Fanning the flame of Mission: Uniting Church leaders and pastors gather to vision, plan and pray
In November I participated in a special gathering of pastors and denominational leaders of the Uniting Church around the theme of mentoring the next generation of missional leaders. The meeting was organized by vice President Niklas Piensoho, and Carl-Johan Savinger who leads the Acts 29 discipleship program pioneered by the Uniting Church in Sweden. Acts 29 is a mission and discipleship immersion program that invites young adults to commit to a three month experience in a global context. A group of students from Sweden travel to a host country in Latin America, India, Africa or North America and live in community with students from the host country studying together, serving alongside host churches, and experience the diversity of the body of Christ. In the past 15 years one thousand Swedish youth have gone through the Acts 29 experience, and have come back inspired and eager to engage in leadership and mission in Sweden. Several alumni of the Acts 29 program have gone on to plant churches, start small groups and take on leadership roles in their local congregations. And yet many participants upon returning to Sweden, find that the feel isolated and that they struggle to find their place in their local church.
Out of this meeting came a structured plan to build discipleship hubs where students are supported by pastors and congregations as they continue to discern God’s call on their life. It was inspiring to share in this day with pastors and leaders who are passionate about mission and discipleship.
-Pray for the Acts 29 discipleship program, for leaders and pastors who are planting seeds, discipling and mentoring the next generation in mission. For youth who will be traveling to South Africa in the spring term, for God’s transforming work in their lives.
-Pray for the plans and commitments made in this meeting, and for concrete next steps in building a more vibrant discipleship network that will come alongside the students returning from their Acts 29 experience.
-Pray for God to open doors for deeper partnership with the Covenant Church in Acts 29. Over the years the Covenant youth have been participating in Acts 29, Covenant leaders have hosted a school in Alaska , and sent teachers to the school. Carl-Johan has indicated a strong desire for deepened partnership through this program. Pray that I can work with Serve Globally to help more youth engage with this dynamic program.
Carl-Johan Savinger, leader of the Acts 29 program opening our gathering.
Mario Marquez (left) is a pastor and Merge coach with the Covenant who hosts several short term mission groups per year in Sweden and around Europe. In February I will support him in welcoming a group of North Park students to Stockholm.
Josh Hibbon is a Covenant pastor, now ordained in the Uniting Church and serving in southern Sweden.