03 December 2023| Tampere, Finland [Tiina Keronen with tedNEWS]
The trees are draped in snow, and the temperature lingers at minus ten degrees outside. Despite the chill nipping at our fingers, the atmosphere at Tampere Christian School in Finland radiates warmth, filled with smiling faces and joyful reunions. What’s it all about? It’s the annual young adult event, themed “Journeying with Jesus,” bringing together approximately 150 young adults from across Finland and neighbouring countries, held 1-3 December 2023.
Dejan Stojkovic, Trans-European Division (TED) Youth Director, was the guest speaker. Emphasising the importance of maintaining good relationships with each other, Stojkovic, in his opening presentation, highlighted that church membership could nearly double if conflicts between members were addressed before people walked away. During Sabbath worship, Stojkovic urged attendees to be followers of Christ rather than mere fans. “Follow Jesus even when it might not be advantageous,” he said. Including several stories and personal testimonies, his message concluded by inviting listeners to surrender their lives to Jesus fully.
The weekend featured inspiring worship, excellent music, and touching drama based on Margaret Powers’s poem “Footprints in the Sand.” Workshops on various topics gave everyone the opportunity to participate. On Saturday night, six teams engaged in the ‘Christmas Game’, testing their knowledge of Christmas traditions worldwide. The day concluded with a warm sauna by the frozen lake, providing peaceful moments of relaxation.
As Stojkovic shared his final devotional on Sunday morning, he reminded everyone of Jesus’s imminent return and asked, “Are we ready?” A vital question because of the certainty and conviction embedded in his following line – “He will come!” It was a matter he noted, inviting reflection and prayer.
The event concluded with a game at the local bowling centre. “The entire weekend was a blessing in so many ways!” participants shared. “We praise God for a heightened desire to continue following Jesus. Let’s all continue our journey – together with Jesus.”
[Photos: courtesy of Dejan Stojkovic]
