A few people have come to all 4 seminars. In addition to several new participants, we also had some new contacts return from last year. One woman came for the first time because a friend had offered her the seminar as a birthday present. Since it was being sponsored by a church, she was rather hesitant the first day, wondering what she was getting into! By the end she was enthusing about how great it was and thanking her friend, who came to the concert, for such a special treat.

Around two-thirds of the seminar participants came to the Sunday morning service. When Bill asked how many people were in a Protestant worship service for the first time, at least 8 people raised their hands. Most of these are people who would probably never otherwise attend a Christian service.

Since we had fewer Christians as seminar participants this year, our conversations around the table were especially important. Bill offered each participant a copy of the “Jesus” film, along with a New Testament. That set off a particularly animated discussion about whether there really is a God, whether or not it really matters, or if the Bible is just a bunch of myths – all ideas that are readily accepted by the secular society in which we live. It was a challenge to use such openings to testify to the God Who is there and Who is reaching out to each one. Thank you for praying. Such discussions and on-going contacts are what this seminar is all about.

One neighbourhood family came to the concert partly to meet us because their daughter just did a semester at an American university. They indicated interest in a personal visit to continue the inter-cultural contact. Pray that they will be open to the message of Christ as well.

We also thank Beth Kayros who has taken some of her vacation time each of the last four years to come and help us with logistics during the Seminar: making coffee, sweeping floors, doing accounting, etc. Thank you, Beth!

Diane and Bill Jerdan