By Rosemary Thompson
BOREHAMWOOD, England--The regional office here administered Festival sites in the United Kingdom, Europe, French-speaking Africa and the French-speaking Caribbean.
Members from Italy, Austria, Switzerland and Germany gathered in Arco to celebrate the salvation that is in Christ. Services at this combined German and Italian-speaking Feast site took place in the 19th century Municipal Casino, which was built for Archduke Albert of Hapsburg.
Guest speaker Tom Lapacka conducted a workshop titled Renewal in the Worldwide Church of God.
Workshops were introduced this year in Bonndorf, host to the Feast for the 20th consecutive year. Topics covered were prayer, small groups, senior citizens, teens, sharing faith and handling stress and conflict. The children had their own worship services on the first and last day.
Since traveling to Arco in northern Italy would have been difficult, members met for a three-day Feast in Sicily. John Halford, European regional director, visited the island one day and conducted a question and answer session.
Mr. Halford explained that the Italian church was planted in Italian soil so it could thrive without depending on outside help.
At the conclusion of the meeting, deacon Sebastiano Patelmo was ordained a local church elder, the first in the Catania church.
"From the first service in Eastbourne," reported member Brian Smith, "it was obvious that something special was happening. This feeling grew throughout the week with the Holy Spirit moving people to excel themselves in all areas."
This was noticeable in the music, which included an opera solo and duet and the London South Gospel Group.
Overall it was an inspiring spiritual experience, and at the end members did not want to leave. As one member put it, "I feel as though I've been born again, again!"
The city of Evian put on a concert for church members, and social activities included a tour of Geneva, Switzerland. Many members said they wanted to return to Evian next year for the Feast.
Visitors from Barbados, the United States, Ireland, Switzerland and the United Kingdom met with Nordic members at this site surrounded by snowcapped peaks and valleys of pine forests, enhanced by autumn colors.
Since Nordic members are scattered across five countries, the Festival was an ideal opportunity for them to get together to exchange ideas for the coming years and plan how, as families and as individuals, they can actively further the gospel message in the Nordic region.
Despite rain disrupting a few activities, this was a healing Feast with supportive new covenant sermons, and the bad weather made more time for fellowshipping.
Feastgoers raised $2,200 at a Pub Quiz evening for the community. The money went to children with radiation sickness from Chernobyl, local and national Irish charities and several needy church families.
Coordinator Robert Harrison reported that a charity drive organized by women of the Bradford church helped raise funds for the Bridge of Christian Relief Charity dedicated to saving children in Thailand from prostitution.
Mr. Harrison said it was a "peaceful, happy site. People were there because they wanted to be there: to hear the messages and to fellowship with one another."
Accommodation, services and many of the social events took place at Beverley Holiday Park making it not only easy for the 620 Feastgoers to get to services but also to fellowship in each other's lodgings.
A major feature of the services every other day was the praise service, which included ceiling-busting hymn singing, readings, prayer and special music.
Another new feature were workshops: Giving Your Child a Heart for God, Identifying Your Spiritual Gifts, Praise and Worship and Women's Ministry.
Members enthusiastically attended the workshops, which provided a forum for member contribution. One member summed up the Feast program as "an inspiring and thought-provoking experience."
The Feast took place for the first time in Perth, gateway to the Scottish Highlands. On youth day, the church gave $1,500 to the area Scottish Charity Braveheart Children's Trust. This will enable five terminally ill children to fulfill their wish to see Lapland.
Coordinator Jack Brunet commented that "it was wonderful to see the 260 brethren here full of enthusiasm and excited to celebrate the plan of God's salvation through Christ. It was a real spiritual wake-up. Pastor General Joseph Tkach's video message about our identity in Christ was much appreciated and gave vision to people."
A Friday evening worship service included original songs, testimonies and prayers. Mr. Brunet noted that the Feast is a "time of commitment to grow and to work hard for the promotion of the gospel. God was present in Ste. Luce and we felt him strongly."
Two deacons were ordained in the Martinique church: Hubert Dintimille and Ildevert Hodebar.
The wooded countryside of central Portugal was the site for the Portuguese Festival.
Workshops addressed the topics of Passive-Passionate Relationships, Victory Over Hurt, and Women's Ministry as Part of the Body.
Social activities included entertainment by a Portuguese folk group and a Portuguese barbecue. Coordinator Carlos Tavares noted that "the most striking aspect of this Feast was the full expression of brotherly love and compassion in deeds, conversations and prayers. This was a truly Christ-centered Feast and inspired us to become more involved, joyously following our Savior!"
Ninety-six people gathered in Malta to celebrate their salvation in Christ. About a third were Maltese members, and the rest visitors from the United Kingdom and North America.
Activities included a family day, beach barbecue, boat trip and a Maltese evening with local food and dancing.
"Here in Spain," wrote coordinator Pedro Rufian, "we had an inspiring Festival of Salvation with the messages focused on Christ, what he has done for us and what he wants us to do through him."
Since the Portuguese members had their own Feast site this year, numbers were down somewhat but members were much encouraged by a visit by Kyriacos Stavrinides and his wife, Lambrine, at the beginning of the Feast.
An interactive worship service with hymns, prayers, scriptures and poem readings led members to celebrate in a joyous spirit the salvation we have in Christ.
Thirty-five people from France, Belgium, Switzerland, Cameroon, Reunion Island and Madagascar attended the Feast near Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Jean-Paul Njamta, a local church elder from Cameroon, gave most of sermons. Other members were involved too, which gave a variety of speakers for the small group.
Some who were unable to come kept the Feast in Mananjary, Diego Suarez and Fianarantsoa. Members enjoyed celebrating salvation through Christ in this poor country that gives meaning to the liberation of all kind of difficulties in Third World countries.
Festival services were conducted at the church's newly completed hall in the suburbs of Cotonou, the commercial capital of Benin. Next to the hall is a tall water tower, which reminded everyone of the living waters Jesus talked about at the Festival.
Sermons were given by the local lay leaders. Most members came from Cotonou and nearby Porto-Novo. Several people attended services for the first time during the Feast.
During the first half of the Feast, the sermons were given in Ewe, the local African language, by Alfred Ablordeppey, a guest speaker from neighboring Ghana, who does not speak French. Prayers throughout the Feast were also given in Ewe.
The rest of the sermons were given by the local lay leaders in French. A university professor of linguistics came on several occasions to help the local speakers hone their public speaking and translating skills in Ewe.
The Feast was kicked off by an African welcome dance, during which elder Jean-Jacques Ndoudoumou and fellow dancers greeted everyone and concluded by singing Hosanna.
National Cameroon Television filmed part of the opening night service. The church is known in Ebolowa for its social work and public service activities.
Many activities were organized for the young and not so young. Two workshops covered the topics of the edification of the body of Christ and the role of women in the church.
A panel meeting was set up during which members were invited to participate in formulating the Cameroon church's strategic plan for evangelization for the coming year.
An atmosphere of much rejoicing prevailed as everyone celebrated our salvation in Christ. Many of the church's Festival activities were covered daily on the local radio station.
Agnes Balinga became the first deaconess in French Africa. Jean Mvondo and Francois Omgba were ordained deacons.
A doubling of costs at the planned site three days before the Feast forced our members in Kinshasa to look for another location. With much prayer, a suitable alternative was found, giving our members much flexibility in organizing several activities at a much lower cost than originally planned.
In the backdrop of potential turmoil in Zaire, because of President Mobutu Sese Seku's ailing health, the Feast took place peacefully, much to the joy of all who attended. Each service started with 20 minutes of singing and dancing (African style), honoring Jesus Christ our identity.
Our members in Zaire are poor. Even though food was in short supply during the Feast, we provided everyone with a sandwich and a soft drink for lunch every day, except for two days when hot meals were served.
In spite of them being weak physically speaking, our members are strong in Christ. The Feast provided a much needed spiritual and physical boost to all who attended.
Arco, Italy 267
Bonndorf, Germany 309
Catania, Sicily 25
Eastbourne, England 520
Evian, France 486
Idre Fjall, Sweden 104
Llandudno, Wales 316
Kenmare, Ireland 207
Paignton, England 620
Perth, Scotland 244
Ste. Luce, Martinique 260
Sèo Pedro do Sul, Portugal 122
Sliema, Malta 96
Talavera de la Reina, Spain 65
French Africa
Cotonou, Benin 100
Kpalime, Togo 50
Ebolowa, Cameroon 125
Kinshasa, Zaire 203
Oct. 29, 1996 Worldwide News, pages seven and 12
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