Our conference motto was "Dare to Be Different!" [See a related article titled "Dare to Be Different," by Brother Gustavo Castellanos, in the September-October 1998 issue of World News.]
Youth in the Austrian Alps.
After Brother Kurt Barath opened the conference, Brother Rudolf Tipolt demonstrated the transforming power of the Holy Spirit through the example of King Saul. Saul became another person when the Holy Spirit took possession of him. As long as he remained under His influence, he could carry out his office as king.
Brother Larry Watts showed how young people strive through outward things (clothing, hairstyles, and music) to differentiate themselves from adults. Does it make sense to be different only for the sake of being different? Our being different is shown in the formation of the character according to Christ's example. How this work of sanctification should happen in us was explained by Brother Adolfo Gessner. Through constant connection with God, which includes surrender of the will, we can meet this challenge.
In the Sabbath school, the wonderful example of Samuel was described. In the middle of a people who had turned away from God, he remained faithful to the divine principles which his parents had impressed upon him.
For the service, Brother Watts spoke about the verse in 1 John 5:4: "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." A prerequisite for success is the effective, living Christ. Faith works by love. Happiness is having the certainty every moment that we are one with Jesus.
Brother Erhard Krause made it clear that being like Jesus should be something for the present, not the distant future.
For the youth program, we enjoyed the musical presentations of the children and youth, along with short talks on the theme of being different in speech, music, and association with our fellow men.
Dr. Evelyn Kramer spoke about the healing power of joy. She presented examples from her medical practice of how joy and peace, which follow forgiveness, effect healing of body and soul.
On Sunday, we also had some blessed meetings. Brother Watts explained that every sin begins with doubting God's love. "We love Him, because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19. If we begin to grasp this love of God, we will hate sin, because it separates us from God and robs us of strength. The world needs a revelation of Christ through the church, the family, and the individual. Let Jesus in by faith, for in Him is life. "In Him was life; and the life was the light of men." John 1:4. The three most important things to keep the divine life in us are prayer, study of God's word, and witnessing of Him.
There were many opportunities for exchanging thoughts and experiences with one another. We rejoiced that interested souls attended this conference and that a good number of visitors were present from Austria as well as from outside the country.
--Eva Dormann, Austria
