblical hope of the resurrection is radically different from both ancient myths and modern ideas about the afterlife and discover why this hope isn’t just about the future. It changes your life today.
Keldie Paroschi is originally from São Paulo, Brazil, and has lived and studied in Brazil, Europe, and the United States. She has a PhD in Biblical Studies (New Testament) from Asbury Theological Seminary, and has worked as an online teacher, editor, and chaplain. Currently, she serves as an Associate Director of the Biblical Research Institute at the General Conference of the SDA Church.
Workshop
Unashamed: Why the Gospel Still Has Power
Keldie Paroschi
Rome prized power, status, and strength. So how could Paul boast in a crucified Savior? In this workshop, we will dig into Romans 1:16–17 and discover what makes the gospel so powerful, both in first-century Rome and today.
Keldie Paroschi is originally from São Paulo, Brazil, and has lived and studied in Brazil, Europe, and the United States. She has a PhD in Biblical Studies (New Testament) from Asbury Theological Seminary, and has worked as an online teacher, editor, and chaplain. Currently, she serves as an Associate Director of the Biblical Research Institute at the General Conference of the SDA Church.
Workshop
God’s Will vs. Your Will
Pierrick Avelin
The questions of will and desire have always raised many questions in people’s minds. When we have to make big decisions, such as choosing a job or a spouse, we often wonder: how can I be sure I am making the right choices? What if I am missing out on what God has in store for me? Or could there be wrong choices? Do I really fully understand what God’s will is? There are so many questions to dissect. In this workshop we will plug into God and our own desires, while trying to clarify these dilemmas.
Pierrick, or PierrGeek as some call him, is 40 years old and works as a pastor. He grew up in a religious family without really being religious. But after a while, he needed to find meaning in his life. Not just do things, to get a paycheck at the end of the month. And that’s when God touched him and transformed him by giving him a meaning and a place that he needed in ministry.
Workshop
DDA: A 360º Workshop for Life & Career Direction
Carlos Dias
Ever feel stuck, unsure about your next move, or overwhelmed by choices about your life and career?
This workshop is designed to help you step back, evaluate your life in 360º, and move forward with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
Through practical reflection, interactive exercises, and real-life examples, you’ll learn how planning and evaluation are powerful tools to guide your decisions, while keeping trust in God at the center of your journey.
This is about learning how to take your next right step, with peace and purpose.
Carlos Dias was born in Portugal and raised in Angola until he was ten years old. He currently serves as the President of ASI Europe. He has always been involved in business, ranging from being Managing Director of several British companies to owning several companies, from AI to Tourism.
He has a passion for sports, and even had a significant career in the Basketball Professional League.
He loves mission and has held different missionary campaigns from Iceland to Mauritius.
He is happily married to Romi and is the proud father of Daniela and Ricardo.
Workshop
Masterclass: Why Did Everyone Want to Kill Paul?: The Hermeneutical Paradigm Shift in the New Testament
Daniel Bosqued
This workshop explores the theological earthquake that shook the early church. Why did Paul sound dangerous—even to sincere believers who loved Scripture? What happens when Jesus changes the way we read the Bible? Together we will enter the tension, fear, and excitement of the first-century church and discover how the gospel transformed everything without abandoning God’s Word.
If you enjoy deep biblical questions, honest reflection, and powerful spiritual challenges, this workshop will leave you thinking long after it ends.
Pastor Daniel Bosqued was born in Zaragoza (Spain) 47 years ago. He began his ministry in 2008, and after four years as a youth pastor, chaplain, and church pastor, he was appointed Youth Director of the Spanish Adventist Union in 2012. From 2017 to 2020, he worked at River Plate Adventist University as a professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the School of Theology. Since 2020, he was called to serve as President at Sagunto Adventist Campus and Theology teacher. He holds a PhD in Theology with emphasis in New Testament, a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and in Theology, a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, and an MBA in Business Administration. He is married to an Argentine woman, Maijo Roth, and together they have two daughters, aged fifteen and thirteen: Amy and Amber. He loves hiking, reading, and traveling with his family. His passion is sharing Jesus in a relevant way to this generation.
Workshop
Money, God and Me
Karine Eloidin
Financial education is the key to healthy financial management, but there are so many taboos around it! And where do you even begin? Have you ever wondered whether your financial management could be connected to your relationship with God? Join this workshop for an open and honest conversation around money.
After completing a Master’s degree in Negotiation, Karine Eloidin began her professional career in a multinational retail company. However, a growing desire to know God more deeply led her to pursue theological studies and enter pastoral ministry. Interestingly, numbers never left her path, and today she serves as both Pastor and Treasurer of the Franco-Belgian Union. Karine is married to Wilfrid, and together they are committed to serving God and supporting the mission of the Church.
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How Prayer Can Transform the Invisible into Visible!
Karine Eloidin
What if a new reality can be revealed to you? Come and discover the power and secrets of prayer. Another world is at stake, waiting for you. This is not fiction, it is real… Let us discover it together.
After completing a Master’s degree in Negotiation, Karine Eloidin began her professional career in a multinational retail company. However, a growing desire to know God more deeply led her to pursue theological studies and enter pastoral ministry. Interestingly, numbers never left her path, and today she serves as both Pastor and Treasurer of the Franco-Belgian Union. Karine is married to Wilfrid, and together they are committed to serving God and supporting the mission of the Church.
Category
Gain practical tools to live and share your faith every day.
Workshop
OneYear in Mission: Why Not You?
Danilo Puškaš
I have a prophecy for you: next year, you will wake up in a completely new place, surrounded by people you never thought you would meet, asking yourself, “Why haven’t I done this earlier?”
Well, it’s a conditional prophecy. It has only one condition: if you feel drawn to explore what mission looks like, with the amazing support of our church and alongside a team of other young people, you simply need to join the One Year in Mission and Service programme.
If you would like to find out more about this exciting opportunity to get involved in mission, join us for this workshop.
Head of Student Life and Chaplaincy at Newbold College of Higher Education
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Forming Christ-Centered Communities: Following Jesus Together
Pavel Eder
What does it mean for a church to be truly open without losing its identity or depth? Drawing from Paul’s letter to the Galatians, missiological insights, and real-life experience from church planting in one of Europe’s most secular contexts, this workshop explores how a Christ-centered community creates space for growth, belonging, and transformation. Together, we will reflect on how to cultivate a church culture that welcomes doubters, forms disciples, and keeps its focus on the cross rather than on protecting its borders.
Pavel Eder is a church planter and doctoral student in missiology at Andrews University, leading SafePoint Prague, a growing Christ-centered SDA community engaging young secular people in one of Europe’s most secular contexts. He is passionate about forming a relational, mission-oriented church that integrates online and offline ministry, and he lives in Prague with his wife and their two mischievous cats, Sushi and Taco.
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At the table: sharing our faith through friendship
Sylvia Cariotoglou
In this workshop we will explore 5 simple ways to build relationships as we sit at the table that enable us to share our faith in authentic ways.
Sylvia Cariotoglou is a pastor currently serving as Director of Mission, Community Service and Women’s Ministry at the Trans-European Division of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. She’s passionate about authentic relationships and creating safe spaces where connection and stories can be shared. She loves God and having experienced His transforming grace in her life is inspired to see this reality in the lives of others. When she isn’t with people, you will find her writing or reading.
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Transformational Disciple-Making through Whole-Life Mentoring
Kayle de Waal
This workshop explores mentorship in the context of disciple-making in a secular context and provides frames, tools and resources to be the person God has created you to be.
Kayle B. de Waal is the Education, Sabbath school and Personal Ministry director at the Trans-European Division. Prior to this he served at Avondale University (Australia). He earned his PhD (University of Auckland, 2010) and is a prolific writer and researcher who also enjoys playing sport, travelling and relaxing with family and friends.
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Disaster Ready Churches
Gabriel Villarreal Escobar
When crisis strikes, the church can make a real difference. Discover four practical steps to help your church be ready to respond to emergencies and bring hope, help, and healing to your community.
Gabriel Villarreal Escobar is the Emergency Response Coordinator for ADRA Europe.
Workshop
Firm in Faith. Active in Influence — Develop Your Leadership Potential
László Szabó
A few powerful forces shape how people think, live, and decide today—and many drift away from Christian values. Learn to recognize these currents and choose a different path. Discover how to build resilience and remain strong in a weakening world.
This workshop explores three levels of leadership: leading yourself toward resilience, leading a team, and leading others to encounter Jesus. With a practical focus on team-based leadership, you will gain tools to create spaces where people grow and experience the transforming power of God’s Word.
László Szabó (PhD Wales) is a researcher and lecturer in mission studies at Friedensau Adventist University and serves as a field secretary for the Inter-European Division, where he trains pastors and church members in mission and leadership across diverse international contexts. His journey into ministry was not driven by a conventional sense of calling, but by a deep encounter with God’s work in real lives and stories that drew him into service.
Following his theological studies, he was profoundly shaped by his experience in East Africa, beginning his missionary work in Tanzania. He continues to be actively involved among the Maasai, where his passion for contextual mission and community engagement remains central.
His research focuses on the impact of social change in Europe on religiosity, community life, and individual identity. Together with his wife, Szilvia, he enjoys a strong, thriving marriage, and as a certified Prepare/Enrich trainer, he is committed to helping others build healthy, lasting relationships.
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Adventist Youth Making a Difference
João Martins
Adventism is rooted in biblical values such as human dignity, love, kindness, justice, and peace. In a time when inequalities, conflict, and distress are deeply affecting our world, how can these values shape the way we live and engage with society?
Are we, as Adventist youth, Made for More, called to be a positive influence and to help change the world for the better?
In this workshop, we will explore how to connect Adventist youth culture with the real needs of society. Together, we will reflect on practical ways to act, serve, and advocate for the well-being of the most vulnerable, just as Jesus did.
Born in Lisbon, Portugal, João Martins is currently the Executive Director of ADRA Europe, after having served with ADRA in Angola and Portugal. With a background in Business and a Master’s in Applied Development Studies, he is motivated by a desire to serve God by reflecting His love for humanity.
João leads a team of six people supporting a network of 31 ADRA country offices across Europe. He is deeply committed to seeing the Adventist Church as an active force for compassion, relief, and justice in a broken world.
He is married and the father of a 20-year-old son.
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Generation Z | Making Disciples in a New Era
Samuel Cunha
Is there only one way to make disciples, or should we adapt our approach across generations? Is this a threat to our identity as a church, or is God guiding us in this direction?
In this workshop, we will analyse the major differences between generations and highlight the opportunities we have with the beloved Gen Z. Through the case study of AWAKE Lausanne, a Seventh-day Adventist church for young people in secular Central Europe, Switzerland, we will explore practical and contextual ways of making disciples today.
Samuel Cunha is a church planter and leads AWAKE Lausanne, a Seventh-day Adventist church dedicated to engaging younger generations in an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ. He is passionate about mentoring young people, exploring creative and unconventional ways of sharing the gospel, and trying new things. He also has a deep interest in History, creative writing, and playing music. He lives in Switzerland with his wife Isa and is son Diego.
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Generation Z | Making Disciples in a New Era
Adriel Răducan
Today, being an influencer often means promoting products, making good money, and always staying on trend. Your image sells. Your presence matters.
But what if Christ told you that He is calling you to be an influencer for Him? Sounds strange, doesn’t it?
In university campuses, where secularism increasingly shapes the way young people think, Jesus seems to have less and less space. How can we still speak about the Gospel to skeptical students who often look at the church with distrust and search for meaning in freedom, success, pleasure, or autonomy?
In this workshop, we will talk about how AMiCUS Romania managed to reach hundreds of students — not through pressure, but through authentic relationships, relevant projects, and a living Christian presence.
Friend by friend, life by life, we can change the world for Christ.
Adriel Răducan is a dentist based in Bucharest, Romania, and the host of Dublu Sens, a podcast exploring spirituality, education, and personal growth.
Having served in AMiCUS Romania for six years, he is passionate about young people, meaningful conversations, and communicating the Gospel both online and in the church. He is deeply grateful to God for changing his life.
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Digital
Rethink your digital habits and use technology for growth and mission.
Workshop
Digital Evangelism
Dario Kovacevic
This workshop will equip and motivate you to step into the adventure of digital evangelism with clarity, courage, and conviction.
It’s time to stop scrolling and start serving.
You were made for more.
I have served as a pastor for 21 years and currently serve as the Director of Hope Channel Croatia. I am passionate about evangelism and digital ministry, equipping others to use media as a tool for mission.
I am the creator of the YouTube channel Biblija na dlanu, co-founder of the podcast Hopecast, and author of the book Secrets of YouTube.
Married to Danijela, I am grateful to serve God together in ministry.
Workshop
From Content to Community: How Digital Faith Spaces Become Places of Belonging
David Hierzer
Most digital ministries begin with enthusiasm but often fade into silence. What if your audience didn’t just watch, but truly belonged? Elli shares how the Revelation Project transformed passive viewers into an active faith community through feedback, collaboration, and a shared purpose. This session is designed for anyone eager to create something sustainable—transforming followers into a community and digital spaces into vibrant movements.
Senior executive with over 15 years of international experience in corporate strategy, branding, communications, and organizational transformation, primarily within the aerospace and space industry as well as with leading European brands and creative agencies. Skilled in translating complex business challenges into actionable strategies that strengthen performance, reputation, and stakeholder engagement.
Extensive background in brand architecture, b2b marketing and corporate positioning, with additional expertise in the design and implementation of ESG strategies and reporting frameworks at group level.
Holds an International Executive MBA from the University of St. Gallen (HSG) with international modules in the UK, UAE, and South Africa.
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Reaching the Secular World through Social Media
Pavel Eder
How can we communicate our faith online? How can we effectively reach a secular audience in the digital world without losing our authenticity? Pavel has built an online ministry that has reached hundreds of thousands of people in one of the most secular countries in Europe. This digital outreach eventually led to the planting of a new church that successfully integrates online ministry with offline community, with dozens of baptized secular people.
In this workshop, we will explore together how to share faith online in a way that leads to real, transformative impact in the lives of our friends and the people around us.
Pavel Eder is a church planter and doctoral student in missiology at Andrews University, leading SafePoint Prague, a growing Christ-centered SDA community engaging young secular people in one of Europe’s most secular contexts. He is passionate about forming a relational, mission-oriented church that integrates online and offline ministry, and he lives in Prague with his wife and their two mischievous cats, Sushi and Taco.
Workshop
Truth, Fake News and Discernment
Vanesa Pizzuto
Not everything that goes viral is true. From AI-generated videos to fake news, this workshop will help you learn how to pause, question, and think critically, so you don’t just scroll, but discern.
Coming soon!
Workshop
Make the Gospel Go Viral: A practical framework for sharing your faith online
Fernando Marroquin
A practical workshop on using social media as a tool for evangelism. Learn how to share your faith in a natural, authentic, and impactful way through storytelling, attention-driven communication, and meaningful digital conversations that point people to Jesus.
Fernando Marroquin is a missionary digital strategist and content creator passionate about using social media for evangelism. Originally from Peru and currently based in Brazil, he creates faith-based content that has reached millions of people online, helping others share the Gospel in creative, authentic, and impactful ways.