MRN: Europe Brief - March, 2008
posted in Missions, Europe, United States |MRN: Europe Brief - March, 2008
Mission Resource Network Website
Coaching Seminar in Partnership with Kairos Church Planting
Portland, Oregon
30, 31 January
Three MRN continental church planting facilitators (Asia, South Pacific and Europe) joined the Kairos Church Planting ministry in Portland, Oregon to learn more about and develop more skills in coaching. We are discovering the necessity of not only better training and resourcing missionaries, but also in guiding them through the many decisions that they must make in joining the mission of God on the field. With this coaching comes the additional blessing of more relevant accountability. We do not intend to merely develop our own skills in this area, but to encourage mission leaders in local churches to become more capable in their responsibility to the mission of God by coaching their missionaries in the church development abroad.
Advance Bible Study Series
Gemunden, Germany
18-23 February
I joined American and European Christian workers from Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, France, Switzerland, England, Poland and Slovakia for a week of Bible study and discussion about Euro missions in Gemunden (outside of Frankfurt). The ABSS is a gathering that has taken place for many years, and has provided workers a chance to participate in deeper Bible study than is typically facilitated in mission churches. Also, the ABSS offers a forum for discussion concerning the “ground condition” of evangelizing in Europe. I had the opportunity to not only share with the group MRN’s efforts to more effectively engage the European context, but to learn from these veteran workers and how we may partner in future initiatives. There was strong agreement that we should consider our communication skills to the changing reality of the European context. Personally, I believe that too often the compelling nature of the gospel is lost due to the forms and methods of communicating it by Christians. The European unbeliever is a critical thinker and typically harbors a negative perception of Christianity because of the Traditional Churches’ (Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, etc) dysfunction and corruption over the centuries. Our defined purpose as Christians is to draw attention to the Bridegroom, not merely to the bride (ourselves, the church). Europeans are leery of religious structures therefore a genuine expression of Jesus Christ is the missionary’s opportunity to break through this prejudice and cynicism.
Zagreb, Croatia
23 February – 1 March
From Germany I traveled to Zagreb, Croatia to visit with church and ministry leaders about future efforts to the region. There are strong Christian resources in Croatia, including churches with leadership, a Bible Institute and radio ministries that blanket the nation and beyond. My discussions with ministry leaders in Zagreb led to visioning - and by my time of my departure - we all were trying to reign in our enthusiasm for how we could partner for reaching the nations in Central Europe for Christ. Zagreb has the human and practical resources to assist and mentor mission team development and training. From Zagreb, American and European (national and blended) mission teams could deepen their preparation of the mission and the context in which they will serve. Can we use specifically resourced European sites as “launch pads” for more mission work in their regions? How can this be done effectively and in ways in which Europeans and Americans work in true partnership for the sake of the lost? We at MRN are encouraged by how our maturing relationship with European colleagues can increase our capacity to participate in the Mission of God.
Prayer Concerns
Missions teams:
- Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Vienna, Austria
- Moscow, Russia
The Zagreb Partnership
David & Olivia Nelson
- The Nelson’s are seeking support and partnership to empower their work in Moscow. Please contact me if you desire more information about this gifted and spiritually oriented couple. You may also contact the Nelson’s directly at daveandliv@gmail.com.
I remain available to you if you have any questions or comments concerning the work in which I am engaged. May God bless you as He continues to work through you for His purpose.
Phil