The Team Xreme Vikings Visit BBC
Team Extreme, an imposing group of Norwegian men, with a gospel message of “Life and Grace for Us All” performed on the BBC stage on Friday, October 21, to a full house of close to 200 enthusiastic viewers, at least half of whom were under the age of 20. Youth Groups from neighbouring churches, as well as BBC students and families, staff members and Christian community leaders lined up at least 45 minutes to get a good seat for the performance.
The men, quasi giants, all over six seriously muscled feet, performed incredible feats of strength, from chopping layered brick with their palms, tearing up thick telephone directories, blowing up hot-water bottles, folding up metal frying pans, to bending metal rods into various shapes. The segments of strength display were interspersed with personal testimonies of faith in Jesus Christ, and how each of the men, Eric the Icebreker, Sniper, Baby Face, and David came face to face with the Saviour in the darkest hours of their very sad life journeys. While the presentation was in English, two members of BBC staff were on hand to alternate and provide translation.
All of the men have served time in prison for criminal activity. Each relayed a story of lost childhood, absent fathers and a decline into an abyss of drugs, crime and shame from which they were unable to escape. All spoke of the emptiness that could not be filled by what the world had to offer, and the hopelessness that sets in when you reach the end of your rope. But their lives were redeemed by the love of a Saviour, who reached down into the deep pits and lifted them into a place of hope, grace and an assurance of God’s love that will never fail.
Their message was the simple gospel message of Jesus Christ over the ages “God so loved the world….” And the assurance of eternal life to all who would receive the invitation to come. The message of the Cross, still as fresh and valid today as it ever was. At the invitation, almost half the audience of young people came forward to make or renew decisions for Christ. Local Counsellors were on hand to lead these young people into prayers of dedication. There were also prayers for healing for many others in the audience who were invited to receive healing in the name of Jesus Christ, Redeemer and Healer. The presence of the Holy Spirit was strong in an atmosphere of sincere prayer.
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