Serb and Croat, Israeli and Palestinian students were among the 2,000 who spent Easter morning sharing in communion, praising God, and celebrating salvation through Jesus Christ.
It felt like a small taster of heaven. There may not have been palm branches, but we were each given a daffodil, which we waved as we sang together 'Up from the grave he arose'. The sea of bright yellow, intermingled with national flags from Sweden to Spain, Germany to Georgia, demonstrated our unity in Jesus. Political, economic and social divides were put aside as our Lord was praised.
The occasion was the IFES Europe & Eurasia 'Get Connected' conference on evangelism in Gyor, Hungary. The delegates were students and IFES staff workers from 48 nations who spent five days praising God, sharing experiences, learning from God's Word, and receiving practical training.
Response to corruption
UCCF multi-media intern, Rachel Pangbourne, said of the conference: 'Get Connected was fantastic. I was really challenged by what other students are doing in their own countries. Hearing about the sacrifices they had made and studying 1 Peter made me think a lot about how much I am prepared to suffer for being a Christian. It also made me think what perspective I should have on suffering.'
Sir Fred Catherwood's session on 'How to respond from a Christian perspective to corruption in society' was particularly helpful for students for whom this is a daily struggle. Given the recent coverage of issues between Christian Unions and Student Unions in England, meeting students who are suffering deeply for their faith was a timely reminder for us.
Huge encouragement
On the opening evening, Dr. Akos Bukovzky, President of the Hungary IFES movement, told how he had been a student at Southampton University in the 1970s. A fellow student had befriended him, and given him a copy of Who Moved the Stone? The evidence for the resurrection had shaken his scepticism. He went to a CU mission, where Michael Green was speaking, and for the rest of the term, his Christian friend studied the Bible with him each evening. Akos put his trust in Christ, and later returned to Communist Hungary (but not before translating Journey into Life and Basic Christianity to take back with him). 30 years on, this testimony was a huge encouragement to the students in the audience from Southampton University CU, who had a mission last term. (It was also an encouragement to me, because his Christian friend was my dad, Roger Carswell!)
Let's pray there will be many more international students like Akos, who return to be shining lights in countries with no or fledgling student ministries, as we keep that heavenly vision from Revelation 7 in mind.
