Europe-MENA team in Edinburgh
In early February colleagues from Euro/MENA regions gathered in Edinburgh for our annual business meeting. This was the first time that our group had met in person for this meeting since before the pandemic. It was a gift to be together and have the time to assess our current work and vision for the future.
Historically, the Europe team has held this meeting in a city where colleagues are serving in order to learn about the cultural context and work they are doing. We came to Edinburg at the invitation of Rob and Rae Rife who have been serving there for the past five years. Rob introduced us to several of his ministry partners and invited us to be a part a service he leads each week. We all gained a deeper understanding of Rob’s work and could encourage him in the place he serves.
We also are developing the collaboration between the Euro and MENA regions and it was great to have Sam and Seth Jordan who are living in Bethlehem, Palestine and shared about their work in reconciliation and peacemaking. Hannah Baker, serves as Regional Coordinator for the MENA region and co-facilatated our time together. We’re excited about this deepening connection with our colleagues and opportunity for networking in areas that touch both regions.
A focus of our time together was on discerning God’s leading for the future of Serve Globally in Europe and MENA. We took time to look back at where we have been, partnerships that have born fruit and seeking to notice and celebrate where God has been at work. We shared about where we are at now, where are we seeing fruit, and what initiatives or partnerships may be “sunsetting” in this season. And we took time to reflect on the future of our work naming places where we are seeing openings for new partnerships and invitations to join in God’s work. As we looked back over what we had written in these areas there was a deep sense of gratitude at God’s faithfulness in the past and hope for fruitful missional partnerships in the future.
Pray for:
Ken and Adrienne Satterberg who are transitioning from Lyon, France and relocating to California to visit supporting churches and then enter retirement.
Francisco and Stephanie Ramos as the relocate to Minnesota to visit supporting churches and discern their next steps in ministry.
Pray for Sam and Seth Jordan who live in Bethlehem, for safety for them and their community.
Rob Rife and Stephanie and Phillip Voland as they spend time in Canada and the U.S. visiting churches and sharing the ways they are seeing God at work in their contexts.
Max, joining from Czech Republic and Sam, from Bethlehem on a windy and cold hike in Edinburgh.
Joining Rob’s “Siloam” prayer service at St. James church. This is a weekly contemplative prayer service open for the community.
Riding trams around Edinburgh to get to our meeting place at St. James church.