|TOP|Baptists from across Europe and beyond gathered in Prague earlier in the month to consider the challenge of how to bring the Gospel to young people who are far removed from the church.

This was the focus of a two week-long course held at Prague’s International Baptist Theological Seminary (IBTS) which drew youth pastors and theology students from across 11 countries.

The course was organised by the Youth Work Coordinator for the European Baptist Federation (EBF), Dr Jeff Carter, and the Atlantic Baptist Canada Director of Youth and Family Ministries, Dr Bruce Fawcett.

Course participants developed new strategies for their witness of Christ to young people through a series of lectures and discussions.

|AD|Youth pastor Michel Lechman of Timberlee, Nova Scotia, was impressed: “I often believed it was only me and other small churches in Nova Scotia that were struggling with youth culture. But to my surprise, the emerging youth culture can be seen throughout the world. I have come away from this conference with a new passion for my ministry and calling from God.”

The course follows the successful German Baptist Union’s National Youth Convention in Walsrode, Germany, last month, where the 1900 youth who attended the event reaffirmed their love for Christ by lighting a candle and placing it before the Cross.

The convention was held under the motto, “The Challenge – Saved, Enabled, Liberated, Called”.

The youth delegates called on pharmaceutical firms to provide easy access to AIDS medication, underscoring their demands by writing them on 1,500 medication boxes that were then placed together in the shape of a large AIDS bow.

The convention provided a successful forerunner to the 2008 Baptist World Youth Conference which expects to gather around 8000 youth.