22 August 2012, Rogaška Slatina, Slovenia [Victor Hulbert, tedNEWS] Rogaška Slatina is surrounded by mountains. It’s not surprising then that Laurence Turner used the theme on Wednesday morning, and Pastor Mark Finley continued it at the end of the day with a sermon focused on the Mount of Ascension, ‘Meet me on the mountain’.
Ministers and their spouses may already have thought they were on the mountain top, but by 8:00 pm the thankfully air-conditioned marquee was full.
The warm up to Finley’s sermon included Ronald Knott, Director of Andrews University Press, promoting some very practical assets for the Ministers professional library. Claire Sanches, TED Children and Family Ministry director, shared how to turn the tide in which 51 percent of our European youth leave the church before the age of 21. “KIDS in Discipleship”, she emphasised, “is one of the solutions whereby parents and children worship, learn and develop faith together.”
More focus on Mission came with Miroslav Pujic, Director of ‘LIFEconnect’ social media project. “If you are not on any social media you don’t exist,” Miroslav stated. LIFEconnect is trying to maximise on that phenomenon, and is now available in over 20 languages, with digital missionaries in every TED country.
The 3D project, an initiative in Iceland, allowed people from this very secularised nation to pass through an exhibition telling the story of the Bible in nine stages from Creation to Re-creation. It was the Gospel in Icelandic terms. “No religion is taught in schools – but we did things for children and we had a deluge of children,” Manfred Lemke told an enthralled audience.
Edna and Heli presented “Jesus 7”, a Hungarian programme that shared seven sides of Jesus life in very public forums. This took seven stories and seven Holy Land presentations to 60 locations in seven weeks. Local pastors adapted the programme in creative ways, including exhibitions and books. This resulted in 2,500 visitors – more than the membership of the church in Hungry. Another 40,000 people followed online. Janos Kovacs-Biro, TED Evangelism director, emphasised that this was an excellent tool in countries where there are many nominal Christians.
Looking from the past to the future, Mission to the Cities, a World Church initiative is taking root in London, the largest city in the Trans-European Region. This is a joint project and, according to Pastor Ian Sweeney, it is linked to praying together. He noted that there are some 10,000 members in London who will have to reach out to 18 million people. Leaders from across Europe will join them in community witness and evangelism.
“Ancient Words, ever true, changing me, changing you,” introduced us to the message of the evening, and a story of mountains, Mt Moriah, Mt Sinai, Mt Carmel, Mt of Beatitudes, Mt of transfiguration, Mt of Olives, Mt Calvary, each one sharing a part of the Gospel story. Most importantly, the Mount of Ascension. “Man steps off a mountain and goes down,” Finley stated. “Christ steps off a mountain and goes up!”
Following through with the challenges and needs of the disciples in the ascension story, Finley skilfully wove their needs and desires into the reality of our need today. “Take some time while in Rogaška, to head out into the beauty of the mountains, to find a rock, or sit under a tree, and spend some time alone with God.” He suggested getting together with friends in a hotel room and doing the same. Taking us to the Mount of Ascension he noted how Jesus empowered the disciples, even when some doubted. “When God puts a vision in your hearts, Jesus will dispel your doubts,” he said, noting that “Jesus is the great doubt dissolver”.
The quote for the evening that touched ministers’ hearts was: “I’d rather try and do something great for God and fail, then do nothing for God and succeed.”
The concluding challenge, “What dream do you have for your church, your community?” [tedNEWS]
To see more photos of Wednesday programme, please click here.
tedNEWS Staff: Miroslav Pujic, director; Deana Stojkovic, editor; Dragana Selakovic-Duval, Frederic Duval & Tor Tjeransen, photographers
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