Posts Tagged ‘discipleship’
Discipleship 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 MoreEncouraging Locals to Fulfill the Great Commission in Germany
Crystal, a Greater Europe Mission global worker in Germany, first noticed Karina* when she came to church pushing her younger brother in a wheelchair. The young woman, no more than thirty but looking much older, walked with slumped shoulders and a hesitant gate. Her hair was dirty and disheveled. Stains marred the rumpled blouses, skirts…
Read MorePrison Ministry in France
“I’ve trusted in Jesus for about six years now,” the dark-haired, middle-aged prisoner confided to GEM worker Leroy Zumack. “And now I want to be baptized.” Leroy could hardly believe his ears. This request from Hamid was another surprising development in a string of amazing events. For fifteen years, Leroy had faithfully shown up at…
Read MoreMinistering to Missionary Kids
“I just wanted to ask you… What do you think I should do?” I struggled to hide my surprise at the question and the confession that preceded it. 48 hours after meeting me for the first time, this teenager poured out her heart to me. She asked me for advice as we trudged down the…
Read MoreDiscipleship Multiplication in France
Fatima had only recently come to Christ, but when her church held an evangelism event, she decided to take part. On one level, she knew this would be a good opportunity to learn how to share her testimony. On another level, she felt nervous as she stood in the train station, handing out gospel tracts. If people just…
Read MoreA Missionary’s Impact in the Faith Journey
“You have been a huge part of my spiritual journey,” Linda commented. “In fact, you were the first person who explained what grace meant for me personally.” Linda had just taken the position of manager at the Riasc Center, a ministry of Swords Baptist Church in north County Dublin, Ireland. As one of the leaders…
Read MoreZoom: A Vital Ministry Partner
“What happens now?” thought Emilee as the pandemic bore down on France, resulting in what seemed like an eternal state of lockdown. “How am I supposed to continue my ministry under these circumstances?” She had been meeting with a couple of women in a discipleship capacity, until one of them moved away and the other…
Read MoreHow to Share the Gospel While in Lockdown
How can I know Jesus is the Son of God? How can I trust the Bible? It is questions like these that 30-year-old Cynthia, and many others, found themselves asking GEM global workers in France as they gathered together virtually. Long-time global workers Jay and Nancy Matsinger have found that the simplicity of reading Scripture…
Read MoreMinistering Alongside Local Believers in Europe
When someone asks if they can pray for me, it’s hard to imagine a scenario when I would decline. So when the woman requested to bless and pray for my husband and me, of course we agreed. We had been slipping out toward the end of a late afternoon Easter Monday worship gathering on the grounds of the…
Read MoreA Muslim Loses All to Gain Peace
She wanted peace. More than anything, she longed for her soul to be at rest. Fatima’s* religious life thus far had been one of constant striving—doing ritual cleansings, fasting, memorizing portions of the Quran, reciting prayers. She had done all she could to be holy, but her efforts left her with a nagging doubt that…
Read MoreMissions as a Young Family
Life circumstances can talk us out of anything, even the beckoning voice of God. People may feel drawn to global missions, but put off obedience to God’s calling indefinitely as they wait for the perfect timing. “After we get married” or “maybe when our kids are older” are common refrains that hold us back from…
Read MoreDiscipling through Unexpected Opportunities
“A couple of months ago I was looking on Facebook Marketplace for some furniture for my apartment and found a set of shoe cabinets I liked for my entryway. I contacted the seller and arranged to pick them up. When I arrived, I was speaking my very poor German and she said, ‘Are you American?’…
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