Zur Vorbereitung der Europäischen Sommerbibelkonferenz 2009 möchten wir die europäischen Landesleiter, wie auch die Mitarbeiterhausgemeinden und Hirten, die als Abraham und Sarah des Glaubens wachsen, einladen. Insbesondere möchten wir auch den Teilnehmerkreis für diese Konferenz vergrößern, indem wir deutsche Seniormissionare und stellvertretende Missionare aus den USA, GUS, aus Korea, Afrika und dem mittleren Osten einladen.

Während der Konferenz werden wir von unseren einheimischen Hirten etwas über die Missionsstrategie zur Verdopplung des Werkes Gottes hören. Die europäischen Seniormissionare, die wie ersterbende Weizenkörner hingebungsvoll für die Europamission leben, wollen einen Ausblick auf die Missionsstrategie der kommenden 100 Jahre geben, und zwar im Bezug auf das selbstständige Leben. Wir möchten auf das 40jährige Wirken Gottes in Europa durch Deutschland UBF zurückblicken, unsere Vision der Campusmission in Europa erneuern, für die Campusmission der nächsten Generation beten und in einem Herzen und Geist die Europäische Sommerbibelkonferenz ’09 bestmöglich vorbereiten.

Das Programm für die Konferenz befindet sich hier.

Wir fahren am Freitagnachmittag gegen 17 Uhr gemeinsam ab und kommen am Sonntagnachmittag gegen 15 Uhr zurück. Anmeldungen werden von den Gemeindemitgliedern von Köln UBF jederzeit entgegen genommen. Die Unkosten für die Konferenz betragen € 80 bzw. ermäßigt € 60.

Bitte betet für die Leitung von M. Hanna Shin für diese Konferenz. Bitte betet auch für alle Botschaften und Vorträger auf dieser Konferenz. Das Programm im einzelnen sieht wie folgt aus:

Eröffnungsbotschaft: M. Eliah Park (Polen)-. Mt 25,1-30 „Der tüchtige und treue Knecht“

Hauptlektion: H. Stefan Elsholz (Bonn) Lukas 11,1-14 „Dein Reich komme!“

Abend: Alesch Macha - Lukas Kap. 5. „Du wirst Menschen fangen!“

Sonntagsgottesdienst: M. Hanna Shin – Mk Kap.9 „Glaube und die Macht des Gebetes!“

M. Andrew Kim aus Ungarn und M. Maria Bae aus Kroatien, M. Daniel Yang aus Österreich und M. Paul Chang aus der Slowakei möchten ihre Missionsberichte weitergeben.

„Ihr aber seid das auserwählte Geschlecht, die königliche Priesterschaft, das heilige Volk, das Volk des Eigentums, dass ihr verkündigen sollt die Wohltaten dessen, der euch berufen hat von der Finsternis zu seinem wunderbaren Licht.“ (1. Petrus 2,9) 

Im kommenden Jahr möchten wir das 40-jährige Jubiläum von Deutschland und Europa UBF auf der Internationalen Europäischen Sommerbibelkonferenz 2009 in Eringerfeld feiern und Gott von ganzem Herzen danken.  

Zur Vorbereitung auf die europäische Sommerbibelkonferenz 2009 wollen wir vom 07.-09.11.2008 einen Orchesterworkshop im Christlichen Erholungsheim, Rehe im Westerwald veranstalten. Leider kommt diese Einladung etwas kurzfristig, wer aber dennoch kommen kann, ist herzlich eingeladen. 

Vor allem aber möchten wir Euch zu einem zehntägigen Musikcamp einladen, welches Ende Dezember 2008 stattfinden wird. Das Musikcamp besteht aus drei Teilen: 

1. 22.-24. Dezember: Musikcamp in Bonn
2. 24.-26. Dezember: Weihnachtskonferenz im Christlichen Erholungsheim, Rehe
3. 27.-31. Dezember: Europatour (München und Österreich)

Als besonderen Höhepunkt haben wir für Euch eine Fahrt nach München und Österreich vorbereitet, auf der wir neben den Proben auch die Gelegenheit haben werden, diese wunderschönen Städte im Winter zu besichtigen und Gemeinschaft zu haben. Auch wollen wir gemeinsam die Bibel studieren und uns auf das neue Jahr 2009 vorbereiten. 

Um das Musikcamp zu organisieren, würden wir diejenigen, die an einer Teilnahme interessiert sind, bitten, sich bei uns zu melden. Dann werden wir euch das konkrete Programm und detaillierte Informationen bezüglich des Musikcamps zuschicken. 

Für diejenigen, die über Weihnachten und zum Jahresende schon etwas anderes geplant haben, besteht natürlich die Möglichkeit, nur am Musikcamp teilzunehmen. 

Ihr seid alle herzlich eingeladen! Wir freuen uns auf Euer Kommen! 
 

In Jesus, 

Komitee des UBF Europa Orchesters und Chors: 

Johannes Chang (Vorsitzender)

Stephan Park (stellv. Vorsitzender)

Sarah Eun-Jie Park (stellv. Vorsitzende)

Maria P. Lee (Dirigentin)

Happy Maria Park (Chorleiterin) 

Kontakt: 

An der Ziegelei 6

53127 Bonn

Deutschland

Tel.: 0228/614779

Email: europeorchestra@googlemail.com

Diese Konferenz möchten wir auch als eine Workshop-Konferenz für die bevorstehende internationale europäische Sommerbibelkonferenz im kommenden Jahr veranstalten. Dafür möchten wir gerne Chor, Singalong und Orchester proben.

Das Programm der Konferenz ist hier verfügbar. Der Fragebogen des Bibelstudiums ist hier verfügbar. Wir möchten jeden Teilnehmer der Konferenz zur Konferenzvorbereitung bitten, diesen Fragebogen vorzubereiten.

Wir begannen 1. Korinther Kapitel 1 zu studieren. Wir lernten, dass das Evangelium vom Kreuz Gottes Kraft und Weisheit ist. Wir beten ernsthaft das Evangelium vom Kreuz zu lieben und dieses Evangelium täglich zu bezeugen. Katrin, eine Studienanfängerin, kam heute (5.10) das erste Mal zum Gottesdienst. Sie kam von Potsdam nach Mainz drei Tage zuvor. Am 4.Oktober luden M. Hannah und ich sie zum Sonntagsgottesdienst ein. Wir beten dafür, dass Kartin mit M. Hannah das Bibelstudium weiter führt.

Wir danken Gott für seinen Wegen für die Campus-Bibelschule am 1. Oktober. Bruder Chen Yu, welcher Zweierbibelstudim mit mir führt, arragierte einen Raum an der Uni. Ich gab die Botschaft aus Markus 2 weiter: “Jesus kam, die Sünder zu rufen”. H. Barbara und Johanna gaben ihre Lebenszeugnisse weiter. Schwester Lio Xia gab ihr Lebenszeugnis basierend auf Genesis Kapitel 1 weiter. Neun Studenten unter anderem Jing, Klaus, Dimo und Wang Le kamen das Wort Gottes zu hören. Ich persönlich wurde durch die Campus-Bibelschule sehr bewegt, weil sie mich an eine Campus-Bibelschule erinnerte, die ich vor 20 Jahren selbst besucht habe. Möge Gott uns regelmäßige Campus-Bibelschulen erlauben, neue Teilnehmer dorthin senden und uns erlauben Gottes Wort brennender zu predigen.

Es war für sie ein Zusammentreffen großer Freude, weil sie in verschiedenen Städten in Deutschland dem Werk Gottes dienen und sich darum selten sehen. Für sie ist das bevorstehende 40te Jubiläum von Deutschland UBF im kommenden Jahr, ein besonderer Grund zur Freude. Jede von ihnen möchte ein Glaubenszeugnis mit verschiedenen Episoden, die sie in ihrer Pionierzeit erfahren haben, schreiben. Durch ein gemeinsames Lied oder besonderes Programm möchten sie bei der Jubiläumsfeier im kommenden Jahr mitwirken und ihr Zeugnis dadurch ablegen.

Das Konferenzprogramm ist online verfügbar.

Part I: Conference Overview

This was the first leaders conference Sue and I have attended and it was truly wonderful as was out time with Pastor Paul and M. Sarah. The flight into Frankfurt was smooth and uneventful. We were picked up by M. Peter Chang and S. Heidi for the 4.5 hour drive to the conference site in South west Germany, about 30 miles from Freiburg, in the rolling hills of the Black Forest. The conference site was a small hotel/meeting complex on a high hill surrounded by other scenic hills, forests and a small town. The facility was beautiful, the rooms were very nice and they had a full time chef to cook all meals on site, genuine German style. Sue and I provided a German style breakfast for our joint fellowship at our meeting Wednesday, consisting of cereal with yogurt, two authentic breads, two kinds of sliced cold cuts and two kinds of cheese, in order to make a breakfast sandwich. Woondabar.

The conference was geared towards senior leaders, ie. directors and wives from each chapter, missionary coworkers and senior German shepherds. (Sometimes there is just no way around that.) About 90 people attended. The conference theme was “God Blessed David and his Mighty Men”. I believe the focus was to increase our capacity, nurture and galvanize everyone’s 1:1 ministry and to stimulate a servant heart in each of us. All of this with an eye towards the 2009 European International Conference, at once a glorious event and a monumental challenge.

Pastor Paul was the keynote speaker on David’s last words with an emphasis on humility, leadership and growing leaders, and increased spiritual capacity through faithfulness to spiritual disciplines and our consistent walk with God. It was very well received. Four senior shepherds delivered messages, a strong sign of the excellent coworking relationship between missionaries and shepherds as well as transfer of power and leadership to native shepherds. Each one did a fine job. You could also see the warmth and friendship between all of the coworkers, within a chapter and across chapters. I also saw an excellent relationship between M. Peter Chang and his coworkers in Bonn as well as with other directors.

Sue and I both delivered life testimonies and they were well received and was appointed as the Bible study leader for the very large American group, four people, including Sue and me. It was humbling and a little scary to lead M. Jose Ahn and M. Sarah Hong. But I learned a lot. I also did photo duties, 600 shots, as backup to S. Sarah. We were taken to the Museum of Contemporary German History. It was wonderful and I immediately began shooting a few photos. As is usual, I was immediately in trouble and told that no photos are allowed and I had to check my camera. S. Jochen was our host for the trip. He went to a senior official, explained our situation as American guests. He came back with my camera and a Press Pass, giving me free reign to shoot as many photos as I wished. I learned from S. Jochen to be pro active to help guests or sheep.

Part II: What I Learned

S. Walter Nett’s message was on Elisha’s Desire, 2 Kings 2:1-25. They had translated it into English and printed it for the four Americans, along with the Conference Brochure. They thought of everything. The passage speaks of Elijah’s last days on earth. His sheep and protégée, Elisha, is travelling with him on these last days, with a heavy heart. Elijah cherishes Elisha and says to him “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” Elisha replied “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit.” Elisha answered immediately because he had thought and prayed about his future. He was asking for the “first son’s portion” from Elijah, his spiritual father. He had followed Elijah for some time and knew the hardships, danger, hard work and anguish Elijah had experienced. Elisha came from a wealthy family and could have had an easy life. But he wanted to serve God by following in the path of his shepherd. This was the fruit of Elijah’s disciple making ministry. This is the dream of every successful shepherd. Elisha understood the heart of his shepherd and the heart of God. This request could only be fulfilled by God, through the Holy Spirit, for he is the one who galvanizes and energizes us, opens our hearts, ears and mind to know and serve God’s will. God answered Elisha’s prayer and he became a powerful and influential prophet and international leader for his people. I learned that I can serve God’s work in this time and in my time of life, if my heart is open and I seek the help of the Holy Spirit to strengthen and guide me. Through the Holy Spirit, I pray I may help double the size and influence of Prayer Servants Fellowship and More Than Conquerors by 2010 and that Stephen and Na may be an powerful coworking family with us.

M. Joseph Ahn, a world famous shepherd and chapter encourager, delivered a special lecture on one to one ministry. He began by telling us that 31 years ago, 1977, he attended a leaders meeting in Germany. “There was only one native shepherd, Volker Keller. The entire meeting was conducted in Korean. Today, at this meeting, we speak German and English, no Korean. Our God is a living God.”

He began with the question “Why 1:1?” The answer is because God is working through 1:1. It is part of God’s character. He created one man and one woman and raised up one Abraham of faith. Jesus called his disciples, one by one. He spiritually and physically healed people, one by one. This is God’s way and therefore it should be our way.

He then asked “Who will study with us?” Any person can be our 1:1 student. We/I tend to look for “Golden Sheep” , ie. angels. There are no golden sheep, only sinners like me. When you see a golden sheep, it is actually an iron pyrite sheep, fools gold. Abraham was a nobody, Jacob was a liar, David’s mighty men were all losers, Jesus disciples were smelly fishermen at best and corrupt tax collectors at the worst. But God and Jesus changed them 1 by 1. This one to one is tremendously powerful. Many churches have one pastor. He works very hard and is like the pilot. “You just sit there and I will take you to the kingdom of heaven.” Many people come to the church as one person and 30 years later, they are still one person.

But one to one moves with a geometric progression, one becomes two, become four, becomes eight… God called one man, Abraham and he became a nation. Jesus called the twelve and they planted the seeds to evangelize the world. We received the gospel from a descendant of one of the apostles.

But this is not a lonely and solitary task. We are like rowers in a ship. When each person does their part, the boat moves. It moves in the direction God wants. This seems to be a slow and laborious task but it grows quickly as we all participate. When Sue and I met M. Kaleb Hong in Heidelberg in 1989 the chapter consisted of M. Kaleb, his wife and another young missionary couple. They were most down trodden, worn out and barely hanging on. This year they brought 12 leaders to the conference, have sent out many pioneers to other chapters and have around 100 SWS attendants. God’s way is always the best way. M. Joseph’s key verse for the lecture was wonderful. Psalm 126:6 “He who goes out weeping , carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.” God rewards the hard work and faith of the farmer by providing good soil, sunshine and rain. It seems to take a long time as we watch the ground day after day with no sprouts. But God is faithful and a horrendous crop emerges. So too with one to one ministry. May we sow the seed and trust God to bring us the harvest.

So, in conclusion, this conference was so powerful and so wonderful. I thank M. Paul and the German coworkers for inviting us. The friends and coworkers were so warm and serving. The messages were excellent. But most of all the work of God, the growth in the number of chapters, the German leaders and their new heart for one to one was really encouraging. We received the first brochure to the 2009 European International Conference in Germany. It marks the 40th anniversary of the humble Korean nurses who became the first “overseas missionaries”, a seemingly hopeless task for one to one ministry. Come and see how God has worked. It will move your heart, deepen your faith and bring a smile to your face. I will pass around our copies of the 2009 Conference Brochure.

My personal and Toledo prayer topics:

May God bless each person in MTC/PSF to teach one new sheep as well as each shepherd in Toledo.

May God bless the 2009 European International Conference in every way and may many Toledo coworkers attend and participate.

Freiburg, Germany – September 3-7 

Jim and I were so pleased to be invited to this conference. To prepare, we were to write Life Testimonies based on David’s last words, focusing on our experience of pioneering old age in UBF. Jim’s and my prayer was that we would be a blessing because we knew we would be blessed. 

It took every minute we had to prepare and I was sewing pillows for presents on the way to the Detroit airport. Our flight was direct, 8 ½ hours, and the director of German UBF-Dr. Peter Chung and Heidi Grigoriadis meet us with a luxury rented Mercedes van. It was 5 hours to the conference site in the Schoner Schwanzwald (the Black Forest). This area is about 90 miles by 30 miles. As best I can understand, it is called the Black Forest because it is so dense with much of the mountainous terrain being inaccessible. It is the highest German low mountain range (highest peaks being around 5,000’). This area is known for the wooden houses which are considered more beautiful than the northern homes. 

Because we are travelling with Dr. Hong, the European Coordinator, and with M. Sarah, and we are also international guests, we got such special treatment. We were given a private room in the beautiful hotel Altglashutten with the best view of the pine covered mountains and open grassland. I wondered if these were actually just hills or real mountains. Then we saw a couple walking their dog. It was easy to see it was a big mountain. We walked to a fancy German restaurant, Sonneck. It is the season for special mushrooms and the food is delicious. We stop at the local glass factory in this resort town of Titisee. We are then given time to rest and wake to a driving rain storm. Can’t see anything because of the fog. When it lifts, light wispy clouds rise from the forest trees which look like smoke from a beginning fire. This mist rises and joins other visible clouds. After dinner we get wonderful talk time with coworkers. Tomorrow the conference will begin. 

PART I: WHAT I OBSERVED

Because this was a conference for leaders, the message selections were different, deep, and direction oriented. One thing I saw was the wonderful coworking between the Korean missionaries and shepherds/shepherdesses. They really respected each other and worked out all problems together. Dr. Peter Chang worked so well with Peter Schweizer and designated van driver, Heidi Grigoriadis as well as with all other chapters’ young leaders. In the past I had felt nervous talking to him (like I did at first with Mother Sarah Barry). But I saw a very gentle, kind spirit towards everyone and he made Jim and me feel so welcomed and comfortable. One bonus observation from visiting his Bonn chapter for Sunday worship service was a graceful idea for a high ceiling curtain which might be applicable in our Toledo renovation work. 

I was also impressed with the second gens and young shepherds who served so happily and had so many diverse talents. Two of the special songs were about giving everything we have to Jesus and they did. S. Sarah E. J. Park played violin, piano, sang, took pictures, and even played timpanis. My friend S. Sara Helene Poliatskin was a presider, sang, played piano and drums, and served endlessly. She also had raised up Yaroslava (Rebekkah) Song, who formed the first house church in Freiburg and whose husband would arrive the next week from Korea. 

All needs of guests were met with no holds barred: best transportation, best accommodations, excellent food (with a snack at 3:00 p.m. and an extensive snack in the evenings), large bottles of water left at your door, translators and translations for each 5 non-German  speaking Americans, including the entire program, two main messages and a report translated into English hard copies and all English presentations translated into German. Besides the boat trip, train trip to Freiburg University (whose motto is “The truth will set you free”) and their UBF center, a special restaurant, and the local glass factory; Dr. Peter Chang had checked with Dr. Paul what Jim and I might like to see and arranged a trip after the conference to a war museum, Haus der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik Deutschland.  

I also observed more of what Dr. Paul Hong’s role at these conferences. On our way to Bonn, he stopped in Mannheim to encourage the house church there. They shopped in order to have presents for their 4 children. He spent time with other chapter directors any chance he had. The van became an office, as well as meal times (like our gourmet meal in Meintz), or in people’s homes. He gave his message at the conference, but also in Bonn. He varied the content after talking to directors and finding out specific problems they faced and he gave a lecture based on a chart at Koln instead of his message. He was always serving as he was being served. All Jim and I could do was be prayer servants when asked, give our L.T. at conference and in Bonn, and talk to some of the shepherds and other leaders. I personally had in-depth talk time with Sara (Helene) Poliatskin since I’ve known since a Russian Conference in 2000, M. Wynelle Nett, Dr. Brigette Schauwienold, Brigit Steller, and Priska Lee.  

What these observations meant to me is that the love and coworking between leaders/shepherds, between chapters, and on an international level are growing and yet they are growing because all of these levels are remaining personalized. This was the theme of the conference-focus on 1-1 ministry that God can use to double ministry by 2010. 

PART II: PERSONAL LESSON LEARNED

I wasn’t aware of it at first, but God was building up to a major rebuke for me. However, as always, God’s rebuke came softly and encouragingly. The conference theme was Gott segnete David und seine Helden, God blessed David and his mighty men. The opening address was given by M. Noah You, our host from Freiburg. Jim was asked to be a prayer servant. It was on Mark’s gospel feeding the 5,000. He mentioned that the disciples felt that it was ok to give some of the people something to eat, but not all of them. We have a lot of reasons why we can’t help others. He said that people were now coming to Freiburg but growing so slowly. He felt that was their problem. But he accepted with a broken heart that there is never a sheep problem-it is the problem of the shepherd who must grow in the shepherd heart of Jesus. What is Jesus’ shepherd heart? It is that a sheep without a shepherd is unthinkable. I saw a connection between this message about the “never a sheep problem” but “a lack of shepherd heart problem” and the 2008 Purdue report. At Purdue, we saw over 500 people’s hearts moved to answer a mission call. But this creates a new problem. How do we help those motivated by mission to hold their vision and take steps to be raised as leaders who can be sent out? How do we keep their vision alive? I immediately began to pray that Jim’s and my reports would stir some of these young people in Toledo to attend the 2009 Conference. 

I was asked to be a prayer servant for Dr. Paul Hong’s message ½ hour before. I prayed, skipped dinner, and offered the 10 prayer topics by faith. I liked Dr. Hong spiritual principle that “Developing capabilities is not a quick-fix program.” It is a life-long process as we depend on God’s strength to match our capabilities according to God’s purpose. Through David walking with God to the end and having humility as a leader, God could use him to raise up mighty men for God’s purpose. Dr. Hong mentioned that common life in the cave of Adullum had to be difficult. David couldn’t really take care of himself, but David had to find ways to support 400 distressed, in debt, and discontented men. Through basic disciplines, these men were slowly transformed. When we welcome those God sends, he heals them and we experience God’s help. Before we left Germany, Dr. Hong concluded that these 3-D people, “distressed, debtors, discontented” sheep who were dirty, difficult, and dangerous were slowly transformed into disciplined, devoted, and dedicated leaders and coworkers. As Christians are determined to help one person at a time, Dr. Paul Hong said that “We see a beautiful and defined soul emerge before God.” People are transformed into mighty men and women of God. We can trust that God can use us to raise up leaders for Christ and advance his Kingdom! 

S. Reiner Schauwienold gave a “Campus Message” entitled “A Genuine Servant of Christ” based on 1Co 4. Paul was a leader but he suffered in following Christ: no wages, no thanks, plus many painful difficulties. Leaders often want to teach but not learn. But Paul followed Christ’s servant example and therefore God used him in his generation and this one. Humility is the basis for God making us influential. We need faithful, humble servants of Christ for this generation and beyond. 

The last two main messages brought home God’s personal point. M. Jose Ahn from Chicago spoke on “Tent Maker Mission”. It emphasized that 1-1 is God’s plan for evangelizing the world. God began earth’s history with one man, Adam, and then one woman, Eve, and filled the whole world through them. God worked 1-1 with Abraham. One by one Jesus called his disciples to him. And God used one man, his son Jesus, to save the world. To God one person is the equivalent of the whole world.  

His point was that most churches do not do 1-1. Usually a pastor works very hard and is like the pilot of a ship. He says, “Sit there and I will take you to the Kingdom of Heaven.” But most people who come to a church as one person-30 years later are still only one person. But each person in the ship must row. If each one does something, then the whole ship begins to move in the direction God wants. This was a graphic image for me as I pictured a boat and only one person rowing. The boat was just going around in circles and getting nowhere. He said that one-to-one is God’s “cell division”. One cell in just 12 times of dividing goes from 1 cell to 4096 cells. Before this conference, I had decided my niche in UBF was to proof Bible study materials so that other people could raise up disciples. But God was saying to me that I also had to stay on a personal serving level and row with everyone else. 

S. Walter Nett gave the last lecture on “Elisha’s Desire”. Elisha had grown up in a rich environment, so being Elijah’s servant must have been somewhat humiliating. But this 1-1 relationship grew over the years. Elijah though truly loved Elisha and instead of wanting something at the end of his life, he wanted to give Elisha something. S Walter mentioned that Elisha asking for the double portion was not Elisha trying to be proud and become twice as great as Elijah. He was asking for the inheritance portion of the oldest son, a double portion meant he was ready to be Elijah’s successor-to carry on his God-given work. It is truly wonderful to have a legacy to pass on. The principle was that “Whoever wants to be used by God, should learn both from God and from ancestors of faith to the end. This is the secret of Jesus’ love: ‘love to the end.’”  

S. Walter said “Only the Spirit of God enables us to do God’s will and to serve God’s work.” Having the Holy Spirit must be our heart’s desire. And how do we receive God’s Spirit? We ASK. (Mt 7:7-11) Here it was! The answer to my being able to engage in 1-1. This very “ASK”  principle is the conclusion of my book, my advice to those who needed help facing cancer and death. They were to take a step toward God-ask God to reveal himself-it was to pray. But I was not taking my own advice to overcome my desire not to go fishing and have new 1-1 sheep. I have to grow in the shepherd heart of Jesus and I have to ask God for his Spirit. I want to be a part of the “row the boat” team and accept my responsibility to double ministry by 2010. This will be accomplished by God through his cell division plan of 1-1 for the world. 

I have always known that 1-1 worked. It forms such deep relationships in which both parties are richly blessed and can bless others. However, The closing message on Mk 13:10 helped remind all of us of the real impact of 1-1. God wants all nations to know about Christ before he comes again. At that time, all nations will see the truth, people will be collected to be in the new Jerusalem, and everyone will see Christ’s glory. This is the true hope of all believers. God wants all nations to be included so the gospel must first be preached to all nations. We may not think much is happening through us, but God is using those who preach the gospel as his history makers and he will multiply our efforts. Our direction is therefore to ASK and start a 1-1with our whole heart for one person. 

PART III: SPECIFIC PRAYER TOPIC

My one prayer topic is for me and UBF coworkers, especially our young people who were moved by God to want to engage in mission work; to see the value of God’s word and work through 1-1 and be renewed. I see young people in other churches going on trips to engage in a small building project and preach a few times in the streets. But it is only for a few weeks and then they return home. It is a nice step and gives some insight into missionary life. However, UBF gives us a very unique look at mission life through conference participation. We go to strengthen each other in the Word of God, have fellowship with our front-line missionaries, and mutually encourage each other. We see the work of God going on, meet new sheep, pray for them, stay with coworkers, see the unique features of different countries, and practically see the community of Christ growing in nation after nation.  We can picture our coworkers in their mission fields and cowork for the gospel by remembering them and their struggles. It is really so personal and exciting, and eternal lasting friendships are formed. My prayer is that Jim’s and my reports might show the real rewards of attending conferences and many will begin now to prepare to attend the 40th European Conference in Eringerfeld next August 13-16th.  

We are all invited! There is even a full advance program schedule booklet with all the necessary information and deadlines, including plans after conference for several tour package choices for those who have a specific mission field in mind. Please go along with us! Get passports, save money, pray for this event. Keep your mission vision alive. Everything will be in English and it is going to be glorious. 

ONE WORD: ADVANCE GOD’S KINGDOM-ASK FOR HIS HOLY SPIRIT AND START A 1-1 WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART FOR ONE PERSON!