Stanley from Nigeria
Urbana was really a life transforming experience for me. I used to hear about Urbana and how awesome it was, but all the hearsay pales into insignificance when compared with the experience of being part of this largest gathering of Christian students in North America. This realization slowly dawned on me, and by the third day when I attended a seminar in the International Students Track, my struggles with surrendering totally to God with a grateful heart were totally addressed; I knew God knew I was there. This was one of the expectations I had of God. He answered.
The worship services were out of this world—the deafening choruses, the uninhibited expressions of joy, the brotherliness— words fail me! There can be no way to capture this whole experience in an email. But I would say one thing: God met me at Urbana and now I have my calling! Praise the Lord!
Minoli from Sri Lanka
I enjoyed the family prayer group meetings that I had with other Sri Lankan students living in different parts in USA. This was the first time that I got a chance to praise God and pray for our country with other Christians from home since I came to USA. It was a wonderful feeling. Urbana 06 was a milestone in my life experience. It gave me the message that God has a special plan for each of us to do while we are here on earth. As I came out of the convention I realized that it was not my dream I had to live but God’s dream.
Sri Lanka is toned by war and poverty. Each day so many people die due to these two main factors. I came to the USA to get out of all that suffering and painful surroundings. But as I spent each day in Urbana, I looked for ways to combine my education, experience and knowledge to serve God in some way. Urbana made me realize that the best way to do that was to go back home where I was needed most. I do not have a clue of how I am going to do this, but I believe that if God wants me back home he will have a plan and a way for me.
