Celebration at the shore of the Danube.

The first time I saw the Danube was 1989 as I came to Bratislava to preach in an underground emerging church. The Iron curtain was still in place, but freedom was around the corner.

The Danube is Europe’s greatest river passing through 5 countries on the way to the Black sea. It has been part of and has shaped many years of European history. Together with the Rhine it formed a northern border of the Roman Empire. Out of the deep forest at its north, starving Germanic hordes strived southward and put pressure on and finally succeeded to cross it to invade the at that time Christian Empire. Christian missionaries had also crossed it as they headed northward to evangelise these barbaric Germans.

The Danube was later an important artery passing right through the mighty Austrian-Hungarian empire that was broken up by WWI. During WWII  Jews from the Budapest ghettoes were thrown in tied two by two, while Nazi Allied Pilkorsary played games trying to hit their heads in shooting contests.

On this blood soaked river, Word of Life organised a historic gospel boat tour. 1993 in the Slovak capital Bratislava, 150 church members from Uppsala and newly formed WOL churches in Eastern Europe, embarked on the Soviet era cruiser Druzba – Friendship, for a three week tour . These were tense times. The civil war raged in Yugoslavia through which the boat would go. Serbian snipers were known for trying to shoot boat captains on board the passing ships. Swedish authorities, including the Minister of defence, were quite worried about having 150 swedes coming in the line of fire. At some points the engines were turned off for the boat to quietly glide pass the most dangerous spots.

This last weekend we had a great celebration in Bratislava. 1500-2000 people from different denominations and countries joined in at Word of Life Bratislava’s 20 year jubilee. Such a contrast from my experience 1989 when we secretly met to worship the Lord! Now a large crowd praised the Lord, led by excellent worship groups. John Bevere, beside myself, Joakim Lundqvist and local pastor Peter Curic, ministered to a hungry and very responsive crowd. The conference was not marked by nostalgia. Rather thankfulness for what has been and a hunger and a resolve to press on into the future. A very good sign is the strong unity of among the churches. They do more than tolerating one another. They actually like each other and have fond a good way to relate to one another.

There are of course also strong bonds of friendship between Uppsala and Bratislava and we look forward to serve together in the future, both in central Europe as well as in distant missions fields.