Thanks for this wonderful event must go to Aniko, our competent EBWU secretary, for all her hard work in organizing the conference, making sure that all details were arranged and that everyone who needed transport and/or directions had them.

We were looked after very well with good food and clean comfortable beds to sleep in.  Well done, Aniko!

This is a short report of our latest conference, possible a fuller one will appear in the next edition of News & Views.
From the 18-21st.November 2010 53 women and 2 men, from 28 countries gathered for the above mentioned Conference which was held in Hotel Hunor in Budapest, Hungary.  We shared in fellowship, food and fun.  What a wonderful time of blessing and encouragement we all had as we sought to be ‘In Step with the Spirit’.

The main speakers were
Karen Smith, UK,
Didi Oprenova, Bulgaria,
Jaap Dijkstra, Netherlands, and
Anna Nemeshegyi-Horvath, Hungary.

Each brought their own personalities into the various topics they brought, yet all worked together and blended into the theme.  Our praise in music was led by Amy Oprenova and Steffi Georgieva, both of Bulgaria.

Anna spoke about the Holy Spirit, the various words and symbols used to describe Him, His role in the old and New Testaments, and His role to-day in the Church, His gifts and fruit. 

Didi firstly encouraged us to think about ‘Identity’.  Who am I?  Created by a loving, mighty God in His image, redeemed by a merciful, able God, gifted with the presence of a faithful, caring God.  Why am I?  Contentment is the result of us finding our identity – the virtue and value of contentment, the key to contentment is God, Himself, the daring of contentment in trusting God’s providential care.  Secondly Didi spoke on Servanthood-Leadership from the life of Mary, the mother of the Lord Jesus – God’s calling; Mary’s response; God gives guidance in His Word, the Holy Spirit and circumstances; Mary follows in sacrifice, obedience and confidence.

Karen shared about Fellowship & Worship – we are called into a relationship with God, to worship and fellowship, we respond.  As the Church, we share life together with Christ.  We have communion with God and with one another – all different with many gifts, but one in the Spirit, abiding in the Vine, the Lord Jesus.  Worship is the whole of life with Christ at the centre of our worship, the Spirit calling us, drawing us, called to give and receive, called not as consumers but as a whole life offering, single-minded, companions on the way, willing only one thing – God in everything.  Karen also led us in our moving and meaningful Communion Service on Sunday morning.

Jaap reminded us that we are called to Mission which involves our mind and our heart – basis strategies for Christian Mission, love being the factor which drives us forward.  He covered four topics in our lives which relate to us being involved in mission:

• science, God has the whole world in His hands so we do not need to fear;
• social life, in a busy world where people are often only looking out for themselves it can be difficult to interact with and give time to others;
• religion, where many believe that all roads lead to heaven – not so, only in Christ can people have redemption from death, from judgement, from sin, from slavery;
• the future, many are afraid without hope.  Christians have a message of hope!  Love is the over-riding force which drives us forward.

We were delighted to hear reports from most of the countries of how the women are motivated in encouraging and training the younger women, and of reaching out to children and teenagers, trafficked people, Roma communities and those in need seeking to share the love of Jesus and the good news of the gospel in the hope that many will come to know Him as Lord and Saviour.  The Committee also shared memories of the Leadership Conference held in Hawaii earlier in the year.

We had a wonderful Hungarian evening of fashion, song, music and dancing, very colourful and entertaining, and enjoyable.  We were also taken into the town centre to visit two markets and see some of the sights of Budapest.  Even though the time was short we were given a flavour of this beautiful old city with its rich culture and history.
Following the Communion Service, the women stood under a large open umbrella.  Blessings from God’s Word were read out and each woman was invited to take a drop of blessing which hung on ribbons from the spokes of the open umbrella.

Over the four days of the Conference we renewed friendships and made new ones in the loving atmosphere of being in God’s presence, sitting at the Lord’s feet, learning from Him.  None of us went home the same as we had come, all, I’m sure were changed in some way having met with the Lord.  Praise His wonderful name!.

Margaret Brown

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