Posts by Alex Jacobsen
A Cultural Oasis in the Heart of Paris
Nestled in the heart of the Strasbourg-Saint Denis neighborhood in Paris, between boulangeries and cafes, one may stumble into a small gallery filled with a rotation of different visual and performative arts. Though not rare for this neighborhood, the Agapé Hub stands out as a gallery that is doing more than just showing art––it is…
Read MoreGod Doesn’t Forget: Serving GEM Teens Across Europe
You may have heard that life on the mission field isn’t always easy for cross-cultural workers, but have you considered its impact on their children? What specific challenges do teenagers face? Do they experience the same highs and lows as their parents? Do they naturally follow in their parents’ missional footsteps, or do these third…
Read MoreGod’s Provision in Southern Romania
Like most 18-year-olds in the small, southern Romanian town, it was time for Dani to go away. Job opportunities were scarce in the region near the Bulgarian border, so young people routinely sought work in larger Romanian cities or other European countries. Greater Europe Mission worker Octavian “Tavi” Berechet had known the tall, blond youth…
Read MoreVideo: Rural Church Planting in West Cork
“We always knew we didn’t want to be comfortable Christians,” said Amy, a Greater Europe Mission worker in Ireland. From the beginning, Rob and Amy were involved in local ministry, Bible studies, and discipling relationships in their local towns in Ireland. They began to see many people show up to these ministries, and many seemed…
Read MoreCreating a Church Home in West Cork, Ireland
Mid-morning light pours into the living space at the Attridge home. The hills of the Irish coast loom beautifully out the large windows as the sun rises over them. Rob and Amy laugh and speak excitedly as they tell the story of how God has worked in ways they could have never dreamed. Rob talks…
Read MoreConnecting Hearts: Supporting Female Global Workers
Have you ever fallen victim to the trap of a busy lifestyle? Often, the fruit of this culturally encouraged way of living is stress, exhaustion, and missed opportunities to build relationships. If we are to be effective followers of Jesus, then we need to take care of ourselves, and make time for others. Greater Europe…
Read MoreFive Tips for Choosing a Mission Organization
You’ve felt the call of God to serve in missions, but what do you do next? Maybe you’ve recently returned from a short-term mission trip. Maybe you’ve taken the Perspectives course on world missions. Or maybe you are simply responding to the still, small voice of Jesus beckoning you to serve Him cross culturally. But what do…
Read MoreExchanging Partying for Prayer in East London
On a Friday night in the London neighbourhood of Shoreditch, a group of young men caroused along the High Street. Dressed for a night on the town, they were already tipsy from bar hopping and growing more rambunctious by the minute. As they walked along, they passed the open doors of a church called St.…
Read MoreA Zeal for Europe: How Greater Europe Mission Came to Be
What do you know about Greater Europe Mission (GEM)…like, really know? Do you know why Europe is its focus? Do you know who began GEM or how it began? Many of us know about GEM in its current state: we know it is a mission organization that is passionate about spreading the Gospel across Europe and making…
Read MoreProviding Spiritual Nourishment Along the Camino de Santiago
Greater Europe Mission workers Wes and Sherry couldn’t help but overhear an intriguing conversation at the home of fellow faith-based workers along the Camino de Santiago. Every week they joined these friends for fellowship and encouragement. Sometimes, they invited the occasional pilgrim to share in a meal. On this day, Wes and Sherry encountered a…
Read MoreParis 2024 Olympics: A Nation in Preparation
On an early morning in the center of Paris, France, apartment windows are open, letting a crisp autumn breeze fill the room. The tranquil sounds of commuters and school children passing on the street below greet you through the windows. Suddenly, a loud noise pierces through the rest: the noise of a jackhammer. This is…
Read MoreFive Tips for First-Time Ministry Interns
Dauernheim, Germany. A group of six interns and two leaders gathers around the wooden table in a quaint farmhouse, sharing stories from their time in England, Kosovo, and Italy: some funny, some frustrating, some exultant, some full of disappointment. While each intern’s experience was unique, we had similar questions, frustrations, and struggles during our year…
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