News > Europe

THE TRIUMPH OF THE CROSS 

Reporter: Paul HEO, Paris II UBF

We report that French-speaking brothers and sisters joined the glory of Jesus’ resurrection in Belgium.

1. Brief summary From 19th to 22nd of April, fifty-five people (48 adults and 7 underage children) in French-speaking countries joined the Easter conference in the Castel Notre-Dame in Voeren, Belgium. The main program was prepared by Brussels UBF (Belgium), Geneva UBF (Switzerland), Montreal UBF (Canada), Manosque, Nantes, Paris I, Paris II UBF (France), and some shepherds and missionnaries who deeply prayed for the conference joined (Walter Nett’s family, Brigitte Schauvienold, James and Cathy Kang). The program included Jesus’ entry in Jerusalem, washing the disciples’ feet, the cross, and the resurrection. Features of the conference are following, 1) The 2nd generation prepare the conference actively, 2) all 4 messengers are young shepherds, 3) the order or content were modified to address youngers taste as much as possible, 4) visuals (e.g. movies) were frequently used, 5) the attendees could visit Aachen in Germany which is very near from the conference place. I pray that our shout for the victory of the cross spreads over the world through this report.

2. The beginning (19th), Jesus enters Jerusalem (Luke 19:29-44) The conference was opened by Timothee LEE (Geneva UBF) who introduced Belgium, country of the beer, waffle, chocolate, and the Smurfs. Please pray for him to continuously grow into a close relationship to God and to become a blessing for Belgian students.

The beginning message was ‘Jesus enter to Jerusalem’ by Yann DANIEL (Geneva UBF). His message was prepared in the midst of his personal and professional hardship. But when he kept writing it by faith, it was proclaimed that only Jesus can complete the true victory and that he is the only way to get to God. Personally, Yann’s explanation about a donkey who was useless, but got a job and completed his mission after meeting Jesus, came to move my heart. Thank God who uses useless me for His purpose. A movie clip supported the message, and it was about a father who participated in a triathlon with carrying his physical disabled son on his back. How about us? We are spiritually nonfree and weak. But the reason for the racing in faith is that Jesus carries us with his mercy and grace. The conference was initiated by recognizing ourselves who stand upon the grace of Jesus. Please pray for Yann to overcome the hardships in faith and to be used previously in world mission.

At night, there was a cafe called ‘Cafe of Nicodemus’, and everyone shared their faith with each other.

3. Second day (20th), Jesus crucified on the cross (John 19:16-42) The first program was to watch a video-clip about atonement and Jesus’ redemption (Bible project). It was helpful for newcomers to understand the following message. The word was about ‘Jesus crucified on the cross’ by Eric SENGAI (Nantes UBF). He faced endless problems during the message preparation. He had a problem in marriage life. His car was broken and he had to find a baby sitter for his daughter, Lydie (2 years old). The job was getting busy and he had to take care of all his children. Finally, all the problems were accumulated and he did not have a spirit even to attend the conference. Nevertheless, he kept struggling with his message and he confessed, ‘I now know why Satan wanted to prevent me from attending the conference’. Several years ago, he came to France and lost his wife by rebels. But God came to him full of mercy and His word. His message was not showy but included his sincerity in Jesus. He proclaimed Jesus who is the complete atonement, the lamb of God, and repented himself about his human-based answers and complaining about the problems rather than asking God. Then his shout of faith, ‘confess your sins to Jesus and believe him who washes us’, was inscribed in our hearts. During the message preparation, he got a vision to be a missionary for the French-speaking African countries. I believe God blesses his faith. Please pray for him that God send him a woman who can co-work with him for the campus mission in France as well as in Africa.

Then we had a group bible study, more precisely a discussion group. Generally, it used to be before the message, but this time it was organized after the message which had the positive effect that we could meditate about the message and the cross twice.

In the afternoon, we had an ‘Easter-chocolate searching’ game. Thank God who gives an unlimited joy, similar to the joy when we found a chocolate in the trees, to the people seeking and studying the resurrection.

The last session of the afternoon was prepared by Josue LEE (Jr. Bruxelle UBF), and he introduced the love of Padre Damien who devoted himself to the leper on the Molokai island. Please pray for him to grow deeper in faith and as witness for the Belgian students.

All meals were Belgian and prepared by the chefs in the castle. The most fabulous food was similar to both bourguignon (French) and goulash (Germany), just like their several official languages. These meals increased more than 10 times the joy in the conference. A special thanks for all their support.

4. Second day (20th), Jesus washes the disciples’ feet (John 13:1-20) The evening message was about chapter 13 of the Gospel of John by Paul HEO (Paris II UBF). During the message preparation, he had two hurdles. One is to look for a common problem of French-speaking students (e.g. unlimited competition in studies or in getting a job in Korea). According to his French friends and Isaac, Marie Lee (Paris I UBF), many French try to hide their personal problem because the sharing of it to others is cultural rudeness. Another struggle was to address both impatient and free-spirited French students and typical UBF missionaries in a single message. And finally, he found a solution, he prepared the typical UBF message in 10 pages, reduced it to 4 pages, memorized everything, and put it into the presentation style. On the stage, the message was delivered communicating with the attendees without script. God blessed his struggles and used his message as a trigger for the Gospel. He has been enjoying 5-fingers-socks and said it is natural to be in difficulty when you try to confess your struggles and sins to Jesus who waits for your feet, just like it causes a discomfort when you have to show your feet to the people. And he witnessed that once you try believing Jesus who has no condemnation, then every sin is washed out, you will be filled with true freedom and joy, and the victory of Gospel spreads out through our washed footsteps. The message was delivered in English and Hanna Kang (Brussels & Bulgaria UBF) translated in French. She is full of spiritual wishes as much as requesting a rehearsal for 4 times. Please pray for her that God blesses her Ph.D. and to be used as a blessing for the students in Brussels and in Bulgaria.

Then Bruno AUSSANT (Nantes UBF) shared his life testimony, and God used it as evidence that He loves the weaker and changes them to the powerful servants for the History. Now he is serving French-speaking ministries, French ministries, and Nantes UBF. Please pray for Bruno that God gives him health and wisdom, and shows His direction.

The last program was the mission report of Canada by Philip WONG (Montreal UBF). Especially he supported this conference while Montreal UBF was having an Easter conference, too. It was very heart-moving. Please pray for Philip to give him a powerful message and to raise shepherds continuously in Montreal UBF.

5. Third day (21st), Jesus resurrected! (Luke 24:1-53) Finally, the victory of Jesus’ resurrection was proclaimed by Denise GUERRERO (Montreal UBF). She also came to Belgium from Canada to deliver the message. And she lost her grandmother a week before the conference. But she prepared the message in faith and accepted the victory of the resurrection. Just like a sway-less rock and a general who won the battle, she delivered the truth of Jesus’ resurrection powerfully. Her shout of the joy, ‘He has risen!’, filled the Castel Notre-Dame. She kept shouting ‘Amen’ and ‘Hallelujah’, and all of us were moved by her spirit. Thank God to use her powerful message to come to us. The worship service became a celebrating party for the resurrection of Jesus. ‘Praise Jesus who resurrected from death and gives us the victory’. Please pray for Denise to be a great shepherdess in Montreal and in Canada, and to become a witness for spreading out the Gospel.

The great joy of Jesus’ cross and the resurrection was doubled through the Holy Communion and group bible study.

In the afternoon, Misn Maria HEO (Paris II UBF) introduced the city Aachen, in Germany, and we all visited the city. The Aachen Cathedral is known as the oldest Catholic church in Europe. Thank God to give us an opportunity to visit such a historical place as a believer to communicate the past.

The night program was filled with a Chinese buffet and the campfire, ‘fire of joy’. Thank God that we could celebrate the victory of Jesus through all this program.

6. The last day (22nd), Go to the mission field The conference was closed with a prayer of blessing through Walter NETT. And we went back to the mission field with the news of the resurrection. Especially, I thank for the Nantes UBF shepherds who mainly prepared all the conference program. Also thanks for songs by the shepherds from Geneva UBF, Nantes UBF, Paris I UBF. Finally thanks for the shepherds who served the conference in quite.

7. An Epilogue Some newcomers brought their struggles to Jesus. Some shepherds were hindered at the cross, but they finally could get a hope beyond of it, the resurrection. This is the victory of the cross and the resurrection. This is the victory of the Gospel. Praise the Lord who gives us the true victory. We sincerely pray God may widen our spiritual territory and send missionaries in 29 French-speaking countries including to Africa.

The writer of this article, Paul HEO, pioneered Paris II UBF with his wife, Maria HEO, since 2016. They deliver the message in the worship service by turns. Please pray for them to finish their chronological bible study about the old testament in this year, and continue to start the new testament. He is in the post-doctoral course in Paris. Please pray for him to follow God who opens the way, and to get a professorship in France, as following God’s will.

One word: Jesus resurrected!