Sunday, November 06, 2005

German National Assembly

Our family has just returned from the German National Assembly which was held this year in Kirchheim (Hessen). The kids love going to the meeting because we get to live in a vacation cottage, participate in the kids' program, see some of our PK friends (preacher's kids), and have access to an indoor swimming pool (at the convention center complex). Claudia likes it because she doesn't have to cook -- the meals are a part of the convention package.

This year was special, though. Tom was invited to be one of the speakers for the plenary sessions in the morning program. The Church of God in Germany is relatively small. We have about 75 churches in the whole country. Pentecostalism is widely considered to be a sect/cult. In fact, less than 3% of the population claims to be evangelical (in comparison to 35% in the USA). My topic/task was to share with the German church pastors and delegates the international scope and size of the ministries of our denomination. It is vitally important for us all to realize that we belong to a larger family of Christ.

My part was small. There were plenty of other activities and worship services, too. And the fellowship with pastors, delegates, and church leaders is always irreplaceable.

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

From Russia With Love

I'm waiting for my flight home -- sitting in the Domodedovo Airport in Moscow. I've been here for four days of intensive meetings with educators and church leaders from Russia and Ukraine.

Sometimes I am confronted with a few misconceptions of ministry and working "in missions" by some well meaning folk back in the USA. As a result, it is hard for them to get excited about a "missionary" who spends a lot of time in meetings, but not "ministry."

I guess for these folks, "ministry" is restricted to preaching and teaching from God's word. And no doubt, these are important aspects of the church's ministry. But any missionary who's got his heart set for the Kingdom of God knows that there aren't of "missionaries" to do all the "ministry." I am human and am restricted by the laws of space and time. The most effecient model of ministry is to replicate/multiply the number of people who can do "ministry."

That's what the meetings in Moscow have been all about. In the countries of Russia and Moscow, we have about 200 churches spread out over 4 time zones. We see much potential for growth, but realize that we cannot do all the work ourselves. We can only send so many people to a Bible school. We can only send so many "missionaries" to the regions.

So we have to set strategies. How can we train the most people who will, in turn, eventually become preachers, teachers, and leaders in other areas of our region.

Granted, it is sometimes hard to get excited about meetings with committees and boards, but it is in these meetings that a "missionary" can dialogue with leaders and educators, devise a common strategy that everyone will support, and build relationship and rapport with those who will eventually carry out the ministry. Thinking about the long--term goal is what keep us all motivated to "sit through" a meeting.

Thankfully, we have a great group of pastors and educators who are committed to reaching their world for Christ. That is such an encouragement.

Now the meetings are over....and we look forward to the future.

But now it's time to get back home. Family is just as important of a ministry -- they build me up. And sometimes it's even mutual.. :-)

Thursday, October 13, 2005

PTL! Brianna is doing better!

Yesterday my wife made a big trip with our five-year old daughter to the big city of Stuttgart. For the past 18 months, Brianna has been plagued with a urinary track infection caused by a VUR, a reflux caused by the improper shape of the bladder and urinary track. In severe cases, it may lead to kidney infections and disease. Many children have an improperly shaped urinary track and as the body grows, the physical anomaly takes care of itself.

So, yesterday was the big check up at the nearby children's hospital. They filled up her bladder with some stuff that can be seen by the x-ray machine. Needless to say, it was an unpleasant experience. But the premilinary report indicates that Brianna no longer has the reflux. If this is the case, she may not need surgery to correct the problem and we can look at taking her off antibiotics next month.

To celebrate the news, Claudia and Brianna did want most women want to do.... Go shopping. So the two of them raided Stuttgart's large pedestrian zone and shopped for shoes. At five years of age, Brianna has already a clear sense of fashion, having found a "must buy" pair of stylish boots.... Now my wallet needs to go someplace for healing.

Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Trip To Romania

I just returned from Romania where I taught an “Introduction to Leadership” course. Imagine packing a two (semester) credit hour course into one week. It proved to be an intensive week for students and teacher alike. But we had a great group of students.

I arrived in Bucharest on Friday, Septmeber 31, in order to participate in the graduation exercises of our Bible school. The school has a long and rich history. During the days of communism, the school was allowed only five students a year (a total enrollment, not per class). Now, the Institute of Pentecostal Theology Bucharest is a four-year, bachelor’s degree granting institution. This year IPTB graduated 39 students and has an incoming class of 50 new students. That’s a big praise report!

On the Sunday evening after the graduation service, I was given the opportunity to preach in the Philadelphia Church in Bucharest. 23 years ago as a member of the Lee Singers, we visited this church and held an impromptu worship service. Everyone present felt the sweet presence of the Holy Spirit – even our communist tour guides! In 1983, most people never dreamed of the freedoms that would come to Romania. And I certainly never thought that I would have the opportunity to preach in this very church. It was humbling, yet at the same time pretty cool!

One of the interesting things about the Romanian culture, they have two full sermons per service. Plus plenty of music before, between and after the sermons. Dr. Lynn Stone (from Cleveland) and I kept things short, only preaching 35 minutes each.

Later this month, I’ll be in Moscow. During the first week of November, Claudia and I will be at the German National Assembly where I am one of the morning speakers. More details on this later.

Monday, September 19, 2005

The Video is Now Available

Finally, our long awaited video is now available! Although it is available on DVD (which has better quality/resolution), we know have it also available on the web.

If you would like to view our video through World Missions website, please click here.

If you would like to download the video directly to your computer (17 MB), please right mouse click here and save to your computer. (Or you can watch it directly with Windows Media Player.)

Monday, July 25, 2005

Prague and Belarus


The first big event in July was the was a seminar held in Prague for pastors from Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic. Although Tom was a featured guest speaker, the main speaker for the weekend was Dr. Lamar Vest. The topic of the seminar was “Ministering out of our brokenness.” Although Tom’s role in the meeting was minor, it was the opportunity for him to be introduced to the overseers from both Hungary and Poland and to discuss with them the educational needs of their countries. We have already begun to develop a strategy for ministerial training in this region.

Later in July, Tom traveled to Minsk where the Belarusian Church of God has just begun its first MIP program. This was a follow-up meeting from Tom’s initial visit in April. If all goes as planned, the cohort will finish its first unit of study — Old Testament Survey — by Christmas.