With the EU’s Annual Conference (AnCon) conducted online in 2020, there was great excitement among the EU to meet in-person for AnCon21. The theme for AnCon this year was planned to be In The Flesh (how ironic!), with teaching on Christology and its implications for relationships.

Sadly, AnCon must now run online for a second year in a row. This is disappointing, especially for the AnCon team who have been planning for a residential conference for many months. It is also disappointing for EU students who have been locked down for the entirety of their winter’s break.

It is easy to see lockdown as wasted time, but despite the circumstances, God can use this season and an online AnCon to bring renewal.

It is easy to see lockdown as wasted time, but despite the circumstances, God can use this season and an online AnCon to bring renewal.

In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul describes how he and his companions were hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down (vv. 8-9), but despite these outward challenges he does not lose heart for ‘inwardly we are being renewed day by day’ (v. 16).

Despite the outward challenges of lockdown, this season is in fact an opportunity for spiritual growth. Considering this, the topic for AnCon21 has been changed to Refresh: Growing spiritually in lockdown and beyond.

Over a four-day program, 2-5 August, AnCon will deliver in-depth teaching on a grace-grounded ambition for growth, prayer, engaging with God’s word, and growing in Christian fellowship. As usual, there will be visiting workers giving a vision for serving Less Reached and Less Resourced areas of God’s world. And while there may not be in-person sports, there will still be chances for some friendly competition!

Please join us in praying that through AnCon, students will grow spiritually, be renewed by God’s grace, and built up to be more like Jesus – in lockdown and beyond.

James Flood

EU Senior Staffworker