Goosebumps at “Up to Faith” Bern
Posted by Kristen on May 19, 2012 in Faith, Family Fun, Switzerland | 4 commentsThis afternoon we went downtown in Bern for ‘Up To Faith” which is a global dance movement that got sparked by Second Baptist’s “Dance your Shoes Off”. It was a celebration of the resurrection of Christ and a call to rise up. I had seen the original video back when it went viral and it was very powerful. I don’t know if Second ever knew it would go global but apparently it has. A friend told us about it and we decided to go one down to see.
I don’t think I have ever gone into detail about the religious climate here in Bern here on the blog but we have found Bern to be a very spiritually dark place. We sometimes find it very hard to be Christians here. In general I feel that most people are very anti-God and religion, or maybe if they do have a relationship with God it is very private. When we arrived at the big square in front of the parliament building and saw the crowd of people lined up waiting for the music to begin I literally got chills. It was like there was a light in the middle of darkness. That’s really the only way to describe it. It was like we were in a place that had never heard the name of Jesus and it was heard. I know it sounds dramatic but it really felt that way. I looked around at one point and the bystanders appeared to be mostly straight-faced and just staring. At one side of the square there were people holding flags representing the regions of Switzerland. There is evidently an organization that assigns groups of people to pray specifically for each area. What was also crazy to me is that this crowd was comprised of Christians from all over Switzerland whereas the Second baptist group was likely just from one single city (Houston!!!, sorry, just a quick shout out for our dear Texas!). In American we take our communities of faith so for granted. And if you don’t think you do, let me tell you as someone who has now spent 4 years away. What you have is amazing!
here is the video I got! Sorry if you get dizzy. If you missed the original video we attached that as well.
“He’s alive He’s alive within us and we will rise up”
This is really cool, especially from/in a region where having a faith and expressing it aren’t always considered cool. I especially love the end – simple, profound.
Such a shame that another negative myth about Switzerland had gone out into the world. I am sorry that your spiritual experience of Switzerland has been negative. Since I have arrived I have found it to be a country where beliefs run very deep and where the country as a whole actually stands up and proudly declares that it is Christian. Compared to the english speaking world (from which I come) they actually still respect the Lord’s Day. Can you imagine if in the USA or UK all shops were not allowed to open as it is the Sabbath!!!!
Also, I have learnt to see things positively – for me it is wonderful to see people coming together from different areas and particularly from DIFFERENT churches. My experience of christianity in the english speaking world has unfortunately been that churches more often act alone rather than to embrace the joys that come from celebrating common beliefs.
Another fact is that readers should consider is that the whole population of Switzerland is less than 8 million, Houston alone has more than 2 million !
Thanks for writing Mairi, I am sorry that this post came across as negative. We have been plugged into the church community the Bern International Evangelical church and that has been a very positive experience. In addition, this “Up to Faith” was very positive and as I said in the post was a true example of light in this city. I am glad you have had a good experience here in Switzerland. I know that there are definitely Christians here that are living for Christ and shining his light! And I couldn’t agree more on honoring the Sabboth!
Hi Kristen,
Just discovered your blog by accident, rummaging through all the Up to Faith videos. Like it! I was desperately looking for an Up to Faith dance in England, where I’m from, but sadly ……. seems like zero!
They have no doubt banned it in the UK! Sadly the old established christian countries often do seem less open to faith and I have to say a lot of cynicism. US is blessed with a lot of openness. Keep it that way.
I was thrilled by Up to Faith. Have you seen the ones in Budapest!? Now that is exciting! And China too – brave people. I hope and pray that England one day will be able to join in.
Hope to see you Sunday at BIEC!
Elizabeth