Joining Hands in Budapest

Joining Hands for Mission in Europe is a conference focused on church planting organized by IFFEC, (International Federation of Free Evangelical Churches). This year national leaders and pastors gathered from 15 countries in Europe focusing on the theme, “The Power of Collaboration.” There is something truly beautiful that unfolds when people from different backgrounds and cultures come together united in their love for Jesus and His mission. We experienced a joy and hope in learning from fellow participants and how God is at work even in the midst of great challenge and resistance to the Gospel.

At the opening session we reflected on the passage from Revelation 21:5, “Behold, I am making all things new.” The speaker reminded us that, “We do not begin with our plans, our strength, or our ability to renew Europe. We begin with the voice of Jesus —and then make ourselves available to his renewal, reconciliation, and mission. Hope is not something we manufacture. It is something we receive.”

Those words resonated with me well beyond the conference and is a truth I witnessed in many of the participants. Their churches are not large, the needs are great and resources are limited. And yet they expressed hope and joy in the midst of it all which revealed a deeper kind of trust in God that is patient and leaves the results to Him. I had the sense that these are leaders who day by day, are opening themselves to Jesus to receive the energy, the courage and hope to carry on their work.

As the conference unfolded and stories and statistics where shared, it became clear that there is much to celebrate! New people have come to faith, new churches have been planted and seeds of growth are springing up all around Europe.

Join me in praying for these pastors and leaders, and for IFFEC leaders that are doing such good work in creating spaces for mutual learning and inspiration.

Nations represented: Bulgaria, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Ukraine.

Toben, Markus and Anne from the Mission Covenant of Norway and leading church plant and missional vitality in their denomination.

Andre and Sergey are both pastors serving congregations in the eastern part of of Ukraine. During our gathering they shared about their weariness of the war and the incredible difficulties their communities are facing. Sergey (right) lives 13 kilometers from the front line and described how much the war has impacted the community and the churches there. Before the war began there were 24 pastors in the area. Today there are 2 remaining. In a moving testimony he shared how he wrestled in prayer about what he should do. “I felt scared for my family and our safety, and yet I felt strongly that I was called to stay and serve Christ in my community.” It has not been easy, and everyday they live with the fear of drone attacks and the reality that they may need to flee at a moment’s notice. And yet as he shared about how people have come to faith in Christ and the ways compassion and care are touching people’s lives, he is filled with a joy and a deepened faith that God is with them even in the tragedy of war.

Both of these brothers shared how much it meant for them to join this conference and feel the love and support of the wider body of Christ. Many of the pastor’s who joined, especially from the Eastern countries are serving in challenging contexts, where they can feel isolated. IFFEC (International Federation of Free Evangelical Churches) is a network that brings encouragement and resource to many pastors and leaders through these kinds of gatherings. Hearing the stories from these brothers and sisters is reminder to pray for pastors and communities who are bearing witness to Christ’s love in really challenging contexts, in Europe and around the world.

Pray for:

-Andre and Sergey as they hold up the hope of Christ in their churches and communities in Ukraine.

-lasting peace and for God’s healing work among the grieving and traumatized.

-pastors and churches in the IFFEC network as they seek to be faithful to Christ and His mission.