Posts Tagged ‘discipleship’
English Gatherings Lead to Spiritual Quests in Italy
It started with bagels. When Greater Europe Mission worker Theo* and his team members noticed the familiar treats behind the counter at a coffee shop in a large Italian city, they hoped its owner, Allegra, would be open to hosting the English conversation evenings through which the team could reach out to the community. Not…
Read MoreDiscipling Youth in Austria Through Songwriting
Worship services vary in many ways depending on culture, denomination, and preference. Despite commonalities, everything from length of the sermon to style of prayer differs between congregations. As a musician, my attention tends to shift to the musical part of worship. Is there a band? If so, what is the arrangement? What genres of music…
Read MoreReconciling People—and Cultures—to God
“You’ve changed,” said Mary-Vonn’s friends to her with concerned expressions. “What’s wrong with you?” When the slender sixty-year-old woman with dyed reddish-brown hair explained to them that she had finally put her faith in Jesus and become a true believer, the news didn’t go over well. “Aren’t we Catholics, after all?” They objected, clearly offended. “What…
Read MoreThe Sending Triangle: Helping Global Workers Launch Well
The sending triangle is a crucial element in making sure a cross-cultural worker thrives from start to finish. Each entity (or corner of the triangle) is vital to the success of the mission. The sending church is tasked with commissioning workers, gathering the human resources for Advocacy Teams (more on these team later), mobilizing financial partners and…
Read MoreHow Ilse Met Jesus—and Brought Others to Him, Too
Standing at a bus stop in Vienna, Steffi, an Austrian believer in her 60s couldn’t help but notice the somber expression on another woman her age. She approached the stranger and learned her name was Ilse. Soon, she invited her to the small group she attended with her husband Franz through their church. It turned…
Read MoreSharing the Gospel at the Corrie ten Boom House
Nestled in the city of Haarlem, Netherlands, is a historic house with an impactful story. At its front entrance, quality watches were once sold and fixed for the public, while the remainder of the home was occupied by the shop’s owners: the Ten Boom family. Though this home and business would appear unassuming, it…
Read MoreBreaking Bread Together: A Dinner Ministry in Germany
Megan felt inspired. She’d spent a wonderful week at a Christian community and study center, sitting around the dinner table, talking about life’s big questions with the other guests. Those conversations over delicious food had encouraged her as she pondered the next phase of her ministry with Greater Europe Mission. Her fellow diners’ words had…
Read MoreDiscipleship Multiplication Grows the Church in Europe
Discipleship multiplication is at the core of Greater Europe Mission, and the intentional, reproducible model Nathan Beck uses is one such example of Christ growing His Church. Having lived for more than two decades in the Czech Republic, Beck recently shared how discipleship multiplication is increasingly becoming the norm across Europe. After attending a discipleship…
Read MoreThe Overlooked Field: The 40/70 Window
Walking down the city streets of Budapest, London, or Rome, you’ll likely notice a cultural diversity among the urban landscapes. Europe is a kaleidoscope of cultures and its inhabitants now unmistakenly diverse. From a missional perspective, seeing the nations of the world becoming increasingly accessible—many of which coming right to our doorsteps—is inspiring. Traditionally, the focus of…
Read MoreThe Crux of Missions
Spend some time online searching for the answer to “Why Missions” and you will find two overarching responses to this question. Why do we want people to go to the nations? As a missionary mobilizing organization, Greater Europe Mission has a vested interest in getting this answer right. So, why missions? The two predominant answers simply…
Read MoreThe Great Commission in the City
What do you think of when you hear the words populated, busy, or traffic? How about nightlife, museums, and restaurants? Do you think of a place where you might live? A place where you might want to live and serve? With over half of the world’s population living in cities, it’s no wonder long-time church…
Read MoreFrom Uncertainty to Belief: Jan’s Story
Jan seemed to enjoy the weekly dinners around Jay and Nancy Matsingers’ table as they led a small gathering through an Alpha Course. Together with the others in the group, the blond-haired young professional expressed curiosity about the gospel and the Bible’s teachings. He was a quiet sort, but that didn’t keep him from participating…
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