By Aub Warren
BURLEIGH HEADS, Australia--From Secunderabad to Queenstown and from Perth to Suva, more than 4,100 people gathered at 17 sites in nine nations to celebrate salvation at this year's Festival.
"It was an exceptionally good Festival!" regional director Rod Matthews wrote to ministers in October. "The Holy Spirit inspired and motivated and encouraged.
"In talking with Festival coordinators and brethren, there is no doubt that the vast majority of brethren honestly felt that it was one of the most spiritually uplifting they had experienced."
Several sites invited guest speakers from other Christian churches or organizations. They too commented on a "remarkable atmosphere of spiritual energy," Mr. Matthews reported.
Although attendance was down at nearly all locations, the quality of fellowship and worship was notable. Many sites introduced new worship styles or features, with contemporary worship songs being incorporated into the singing at numerous sites.
In Bandarawela, Sri Lanka, at what coordinator Bharat Naker described as "the most worshipful Feast ever," different worship teams led each service. "Most people got a chance to participate directly," Mr. Naker said.
Highlights included a youth worship team of 7- to 12-year-olds who led the music, presented special music, provided the Scripture reading and led four prayers, and an all-women worship group who similarly provided all of the service elements apart from the sermon.
"Many noted that the women pray with more feeling and emotion," Mr. Naker said.
At the new Launceston, Tasmania, site four youth services were conducted in the evenings, while contemporary music was included in all services.
In Queenstown, New Zealand, musicians from the Wellington church played keyboard, bass guitar and drums to supplement the piano accompaniment to songs.
"Everyone was able to truly rejoice before God in hymns and songs of praise," said coordinator Neville Fraser. "The meeting hall opened to magnificent vistas of lake and mountains, adding to the feeling of gratitude to our great God and Savior Jesus Christ for all he is doing for us."
A church band provided contemporary worship music for different services at the Gold Coast and Caloundra, Queensland, sites.
In Ulladulla, New South Wales, coordinator Peter McLean reported that the praise and worship inspired people to improve relationships with God and his children.
"As we celebrated our hope of salvation we were reminded in the sermons that God is in control, that he wants us to walk with him and that he created us to do good works," Mr. McLean said.
"Music was a particularly memorable high point," said Gosford coordinator Phil Hopwood, where two praise and worship services were conducted, featuring traditional and contemporary songs, in addition to prayers and readings.
"Robyn Pemberton and the Festival choir were superb, rendering many simple, joyful and uplifting items," Mr. Hopwood said.
Coordinator Joseph D'Costa reported that in Secunderabad, India, "the participation at worship services, choir, prayer meetings, lectures, music and sermonettes by both men and women, young and old, was enthusiastic and infectious."
In Caloundra, Queensland, Suzanne Clachair performed special music, singing "Amazing Grace" and "El-Shaddai." "This was one of the musical highlights of our Feast," said coordinator Bob Regazzoli.
"The quality of special music was outstanding. We had at least two presentations each day and on one day enjoyed four different items."
Guest speakers or performers were featured at several of our sites this year.
In Rotorua, New Zealand, Monte Ohia, one of New Zealand's foremost Maori Christian leaders, spoke of God's guidance in the planned World Christian Gathering of Indigenous People to take place in Rotorua Nov. 10-17.
Mr. Ohia, strategy manager for the Qualifications Authority of New Zealand, and co-chair of Vision New Zealand, a congress of Christian leaders from throughout the nation to meet in January-- shared his vision of all people being able to come to God through Jesus Christ not as white men, but as themselves, worshiping him in all their languages, dances, cultural forms, dress and crafts.
In Phuket, Thailand, John Biswas, director of the Bengali Evangelical Association, delivered a message about his mission of reaching Bangladesh with the gospel (see "Window on the World," page 1).
Youths in Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, enjoyed a presentation by Stuart Hunt of Tentmakers Youth Ministries. Mr. Hunt is a former policemen and detective. "His presentation was helpful in assisting the young people in developing their own relationship with Jesus Christ," commented coordinator Ross Beath.
In Launceston, six people from Missionary Training College gave a presentation on missionary work. The group presented a drama, then gave several testimonials about their calling and work.
One service in Sri Lanka was conducted entirely in Sinhala (Sri Lanka's national language), while another featured contemporary Christian music. A service focusing on evangelism was followed by a class on baptismal counseling for anyone who wanted to learn how to help a person wanting to commit their life to Christ through faith and repentance.
A women's ministry breakfast was a feature activity in Launceston, while a small groups seminar was well-attended at the Mornington Peninsula site, as were others on the Gold Coast and Ulladulla.
Children's church activities were conducted during services at a number of sites, and a discussion session for children's church leaders was conducted at the regional office on the Gold Coast.
The Launceston site had three workshops: one on sharing your faith, led by Hobart member Kath Reid; another on worship services, conducted by Sydney member Jeff Lowe; and a senior citizens discussion on mentoring.
Activity highlights around the region were abundant and varied. A boat trip to Rottnest Island was a highlight in Perth, Western Australia.
In Port Vila, Vanuatu, members enjoyed sharing four meals together and celebrated two baptisms.
Queenstown Feastgoers enjoyed a bus tour to Milford Sound, those in Ranongga shared in a meal of different dishes from members' villages, and in Phuket many boarded speed boats to ride to Coral Island where they swam and snorkeled.
There were five new sites this year, including Lae in Papua New Guinea. Located on the northeast coast, Lae looks out across the Huon Gulf, scene of World War II battles. In the Solomons the Festival was conducted in two locations, Honiara, and on the island of Ranongga.
On Ranongga the meeting place was member Timothy Nake's verandah, overlooking the Gizo Straits and other islands.
Asia
Bandarawela, Sri Lanka 81
Phuket, Thailand 170
Secunderabad, India 104
Pacific Islands
Honiara, Solomon Islands 40
Lae, Papua New Guinea 75
Port Vila, Vanuatu 49
Ranongga, Solomon Islands 50
Suva, Fiji 107
Australia
Caloundra, Queensland 690
Gold Coast, Queensland 442
Gosford, New South Wales 350
Launceston, Tasmania 121
Mornington Peninsula, Victoria 534
Perth, Western Australia 505
Ulladulla, New South Wales 335
New Zealand
Queenstown (South Island) 177
Rotorua (North Island) 329
Oct. 29, 1996, Worldwide News, page 10
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