Prestoncrest Missions

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

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ our Lord,

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,

Because of your expressions of concern for Ann and Elise, and their recent health problems, I am placing our family news first in this issue. We thank every one of you who have phoned, sent cards, and who continue to pray about these matters.

FAMILY NEWS
Just as the last newsletter was about to be sent out, Ann was diagnosed as having a Melanoma on the left side of her face. She had not suffered in the least with it, and only thought it was a normal age spot. Elise, our daughter, kept urging her to have it seen by a specialist, and we are so thankful she did. After the area was removed, she spent a week with an open wound about the size of a silver dollar, waiting for the results of the biopsy. She could not go out much at all, but thankfully, both the scan and biopsy showed no spreading of the Melanoma. At the end of October, the area was closed and stitched, with a bit of plastic surgery as well to prevent long term scarring. Last week, the stitches were removed and Ann continues to have regular checkups, both with the specialist, and with the Oncologist, who is also a member of the Church where
we worship.

Elise was in hospital for three days with a cyst and the related infection. Her abdomen was inflamed, and she was in severe pain when she went to the emergency room. After being pumped full of antibiotics in the hospital, and taking a course of them when after she was released, she seems to be getting back to her usual effervescent self. Later this month, she must have another ultrasound to see if the cyst is completely dissolved.

On 5 September, Ann had a car crash, when a woman knocked her into the oncoming lane. Thankfully, she was not injured. As the police did not fault either party, we have been dealing with insurance claims and deductibles, both for this and for the above mentioned health care needs. After six weeks of repairs, we finally got the car back! If it is God’s will, we pray that our lives will be more “normal” for some time to come. God’s people really shine during a crisis, and we thank Him for each of you who have shown concern for our family. Please continue to pray for us and of course, for this ministry as well.

MINISTRY NEWS
Following the state level Bible camp in south India, which God allows us to fund, six people were baptized into Christ. I mentioned this in the last letter, but also want to let you know that two more are about to put on Christ, and several more are studying God’s Word. All of these new Christians worship in various congregations of the Church, and continue to grow in our Lord. We pray for another harvest of souls during both the district and state level Bible camps for the blind, scheduled before the end of this year.

A brother in Ghana has written, asking for English Bibles on cassette, and as I write this, we have seven boxes ready to send to him. He is beginning a work with blind people in that nation.

Surely one of the highlights of the year for me, was the World Mission Workshop; this year it was held at Oklahoma Christian University (OCU). Students from the US, Canada, plus several other nations, gathered to explore the countless mission possibilities and needs in our world. These events are certainly among my favorite, as I have the opportunity to learn about various mission fields, and to tell others about this ministry to the blind! Several people came to chat after I spoke to a class on 26 October. One lady is a Christian from Uzbekistan. We are in touch and I am exploring the possibility with her of getting the scriptures to blind people in that Ex Soviet Republic, which is largely nominally Moslem. Another lady who has blind parents also came to discuss this outreach. Because I can’t see, I tend to minimize the value of pictures. Sadly, I did not get any photos of this wonderful mission weekend, but I plan to begin carrying a digital camera in my laptop case, so others can take pictures for the newsletter for me.

Since I last wrote to you, I have become involved in a prayer meeting and Bible group on the internet, with several blind people. We use the program called Skype, which allows up to ten people to meet at one time. Please ask God to bring results from these meetings. I have already sent out four electronic, talking bibles, and have three more to send out this week. God’s providence is working through this method of teaching.

With all the above mentioned health problems, I have not been to see as many of you as I would have liked, but Ann and I thank each of you for the wonderful warmth and hospitality you have shown us wherever we did go. Your kindness is surely a memorial to your Faith.

FINANCIAL NEWS
As I mentioned in the last letter, we are scheduled to lose our health insurance in May 2010, and are looking for a source or sources to help us continue it. At this time in particular, it is urgent that we not let it lapse. If you know of any congregations or individuals who may be able to help with this need, please let me know. I am beginning to look for help now, so that we can find someone before the date gets too near.

After December of this year, we are to lose $150 of support from two families, who are no longer able to continue helping. We thank God for all they have done, and we ask Him to help us recover this loss. An expanding ministry, family needs, and ever increasing prices in all areas make it necessary for us to constantly look for new sources of support. Although I absolutely detest asking for funds, for the sake of this ministry and our ability to carry it out, we would be most grateful for any of God’s people who remember this outreach to the blind when doing estate planning.

It’s hard to believe that the holiday season is here again. Over Christmas, we hope to have our family, plus dear friends from Ireland with us. Ann and I wish each of you a super and safe holiday season; one which you can celebrate with family, friends, and other brothers and sisters in Christ! We continue to thank our Lord daily for your kindness and generosity, and we pray that God will also lead you to others, so that you can teach them of His marvelous salvation.

With love and thanks in Christ,
Glynn, Ann, Andre and Elise Langston