Sixty-nine young adults from across the Middle East and North Africa Union (MENAU) gathered for a week of training and spiritual renewal under the theme "Bridge builders."
The gathering was designed to empower young adults to serve as bridges where they study, work, and build relationships. Participants were encouraged to show their faith as they manage daily stressors, navigate difficult conversations, and care for those around them.
The training centered on understanding how to live out faith authentically across multiple cultural settings by learning to relate and communicate with others without compromising their values. The training also focused on recognizing and working through personal emotions and learning to notice what a friend may be feeling.
Several participants shared how they explained their faith to skeptical professors to negotiate exam schedules around the Sabbath. One participant shared how a curious roommate became a close friend through spending time with them.
The training explained how friendships can become bridges to bigger conversations about God, connections to church communities, and baptisms.
The original article was published on the Middle East and North Africa Mission news site.