“Has it really been 20 years?” asks Barry Couts (68) in surprise.
He remembers well that an extra summer conference was introduced. Now he has just attended the opening meeting in a full meeting hall after a long journey from Urbana, Ohio, USA.
Kåre J. Smith led the meeting and exhorted the assembly to take care of their high calling. He read from Isaiah 51:4:
“Listen to Me, My people; And give ear to Me, O My nation: For law will proceed from Me, And I will make My justice rest As a light of the peoples.”
(NKJV)
“We must build on the foundation that the New Testament has given us, and that is far more than the forgiveness of sins. It speaks of the benefits to come, divine nature – about eternal life.”
Furthermore, Smith preached about the power of Jesus to save us, and spoke faith to the individual to be set free from the power of sin:
“You can do God’s will, like Jesus did, and come to a completely different life!”
Filling the need of the heart
It’s messages like this that keep Barry coming from the US, something he’s been doing for 50 years:
“I come here because the message spoken is prophetic. I’ve never been disappointed by what I hear here; never. Because it fills the need in my heart.”
He reflects on God’s marvelous way of sharing His word through godly people:
“It’s quite amazing. Everyone hears something specific for them, and when I work with this, I feel little by little that sin no longer has power in life in the areas I previously found difficult. What a blessing!”
Getting better and better
Po Fung Wong (66) from Hong Kong has the same experience. He has been coming to the conferences at Brunstad for 45 years, and he comes again and again.
“This is where I get help. Even though I may have thought it wasn’t necessary, I never regretted it when I went home.”
He is delighted to have five children and two grandchildren at the conference, and praises the way things are organized.
“With two conferences, there is more space, everything is better organized, and the food is better. They make it so good for us here!”
A two days’ journey from Romania by bus
Rebeca Costea from Romania is 33 years old. She came to Brunstad for the first time at the age of 13 in 2005.
“50 friends from Romania traveled by bus for two days to get to Brunstad. With children and all. It was quite chaotic, for sure, but for me at 13, it was a party.”
The summer Rebeca tells us about was the first time an extra summer conference was introduced. This made it possible for the group from Romania to stay overnight in the newly built cabins in Hagebyen.
A lot has happened since then. Rebeca has married and become a mother of five herself.
Joy and peace radiate from her eyes as she soothes her youngest child.
“It’s ten times better to be here physically. The children ask again and again: ‘When are we going to Brunstad?’ They love being here. It’s such a good atmosphere and there are so many activities for them.”
Facts about the summer conferences
- A total of three events; two summer conferences and a camp
- Norwegian is the main language. Simultaneous interpretation into over 20 languages
- Meetings, an activity program and meals are included, so that international participants can have an equal experience
- The conferences are for BCC members and are funded through the donation model
- Participants pay for their own accommodation through agreements in Samvirk
- People from countries with low purchasing power can get support from BCC for accommodation
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