Gathering with the Association of International Churches in London
In May I attended the annual gathering of the Association of International Churches in Europe and the Middle East in Canterbury and London. Our focus was learning from international and urban ministries. Over the course of our time we visited seven churches in central London and learned about how they are seeking to be faithful to Christ and his mission in their area of the city. We met with pastors from the Methodist, Anglican, French Protestant, Catholic, and Baptist traditions and extensively with our host church the American International Church. It was inspiring to see that each congregation had spent significant time listening to the needs of the neighborhood and then responded in creative and compassionate ways with the gifts present in their community. I noticed that each church embraced their unique calling and where they lacked resource they relied on the resource and gifting of other churches. Each church was seeking to do its part, as a member of the larger body united in Christ. We sensed that there was a freedom from competition or insecurity about their ministry and true joy in living out their calling. Through this experience I was reminded of Paul’s teaching on the body of Christ in his first letter to the Corinthians. “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.“
Let’s join together in praying for unity and Spirit led cooperation in the body of Christ among our brothers and sisters in London.
It was great to connect with Paul McMinimy (top left) a fellow Covenant Pastor who planted a thriving church in Luxembourg. Over the years several Covenant pastors have been called to serve Internatinal congregations in Europe and we are praying to see how God may open doors for more Covenanters to serve in Europe through international church ministry.
This is an amazing group of missional pastors reaching people from a wide variety of cultures, ethnicities and life situations. Pictured here are pastors serving in Madrid, Vienna, London, Paris, Copenhagen, The Hague, Cairo, Bonn, Zurich, Geneva, and Stockholm. Over the years we have seen how these churches are a unique expression of Christ’s mission, primarily reaching immigrants in the urban setting. Having served international congregations myself in Stockholm and Tokyo I have witnessed first hand how these diverse communities bear witness to Christ’s reconciling work in the world. As the Spirit brings people together from across the globe to participate in worship, service and welcoming the stranger, lives are being touched and transformed and the dividing walls that separate people along ethnicity, nationality and social status are coming down. Those who move on to serve in other contexts often remark how their discipleship with Christ was deepened through their experience in an international congregation.
Join me in praying for the international congregations and their pastors in Europe and the Middle East as they seek to live out Christ’s mission in their local context.