Europe Report

Since last writing in INCENDIUM, I have continued to connect with other IC leaders in Europe, including meeting some in person. That has been a joy. It is good to hear about the Lord’s work among international church communities across the continent.

Various congregations have also partnered with One Collective in Ukraine to support pastors and church communities during this very difficult time due to the conflict. Scroll down for more details on this project. Please keep praying for Ukraine.

Planning is continuing for the MICN Europe/Africa/Middle East ReCharge gathering in Switzerland next year (April 24th to 27th). Particularly thanks to David Fortune and Nico Hoogenraad (Crossroads International Church Basel) and to Dina Dreessen (MICN Implementer) for working on this. More details to come (as there will be for ReCharge events in Asia and the Americas).

A couple of days ago I met with some IC leaders online for a monthly prayer time for IC ministry in Europe. In particular we focused on university students as well as children and young people.

One of the things that struck us afresh is the size of opportunity but also at times the seeming lack of ‘workers’. I know this is not solely a challenge in Europe.

Some relevant words from Matthew’s Gospel:

“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:35-38 NIV

If the Lord called His disciples to ask for workers, then it strikes me that it must be an answerable prayer. Otherwise it was an unreasonable call by the Lord. I believe we can also come to the Lord confidently to ask. As ICs we are in a special place in that we have the opportunity to help people from so many different cultures to see and embrace their part in serving with grace within the Lord’s ‘harvest field’. They are uniquely placed in their neighbourhoods, work or study situations, and also, when in many cases, they move onto another country.

Let’s keep asking the Lord for lives to be transformed including students, young people, and children. 

Please be praying for:

• Andrew & Laura Kate Lupton and family as they move to Oslo, Norway at the start of September to be involved in the planting of a new IC. There is some great partnership across denominations going on for this.
• Florence International Church, Italy as they are in the process of finding a new pastor. 
• Doug Landro and One Collective (https://www.transformuzhgorod.com/) and others continuing to serve in Ukraine.

In all our prayers we come to the One who can do “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to his power at work within us” Ephesians 3:20 NIV
Honesty dictates that I admit I don’t always have that perspective – maybe sometimes you don’t either. It is one of the reasons (among many) why it is good to pray for one another and to seek to find ways of being an active encouragement and support to other IC leaders.

Thanks for reading. Much grace,