National Assembly and Credentialing Service

Over the Easter weekend, I traveled to Serbia where I was the main speaker for their national convention. Also in attendance were the pastors and members from Macedonia, Bosnia, and Croatia. (In earlier times, this would have been the national meeting of Yugoslavia. Even after the civil war and the disintegration of their former homeland, the ministers and members from these countries still convene yearly.) During the convention, the we had about 150 pastors and delegates.

This year, the convention was held in Karanovac - the "Bethlehem" of the Church of God in this region. The theme text of the weekend was Mark 4:26-29 and the gathering of the harvest. I spoke twice on Friday (including a Good Friday service) and during Saturday's credentialing service. Altogether eight ministers were celebrating the day (four ordained ministers, two licensed ministers, and two exhorters). After traveling 300 km on Saturday afternoon, I spoke on Easter Sunday morning in Sr. Mitrovia at the church led by Serbian Overseer Miroslav Radovanovic. (Miroslav and his wife, Blaza, were former students of mine there.)

Impressions from Leadership Conference in Hungary

We have just concluded the leadership conference for our denomination in Central and Eastern Europe. The meeting was held October 7-11, in Hajduszoboszlo, Hungary which is only 30 km from the university town of Debrecen.

This year's conference had three major highlights.

• Our guest speaker was Dr. Fred Garmon, president of "People for Care and Learning". As I have noted in earlier blog posts, Fred and I were in our doctoral program together at Regent. And we have enjoyed each other's friendship over the years. Fred taught on leadership develop - which is his area of specialty - and did a great job.
• Farewell and celebration of the ministry of Dieter and Hildegard Knospe who will retire at the upcoming General Assembly. Besides gifts for the Knospe's, various representatives from our field area spoke words of appreciation on behalf of the entire audience.
• 10-year anniversary of the Church of God in Hungary. Actually the Church of God in Hungary goes all the way back to the 1920s and '30s. However, with the help of the Nazi regime and the war, and the communist government that followed, this initial COG denomination disintegrated. In 1999, a new start began with missionary Csaba Tenkeley and today we have 25 congregations.

This year's conference had its usual share of representatives from Germany, Austia, Norway, Latvia, Poland, Czech Republic, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Russia (including Siberia, too), Ukraine, and Hungary (of course).

Anyone Hungary?

During the second full weekend of February, I had the opportunity to travel to and minister in Hungary. Originally, the plan was for me to travel with two colleagues (Dieter Knospe and Paul Schmigall) to Debrecen and Hajduszoboszlo to map out and plan the upcoming Eastern European/Eurasian Leadership Conference for the fall. But while there, we were asked to be involved in the local ministries there.

As it turned out, Paul Schmidgall fell ill (flu) and cancelled at the last minute. Dieter Knopse drove to Hungary and combined it with ministerial responsibilities in Austria. So I ended up doing most of the speaking and teaching in Debrecen.

So.... after a great Friday of planning with our local organizers (Csaba Tenkeley and Dan Smith). I was asked to teach on Saturday in a training program for gypsy pastors (see picture) -- eventually teaching for almost four hours on leadership and conflict resolution and servant leadership. Later that afternoon, I then spoke at the International Church of God in Debrecen. An English speaking congregation serving the university community led by Dan Smith. On Sunday morning, I spoke at the Hungarian congregation pastored by Daniel Kriszt.

This was one of the few trips in Eastern Europe where my knowlege of German came in really handy. One of my translaters worked better from German into Hungarian (leadership classes), while the church services went from English into Hungarian. But then again, when one remembers the strong bonds between Hungary and Austria, it shouldn't come as a surprise that German is used broadly as a second language there.

The June Madness is Over

Earlier I wrote about the European version of "March Madness" (the NCAA college basketball playoffs, for those not familiar with American sports). June has been the month of European soccer. And it was not something that could be ignored by those who hate sports.

Sixteen countries have battled it out over the last four weeks. Last night, the championship game was played between Germany and Spain. Although the final score was 1-0, Spain clearly dominated the game -- consistent with all of their games throughout the tournament.

However, Germany placed much higher than most experts had expected. Italy (the winners of the World Cup in 2006) and France (who placed 2nd in 2006) along with Holland were tipped to be favorites. Spain hadn't won a major tournament in 44 years.

So...last night was the last gathering of our church for a soccer game...until the World Cup begins in 2010.

Life in Germany - Diesel $ 7.52 per gallon

I've just written about it last week, so I won't belabor the point. The raising oil price, the declining dollar just simply makes for some interesting prices for life in Germany.

• Diesel (which we have) costs today $7.52 per gallon
• A gallon of regular gasoline costs $8.18.
• A gallon of milk is $4.06 (generic name brand); most common name brand - $5.29
• A pound of Elstar apples costs $6.44 (but who buys them by the pound?)
• We paid $4.43 for a package of sliced ham (10.15 oz) at the discount retailer Lidl (like Aldi's)

And for us missionaries who get paid in US dollars, we can only say ouch!

Much Ado About Nothing

Having compassion with our American friends who now must live with reruns of Leno and Letterman, I would like to share an article that I found. I assure you that this is a legitimate news item. Perhaps you've heard, "to err is human, but to really mess things up you need a computer." Well, I'm not sure if that is always true. The article is available with the Daily Mirror and Ananova.

An energy company threatened to take a Manchester man to court - over an "unpaid" bill for £0.00p.Dave Abrams, of Wythenshawe, was astonished when he received the letter from Powergen, reports The Daily Mirror.

Mr Abrams, who is in his 50s and lives alone, switched energy providers from Powergen to npower several months ago.He heard nothing from Powergen until the legal warning notice came through the door.

The letter, dated October 19, warned Mr Abrams he owed the company £0.00 for gas and electricity and said if he did not pay up he would be visited by a debt collection agency.It added that he could also be taken to court and, as a result, may find it difficult to obtain credit in future.

Mr Abrams said: "I was a bit nonplussed when I received the letter. I couldn't understand why they'd sent it, as I was on a pre-pay meter."

Powergen later confirmed the letter was sent in error. But it then told Dave, in his 50s, he owed £502 after paying too little when prices went up. Dave protested he was on prepay and Powergen admitted his meter should have been recalibrated. To reflect the blunder, his bill was cut to £300 to be paid within two years. But furious Dave had had enough.

Dave said: "I couldn't believe it when they phoned to apologise for the original bill, then told me I owed £500. I said I'd see them in court. I'm astonished they're so hopeless."

Europe: Creationism is a Threat to Human Rights?

The following is an excerpt out of an article from Reuters News Agency. For the entire story, click here. It's one thing to dismiss Christian beliefs as "superstitious." But when governments or International bodies start labeling basic beliefs as threats to human rights.... Well, you can figure out the rest.

Europe's main human rights body voted on Thursday to urge schools across the continent to firmly oppose the teaching of creationist and "intelligent design" views in their science classes.

The Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly approved a resolution saying attacks on the theory of evolution were rooted "in forms of religious extremism" and amounted to a dangerous assault on science and human rights.

The text said European schools should "resist presentation of creationist ideas in any discipline other than religion." It said the "intelligent design" view defended by some United States conservatives was an updated version of creationism.

The Council, based in the eastern French city of Strasbourg, oversees human rights standards in member states and enforces decisions of the European Court of Human Rights. The resolution, which passed 48 votes to 25 with 3 abstentions, is not binding on the Council's 47 member states but reflects widespread opposition among politicians to teaching creationism in science class.

Europe's Mutually Assured Decline -- Naisbitt

As I mentioned in previous post, I'm working through John Naisbitt's Mind Set! (2006) and his predictions of future trends that shape our world. His past books Megatrends (1982) and Megatrends 2000 (1990) were amazingly accurate in describing the world in which we now live. One chapter is dedicated to Europe (or more precisely the European Union). And since I live and minister in Europe, I paid close attention to Naisbitt's prognosis, which is best summed up in the first paragraph of that chapter.

The "Statue of Europe" has two hearts and 25 mindsets. The 25 country mindsets are stirring a mixture with ingredients that do not blend: tradition, ambition, welfare, and economic leadership. Her two hearts beat in different rhythm, one for economic supremacy and one for social welfare. Proud and ambitious, each one wants to be right. But to reach either goal, they have to compromise, and neither side is willing to do so. My experiences make me believe that Europe is much more likely to become a history theme park for well-off Americans and Asians than the world's most economically dynamic region as it has proclaimed it wants to be. Economically, Europe is on the past of Mutually Assured Decline.

The hurdles for economic growth in the Europe are:

• High taxes and big governments
• Less innovation
• Slow productivity growth
• Restrictive labor laws
• Declining export market share and the raising protectionism.
  

What are the implications for the church? If Naisbitt's prognosis is true, will the economic hardships in Europe lead its inhabitants to look to God? Will the past promises of humanism, of which Europe is so proud, be recognized as weak and empty?

Where's Waldo?

It's a bit late, but finally I have a picture of the participants from the Central and Eastern European Leadership Conference that was held in Kniebis, Germany this past June.

Countries represented were Germany, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Russia, Romania, Hungary, Poland, and Austria.

August Update - Germany and Indianapolis

Germany and Indianapolis
This first half of July, Tom was able to focus his work in Germany. In addition to speaking at our church in Rudersberg, Tom also participated in the national pastor’s conference in Kniebis. While in Kniebis, Tom was asked to help formulate a series of theses for discussion at the next national assembly. Then our family traveled to Indianapolis for the General Assembly. Would you believe that we had to take the kids out of school early in order to attend the Assembly? German schools let out this year on August 3..

European Education Committee
The General Assembly is always a time of meetings and more meetings. After all, it is one of the few chances to for all of our colleagues from Europe to get together. One of the meetings we held was that of the European Education Committee. This is a unique committee in that it has representatives from all of (from both western and eastern) Europe. During the meeting, Tom was selected to be the chair of the committee. The previous chairman, John Tipei from Bucharest, resigned in order to focus on his school immediate needs. As chairman of the committee, Tom will coordinate the upcoming education consultation in 2007 and together with the committee devise a master plan of education in Europe.

Vacation and Fundraising in the States
Since the General Assembly, we have been staying with family and friends in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee. Of course, we’ve used the time to see family and to shop at Walmart (there’s nothing like it in Europe). But we have also visited various churches to renew friendship and establish new partnership. Of particular interest is our upcoming visit to Elryia, OH – the town in which Tom was born. But more about our trip in the next thank you letter.

Growth of Education in Central/Eastern Europe

Before leaving for Moscow, Tom had to prepare the biennial reports for our headquarters in America regarding the educational ministries in Central and Eastern Europe. We were pleasantly surprised by the number of people being trained in our Bible schools and other training programs in our part of Europe. In 2004, we reported 501 students or ministers in training. In 2006, the number of students and ministers in training has risen to 819, an increase of 63 percent! Our educational ministries have grown to all of the fifteen countries in our field areas.

My boss, Dieter Knospe, present the following report to our missions board in February.

The following seven Bible schools are located in six countries on our field:
1. European Theological Seminary (ETS-Kniebis), Freudenstadt-Kniebis, Germany

• 52 full-time students
• 240 part-time students in extension courses in various European countries
• About 2,000 additional students enrolled in programs recognized through ETS-Kniebis, in conjunction with the education department of the Church of God in Africa

2. Eurasian Theological Seminary (ETS-Moscow), Moscow, Russia

• 40 full-time students
• approximately 102 students in four extension programs (Russia, Ukraine and Armenia)

3. Pentecostal Theological Institute, Bucharest, Romania

• 136 full-time students
• 19 part-time students
• several students in extension programs (MIP)

4. Bulgarian Theological College, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria

• 23 full-time students
• 20 MIP students

5. Latvian School of Christian Ministries, Jelgava, Latvia

• 147 total students
• 44 part-time students in the seminary
• 104 students in the extension program

6. Ukrainian Bible School, Slavyansk, Ukraine

• 30 full-time students (3-month intensive Bible school)
• 13 MIP students (extension program of ETS-Moscow)

7. Betania Bible Institute, Arad, Romania

• 56 full-time students
• 111 part-time students

Ministerial Internship Program

In each of these countries, the MIP program is operating parallel to the Bible institutes. The MIP course has 20 students in Austria, around 40 students in Armenia, and around 40 students in Belarus. The program also has been implemented in Hungary and Poland. In Prague, Czech Republic, we also have the discipleship training school, "The Mission," with many part-time students.

CIMS ProgressThe CIMS programs also are in the process of being translated into Russian, Hungarian, Polish, Ukrainian, Latvian, Bulgarian and German.

Eurasian Theological Seminary, Moscow
I particularly want to mention ETS Moscow. Located in the metropolis of the former Soviet Union with an impressive building, this school provides the Church of God with an extraordinary opportunity and challenge to build the kingdom of God and reach the Russian Empire and its many satellite countries with the gospel. It is completely possible to plant and sustain thousands of Church of God congregations in the region. ETS Moscow is predestined to take a key roll in this great task. Moscow is an ideal location: we could not have a better location. The facility of ETS is the fulfillment of a dream and offers excellent possibilities and space for 100 students.

As positive as these facts are, it would be a fallacy to think that a good building with a good location makes a good school - if it makes a school at all. What can really make ETS an excellent school is more competent faculty - dedicated and loyal to our denomination, teaching, training and motivating our students.

A second need at ETS-Moscow is that it has a slim operating budget, considering it is a school located in one of the most expensive cities of the world. With such a low budget, it is questionable if the school can continue to function. The costs of the new building are several times more than those of the smaller, more limited facility they used to occupy. Moscow is not only expensive in general, but the prices and the cost of living continue to rise with high inflation. In addition, the weakening of the US dollar has not helped.

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.