In Copenhagen, one of Europe’s most secular cities, Adventist church planters Rob and Bethany focus on friendship‑based ministry rather than traditional programs. Using the BLESS model—Begin with Prayer, Listen, Eat, Serve, Share—they build relationships, create community around their table, and introduce neighbors to Jesus through everyday life. Their story highlights how relational mission thrives even in post‑Christian cultures.
Copenhagen wasn’t the kind of place where people went looking for faith. In fact, Rob and Bethany knew that moving to one of the most secular cities in Europe meant facing a different kind of mission field—one where success would be measured by relationships, not numbers.
They arrived in 2024, stepping into a city where polished systems and comfortable lifestyles seemed to leave little room—or need—for God. But Rob and Bethany hadn’t come to preach sermons on street corners. They came to build friendships.
Years earlier, the couple had served in a traditional church before going to seminary. There, God began to stir something new in their hearts.
“We realized we wanted to rub shoulders with people outside our Adventist bubble,” Rob recalled. “We wanted friends we could introduce to Jesus.”
Their first foray into church planting was in Squamish, British Columbia.
It was unfamiliar and stretching—unlike anything they’d done before. But through this experience they learned to befriend people of very different beliefs and worldviews. They discovered they could be confident in representing their faith while connecting with others in meaningful ways.
Four years later, when the opportunity came to plant a church in a cross-cultural setting, they felt ready. Now in Copenhagen, they approach ministry through a relational framework. Rob adapted from Michael Frost’s Surprise the World—a simple acronym – BLESS—that encompasses their friendship-focused approach.
B stands for Begin with Prayer. “You start by pursuing a friendship with Jesus,” Rob explained, “and asking Him to guide you toward others.”
L means Listen. “You don’t talk first. You learn. You listen to their lives, their needs, and where God is already working.”
E is for Eat. “There’s no better way to connect than to share a meal. It builds trust.”
S stands for Serve. “Serving people in small ways opens doors.”
And the final S—Share—comes last for a reason. “When someone is ready and God opens doors, share what Jesus has done in our lives.”
Rob and Bethany weren’t starting with a building or a program.
They were starting with prayer—and a table big enough for neighbors.
Read part two of their story next week.
Reaching hearts for Jesus in the Post-Christian Window is one of our church’s greatest mission challenges. To learn more, visit GMsda.org/refocus. Read the rest of this mission story next week.
