Paris, considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world, had the opportunity to host the most beautiful hearts in Europe for one week of the European Campus Retreat. The beginning of August was filled with love, encouragement, deep relationships and zeal for God. The theme, “Jesus: Man of Zeal” pushed the 41 students from seven countries in Europe to “get out of their comfort zone,” as Zeke Mariscotti (Milano, Italy) described.
The schedule was organized to put the student’s hearts in synch with God and His purpose for our lives. By the third day of retreat, the students were connected as real brothers and sisters, searching to serve and to help each other. During the mornings, breakfast was prepared by disciplines in the Paris church and served to the students so they could eat together and get ready to worship, followed by a devotional.
Furthermore, the mornings were dedicated to the Campus Training Program, where the students were taught to evangelize and “get past their insecurities and not to give way to fear,” said Erica Fortina (Milano, Italy). The students had the opportunity to learn from Joseph & Annie Silipo, John & Carol McGuirk, Christoph Müller and Wolfgang & Emilie Tatschl by hearing their experiences in campus ministry. As Qudus Lawal (San Francisco, California) shared, “seeing their zeal and passion for God after so many years being in the ministry, calls us higher to a deeper relationship with God.” Qudus was baptized one week before the European Campus Retreat!
In the afternoons the group had the chance to put into practice what they had learned and also visit the city of Paris. One of the biggest highlights of the week was an instant Bible talk held at the Luxembourg Garden. The group was divided into two and one of the Bible talks had ten visitors and the other one two. Alisa Krater (Munich, Germany) said, “I never thought that God would put so many people in our paths that were actually open to hearing something about Him.” Simone Hunziker (Zurich, Switzerland) added, “It was really awesome to talk to so many different people from different countries. Seeing several Bible studies going on during the week with open people we met on the streets was just so inspiring.” The afternoons were also devoted to “d-groups” encouraging the students to grow in deep and spiritual relationships, learning to be “vulnerable and real with each other,” said Christian Kirifidis (Berlin, Germany).
During the evenings, the group spent free time together in the city, experiencing activities like a boat trip on the Seine River and a typical French cuisine of crêpes prepared by Yannick and Emma Le Noan, a couple from the Paris church.
By the end of the week, all the students were really encouraged and amazed by the serving heart of the Paris church and by what God can do when we rely on Him. As Patrick Anderson (Clemson, South Carolina) said, the students had an “entire week with every waking moment devoted to Christianity.”
