God blessed the European Leadership Meeting last week with over 90 brothers and sisters from 20 countries!
January 25th in Zurich, Switzerland, God gathered disciples from many nations to come together to learn more about their God, and rededicate ourselves to making him known!
Christian Herbst, Friday night, kicked off the conference preaching on the need to know God. The task of knowing God is more than we are capable of but at the same time should be the passion of our hearts. Being inspired by his power, love, and holiness. Then to compare ourselves – our lives to this Holy God! There is nothing for us to boast in ourselves – only in our God! Then to compare our lives to God – it can bring only humility, and an understanding that any relationship can only be based on God’s Grace. At this moment we took up communion – by making a sin list and tacking it to a cross – to fill our hearts with Joy – that all of our weaknesses – and all of our sins – have been redeemed.
Saturday Peti Szabad did a great job kicking off the day with a bible study – on the Bible! Calling us to dig deep and be devoted to obeying the Scriptures. After the devotional, brothers representing different geographical regions shared their vision for their regions. They gave updates on how God is working in their part of the world. It was very encouraging to hear how God is working amongst the churches.
The next session was an opportunity to hear what plans and events await us in 2008. Shawn Wooten announced – that the Evangelist Training will continue in Europe this year. Also – that the International Leadership Conference will be in Europe this year – hosted by the Kiev Church. The European Bible School (EBS) was also presented to the group, as a great opportunity – to get training and teaching to develop your gifts and to be able to serve our local churches. The first session will be in April and have 3 sessions a year – for the next 4 years.
The afternoon was spent in smaller groups where there was teaching and discussion on how to grow in using our different gifts to build up the church. There was a break out group for Evangelists, Elders, Teachers, Deacons, and the Women had a separate group. This was very encouraging and helpful – as we seek to serve God with all our heart.
The evening we came back together for Randy McKean – as he preached on making God known! Randy did an amazing job – laying out the inspiration – and the expectation that all Christians are evangelistic! It was a call back – to the calling of Christ – that if we follow him – we will seek and save the lost.
Sunday morning we came together for Sunday service with the Zurich Church. Gordon Ferguson preached an amazing lesson. Several times with tears Gordon showed his love and concern for the churches in Europe calling us to fight for staying faithful. That we need to reach out and get help in our low points – cause we will all have them!
The service was closed out with a very special event. Sam Geltzer – who is a director on the board for the International Mission Society, led the collection for the Zurich Church. The Zurich church that Sunday was taking up a special contribution for the International Mission Society to help support the churches all over Europe. Zurich is the first of the European churches to take up such a contribution and join the IMS. The generosity of the church and the desire to work side by side with the New England churches – was awesome to witness. God’s spirit truly moved as the teaching and the fellowship inspired everyone who was present. The Zurich Church – were great hosts and made the experience even more encouraging.
Please pray for Europe for the seeds that were sown – to take root and that in Europe in 2008 there will be a great harvest!