SNAPSHOT OF 2007
Slovakia was also the destination for this year’s largest team: 21 people from Dudley (UK) including 2 complete families. The size and ability of the team meant at times they could split up and do both schools work and practical community ministry effectively. The team were also involved in a number of outreach events, including a visit to the local orphanage. This dramatically paved the way for the most surprising event of the mission. The team ‘gate-crashed’ the local Brezno ‘Town Fest’ and did several numbers with their ‘Meet The Maker’ band on the events platform in front of hundreds of people. The opportunity arose through the contact they had with the orphanage director. Across the various outreach events around 60 people responded to the appeals, and made first-time decisions to follow Christ!!
Three of this year’s STM teams have travelled all the way from Canada to visit their respective partner churches in Slovakia. The church plant in Trnava hosted 2 teams. In July a team from Parkwood Gospel Temple, (Windsor/ONT) held three days of sports clinics & dance/drama workshops. These activities had a great impact on the local kids with many attending the evening outreach meetings. Over the course of the mission, 10 people made first-time decisions to follow Christ.
In August, the team from City Centre Church, (Edmonton/ALB) were involved in Sunday services, youth meeting, sports activities, dance classes, cleaning apartments, picking up litter, & painting windows. Whilst the team were involved in this practical ministry, the local Mayor noticed what they were doing. Lubor, the Pastor explains, “He asked us why we were doing it, & how is it possible that people from Canada had travelled such a distance to do that. We told him that we were doing it because of Jesus’ love. He was open to listen to personal testimony & the gospel. He offered us his help when we need to arrange or rent a building.” Lubor also told us that “the team had a good attitude towards helping us with everything. They were very wiling to be a part of what we do in Trnava & self-sacrificing; very well organized. They were very friendly & warm-hearted. We could feel that they came really to help us. They were showing all of us their love for Jesus.” What a great team – willing to serve & do whatever it takes!
The third Canadian STM team, from Lakemount, (Grimsby/ONT) visited the church plant in Trencin. The main focus of their mission was a children’s day club focusing on learning English. As a result of this outreach, local children were asking kids from the church what they had to do to know Jesus. The Pastor was also able to make further contact with a family he has been praying for since the death of their father (36) from brain cancer 3 years ago.
One of the highlights of 2007 was seeing the pioneer team of Ukrainians on mission in Slovakia. The team, from established Church Plants in Sumy & Kiev, held a 10-day mission in Brezno. This is the first time NLI has seen this kind of cross-cultural outreach. The mission involved kids ministry, outreach events, & practical work in the local community. The mission was not without challenges. The local children were a bit disappointed when the team first appeared – they’re used to English & Americans!! But it didn’t take long for their hearts to melt.
Alina, from the team wrote; “At first when we came and saw the children, I said to myself: “Oh my goodness, they’re little monsters, hopeless, it won’t work…” They didn’t even listen to us, didn’t want to play, sing songs… So on the first day we were a little sad. The whole next morning we were praying that God would open the children’s hearts so we could become friends. After that, the change in their attitude was amazing. It was the most awesome thing God made!”
Alina went on to say; “The trip to Slovakia was amazing! I never thought that serving people in other country could be such a blessing for me and for the people. I understand that telling someone about Jesus is very cool!!! And this trip taught me to do it without any fear, because now I know it brings fruit! This trip gave me a good experience too. And if I could have an opportunity to go there again, I would go for sure!”
The mission was a success. The team returned home encouraged & uplifted by their experience, at least 4 people made decisions to follow Christ, & many new contacts were made in the local community. This was the third mission that Peter & Lucia had hosted in 2007, and their reputation as a Church that wants to help the local community is growing fast. They are desperate to impact Brezno with God’s love, & are clearly beginning to accomplish this.
Ukraine also hosted a mission in Poltava: a team from Kings CC, Bedworth (UK) returning for their fourth year. The main focus of this mission was leadership training within the church plant & a 4-day kids/youth camp. Although NLI sets a minimum age limit for mission teams, we are flexible, & love seeing children & teenagers mobilised on mission. One of the King’s team was only 12yrs old. After the mission she told us, “During the mission, one girl gave her heart to Jesus, & 2 were baptized in a lake. I am pretty sure that the mission impacted their lives. Being on mission made me appreciate what I have: the kids had no PlayStation, DVD, or iPod, but they could still have fun. The people seemed very poor, but they were so generous. There were challenges on the mission. The temperature was around 40 degrees most of the week, we were eaten alive by mosquitoes, the showers were cold, & we did seem to eat a lot of potatoes. But even so, I loved being on mission & would definitely recommend it to anyone. It was a great, amazing, fun, tiring, experience!”
One of the aims of NLI’s mission teams is to help raise the profile of the local church within communities dominated by Orthodox and Roman Catholic tradition. One church planter from Swierzawa (Poland) was very positive about the mission he hosted in August. The team, from Nottingham (UK), really got to know people in the local community & held numerous events that helped raise the profile of the local church plant. The Pastor said, “I am looking forward to having teams again and am very positive about working with NLI. The community in Swierzawa is still talking about the mission. Even people who live on the outskirts know that there was a Christian group from England.”
The Pastor gave this example. A former miner in his 50s, known as a heavy drinker, got chatting to the team one day. That evening he turned up to church ‘refreshed’, shaven, and in his traditional miners outfit (only worn twice a year!). He visited the team again a few days later and was sober. He’s had long conversations with the pastor, and wants to be part of the Christian community. This man was well respected in Swierzawa, but his retirement and alcoholism had caused him to be a bit of a laughing stock. He said that what struck him was how the Christians treated him seriously and were open for conversation. The man has really changed since the team was here, and we hope he will find the truth.
NLI’s mandate for leadership development in Europe also embraces its Internship program. What better opportunity and experience could there be for 2 young Canadian interns than to lead a team on mission? In June we received an SOS from Hosanna church, Czestochowa, Poland. They host an annual youth outreach camp, but faced having to call it off, because the regular team were unable to go and help. NLI was able to put together a small team, led by the 2 interns, to go and help at the camp. The camp included worship, teaching, small group discussion, English classes, & the intrepid ‘Fear Factor’ competitions. What a ‘stroke of luck’ that one of the interns is a gifted linguist & was able to help with the English classes! 90 young people attended the camp; half of these were not Christians, but by the end of the week, 25 had made decisions to follow Christ.
One rather unusual mission activity saw a team from Asheville (USA) visit a local prison in Most (CZ) as part of ongoing ministry by the local Pastor. They spoke to 25 inmates. A major element of the mission was the schools’ work: 6 lessons in 3 different schools, teaching English & talking about US culture. Although the team weren’t able to talk about God, they were able to invite the teenagers to other events, & saw 15 of them make first-time decisions.
One of the team writes, “One of our greatest surprises was the impact we had on the youth through the local school systems. To our amazement, many kids were inspired by our visit and opted to spend as much time as possible with us. Our lessons involved American Culture/History and English. But God knew that he was using us to build a bridge to introduce them to so much more, especially with the Pastor from our host church. Amazingly, the cities’ name “Most” means Bridge in Czech. We were amazed to see the working of God’s design coming together. Jordan (12) and Jessica (15) were huge hits and totally impacted the youth of that region. They were so hungry for the spirit of God and wanted to spend as much time with us they could.”
PRAYER TEAMS (3)
There is no doubting the highlight of the year – the remarkable growth & impact of the Prayer Teams. In 2007 NLI saw a four-fold increase in the number of people going on Prayer Mission. Traditionally appealing to more mature (older) people, we have seen fresh young faces on these trips & a renewed passion for prayer & intercession; imperative for church growth, impacting communities, & the expanding God’s Kingdom.
The first team (7 Brits, 4 Canadians & 1 American) visited Slovakia in June. They visited all the Church Planting couples, spending time in personal ministry and prayer-walking in towns and cities. They hosted 2 ‘prayer ministry’ seminars & invited people from all the churches involved in the project. After a ministry time on the Sunday morning in Zvolen, several church members had miraculous answers to prayer. One lady came to know Christ at the train station after a local man, who’d spent time with the team, had witnessed to her.
One team member wrote, “What an inspiration and honour to minister to the church planters. They are wonderful. It was great to see what the Lord is doing in and through these groundbreakers. We visited pastors, ministered at a Sunday meeting and were involved in two prayer seminars. It was like an all-inclusive holiday with bonus prayer ministry opportunities! One of the unexpected highlights came on the last night. We gave our waiter written prophetic words as we paid our bill. His reaction was great! He beamed with happiness and said he felt like crying. It was very special. He couldn’t wait to tell his girlfriend. He said it was the best day he had ever had and would treasure them. The words really spoke into his life at this important time, as he is looking to start his own business in the next 12 months!”
The Romanian Prayer Mission, (September) was very much a pioneer trip in many ways. The team were mobilised ahead of the official launch of the Church Planting project in November, and have helped provide a great foundation for this project in the S.E. region of Romania. The trip also enabled NLI to ‘experiment’ with different team leaders; non-NLI leaders, but still very experienced in prayer ministry. This proved a great success & will help NLI mobilize more prayer teams in the future.
The prayer team divided their time between Constanta and Galati, visiting 15 different Churches. They spent time praying for, and encouraging the Church Planters, and prayer-walking around the towns & villages. God gave the team great insight into the spiritual climate and needs of each location, which will be invaluable to the local Pastors and visiting STM teams over the coming years. One team member wrote, “…Our only ‘weapons’ were the ones God put in our hands: authority to bind up spiritual powers, authority to declare scriptures, powerful imagery spoken into lives, anointing with oil, praying for the sick, & worshiping together. Seeking to use these things we focused on places, powers, & the people God has moved to carry out His work. We met many wonderful, strong, hard working, yet gentle & humble Romanians.”
“By the end of the trip, much had been learned: The laughter of friendships forged & strengthened, alternating with tears of compassion felt for the homeless, flood victims, sick, & prostitutes. God worked through me in a particular way at a particular time. Likewise I’m certain He used each of the unique circumstances & gifting of everyone on the trip as we responded to the urging of God’s Spirit. I will never be in those exact circumstances again. I’m so glad & thankful that God gave me this opportunity to serve Him.
By far the largest team (21) visited Czech Republic in September. The all-American team, led by Bill and Linda Howell, came from four different US states including Arizona, Illinois, Indiana and Maryland. They were pastors and their wives, principles, teachers, nurses, government workers, retirees, etc. It was a great mix of ages, mission experiences, and backgrounds.
A new CP Project is set to launch in January 2008. The team, along with men, women and youth from eastern Czech, walked and prayed in key areas within the targeted cities. They took part in church services, bringing encouragement through testimony, preaching, and prayer with local believers.
The team joined with local believers to pray in 9 different cities, targeting the thousands of inhabitants in those locations. They were encouraged to engage with residents to let them know about the new churches being planted. This led to many opportunities to share and pray for people individually. At least one young man made a commitment to Christ and several others were prayed for.
One of the specific prayer requests was for more church planters. Until May, only four couples felt called to get involved. When Bill and Linda returned in September for a training conference, three more people (2 couples and single woman) had come forward to say God was burdening them to become church planters. One terminally ill Pastor was prayed for, and received a significant healing touch in his body. He was well enough to attend the training conference.
Overall, the churches in the area were really encouraged by the team, and are believing God for great things.
EXPLORATORY TRIP (1)
NLI has found great success in taking pastors and leaders on ‘exploratory’ trips prior to the launch of Church Planting projects. These ‘missions’ raise awareness and enable people to see what God is doing in Europe. More importantly they challenge those with the power to do something to actually engage further in these needy countries.
In May, NLI’s Kevin Westfield led an ‘Exploratory Team’ to Romania. The trip was specifically aimed at Pastors, leaders, and missions’ staff from the partner churches involved in the project – 15 guys from 4 different nations. The trip gave the team some insight into the local communities where church plants will be pioneered. It was also a great opportunity to identify the specific needs of the Church Planters and encourage them on their faith journey. The team visited well over 30 cities, towns, and villages. Each had a story to tell. On the Sunday, the team divided into five groups to preach in different locations. Two leaders went to one of the most traditional churches in the region. So many people came forward for prayer after the preaching of God’s word that the service lasted five hours! Many miracles took place that day: A woman who had a big cist on her knee was healed when it shrivelled into nothing. Another man was healed when one of his legs grew so that it was the same length as the other. We believe that many more miraculous signs and wonders will take place over the coming years, as mission teams flood into the region.”
FACTS/FIGURES
15 teams – 11 STM, 3 Prayer, & 1 Exploratory
5 Nations – Ukraine, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Romania, and Poland
1st time decisions: 136
Other decisions: 2 baptisms & 9 re-commitments
Schools outreach: 13 different classes – 410 kids
Adults: 1,485
Kids/youth: 1,125
Total numbers ‘reached’ by STM teams in 2007: 2,610
If you would like to know more about any of NLI’s mission opportunities for 2008, please contact me – judith.linnell@nlieurope.com or go to the NLI website – www.nlieurope.com
Uncategorized | Judith | 
December 1, 2007 10:05 am | 
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