From Sin to Grace: The “Wow” Factor of the Gospel
To open the day, Pastor Laurent Gerber told the story of a driver whose traffic ticket was canceled before he received an unexpected gift. This parable illustrates the transition from guilt to wonder. Forgiveness is already a precious gift, but grace goes further. God offers his love freely and abundantly. According to him, Christian witness springs from this personal experience of grace. Those who have encountered Christ naturally desire to share what they have experienced and to recognize God’s work in the lives of others.
A Journey Shaped by Christian Diversity
Raphaël Anzenberger, General Secretary of the Baptist Union and director of the Quebec Evangelical Network, shared a journey marked by the diversity of Christian traditions present in his family. After a life-changing encounter with Christ at the age of twenty-two, he gained a clearer understanding of his missionary calling. Together with a Lutheran friend, he spent two years visiting different churches in Strasbourg, discovering the richness of Christian diversity. This experience gave rise to a movement bringing together many young people from various denominations. He also emphasized the importance of evangelism and the Lausanne Movement, which encourages the joint proclamation of the Gospel.
“Have faith; get up—he is calling you”
In a video message, Bishop Jean Tailleur presented the motto that guides his ministry: “Have faith; get up—he is calling you.” Inspired by the story of Bartimaeus, it sums up, in his view, the mission of the Church. The Church is called to lead people to Christ rather than to impose answers on them. Like the disciples who became mediators of Jesus’ call to the blind man, believers are invited to welcome, encourage, and accompany those who seek God. Christian witness thus consists in helping each person discover that they are loved and called to hope.
A Journey Marked by Three Encounters with God
Evangelist Benoît Marcoux recounted his spiritual journey, which began in his teenage years when the Gospel transformed his family. His journey revolved around three decisive encounters: the discovery of Jesus Christ and his salvation, the experience of the Holy Spirit in a charismatic context, and finally, the revelation of God as Father. This last experience freed him from the pressure to perform and allowed him to discover his identity as a beloved son. In his ministry of accompaniment, he observed how essential this revelation remains in helping believers rediscover hope and trust.
Christian Unity: A Credible Witness to the World
David Drum, a theologian and author from the United States, affirmed that the unity of Christ’s disciples is today one of the most compelling testimonies to the world. Each Christian tradition reflects a particular dimension of Christ, but none can on its own manifest the full richness of who he is. When believers live in authentic fellowship, they make Christ more visible. He illustrated this conviction with the experience in Tucson, where churches supported public schools and then collaborated with social services through the Care Portal program. Unity thus becomes a concrete service rendered to society.
The workshops offered provided an opportunity to explore different ways of bearing witness to Christ in daily life.
Éric Lanthier’s workshop highlighted the importance of listening as a path to healing and reconciliation. Just as Christ reaches out to each person in their own reality, attentive listening helps restore relationships and bring people closer together.
James Langlois presented on the role of the media in evangelization. Drawing on the experience of the Quebec media outlet Le Verbe, he demonstrated how contemporary communication tools can become spaces for dialogue and for proclaiming the Gospel.
Marc Pilon reflected on the vocation of Christians in the workplace. Every believer is called to bear witness to Christ in their professional environment and to contribute to the common good of society.
Sylvia Abretti invited participants to join in daily prayer at 3:00 p.m., the Hour of the Cross. This practice, centered on Christ’s love and mercy, also fosters Christian unity.
Martin Hoegger
