Youth Power Drenched in the Spirit
 
(Report: Power Evangelism)
 

The winds of change are blowing strongly among the youth immersed in a culture of luxury, good living and worldly pursuits. The Divine Retreat Centre was a sea of enthusiasm from May 30th to June 5th for the youth who, imbued with the Spirit, longed to step into a new life. Nearly two thousand energetic young people from different parts of India congregated in Divine Retreat Centre as pilgrims of the thirst for the word of God, to take part in the 9th National Youth Convention - Power Evangelisation Training Programme. While the waves of God’s praises rose high, the sand dunes of memories of grief and pain, that were the residue of pursuing worldly ambitions, were totally destroyed. The blessed days of a journey towards a new and vital spiritual life, were filled with joy. For those young, tired minds yearning for atleast an iota of love, the experience of God’s boundless love, became a heavenly experience and a new-found treasure.

For three days they listened to the interpretations of the word of God and prepared their hearts for fresh mandates. On the last two days stress was laid on the training for evangelisation. Days of fiery zeal are fast approaching in urban centres-Delhi, Mumbai, Nagpur, Chennai, Chandigarh, Calcutta, Goa and Bangalore. The warmth of the good news will be spread by these youth to North Indian cities.

The long line of young people who had attained the salvific experience of Jesus Christ, the only Saviour, testified to this fact. Saravan from Chennai, M B A student Priyanka from Mumbai, Goan Amit Augustine-all shared this "power" experience. About 400 non-Christian youth took part in this power evangelisation programme. Some cine stars from ‘Bollywood’ and fashion models who had captured the advertisement world of Mumbai, were among those who kept gazing at the everlasting beauty of the Lord. Renowned preachers like Rev Dr Augustine Vallooran, Fritz Mascarenhas, Vinay Kamath and Adv AM Mathew directed the services. The Archbishop of Trichur, Most Rev Dr Jacob Thoomkuzhy, visited the youth to give his message.

The enthusiasm, dynamism and leadership of nearly 75 young men and women, who had taken part in the earlier youth conventions, and through that experience brought several to this youth programme, are unforgettable. Their tireless labour was responsible to a great extent for the success of this retreat.