Wednesday: Europe Night

Austria: 385 members in 8 congregations
Germany: 1397 members in 15 congregations in Bavaria
225 members in 7 congregations in central Germany
Lithuania: 149 members in 4 congregations
Portugal: 35 members in 2 congregations
Spain: 10 members in 1 congregation

Austrians greet one another by saying "gruess Gott" ("praise God"). Unfortunately, few Austrians truly mean what they say, said Horst Kefer, host for Wednesday's Europe Night.

But testimonies from various European national conferences made it clear that Mennonite Brethren in this region have much for which to praiseGod both personally and corporately.

"For 30 years I tried to cleanse myself," said Katharina Neufeld of Germany. "It was somewhat unconscious, but I tried to get into heaven by myself. Four years ago, I understood with my heart that only Jesus can do this. When that peace and joy entered my life, I was on cloud nine." Because Neufeld wants to share this truth with others, she works with boys ages 9-12; her congregation of 230 has 70 children in this age group.

"Who of you have experienced sins that are so burdensome?" asked Monika Wimmer of Austria. "That's how I felt eight years ago." It was the witness of MB missionaries that prompted Wimmer to give her life to Christ one day in her kitchen. "The Lord has not changed my situation. He has changed me."

Evening speaker Alexander Neufeld of Germany also spoke of the hope found in Christ. "To become a Christian is to attain hope," said Neufeld. Hope in Christ also brings responsibility. "This hope drives us to witness of Jesus Christ," said Neufeld. "Not one of us looks into the eyes of another person who is not a candidate to become a child of God. This

is the most important part of this conference. God has hope for people, and so can we."

Neufeld's message was peppered with stories illustrating his various points. Neufeld closed with a story of two children who usually looked forward to their mother's return—until the day they disobeyed her. "We are to not only know about the appearance of Jesus but to love the appearance of the Lord," said Neufeld. "That is the challenge."

Europe Night also included reports by Artur Baerg of the Bavarian conference, and Andrej Rempel, a representative of the Russian immigrant Anabaptist congregations. A time of praise and worship led by Markus Deutsch of Bavaria reinforced the evening's theme. CF

Return to the M.B.Herald Vol. 38, No. 15 Home Page