{"id":26948,"date":"2023-05-30T06:26:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-30T05:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/?post_type=prayerline&p=26948"},"modified":"2023-05-28T20:28:46","modified_gmt":"2023-05-28T19:28:46","slug":"a-mission-week-surprise","status":"publish","type":"prayerline","link":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/prayerline\/a-mission-week-surprise\/","title":{"rendered":"A mission week surprise"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Students in Aarhus, Denmark\u2019s second-largest city, were surprised by the turnout at their mission week events in April. \u201cOn several occasions we had to get more chairs for both the evening and lunchtime meetings,\u201d explains Anders Kildahl Keseler, a staff member with KFS<\/a>, the IFES national movement in Denmark.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Reflecting on the response to this special week of evangelistic events, Anders was reminded of philosopher Charles Taylor\u2019s observation, in the book A Secular Age<\/em>: \u201c<\/em>People today seem to be at a safe distance from religion, but they are deeply moved to know that there are dedicated believers.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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But the non-Christian students who engaged with the mission week were more than just moved \u2013 they were genuinely open and curious about the good news of Jesus.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cThey were interested in hearing about the relevance of faith for Christian students, how faith adds  
something special to our lives, and how one can reconcile science and faith,\u201d shares Anders. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Following the theme of Imagine<\/em>, the week\u2019s talks explored such topics as \u201cImagine if I could live without shame\u201d and \u201cImagine if I were more than my job.\u201d  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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One member of the Christian Union (student group) had several classmates who asked if they could attend a lunchtime lecture. Afterwards, they asked if they could join a group to read the Bible together. Following the mission week, new Bible study groups were launched for students who want to explore the Christian faith.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Anders and his team are thankful for the Holy Spirit\u2019s work in drawing students towards Jesus during the Imagine <\/em>mission. But what human factors contributed to the week\u2019s success? <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cIn the past, we invited foreign speakers to give lunchtime talks, but this year they were all delivered by Danish students,\u201d Anders explains. \u201cIt makes a lot of sense. We could clearly see how the audience related much more easily to them. Because the speakers were students, their talks got personal very easily: they talked about their own lives, doubts, and faith. This created strong and compelling testimonies.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Three of the four student speakers received training last September at a Nordic FEUER conference where they were able to deliver \u201cpractice\u201d evangelistic talks for the first time. FEUER<\/a>, the Fellowship of Evangelists in the Universities of Europe, is a region-wide network of evangelists that works with national movements across Europe, and from which networks like Nordic FEUER have developed.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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In addition to the novelty of student speakers, Anders notes the impact of a strong social media campaign. Several students attended talks after seeing events advertised on Facebook and Instagram, rather than needing to be invited by friends.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cThe talks opened up many good conversations that I think will continue in the Bible study groups,\u201d Anders says. \u201cWe are excited to follow the aftermath of these events.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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 Please pray for students in Denmark: <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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