Posts by Alex Jacobsen
Video: From Club Scene to Evangelist
Growing up in a small Romanian village, Ciprian aspired for more. With a desire to make a name for himself and have recognition, Ciprian sought fame through singing. After being accepted into Romania’s Got Talent, the producers suddenly stopped communicating with him. In his hunger for acceptance, Ciprian began singing in clubs. His life started to…
Read MoreVideo: A Testimony of Hope and Healing
Growing up in a home that was unsafe and unsteady, Kelsey was forced to move across her home country of Belgium at a young age. Fighting through suicidal thoughts and depression, Kelsey saw no future for herself. Just as she was about to give up, she met Aggie, a GEM worker serving in Belgium. Through…
Read MoreFouzia’s Journey from Muslim to Follower of Jesus
GEM worker, Luke Baublet, serves in Berlin, a city with a downcast spirit of loneliness. For years, he has asked God to connect him with believers who want to make disciples; Fouzia was an answer to that prayer. Previously a Muslim, Fouzia found herself longing for a deeper faith. Upon connecting with Luke and a…
Read MoreVideo: Serving the Forgotten through Prosthetic Ministry
Dance was a big part of Dina’s life, and she was good at it. When she suffered a leg injury, the doctors found that it was much more and discovered bone cancer in Dina’s leg. After amputation, she felt like a prisoner. The prosthetic was painful to use, and social acceptance was even worse. People…
Read MoreMinistering to Missionary Kids at Black Forest Academy
Outside a small town in the Black Forest of Germany, twenty high school boys circle up on a basketball court. As the sun sinks below the hills, they yell affirmations at the birthday boy in their midst. Finally, their voices call out in unison: “We challenge you in humility, bravery, and respect!” These boys temporarily…
Read MoreConnecting with Your Mission Field through History
She stood at the front of a long procession, hands bound and head held high. Miss Konstantopoulou knew what lay ahead, and so did the 49 others fettered behind her. There was only one reason why people were brought to the Kaisariani Shooting Range. And there was only one way out of what the SS…
Read MoreReaching the Nations through Ministry in Europe
Like many Muslims, a university student named Onur came to faith in Christ because of a dream. When he professed that faith to his Turkish family, they immediately kicked him out of the house and cut ties with him. His uncle, a resident of a large European city, even flew home to stage an intervention,…
Read MoreSeeing Fruit in German Church Planting
Fifty-six-year-old Carsten gazed with curiosity at the small gift and the invitation he had just collected from his mailbox. The signature revealed it was from a young woman in her mid-thirties who lived in his apartment building. He hardly knew her! Why, then, would Hanna think of him at Christmastime and invite him to church…
Read MoreReaching the Heart of Europeans through Art
It is no secret that Europe is a region with an incredibly rich history of the arts. As an artist, I have often asked myself: How does art create unique opportunities for disciple-making? “When you dust off your art supplies and your heart,” she explained over a cup of tea, “things are exposed and healing…
Read MoreWhat is GEM Wellness?
Anyone hoping to serve in long-term ministry should choose an organization that truly cares about them as a person. An organization that genuinely invests in someone’s well-being and doesn’t just see that person as a log in the fireplace of ministry to be used and burned up. An organization that will enable and support people…
Read MoreDiscipleship in Iceland
Ray, a GEM worker, arrived in Iceland in 1985 as a young missionary. As a new field for GEM, the possibilities for ministry in Iceland were wide open. Eventually, Ray became discouraged and frustrated in his ministry in Iceland. “I felt like I hadn’t really accomplished anything. There are no Icelandic people that had come to…
Read MoreBuilding Christian Community in Croatia
The Balkan peninsula has long endured political struggles, economic disparity, and ethnic tribalism, leading to multiple wars. Despite its beautiful landscapes, the region remains on rocky ground, both politically and spiritually. Though there are numerous nominal Christians in the Catholic nation of Croatia, practicing believers are few and far between, with many feeling isolated like…
Read More