Incredible Reports

European Youth Congress - Tägerwilen, Switzerland
1st - 7th August 2011

Approximately 200 youths, youth-leaders and pastors from the 16 nations of Malaysia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Estonia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Austria, Germany, France, Norway, Zambia and South Africa travelled to the town of Tägerwilen, in the North Eastern part of Switzerland, 10 minutes from the border with Germany and the Lake of Constance.

The EYC 2011 was hosted and organized by the FCT (For Christ Totally) Churches led by Ps. Heiner & Chris Merk and their team of mostly young adults. The local civil defence facilities and the basement and stage of the local town hall were used as dormitories and the ground floor of the town hall as a dining room. The meetings took place on a farmer's land (20min walk up the hill) in a 15 x 25 square meter sized tent.

Walking up and down the hill twice a day, all sleeping together in the same rooms (girls in the civil defence facilities, boys in the town hall basement & on the stage), using the communal showers and doing duties was all part of the training programme for the European youth to become "the next generation of competent leaders" as the theme of this congress was named.

Dr. Jonathan & Mum Helen David came together with their daughter and son-in-law Joanne & Stephanus Kok from Malaysia, as well as Susanne & Jaya Sabaratnam. Their presence alone was a source of strength and encouragement for everyone as they added very high value and importance to this first European youth congress by travelling to Switzerland.

Also the participation of Ps. Thomas & Minda Marshall along with their children from SA who specifically came earlier to help build up the infrastructure. The attendance of Ps. Andreas Kratzmeier, Ps. Philipp & Else Dupont and Ps. Kwame & Heike Mensah was also very precious and valuable.

A Significant Start

The Congress started with the 1st August celebration - which is the official Swiss national holiday. The mayor of the local town council, mayor Markus Thalmann, was invited to deliver a speech and he officially and warmly welcomed the youth to the town of Tägerwilen. "You will fill your 'life's-rucksack' with many important goods this week and you will learn precious things" he said in one of the key sentences. The following week the local and regional newspapers printed different articles with a very positive summary of the national holiday speeches and the congress with a photo of mayor Markus Thalmann together with Dr. Jonathan David surrounded by the youths.

One of the articles was even written by the mayor himself, honouring the participants and organizers of the EYC, saying that this congress would build the character of the youths and form a healthy philosophy of life based on a biblical foundation to be equipped for a successful and peaceful life. God gave us favour in the whole region through these clear statements of this local politician who is nominated to be elected into the national government.

Newspaper-Link

Lifechanging from A to Z

From the first night on, Dr. Jonathan was at his best, challenging, inspiring and motivating the young people to focus on God and His sovereign plan for their lives, to find their identity and value in Christ alone, to stand true to their local Pastor and church and to walk radically on the path of their destiny. Coming from different environments, backgrounds, cultures and nations, the youths realized through the life-changing sessions what really matters most in life and what kingdom culture and kingdom lifestyle is all about in contrast with the culture of this world and the limitations of a young generation raised by television. Dr. Jonathan spoke about the renewing of our minds and thinking-patterns and was dealing especially with the European mind-set, which is based and focused very much on reasoning, arguing and the development of a personal individualistic opinion.

God did a marvellous work during this week and you could see it in the eyes and faces of the youths how He started to work, transform and change them day by day. Portions of hope, confidence and freedom were released and imparted session after session into everyone listening and responding to the word of God. Even complex topics like "God in Foreknowledge" were taught by Dr. Jonathan in a very comprehensible and adaptable way and in the afternoon-sessions he taught the youths on financial planning and patterns to build fast, strong and well. "The Purpose of Marriage" and "Levels of Relationship" were also covered efficiently and clearly on Saturday.

Mum Helen did one night session from Daniel 11:32 as a key to face the spiritual conditions in Europe. She then dealt with the term ‘iniquity', the opposite of doing the will of God, and opened this dimension so that everyone was clear and sure about how cheap and worthless the offers of the devil are.

Ps. Heiner did one morning session about leaving the past behind and stepping into the future that God has for our lives. He specifically said, that we have to step out of our comfort-zones because God's way of setting us free might be totally different to our expectation, as in the story of Naaman when he came to Elisha.

God had His way in the heart of everyone attending this week. The crowd became more and more a united company of warriors that realized who they really are and what a life with God in His Kingdom is all about. In the last meeting on Sunday morning there was no division in any aspect but an atmosphere of unity and determination to leave this place and make a difference in every nation and city represented.

Prophetic Sunday Morning Message

As often, the best was saved for last! Dr. Jonathan preached and prophesied from Genesis 26 about the next ten years; what will be available for the ISAAC-Churches of Europe and especially the portion for Ps. Heiner & Chris along with FCT in Switzerland.

He preached about correcting the failures of our past by becoming a portal of obedience now and in the future. The power of covenant relationship will be our protection in this decade and stop the attacks and pressure from the outside as the ‘power of ONE' will become visible. The spirit of poverty will be removed by the spirit of abundance as many will be blessed financially and become suppliers of the kingdom of God. The ISAAC Churches will become more powerful than the environment and start to influence the community with the grace to govern and the power to prevail.

It will be our portion if we keep drinking the clean and clear water of our father's well as Isaac did. We will have the father's inheritance, anointing, blessing and property, and nothing and no one can take it away. God will establish our churches in the land and make room for us. A decade of fruitfulness is ahead of us where we will be established. We will have national influence and maximum impact and God will give us the power to multiply - what He will do here, He will do everywhere. What He starts He will accelerate and finish. We have to find the pattern and multiply it.

EYC Reloaded

After the Saturday Night Session, Dr. Jonathan asked the EYC Participants if they wanted to come back for the next year... A Roar of "Yes" was shouted! Then he asked Ps Heiner and he said "Yes" as well. The only condition is to push the number of people up to 500. So everyone left the place changed, transformed, refreshed and brimming with God's clear and sharp word, touched by the Spirit and with the intention to come back next year and mobilize more of the young generation to come along.

EYC 2012 will be in Switzerland again and we are looking forward to this next cornerstone of transformation for Europe. Until then, everyone will be working in their own locality with the messages of EYC 2011. The comments on Facebook and in the emails sent testifies of the deep work God has started in this young generation, which is the hope for Europe in a time of history when everything is shaking and changing. God who is Lord over all nations has a plan and destiny for Europe and He is looking for this new breed without greed, a radical opposition to corruption and iniquity to rise.

Emanuel Hunziker

FCT - Tägerwilen - Switzerland