Maybe I should have said 1,000. When headed for Europe, I emailed that we hoped to present the Star to as many as 500 students. We didn't quite make that arbitrary number. But the Lord provided a total of 480 students and others from three universities. All of them known to Him from before time.
The Star pulls people who would not attend a religious meeting. So, seed was scattered among people who may not have been evangelized before. Jesus told us of both the tragedy and the victory that is already happening among these 480. Some will reject the message outright. Some students got up and *walked*out* on on the Star! That's a first, but I am told such happens in Slovakia. Most were fascinated, but Jesus says their initial response is not the real test.
Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear."
"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." Matthew 13, NIV.
If you have time, join in a prayer of protection for the seed:
"We hate to hear of the thief, Lord. But all of us have seen him work. We know the battle for souls is real and has casualties. Some people throw away your gift with both hands. Others are victims of the thief. We enter this war calling on you. Protect your message, Lord! Give it power to penetrate ideas raised up against you. Thank you for those with earnest questions! Help them hold on to the precious message even as the thief clutches and claws and yanks. Help them smell the banquet you offer. Use this improbable opportunity you created in Bratislava, Kosice and Presov. Give courage and wisdom to those following up. We pray for a crop, Lord! The hundred-fold kind! We ask it in the name of Jesus, amen."
Rick
Wednesday, October 17, 2001
Saturday, October 6, 2001
The Empty Dorms
When Slovakia was part of the Eastern Block, the Soviets decentralized the University of Bratislava. The various schools and dormitories are spread all over the city. The idea was to avoid a concentration of students which could encourage uprisings or dissent on the Western model (Vietnam era).
There is one student concentration of 10,000. This is a dangerously large number, so this group and its dorms were nestled into a valley with a single entrance/exit. A bottle easy to cork. In the post Soviet era, the Catholic church renovated a large facility in this valley, designing it as a general purpose student center for use by all without regard to religious belief. They deserve credit for this. Among other things, this center provides a large meeting hall.
The Slovak team hoped to book this hall for the Star, but every day of the week was taken. Only Friday night was available, as this is when students leave for the weekend. They took it, reasoning that the big dorms might have some stragglers. The team set up for about 100, preparing for the best. When people began arriving early, we knew things were going to work. Even added a few seats to accommodate about 125 people. The presentation went well, and judging from the timing of the laughter (pre-translation), some of the students could handle spoken English.
If you have time, please pray for the seeds that were sown:
"Father, we long for the Nations to know you as their Lord. Your seed is so scarce in some places. It is precious in Slovakia. We pray that many of the gospel seeds sown Friday night fell on fertile soil. Bless those who had the courage to mark a card asking to learn more. We ask that you protect them from the filthy, deceiving thief of seed. We pray that these seeds will be like sparks in a dry forest. We pray that they will jump quickly up, but not wither. We pray that the Slovak team will rush water and nutrients. Cause these seeds to multiply 30, 60, even 100 fold. We pray in the name of Messiah Jesus *knowing* that you can do this. We are asking, Lord! Amen."
Rick
There is one student concentration of 10,000. This is a dangerously large number, so this group and its dorms were nestled into a valley with a single entrance/exit. A bottle easy to cork. In the post Soviet era, the Catholic church renovated a large facility in this valley, designing it as a general purpose student center for use by all without regard to religious belief. They deserve credit for this. Among other things, this center provides a large meeting hall.
The Slovak team hoped to book this hall for the Star, but every day of the week was taken. Only Friday night was available, as this is when students leave for the weekend. They took it, reasoning that the big dorms might have some stragglers. The team set up for about 100, preparing for the best. When people began arriving early, we knew things were going to work. Even added a few seats to accommodate about 125 people. The presentation went well, and judging from the timing of the laughter (pre-translation), some of the students could handle spoken English.
If you have time, please pray for the seeds that were sown:
"Father, we long for the Nations to know you as their Lord. Your seed is so scarce in some places. It is precious in Slovakia. We pray that many of the gospel seeds sown Friday night fell on fertile soil. Bless those who had the courage to mark a card asking to learn more. We ask that you protect them from the filthy, deceiving thief of seed. We pray that these seeds will be like sparks in a dry forest. We pray that they will jump quickly up, but not wither. We pray that the Slovak team will rush water and nutrients. Cause these seeds to multiply 30, 60, even 100 fold. We pray in the name of Messiah Jesus *knowing* that you can do this. We are asking, Lord! Amen."
Rick
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