ADIMIS Cooperation Agreement

The Friedensau Institute ADIMIS has established a cooperation agreement with the leadership of the Italian Union of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the leadership of the French-speaking Swiss Conference. The aim of this collaboration is to train pastors, departmental leaders, and church members in the area of “Group Dynamics and Leadership Skills in Small Groups.”

Mariarosa Cavalieri, the Director of Personal Ministries and Sabbath School in the Italian Union, shares her experiences:

Representatives of the Italian Union had already tested the ADIMIS training in 2022–23. A small pilot group, consisting of pastors and church members, participated in the training at that time, and the experience significantly exceeded expectations. Although the journey required weekly commitment and consistent participation, it paid off greatly – particularly due to the unique sense of community that developed among participants as a result of the specific format of the training. In addition to the newly acquired skills, the course became a profound spiritual experience.

The positive feedback from the churches about participation in this year’s training has been overwhelming. By the end of the registration period, 133 individuals had signed up, including pastors, church leaders, departmental heads, church members, and youth leaders. These participants were divided into 13 groups of ten people each. However, interest in the training was even greater, with many more wishing to take part. The participants’ testimonies are very encouraging and confirm both the success and significance of this initiative.

Twenty participants from the French-speaking conference in Switzerland have registered for continuing education and are participating under the leadership of the conference.

An active social life and the sense of being valued enhance physical, mental, and emotional health. Research indicates that social relationships increase our resilience, and belonging to a community inspires us to support others. An African proverb sums it up perfectly: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” 

This is precisely what the ADIMIS training is founded on: it imparts skills for mindful group leadership, addresses essential principles of group dynamics, and illustrates how we can support one another and achieve our goals collaboratively (László Szabó).