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Contact Person
Pastor Albert Owusu Ansah Senior Pastor
Our worship service
The times are not standardized and vary slightly in each parish. In most parishes the first part begins between 9:00 and 10:00.
Our services usually consist of two parts: a Bible discussion followed by the sermon.
There is no dress code. Come as you are! Just dress how you feel comfortable. Since the Sabbath is a very special day for Adventists, many dress up – but this is absolutely not a must!
A church service, consisting of Bible discussion, middle part and sermon, lasts about two and a half hours.
No, we will not collect any data from you unless you want us to for specific reasons.
A church service, consisting of Bible discussion, middle part and sermon, lasts about two and a half hours.
The first part of the service consists of an interactive Bible discussion in groups, where everyone can join in, but just listening is also okay. This is usually followed by a middle section where there is space for songs, experiences and organizational matters. This is followed by the sermon, in which a pastor or lay member presents a biblical topic. The whole thing is usually accompanied by prayers and music, usually sung and performed by the members themselves.
There are usually two collections during the service, one for the needs of the local church community and one for international projects. It is voluntary and there is no pressure. If you do not want to donate anything, just pass the basket on when it comes to you.
You will normally be greeted personally at the entrance. In small congregations, someone will almost always come to you, regardless of whether you are a first-time visitor or a regular. In very large congregations, this is not always the case. But you should know that everyone is looking forward to seeing you and if you want, you are welcome to speak to someone. Would you prefer to remain anonymous at first? Then of course you can always decide to just go home without speaking to anyone.
Bible discussion is a key part of our worship service. It creates the opportunity to talk about a biblical topic in a small group, exchange perspectives and look for answers together. Sometimes you will also hear the term “Sabbath school,” which is an older term that means the same thing.
You are invited to actively participate, ask questions or just listen, as you wish.
We usually use the time for conversations, where you have the opportunity to meet friends again and talk to them. You are welcome to speak to us, too. But some people just leave straight after the sermon is over, and of course you can do that too if you prefer to remain anonymous.
Sometimes we eat together in the church community or invite each other to our homes for a meal and a get-together.
The so-called Last Supper was celebrated by Jesus for the first time shortly before his arrest. The meaning of this is, on the one hand, to live a servant-like attitude and, on the other hand, to accept Jesus as your Savior. We do not believe that the bread and grape juice are the real body and blood of Jesus, but rather a symbol of it. The Last Supper is a special event for us, which usually takes place once every three months. Before the Last Supper there is a foot washing, where two people wash each other’s feet. In principle, anyone who wants to can take part in the Last Supper. However, it is important to understand the meaning of the Last Supper and to claim salvation for yourself personally. Based on this, you can decide whether you want to take part or not.
When we sing songs about Jesus and biblical themes, we worship and honor God. This does not depend on whether we sing beautifully or not, but on our attitude. Sometimes there are individual pieces by a choir or a small music group. The songs can be well-known church songs or new youth songs, or something in between. The main thing is that they honor God and contribute to a respectful, spiritual atmosphere. Feel free to sing along! And it doesn’t matter if it’s a bit off-key sometimes. We’re no better.
Most Adventists meet at least once a week: on the Sabbath for worship. But many want to see each other more often and meet for discussion groups, visits, excursions, prayer and Bible study sessions, or simply spontaneously for a meal or a walk.
Yes, there are several freely accessible live streams of Adventist services.
About the Adventists
The Adventists are a Protestant church that is independent of the state and in which you can become a member by making a personal decision when you are of legal age. Adventists do not consider themselves to be the only true church. Jesus already said in his unique imagery that there are “sheep” in “other pens” (John 10:16).
Adventists share with all Christians the belief in Jesus Christ. He is the center of our lives. We await him as the soon returning Lord and look forward to the resurrection of the dead and eternal life with Jesus on the “new earth.”
Like all of Christendom, we Adventist Christians believe in the triune God. Above all, we agree with the Protestant churches that the Bible is the only basis of faith and that salvation does not come through works. God’s grace alone saves. With Baptists and others, we practice baptism of faith, which is preceded by the person being baptized confessing his faith in Christ. As Adventists, we share the Reformed Church’s understanding of Holy Communion. This celebration is preceded by a foot-washing, which the participants perform on one another. On the Sabbath (the seventh day of the week = Saturday) there is a regular service. For Adventists, the Sabbath is a gift from God to rest, reflect, and have time for others.
“Church” is clear, we are a Christian movement. “Seventh-day” refers to the Sabbath, the seventh day of the week. When our church was founded, we wanted to explicitly point out that Saturday, and not Sunday, is the original day of rest and that we observe it. “Adventists” comes from the Latin adventus and means something like arrival, return, arriving – we Adventists are waiting for the imminent return of Jesus.
Although Adventist Christians await the return of Jesus Christ – together with other Christians, by the way – they do not live in escapism. They try to face the questions and problems of society in their everyday lives. This is why Adventists maintain the largest Protestant school system with over 8,200 schools and universities worldwide. They provide disaster and development aid through 118 national offices of the aid organization ADRA and operate more than 1,960 hospitals, outpatient clinics, dental clinics, old people’s homes and orphanages, etc. worldwide. Adventists
do not claim to be the only church that can save. Jesus himself said in his unique imagery that there are “sheep” in “other pens” (John 10:16). The 28 beliefs of Adventists are intended to give an indication of how Adventist Christians can organize their lives. This looks different depending on the region of the world and the culture in which Adventists live. They try to live according to the maxim of the apostle Paul: “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Those who live to the glory of God always have the well-being of their fellow human beings in mind, because that was Jesus’ perspective.
In addition, according to the Adventist understanding, biblical faith is not just a matter of the head or knowledge, but is holistically oriented. Because everything in human existence is interrelated, Adventists also pay attention to what promotes the body, the mental, the social and the spiritual.
Adventist Christians live their lives independently before God. The closest thing to a rule in the sense of guidance is the Bible. However, Adventists share the Bible with other Christians. There is no Adventist Bible.
Adventists do not see the Bible as a recipe book with instructions for all the vicissitudes of life. The Bible contains many more stories or case studies, etc. from which readers can draw conclusions that will benefit their lives.
Here is an example: From the 4th commandment, the weekly day of rest (Sabbath commandment), Adventists learn the importance of a weekly rhythm or work-life balance. The commandment also makes it clear to them that all people are equal before God and that everyone has an inalienable dignity. The Sabbath commandment also sets a barrier against racism, discrimination, xenophobia and social exploitation, because on the Sabbath everyone is “just” human and social differences are abolished. The commandment also includes responsibility towards the environment and in particular – in the agrarian society of the time – towards animals. By resting from work as ordained by God, he teaches his people to rely on him and to trust that six days of work are enough for seven days of life.
Church origins
Adventists see themselves as Protestant Christians. In church history, they emerged from the second great Christian revival movement in the USA in the 19th century. In the meantime, they have grown into a world church with around 22 million members, active in 212 of the 235 states and territories recognized by the UN.
Doctrinal classification
Adventists believe in Jesus Christ and share with other evangelical Christians the central Reformation principle of “solus Christus”. This means that Jesus Christ alone – without human intervention – created salvation and thereby reconciled people with God. Adventists also share the other Reformation principles, such as: Scripture alone, faith alone, grace alone.
There are sometimes Christians who accuse Adventists of wanting to contribute to salvation (righteousness of works) by keeping the day of rest on Saturday (Sabbath – 4th commandment). No Christian tries to earn “heaven” by keeping the commandments, not even Adventist Christians.
A cult is usually understood to be a religious community led by a strong and untouchable leader who takes over, disempowers, manipulates and takes money out of its members.
As Adventists, all of this is alien to us: the church’s leaders are elected every five years on a grassroots basis, and only those who expressly wish to do so can become members of the church, which is why we practice adult baptism and not that of minors. Membership is completely voluntary and can be revoked at any time without the person concerned having to fear ostracism. The church’s financial support system is also based exclusively on voluntary donations.
In addition, Adventists were the first Christian church in the world to campaign for freedom of belief and conscience as early as the 1890s. To this end, a US-based non-governmental organization, the International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA), was founded to defend religious freedom. Today, through national branches around the world, the organization campaigns for freedom of expression and freedom of religion and for peaceful dialogue between all religions.
We Adventists are of the opinion that the Bible is the only guideline for the Christian faith (Sola Scriptura). Prophetic dreams and visions are announced in the Bible in both the Old Testament (Joel 3:1f) and the New Testament (Acts 21:9; 1 Corinthians 14:29-32, etc.), and are therefore to be expected.
We see the visions of the co-founder of our church, Ellen Gould White (1827-1915), as a fulfillment of such biblical texts. She did not intend her writings to replace or supplement the Bible, but to lead readers to the Bible. Although Adventists believe that Ellen White was inspired, she never claimed biblical authority for this. The Sola Scriptura principle – the Bible alone is fundamental to faith – is preserved with this understanding. However, there are also Adventists who place Ellen White alongside or above the Bible. However, this does not correspond to the teachings of the church. Adventists grant Ellen White a prophetic role. According to this understanding, however, she is not a scriptural prophet, but a non-scriptural prophet whose statements must always be measured against the Bible.
In 1957, the book “Seventh-day Adventists Answer Questions on Doctrine” (pp. 79-85) stated: We do not consider the writings of Ellen G. White to be an addition to the canon of Holy Scripture. They are not universally applicable like the Bible, but are specific to Seventh-day Adventists. We do not equate them with the Bible, which is the only and unique standard of all other Scriptures.
Our Faith
We cannot prove God using scientific methods. “Hard” science is limited to what can be seen, measured and proven. Due to this limitation, it cannot make any statements about the existence or non-existence of God.
And yet God makes himself visible in our world. For example, in nature, through his word or through personal experiences.
How wonderful is a flower, for example? The cycle of nature is unique on our earth. So one can conclude that there is a creator or designer.
The Bible, as God’s word, predicts impressive world events through prophecy that can also be verified.
You can also see and experience God’s work in personal experiences. There are people who have had amazing experiences with God. Can this all be a coincidence?
Doesn’t the suffering in this world prove that God is either not all-powerful or, even worse, not really good? Or both? We can also start from another point: Could it be that we are missing some important facts to judge this properly?
According to the Bible, suffering and death are a consequence of sin (Genesis 3). God created man with free will; with the ability to decide against God’s will. The disobedience of the first humans led to suffering and ultimately death.
But there is also good news: all suffering will one day come to an end. In Revelation 21:3-4 it is written: Behold, the dwelling of God is now with men! . . . He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. For the first world and all its calamity has passed away forever.”
So God also has a solution for the suffering in this world. He sent us Jesus. Jesus died for us so that one day we can be with God, where there is no more suffering.
Yes, God knows you. He has even counted the hairs on your head (Matthew 10:30). God is described in the Bible as a father. He is not only Jesus’ father, but also our father and creator. In God’s eyes, you are precious and valuable (Isaiah 43:4), even if you feel like you are a bad person. God wants to be part of your life, preferably today.
Obedience is the result of salvation, not the prerequisite. Both justification – the forgiveness of sins – and sanctification – the transformation of life – are God’s work.
What is part of every good relationship? Communication.
Praying is communicating with God. Maintaining a relationship with a good friend. It organizes thoughts, helps to change your perspective on things, gives you peace and helps you listen to God.
Jesus taught his disciples the Lord’s Prayer. It consists of seven requests: first, God is honored and placed at the center. Then come human needs and human weaknesses. This prayer can be a guide for our prayer. But you can also just talk, God will listen to you, no matter how big or small your prayer is.
Why not live as a solo Christian, without belonging to a congregation or church?
Jesus has given all who want to follow him the task of spreading the good news of salvation. This task is so multifaceted and comprehensive that we can only fulfill it by joining forces.
At the same time, life is not always easy. Many things can throw us off track: the loss of a loved one, a broken relationship, an accident, a life-threatening illness, or even professional challenges. If we regularly spend time with people who support us even in difficult times, that’s brilliant.
The reasons for this are very different. For example: disappointment or hurt by the church/community or individual people. Trying to live as a ‘solo Christian’ without fellow believers. Realizing that being a Christian also brings with it responsibility. Jesus Christ wants us to live according to his will. For some, the changes in their lives are too great a hurdle. Faith is voluntary. God does not force us to believe in him. He is happy about everyone who wants to maintain a relationship with him. If a person decides against it, that is their free will.
When God created the world, he established the seventh day as a day of rest for people (Genesis 2:1-3). In the fourth of the Ten Commandments, God requires people to observe the seventh day, the Sabbath. He justifies this by saying that he is the Creator (Exodus 20:11) and the Redeemer (Deuteronomy 5:15) of the world. Jesus Christ, our great example in life, attended church services on the Sabbath as was his custom (Luke 4:16). He taught people the true meaning of the Sabbath and lived it out for others. Jesus also pointed out that the Sabbath will remain binding in future times (Matthew 24:20).
Is it possible to combine the theory of creation with the theory of evolution? For many Christians, this seems to be the solution to combine faith and science.
If God created through evolution, suffering and death are part of his method of creation. ‘Unfinished’ life stands in the way of higher development and must therefore be eliminated. If God really created through evolution, two important characteristics, namely his goodness and his omnipotence, must be questioned: Is God good if he factored suffering and death into his method of creation from the beginning? Or can he not do better? Then he is not omnipotent.
There is a saying: All roads lead to Rome – but, as we understand it, there is only one way to eternal life.
Jesus makes this absolute claim in John 14:6: I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. The apostle Peter also confirms this when he testifies: In him (Jesus) alone there is salvation! There is no other name in all of heaven that people can call on to be saved. (Acts 4:12)
The only thing you have to do to be saved is to believe that Jesus Christ died for you and that you are redeemed through him.
According to Acts 16:30-31: What must I do to be saved? Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.
If we confess our sins to Jesus, he is faithful and just, and he forgives us and cleanses us from all evil. (according to 1 John 1:9) It all starts with the realization: I have done something wrong. We can tell God when we have done something wrong or treated people badly. We can ask him for forgiveness. God promises us in the Bible that he will forgive us. We can accept this promise from God with confidence.
If your enemy knew how much you hate him, he would be happy – says the proverb. If you can’t forgive, it weighs on your life. It is much better to let go of negative feelings and anger, to forgive and be free. But when we have been hurt badly, most of us find it difficult to forgive.
Paul writes in Philippians 2:13: For God works in you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.
Do you realize that you should forgive, but you don’t want to? Ask God to forgive you! Do you want to forgive, but you can’t? Ask for the strength to forgive.
Some Christians say that Jesus replaced the 10 Commandments with the commandment of love – love God with all your heart and your neighbour as yourself (Matthew 22:37-40). In doing so, Jesus did not abolish the validity of the 10 Commandments as we understand it (Matthew 5:17-19). In Matthew 5:21-48, Jesus speaks in detail about the true meaning of his commandments. Jesus did not replace the 10 Commandments with the commandment of love, but rather summarized their meaning. The basis of each of the 10 Commandments is love. Therefore, the 10 Commandments continue to be a guide for us in this world and in our lives.
In John 11:14, Jesus compares death to sleep. Just as we wake up after sleeping, those who have died in faith in Jesus will be raised to eternal life at his return (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).
The wise Solomon answers this question in Ecclesiastes 9:5-6: “The living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing at all. They will not receive any reward, they will be forgotten by all. They will no longer love, hate, or desire anything – all that is gone. They will never again have a part in what is done on earth.” From a biblical perspective, man does not have a soul, but the whole man is the soul (Genesis 2:7). If you have any more questions about this, just contact us
The Bible speaks openly about the existence of angels. “Angel” means “messenger.” They are supernatural beings created by God (Ezekiel 28:13). When God created this world, the angels witnessed it (Job 38:7). Angels serve God (Hebrews 1:7) and people (Hebrews 1:14).
Angels participate in people’s lives (Luke 15:10; Matthew 18:10). They deliver messages (1 Kings 13:18; Revelation 1:1), protect (Psalm 91:11; Acts 12:15) and, in rare cases, execute God’s judgments (Genesis 19; Exodus 12:23). Angels also played a role in the life of Jesus Christ: They accompanied Jesus during his life on earth (Matthew 1:20) and served him (Matthew 4:11).
Evil spirits or demons are fallen angels. They were excluded from the heavenly community together with Lucifer (Devil, Satan) because of their rebellion against God (Revelation 12:7-9). Their goal is to harm people (1 Peter 5:8) and to corrupt them. They can take possession of people (Mark 5:2), torment them (Mark 5:3-5) and seduce them to evil (Ephesians 6:16).
Nevertheless, we do not need to be afraid of them because Jesus Christ can free people from the power of evil spirits (Matthew 17:18; Mark 7:29,30).
The Greek word for hell only appears 12 times in the New Testament. According to the Bible, hell is not a place of eternal torment. It does speak of a fiery, hot place where we humans die, but this refers to the so-called final judgement. People who have rejected God’s offer of forgiveness suffer this death. In some places the Bible is not so easy to understand. This is precisely where a group where you can exchange ideas or a Hope course is useful in order to get in-depth information from a trained theologian.
What really counts in life? Intact relationships, untroubled fellowship with God, people and animals, untouched nature. Health, energy, joy of life and openness to learning and discovering new things. Eternal life offers all of this and much more. John, the author of the last book of the Bible, writes exactly that. We Adventists believe that one day we will be with God in heaven.
In Matthew 24, Jesus speaks about important events that will precede his return. When these signs come true – and most of them have already come true – his followers will know that he will soon return. However, Jesus did not reveal to us on which day or at which hour he will come (Matthew 24:36). Rather, it means that we should live every day in such a way that we are ready for Jesus’ return. Our name “Adventists” is derived from the Latin adventus and means to come, to arrive, to return – because we Adventists are waiting for the return of Jesus.
The Bible repeatedly says that prophets will come. So why not today? Paul even writes about the “gift of prophecy”, so it would be wrong to claim that there will never be prophets again.
If someone claims to be a prophet, they should check it against the Bible.
The Bible tells of many prophets. Some of them wrote a book, others are only mentioned. In the New Testament there are various Bible passages that give tips on how to recognize a real prophet. For example, Matthew 7 says: A healthy tree bears good fruit, but a sick tree bears bad fruit. This means that from the statements and actions of a person you can quickly tell whether what they say belongs to God or not.
Simply by engaging with him. For example, read the Gospel of Matthew in the Bible and see how Jesus interacted with people.
God means well for us. He wants to give us eternal life. But you can also experience and meet God in nature. Find a quiet place in the countryside and watch the animals you see. Or you can get in touch with people who know Jesus. It is easier to get to know God better in a community.
A very special way to get in touch with God is through prayer: praying is talking to God, like with a good friend.
Jesus compares the state of the dead to a sleep (John 11:11-14) from which they will ultimately awaken at the return of Jesus. Just as we close our eyes in the evening to wake up fresh and rested in the morning, without knowing how much time has passed, the same is true of death and resurrection. The thought may frighten you, but it may also be comforting for you. Because the deceased person no longer has to experience all the suffering and difficult challenges, but can look forward to the return of our Savior. If you have any more questions about this, please contact us at our Hope Courses .
