{"id":110237,"date":"2018-08-12T17:06:58","date_gmt":"2018-08-12T16:06:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bcc.no\/grand-finale-of-international-summer-conferences\/"},"modified":"2025-01-30T11:46:40","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T10:46:40","slug":"grand-finale-of-international-summer-conferences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bcc.no\/en\/grand-finale-of-international-summer-conferences\/","title":{"rendered":"Grand finale of international summer conferences"},"content":{"rendered":"

The summer conferences in BCC are a vibrant melting pot of different cultures united by our shared Christian faith. This weekend, BCC`s conference-summer officially came to an end after an outstanding time of edification, themed meetings, and activities for children, young people, and adults.<\/h4>\n

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Text: Johanne Reiersrud – Photo: Anne-Sophie Tombre\/Randi Hutt<\/em><\/p>\n

Several thousand people have visited Oslofjord Convention Center during the weeks BCC has rented the facilities. Altogether, the numbers from BCC Events show nearly 18,000 registered participants for the two conferences.<\/p>\n

What is it that unites us?<\/h4>\n

For BCC members around the world these summer events mean a great deal, and participants this year have traveled from 38 countries to be a part of the Christian community and hear its teaching. Participants have come here from India, Cameroon, Mexico, Australia, and many other countries. Most save for the journey and lodgings themselves, while some receive assistance from BCC to finance their trip.<\/p>\n

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\nThis summer, guests from 38 countries have been gathered for conferences and fellowship at the Oslofjord Convention Center in Vestfold. Photo: BCC<\/em><\/p>\n

BCC`s conferences are held in idyllic surroundings at Oslofjord Convention Center`s fantastic conference facilities. But it isn`t the warmth of summer, the location, or the buildings which draw thousands of guests from all corners of the world. It isn`t that they are especially similar to one another either.<\/p>\n

In spite of different life circumstances, backgrounds, and walks of life, our faith knits us together. \u00a0Our common values create a unique bond, and differences fade away when likeminded people from many cultures meet for edification and instruction in faith. For those who come here, the importance of the gospel is universal, and they consider it an unparalleled help for the development of their personal Christian lives.<\/p>\n

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\nThe foundation of faith and preaching creates an important unity between people from many countries and cultures. Here are two French visitors.\u00a0<\/span><\/em>Photo: BCC<\/em><\/p>\n

Focus on facilitation for children and youth<\/h4>\n

A lot of emphasis is placed on good experiences for all of the children and young people who spend time here during their summer vacation. This conference-summer, the young have had more activity options than ever before. At the same time, themed gatherings have been available for different age groups. To create as many good options as possible, many volunteers and considerable international involvement were necessary.<\/p>\n

\u201cA huge thanks to everyone who has contributed and gotten up early to put in an effort,\u201d says leader K\u00e5re Smith in a film shown on the big screen during the last meeting of the final evening. He extends a special thanks to the enthusiastic Germans who contributed to JuniorPoint and JuniorCamp, both including diverse activity options for children and youth, and open for different age groups every day and evening for four whole weeks of summer.<\/p>\n