Estonian Conference

Estonian Conference is an administrative unit of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Estonia. It is a part of the Baltic Union Conference of the Trans-Erupean Division of Seventh-day Adventists. Its headquarters is in Tallinn, Estonia.

Territory: Estonia

Statistics (June 30, 2024): Churches, 20; membership, 1,233; population, 1,380,000

In 2025, there are 22 Seventh-day Adventist Church communities in Estonia: Elva, Haapsalu, Jõgeva, Jõhvi, Keila, Kuressaare, Narva, Pearl’s Little Adventist Church, Pärnu, Põltsamaa, Rakvere, Rapla group, Tallinn International Church, Tallinn First Adventist Church, Tallinn City Center Russian-Language Adventist Church, Tallinn Compass Adventist Church, Tartu, Türi, Valga, Small White Adventist Church, Viljandi, and Võru.¹

Early Beginnings

Estonia, with a population of about 1.5 million, now has a language similar to Finnish, but is still very different from Latvian, Lithuanian, or Russian. Adventist missionary Gerhard Perk arrived from Crimea to Tallinn (Reval) in 1897 with German books and magazines. His brother, Johann Perk, started his mission in Riga. Soon, Gerhard found people in Tallinn (Reval) who were open to the Adventist message. Then, Gerhard Perk and Henry Löbsack baptized the first three Estonian Adventists.²

The first Adventist congregation in Tallinn (Reval) was started in 1897. The German-Russian Union was formed in 1907, even though the Adventist denomination had no permission to be present in Russia, and its activities were considered illegal. Then came the Northern-Russian Mission. Adventists received permission to operate in the Russian Empire after the 1905-1907 uprising when the Tsar announced moderate religious freedom.

The first Adventist publication in Estonian language was printed in 1898 in Helsinki (Helsingfors) and was called Taanieli Raamatu Seletus (Explanations of the Book of Daniel). In 1905, at the Hamburg Publishing House (Germany) was printed the books Tee Kristuse juurde (Steps to Christ); in 1908, Kristlik kasinus (Christian Temperance); and in 1914, Mõtted õndsakskiitmise mäelt (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing). In the same publishing house in Hamburg, a magazine was printed Siioni Vahimees (Zion’s Watchman) as well as the church paper Siioni Tööline (Zion’s Worker), Sabbath School quarterlies, and other tracts and papers in the Estonian language.

At the beginning of the 20th Century in Tallinn (Reval), Adventist preacher Jakob Jurikson arrived. He had become acquainted with Adventism in Russia and soon became a preacher. He formed the Adventist church in Tallinn (Reval) and started local congregations in Paide and Tartu. Jurikson had clashes with local Lutheran pastors and the state authorities on the subjects of theology. In 1909, the congregation in Tallinn (Reval) had 260 members. Obviously, the number of Adventists had quickly grown. Then the territory of what is nowadays known as Estonia was divided by two gubernias of the Russian Empire: Estland (north part) and Liefland (south part).

World War Iaffected many Adventists. Many men and women went to settle in Russia because local manufacturers and factories had been relocated deep in Russia and away from the war zone. Some Adventists were recruited to serve in the army as soldiers. The Adventist movement in Russia did not have the connections that would enable them to resist the recruitment of its members into the army. Any foreign missionaries were expelled from the country. So, the local Adventists in Russia were cut off from the worldwide SDA organization.

In 1915, a group among Adventists under the leadership of Gustav Leuke and Conrad Hahn emerged that made a separate congregation under the name of the “Seventh-day Gospel Christian Union”. The Estonian Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1917 was led by a Latvian named Johan Sprogis.

This was a turbulent political time for the country. The War of Independence started, and the Russian Red Army was pushed out. Turbulence occurred among Estonian Adventists as well, and a split in the church occurred. Conflict began among two different congregations regarding leadership. Johan Sprogis had a center in Tartu, but his opponent, Conrad Hahn, was in Tallinn. Johan Sprogis had the authority to lead the Seventh-day Adventist Conference given in the Conference session, but Conrad Hahn was considered a self-elected leader. During the session held on October 16, 1918, in Tallinn, this split finally surfaced, and a large number of the Adventists left the Estonian Conference. Only eight Adventists in Tallinn stayed within the Estonian Conference.

By 1920, contacts were restored with the Scandinavian Union. Johan Sprogis left his leadership position and went back to Latvia. The Estonian Conference elected N. Bergensen as the new head during the session. Scandinavian Adventist brothers tried to reconcile the two separate Estonian Adventist movements. This was unsuccessful, and the separate Adventists decided to remain as “Adventist reformers”.

Estonia soon gained independence and experienced religious liberty. The Estonian Conference started a new page in its mission. Literature evangelism gained great success, and Adventist congregations started to grow.

In 1922, the construction of the new main church building in Tallinn also started. Bergersen left the position of the head of the Conference. After he left, leadership was for a short period of time entrusted to M. Olsen. Then Mihkel Lass, who had previously been an active literature evangelist, was elected new leader during the Estonian Conference session. By the fall of 1923, the new church building had been completed. At the meeting of the European division in 1923, it was decided to separate the Baltic countries from the Scandinavian Union. From then on, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania formed a new Baltic Union. The headquarters of the Union was located in Riga. An American citizen named Daniel N. Wall was elected to serve as the head of the Baltic Union in 1924.

Mihkel Lass did not last long as the leader of the Estonian Conference. He was removed from his position due to what was referred to as “inappropriate behavior”. In 1925, D. D. Erhardt was chosen to serve as the head of the Estonian Conference.

By 1925, there were already 1,273 members of the Adventist Church in Estonia. There were Adventist churches in Tallinn, Tartu, and Narva, and there were also representatives in small towns such as Suure-Jaani, Kullamaa, and Tarvastu.

In 1928, D. D Erhardt passed away. Ludvig Nikkar then became the head of the Estonian Conference. He was the first native leader of the Estonian Conference. In 1928, Adventists completed a new church building in Tartu, on Lille Street. In 1930, Eduar Ney became the leader of the Estonian Conference.

On the other hand, the opposite to the Estonian Conference, the Estonian Association of Seventh-day Adventists (after Conrad Hahn passed away), started to fade away. They were registered by the Minister of the Interior, but later they were not approved by the public agency. The organization of “Adventist reformers” lacked a solid structure and started to dissolve.

Estonian Adventists were served by various magazines, including: Tõe sõnumud (Messages of Trust), Noorte sõber (Friend of Youth), Meie Aeg (Our Time), Missioni Teated (Mission Records), and Noorte Juhised (Youth Instruction). Thousands of books and periodicals were distributed.

The Baltic Union ceased to exist in 1935 due to restrictions made by the Latvian government.

Despite challenges under Russian rule, Estonian Conference President Eduard Mägi (1937-1942) was able to report in 1939, “Thanks to the Lord, we have reached all our goals in the year 1938.”³ At that time, there were 39 Adventist churches, 13 groups, and 2,018 members, with work conducted in four languages: Estonian, Russian, German, and Swedish. Evangelistic efforts in 1938 and 1939 had resulted in over 250 baptisms, and the church had set a goal to baptize 200 more members in the coming year.⁴

The Years of the Soviet Regime

In 1940, Estonia was annexed by the U.S.S.R. All of the Adventist Church’s institutions were closed. The church buildings were nationalized, and the congregations were forced to pay high rent to the state to use them. However, worship services were permitted.⁵ G. A. Lindsay, the Northern European Division president, reported on the church’s challenges soon after the Russian forces occupied the country:

We had just closed our conference on Sunday evening in Tallinn, and the people were at the station, heading home, when suddenly rumors spread that the Russians were going to cross the borders at several places at midnight. A gloom spread over the faces of the thousands of people at the station, and tears could be seen in the eyes of many of our own. However, there was no hysterical manifestation; everything remained calm. One person said, “A happy dream of twenty years duration is now ended.” Next day all travel connection by sea and air was cut off. . .⁶

The Adventist Church in Europe made every effort to support its members in Estonia. W. T. Bartlett, who worked closely with the Baltic Adventist church during his time as Northern European Division field secretary, expressed his support:

We are thankful that Brother Lindsay was able to meet with the brethren in Tallinn and inspire them to unswerving loyalty in the difficult times that now lie before them. It was not for nothing that God gave to the little Baltic republics a taste of liberty for twenty years. May they hold fast the liberty with which Christ has made them free, and receive spiritual power to save a multitude from the yoke of bondage that Satan has prepared for his captives.⁷

In 1941, Estonia was then occupied by the German army. Improved religious liberty resulted, although Adventists didn’t have permission to print papers and books. They did have permission to conduct Conference sessions and elect leadership, though. Germans soon stopped the requirement to pay rent for the church building.

In 1943, Richard Vinglas was elected leader of the Conference. However, he left Estonia shortly before the Red Army entered Estonia again. The Germans retreated. The previous Soviet requirements were restored. The minimum size of a congregation was set at 50 members once again. Small congregations were merged into larger ones. This reduced the number of Adventist congregations in Estonia, which retained only 13 congregations and 13 ministers. Sabbath School supplies were no longer available, and the Soviet government put restrictions on Sabbath Schools by prohibiting discussions among participants during the service again. In Praxis, this meant the Sabbath School once again became some kind of a sermon.

The Estonian Conference since 1944 was under the direct control of the Soviet government (Department of Religions and Cults). Administration of all Adventist churches was located in Moscow (the All-Union Council of the Seventh-day Adventists), but practically this administration only served as window dressing and was without any authority apart from that given to them by the Soviet authorities. Conference sessions and evangelistic campaigns were prohibited. The church leadership was chosen by the authority of the Soviet governors.

Nevertheless, the Conference was led by elder Pastor August Aug from 1945 until 1956. At that point, the leadership was entrusted to elder Pastor Victor Kärmas. In 1962, Adventist (i.e. all religious) organizations in the U.S.S.R. were dissolved. The Estonian Conference, as an administrative unit, ceased to exist. In that year, Estonia had more than 2,000 Adventists.

In 1966, the Soviet government permitted elder Pastor Eduard Murd to lead the Estonian Adventist churches. In 1974, elder Pastor Victor Kärmas once again was chosen to serve in this position. From 1980 to 1989, the leader of Estonian Adventist churches was elder Pastor Aarne Kriisk.

In 1989, the Baltic Union was restored.

Missionary Education

Initially, Russian and German preachers studied in Hamburg, but in 1899, the Friedensau Mission School was founded, where Estonians could first receive an Adventist education. Several future Estonian preachers and church leaders studied there. In 1923, the Baltic Union Mission Seminary was established at Suschenhof Manor near Riga, offering education to local Adventists. The school began with 33 students and three teachers, and by 1924, enrollment grew to 111 students with seven teachers. The curriculum included Bible studies, history, languages, music, and more, with opportunities for students to work in carpentry, farming, and the soap factory to support themselves. Classes were taught in both Estonian and Latvian.⁸

In 1935, Suschenhof started teaching only in Latvian, and foreign teachers were no longer allowed in Latvia. That year, the Estonian Mission School was established in Tallinn, with Richard Vinglas as director. It began with 21 students. The curriculum included Bible studies, history, languages, and general education. Students received meals and dormitory accommodation, with tuition costing 50 kroons annually. In 1937, the school was registered and renamed the “Adventist Church School of Theology,” closely aligning its curriculum with regular schools. By 1938, enrollment had grown by five students.

The school continued to operate until the Soviet occupation in 1940. After the Soviet Union took control of Latvia, religious institutions, including Adventist schools, faced significant repression. The school apparently ceased operations at that time, as religious organizations were heavily persecuted, and many church properties were confiscated.

For 40 years, pastors were trained through the mentorship of older workers. Today, systematic education for pastors is once again offered in Riga, Lativa, and negotiations are ongoing to reclaim the Suschenhof (now Suzhi) school campus.

Adventist Literature

Starting in 1898, Adventist books were printed in the Estonian language, initially in Helsinki and later in Hamburg, until 1914. The first Adventist publication was typical of the literature of that time: Taanieli Raamatu Seletus (Explanations of the Book of Daniel). In the years of independence, books and numerous periodicals were published in Estonia. For example, M. Barengrub’s 1939 report on literary evangelism in Estonia showed that most of the increase in sales had been in health literature, while the focus shifted to evangelical literature, particularly W. A. Spicer's book Our Time and the Destiny of the World. He added that the work was seen as a blessing for both the colporteurs and the broader mission and “[o]ur greatest need is for more consecrated canvassers.”⁹

However, in 1940, all books and magazines were seized, but fortunately, they could be bought as “scrap paper,” much to the delight of church members who had one last chance to acquire them before they had to be copied by hand, illegally.¹⁰

The publication activity resumed freely once the liberation from the Soviet regime took place. By the end of the first decade of the 20th century, church publications began to reference a publishing house in Riga, Latvia. The Adventist Church in Estonia gets its publication from the publishing house in Latvia, TED, and other Adventist publishing houses.

More Recent Years

Since January 1994, Adventists in the Baltic countries have been part of the Trans-European Division, alongside their traditional Scandinavian friends.

In Tartu, Estonia, the Estonian Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church marked its 115th anniversary with a celebration held in the largest concert hall in southern Estonia on April 27th and 28^th, 2012. The event gathered Adventists and friends from across Estonia as well as fellow believers from other countries, including guests from Finland, Scotland, England, Latvia, and Lithuania. Pastor David Nõmmik, then thepresident of the Estonian Conference, described the anniversary celebration as a “historical, special event.” The main theme for the occasion was “In The Light Of The Beginning,” with sermons and activities focusing on the church’s growth and mission in the past, and the hope found in Jesus Christ for the future. Pastor Nõmmik emphasized the importance of such an event to reflect on the progress of the Adventist Church in Estonia, while staying focused on the mission and unity of the church.¹¹

The weekend was organized as an Adventist Spring Festival, a growing tradition in Estonia initiated by Pastor Andres Ploompuu, Mission Department leader at the Conference at that time. Ploompuu shared that while the Adventist Church looks to the future with hope in Christ’s second coming, its faith is grounded in the events of the past. “What has happened helps us understand what is going to happen in the future,” he said. “We are moving ahead in the light of the beginning, waiting for the return of Jesus Christ.”¹²

Another important event in newer history was the meeting of religious leaders in Estonia with Estonian President Alar Karis on December 20, 2021, which Andres Ploompuu, who was at the time president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Estonia, attended as the representative of the Adventist Church in Estonia. The hour-long discussion focused on youth and children’s mental health, with church leaders sharing their initiatives in this area. Ploompuu highlighted the Adventist Church’s efforts to promote mental well-being, emphasizing the importance of Youth and Children’s Ministries and the Pathfinder movement. He also mentioned plans to host the Trans-European Pathfinder Camporee in Estonia in 2023. This was Ploompuu’s second meeting with the Estonian president. The president expressed interest in the relationships between denominations, with Ploompuu noting the positive relationships among the churches in Estonia.¹³

In Estonia, where church growth has been slow or stagnant, several initiatives have been introduced to connect with people in Tallinn, the capital. New projects include a Center of Influence named “Terve Elu Keskus” (“Whole Life Centre”) and a lay-led “Kompass Church” aimed at serving young adults and university students.¹⁴

“Terve Elu Keskus,” located at the end of a tram line near a railway station in a Tallinn suburb, provides health and lifestyle programs, counseling for individuals and families, and a drop-in “boutique” offering more than just quality second-hand clothing. Church growth in Estonia has faced challenges in recent years, as many people, including Adventist members, have moved abroad in search of better opportunities. However, with the country experiencing a booming economy and growth in industries like IT, church leaders view the center of influence and similar projects as a way to reverse this trend.¹⁵

In recent years, immigration has created new opportunities for the church to engage with the growing international community in Tallinn and Tartu, the second-largest city in Estonia. Recognizing the increasing number of immigrants working, studying, or married to Estonian citizens, the Estonian Conference saw this as a new avenue for ministry and evangelism. To address this, they invited a missionary family to establish an English-speaking ministry for the international community.¹⁶

Del and Hannah Onde, missionaries from the Philippines, along with their six-year-old daughter, became an essential part of the international community within the Estonian Church. They volunteered as missionaries for nearly two years, contributing to the Terve Elu Keskus Center of Influence and initiating various international projects, including cooking shows, Filipino community gatherings, and Christmas parties. The Ondes began with an English-speaking small group, which eventually grew into an English Sabbath School at the Tallinn First Church. With the support of the Estonian Conference and local church leadership, a separate English Sabbath worship group was established at Terve Elu Keskus in January 2018.¹⁷

Children’s ministry leaders from across the Estonian Conference of the Adventist Church gathered at the Estonian Children’s Ministry Seminar (ECMS) from April 1-3, 2022, in Simisalu, Estonia. Their goal was not only to be inspired, but also to gain a comprehensive understanding of how to help children develop a lasting faith. The seminar, led by Karen Holford, the Trans-European Division’s director for family, women, and children’s ministries, covered topics such as emotional intelligence, understanding the teenage brain, and creative spirituality.¹⁸

In the Estonia Conference, serving both church members and the broader community through training events, centers of influence, and similar initiatives is a key way of sharing the Gospel.

Presidents

Rein Kalmus (1989-1992); Tõnu Jugar (1992-2000); Ülo Pärna (2001-2003); Tõnu Jugar (2004-2010); David Nõmmik (2010-2014); Ivo Käsk (2014-2019); Andres Ploompuu (2019-2023); David Nõmmik (2023- ).¹⁹

Sources

Arhiiv AKEL’i Seitsmenda Päeva Adventistide Koguduste Eesti Liit.

Barengrub, M. “The Estonian Book Work’” The Advent Survey, October 1, 1939.

Bartlett, W. T. “Redemption at Hand.” The Advent Survey, September 1, 1940.

Beekmann, Averonika. “Adventists among Church Leaders who Met the President of Estonia.” ARH, January 5, 2022. Accessed March 19, 2025. https://adventistreview.org/news/adventists-among-church-leaders-who-met-the-president-of-estonia/.

Beekmann, Lauri. “Estonian Adventists Celebrate Their 115th Anniversary ‘In the Light of the Beginning.” TEDnews. Accessed March 19, 2025. https://ted.adventist.org/news/estonian-adventists-celebrate-their-115th-anniversary-in-the-light-of-the-beginning/.

Estonian Conference records, Tallinn, Estonia.

https://adventistidaafrikas.weebly.com/index.html

Hulbert, Victor. “Adventists Celebrate Estonia’s Centennial with ‘Gift’ to the Country.” Adventist World. February 28, 2018. Accessed March 19, 2025. https://www.adventistworld.org/adventists-celebrate-estonias-centennial-gift-country/.

Hulbert, Victor. “International Church Plant Spurs Growth in Estonia.” ARH, July 24, 2018. Accessed March 19, 2025. https://adventistreview.org/news/international-church-plant-spurs-growth-in-estonia/.

Lindsay, G. A. “Sweden and the Baltic.” The Advent Survey, September 1, 1940.

Magi, E. “God’s Work in Estonia.” The Advent Survey, October 1, 1939.

Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia. Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1976. “Estonia.”

Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook, various years. https://www.adventistyearbook.org/.

Sommer, Diana and Mervi Kalmus. “Leaders to Help Children ‘Fall in Love with God’ Forever.” Adventist World, April 14, 2022. Accessed March 19, 2025. https://www.adventistworld.org/leaders-to-help-church-children-fall-in-love-with-god-forever/.

Strasdowsky, R. “Estonian Conference History.” The official website of the Baltic Union Conference. Accessed March 19, 2025. https://www.bauc.lv/sample-page/.

Notes

1. Estonian Conference records, Tallinn, Estonia.↩

2. The section on the early beginning of Adventist history in Estonia is largely based on Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia. Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1976. “Estonia.”↩

3. E. Magi, “God’s Work in Estonia,” The Advent Survey, October 1, 1939, 5.↩

4. Ibid.↩

5. The section on the Soviet years is based on documents from Arhiiv AKEL’i Seitsmenda Päeva Adventistide Koguduste Eesti Liit and Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia. Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1976. “Estonia.”↩

6. G. A. Lindsay, “Sweden and the Baltic,” The Advent Survey, September 1, 1940, 2.↩

7. W. T. Bartlett, “Redemption at Hand,” The Advent Survey, September 1, 1940, 1.↩

8. “Adventists in Estonia,” https://adventistidaafrikas.weebly.com/index.html.↩

9. M. Barengrub, “The Estonian Book Work,” The Advent Survey, October 1, 1939, 7.↩

10. R. Strasdowsky, “Estonian Conference History,” the official website of the Baltic Union Conference, accessed March 19, 2025, https://www.bauc.lv/sample-page/.↩

11. Lauri Beekmann, “Estonian Adventists Celebrate Their 115th Anniversary ‘In the Light of the Beginning,” TEDnews, accessed March 19, 2025, https://ted.adventist.org/news/estonian-adventists-celebrate-their-115th-anniversary-in-the-light-of-the-beginning/.↩

12. Ibid.↩

13. Averonika Beekmann, “Adventists among Church Leaders who Met the President of Estonia,” Adventist Review, January 5, 2022, accessed March 19, 2025, https://adventistreview.org/news/adventists-among-church-leaders-who-met-the-president-of-estonia/.↩

14. Victor Hulbert, “International Church Plant Spurs Growth in Estonia,” ARH, July 24, 2018, accessed March 19, 2025, https://adventistreview.org/news/international-church-plant-spurs-growth-in-estonia/.↩

15. Victor Hulbert, “Adventists Celebrate Estonia’s Centennial with ‘Gift’ to the Country,” Adventist World, February 28, 2018, accessed March 19, 2025, https://www.adventistworld.org/adventists-celebrate-estonias-centennial-gift-country/.↩

16. Hulbert, “International Church Plant Spurs Growth in Estonia.”↩

17. Ibid.↩

18. Diana Sommer and Mervi Kalmus, “Leaders to Help Children ‘Fall in Love with God’ Forever,” Adventist World, April 14, 2022, accessed March 19, 2025, https://www.adventistworld.org/leaders-to-help-church-children-fall-in-love-with-god-forever/.↩

19. Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook, https://www.adventistyearbook.org/.↩