It was for the 5th year this year that we descended on Montreux for our Regeneration outreach during the Jazz Festival. As often during this time in Switzerland the days were swelteringly hot and thousands of people descended on the Montreux “Riviera” as the lakeside is locally known. They were there to spend the evening going to concerts, tasting the food or just generally enjoying the atmosphere.
Our stage is right at the lakeside and it is a great place to perform as many people pass by there to or from the concerts. This year we had the privilege to receive a team from the South Pacific that ministered with us. Many people watched as this team testified of God through traditional dances, songs and games. The colorful costumes of the Tahiti dance and the warrior cries of the Maori Haka dance were surefire crowd pullers.
There was also much interaction with the crowd. Games for kids and dance lessons as people were invited to learn the Hula dance. And because there was an international gymnastic event in the region there were many delegations of many countries that paid us a visit. The Portuguese delegation especially enjoyed our rendering of Portuguese songs and even volunteered to sing along.
The event every evening was the Samoan Fire dance. A traditional dance from the Island of Samoa that involves juggling with burning sticks. After this fire dance a testimony was given and an Altar Call went out. Through this every day several people gave their life to the Lord. One of our participants tells this story: “Each night people would come forward to commit their lives to Jesus and then we would pray with them. One night I noticed a guy come forward and I later asked him why. He then proceeded to share his story of pain, family rejection, and how he was searching for someone or something bigger than him that he could trust in, that could motivate him and give his life meaning. He said that night he knew it was Jesus and that tonight was the night to make a choice to trust in God.”
There were several similar stories as 50 people made a choice to follow Jesus and beyond that many more seeds were planted as 1000 people heard the gospel, either for the first time or as a reminder that God is still looking for a relationship with them. Overall we are thankful that we could have this opportunity to minister in Montreux during the Jazz Festival. We believe it will have a lasting on impact on Switzerland and much beyond as people return to their home country.
