Malta je mala otočna zemlja u Sredozemnom moru, južno od Italije. U Bibliji se spominje kao otok gdje je apostol Pavao potonuo u brodskom kaosu dok je bio prebačen kao zatvorenik u Rim. Malto ima dugu povijest kršćanstva. Tijekom godina, međutim, malteška crkva je postala dio lokalne kulture do te mjere da mnogi ljudi na otoku idu u crkvu samo u posebnim prilikama, a malo tko ima osobni odnos s Bogom.
Na ovaj je otok Cornel I njegova obitelj se preselila prije dvije godine. “Razlog što smo otišli na Maltu bio je da bismo došli do malteškog naroda”, objasnio je on jednostavno. Na otoku dolazi veliki broj ljudi iz drugih zemalja, uglavnom iz susjednih zemalja — oko 30 posto — ali njegova obitelj se osjetila privučena manjim gradovima gdje je broj iseljenika manji. “Potrudili smo se godinu dana biti tamo, slušati, susretati se s pastirima, vidjeti što oni trebaju, vidjeti što Bog već radi i onda misliti:, U redu, što Bog želi da mi učinimo?” “Nismo htjeli doći i reći ‘U redu, ovo je ono što radimo’, jer smatram da je to vrlo arogantan pristup. Za nas je bilo jako važno biti tamo i vidjeti što Bog radi, a zatim se pridružiti tome i mobilizirati ljude da pomognu onima koji su najpotrebniji.”
Jedna od stvari koja je odmah privukla obitelj je bila prilika da rade među tinejdžerima na Malti.
Starting back in 2010, Cornel attended three TeenStreet Europe events while serving with OM in Ireland. The experience left a distinct impression on him, and he dreamt of returning to the event with a group of Maltese teens. “We really wanted to mobilise teenagers to get a heart for seeing the least reached reached, and I think [TeenStreet] is a great place to develop that heart in the teenagers,” Cornel explained.
The youth groups on the island often partner and collaborate with each other, as there are so few youth, and Cornel began attending youth events and sharing the vision of TeenStreet and about the annual TeenStreet Europe event in Offenburg, Germany. Soon, 11 teens signed up to attend the event in August as the first-ever group sent from Malta to a TeenStreet Europe event.
The teens needed to raise funds to cover the cost of the week-long event, as well as the travel costs to get there. Eager not to let the money deter them, the group came up with creative ways to fundraise. One teen decided to write to local business owners in their small town, and although they weren’t Jesus followers themselves, some helped support the teen financially.
The teens from Malta enjoyed their time in Germany, meeting young people from 37 countries and experiencing a week full of activities such as Mainhall sessions, Shhh Time, small groups, outreach, seminars, workshops, Throne Room and much more. Teaching from the book of Proverbs, Mainhall speakers focused on the topic PATHS, Wisdom’s Call, looking at topics such as where wisdom comes from, the art of listening, the power of words, your heart as the source of life, how to live out wisdom in your life and why who you surround yourself with matters.
Regarding their favourite session of the week, Cornel shared that “A lot of the guys said that the prayer night was really impactful for them, just praying together and having different ways to pray.”
Each of the Maltese teens is already looking forward to next year’s event, while they keep connecting throughout the year.