ADIMIS Signs Cooperation Agreement with Southern France

The Arthur Daniells Institute of Mission Studies (ADIMIS), an institute at Friedensau Adventist University, has signed a cooperation agreement with the leadership of the South French Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in France. The purpose of this partnership is to provide training for pastors, department leaders, and church members in the area of “Group dynamics and leadership skills in small groups – with a focus on mindfulness and community building.”

Samuel Dinsenmeyer, department director and representative of the South French Conference, reports:
“I have firmly believed in the importance of small groups for many years and even wrote my master’s thesis on this topic. When I heard about this ADIMIS training in Switzerland, my interest was immediately sparked. I was already familiar with László’s inspiring approach, and we were able to invite him and Szilvia to a pastors’ meeting, where they generated genuine interest among the pastors. This momentum led around 90 people to join the ADIMIS small group leader training. The feedback has been extremely positive—both regarding the quality of the presentations and the interactive, very concrete experience of what a ‘small group’ can be. The training encourages us to live mission through small groups and under the guidance of the Spirit.”

“The goal of the ADIMIS training program is to develop competencies for mindful and spiritual group leadership, to address key principles of group dynamics, and to encourage participants to take responsibility for one another and achieve goals more effectively together,” says Dr. László Szabó, director of ADIMIS.
He also emphasizes that “an active social life and the feeling of being valued promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Studies show that social relationships strengthen our resilience and that belonging to a community motivates us to care for others. An African proverb puts it well: ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’”

The small group leader training programme in the South French Conference began on 17 November 2025. The number of registered participants is 90, an impressive figure that demonstrates the level of interest and demand in the congregations.

The programme is a success throughout Europe. On 18 November 2025, 70 participants from Italy and a group from French-speaking Switzerland successfully completed their training as small group leaders. The courses took place from 31 March to 16 June and from 7 October to 18 November 2025. Further information: adimis.org