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Through Race Across Europe (RAE) in 2023, several young people were sent out on an interrailing adventure across Europe, sharing the gospel as they travelled from city to city. But why should this opportunity be limited only to young people?
One evening in 2024, Matthew Skirton, team leader of OM in the UK, preached at a church where he shared incredible stories of God’s work through the RAE programme. As he did so, it was clear that enthusiasm for the programme wasn’t just limited to young people.
Age doesn’t limit people's capacity to do extraordinary things or respond to God’s call, and so last summer, a group of older participants between the ages of 50–75 embarked on their own 'race' across Europe — though perhaps at a more leisurely pace than previous journeys! They ventured into countries such as Türkiye, the Netherlands, Hungary, Belgium, Austria, Romania and Bulgaria.
David, from Cwmbran, South Wales, decided to trade his quiet life in the valleys for the bustling streets of Europe. After a few weeks, he returned not just with a few new passport stamps but with a powerful testimony of sharing the love of Jesus with strangers.
David shares how he had encounter after encounter with people from different backgrounds. “I was able to talk to a young guy from Brussels for about two hours on God, creation, other religions, the atonement and so on. He was so interested; his girlfriend had studied theology and actually watched The Chosen on TV.
“There was Luka on the platform in Brasov, Romania, a young trendy lad who didn't want God, as he had experienced a lot of difficulty in his life," said David. "He’d had cancer when he was seven and lots of trouble with his family. His questions were difficult to answer, but by God's grace, I explained to him that we live in a fallen world because of sin, and God’s redemption plan is through Jesus. Only the Holy Spirit can do the work.”
From impromptu conversations on the train to moments that seemed divinely orchestrated, David found himself exactly where he was needed.
“Near the end of my journey, I found a desperate young lad called Russel, 19, studying IT in Türkiye. We sat on rocks by the sea, and with tears in his eyes, he told me he was lonely and missed his family back in his home country. I told him about a friendly church locally. He wasn’t very keen, as it can be hard for young people to go to church alone. But with tears in his eyes, I told him I was his friend and so was Jesus. I explained the gospel, gave him a hug and prayed for him. May the Lord save his soul.”
David said it was important to remember that God is the one who saves; we are simply His messengers, sharing His goodness and light.
“I crossed to the other side of Izmir on the ferry and chatted with a young guy in Starbucks. We sipped cold frappuccinos, watching the ships on the sea and talking about life, meaning and everything. The air conditioning and big picture windows with fantastic views made it feel so inviting. The list goes on. When we prayed each day, God gave us divine appointments. It was so wonderful.
“Then there was a young man from the UK in Vienna, Austria, who was travelling around Europe to all the Coldplay concerts.
“There was the journey from Brussels, Belgium, to Vienna, where I had loads of fun with a Hungarian family, teaching their young son English with simple sentences. His dad really appreciated this and shared food and drink with me. As a retired primary teacher, I was in my element.
“Then there was a lovely young lady on the train who drew me a picture of the cross with love, faith and hope written on it.
“As I say, the list goes on. It would take the pages of a book to record all the precious times we had.”
Bob, 72, has spent 50 years in both mission work and the army. He reflected, “I enjoyed RAE alongside the others and also the challenge of working with people I had never met before, but God helped us all. I learnt the challenge of trusting God and also the blessing of seeing God answer prayer immediately."
The experiences of David, Bob and many others are a powerful reminder that God’s mission knows no age limits. Join us on the next Race Across Europe or another short-term outreach. Find out more at uk.om.org/shorts.
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