150 Years of Adventists in Germany Celebrated with Jubilee Conference in Bochum

Gennadi Giesbrecht, President of the Adventist Free Church in North Rhine-Westphalia, and church historian Dr. Johannes Hartlapp presented during a jubilee conference in Bochum, marking 150 years of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Germany. The event, held on June 24, 2026, drew approximately 2,500 attendees. The conference motto, “150 years of courage for tomorrow’s church,” reflected the anniversary theme. The first Adventist congregations in Germany were established in North Rhine-Westphalia, specifically in Solingen and Vohwinkel, 150 years prior.

In the first part of the conference, Dr. Johannes Hartlapp discussed the founding history of the first Advent communities in Germany. He highlighted the Reformed Pietist piety prevalent in the Bergisches Land, which influenced the formation of the Free Evangelical Communities and the Brotherhood Communities. A group centered around Johann Heinrich Lindermann, a bandweaver, emerged in this environment. This group observed the Sabbath as a day of rest and anticipated the imminent return of Christ, forming a precursor to the current Adventist Free Church in Germany.

The conference also featured lectures by Adventist evangelist Joseph Erzberger from Switzerland. Following these, eight individuals were baptized on January 8th of the same year, marking the beginning of the first Advent communities in Solingen and Vohwinkel. These communities, now part of the Wuppertal district, were later joined by followers of Johann Heinrich Lindermann.

In the second part of the conference, Gennadi Giesbrecht delivered a sermon addressing the anniversary motto “courage for tomorrow.” He referenced Joshua 1:9, which encourages strength and courage, emphasizing that the word of God should serve mission rather than isolation. Giesbrecht highlighted the tension between maintaining identity and engaging in mission, stating that “identity without mission becomes isolation. Mission without identity becomes adaptation.” Both, he argued, are essential for the church’s journey.

Source: Read the original report (translated from German)