Home Assignment

We will be in the US on August 1 for what is called “Home Assignment.”  Missions agencies used to call these times “furlough”, but that suggested “vacation”, which it definitely is not!  In most agencies, overseas workers are brought home for 1 year of Home Assignment each four years.  In the type of work we are doing, that is not practical, since International Churches tend to see up to 40% turnover each year in the congregation.  To take a full year off would simply be impractical, so we planned to have shorter periods of Home Assignment every two years.  The concept is found in Acts 14:26-27, when Paul and Barnabas returned from their first missionary journey and reported to the church at Antioch, that had sent them out, all that God had done over the previous two years.  We will be doing much the same.  Over the next 8 weeks, we will be sharing with partnering friends and congregations and with potential new partners what God is doing in Darmstadt and around the world through the planting of English-language churches in cities around the world.  We will be looking to close the final portion of our financial support, and giving individuals and churches the opportunity to support other church planters who are waiting to get to the cities God has called them.  Please pray for us as we will be driving to at least 8 states, and speaking in at least 8 churches, and meeting with current and potential partners in the ministry.  Our schedule is below.  If you are in the neighborhood, we would love to get together with you – send us an email to let us know!  If we are not getting to your area, please be assured that we would love to visit every one of our ministry partner friends, but it just isn't possible. 

Please pray for our church leadership in Darmstadt during our absence.  The church will continue to minister through the weeks we are gone with regular service and LIFE Groups meeting.  Visiting pastors and men from the church will be filling the pulpit, and there is much that must be done by our faithful leaders – who must juggle their church responsibilities with their career and family responsibilities.  Like Paul, we have been encouraged by the fact that the Lord “has many people in this city!”

We return in late September to prepare for the launch of a new year of ministry in the city of Darmstadt.  Our English-language movie theater ads are set to begin at the end of August.  We plan to do a prayer walk and Bible distribution to students at the University as part of our first birthday celebration weekend on October 5-6, and will be expanding and multiplying our LIFE Groups through the fall.  Pray for God’s blessing and leading on the plans, and pray that we will remain sensitive to His leading, and flexible to His sovereign timetable in all things!

Home Service Schedule

August 4 – New Cumberland, WV

August 18 – Danville, VA

August 25 – Epikos, Milwaukee, WI

September 1 – Oakbrook Curch, Green Bay, WI

September 7 – Open House & Reception – Mayville WI

September 8 – Gateway Community, Mayville, WI

September 15 – Wellspring Community, Hartford, WI