August 1–10, 1997

Mogyorod, Hungary

This past year the “World Youth Congress” was held again in Mogyorod (near Budapest), Hungary, from August 1–10, 1997, under the theme, “Save Our Youth.”

On Friday, August 1, Bro. B. Jaksic (from Australia), the G.C. Young People’s Department Secretary, opened the Congress—and the Sabbath—with the study, “God’s Purpose for the Youth.” The divine service of Sabbath, August 2, was held by Bro. F. Devai (from U.S.A.). The subject of his sermon was “God’s Sons and Daughters.” In the afternoon, Bro. R. Ionita (from Romania) conducted the youth meeting.

During the Congress, many important lectures and studies were presented, such as “Conformity or Conversion?” (B. Jaksic), “Light and Darkness” (V. Lukic from Canada), “Christ, the Complete Saviour” (B. Jaksic), “Relationships, Courtship, and Marriage” (B. Jaksic), “Christ My Substitute” (E. Palamarchuk from Ukraine), “The Language of Music” (D. Bosanic from Yugoslavia), “The Mountains of the Bible” (R. Ludwig from Germany), “The Things of the World” (R. Denev, Bulgaria), “To Be in Christ” (D. Campodonico from Italy), “Health” (D. Laza from Romania), “Joy of Recreation” (G. Tinta from Italy), “Amusement or Recreational Exercise” (D. Campodonico), “Victory Over Self” (R. Araujo from South Africa).

On Wednesday, August 6, there was an outing in Budapest, on the Buda side. We went to Gellér Hill, 140 meters above the Danube River, from which there is a beautiful view of the city. There we spent a few hours in the Jubileumi Park. Afterwards we went to the castle district in Buda and visited the Matthias Church and Fisherman’s Bastion.

Brn. M. Zagoni and B. Toth (both from Hungary) baptized eleven souls on Friday, August 8, in a nearby lake encircled by woods. In the evening, the Sabbath was opened by Bro. F. Devai, with the study, “A Day for Sanctification.”

Before the divine service on Sabbath, August 9, was the fellowshipment of the new members. On that occasion, Bro. Jaksic spoke on “The Moment of Finality.” The afternoon passed with many songs, choir anthems, experiences, and items for meditation. In the evening after the sunset, the spiritual meetings for the Youth Congress closed.

On Sunday, August 10, there was a cruise along the Danube, from Budapest to Visegrád and back. In Visegrád we had a chance to visit an old fortress on top of a hill, from which the landscape on the Danube is stupendous.

The visitors at the Congress came from 20 countries: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, South Africa, Ukraine, U.S.A., and Yugoslavia. The largest attendance was on Sabbath, August 9, with more than 500 people. We thank God for this wonderful, soul-strengthening experience, and we really look forward to more of such gatherings in the future.