tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52885782894327470162024-03-19T12:03:04.349-07:00Darmstadt DigestBob Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683351861221577726noreply@blogger.comBlogger149125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288578289432747016.post-78705271308354983342019-03-07T01:50:00.003-08:002019-03-08T00:49:08.388-08:00M.A.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3va3rmz7CV1EBylYFQTw7fIswnBp9QmByvm9A6nkxMGLGqqlMVtfs0tuoSwbI0ARL0FRf9cTOdzDeQKtcBMtCZjb-blDPncNx2mziLD7jse8fzWoPIqfqwp_Ziiq6m7DBqmDjPaVwrgg/s1600/mission-accomplished-vector-16776433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="1000" height="83" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3va3rmz7CV1EBylYFQTw7fIswnBp9QmByvm9A6nkxMGLGqqlMVtfs0tuoSwbI0ARL0FRf9cTOdzDeQKtcBMtCZjb-blDPncNx2mziLD7jse8fzWoPIqfqwp_Ziiq6m7DBqmDjPaVwrgg/s320/mission-accomplished-vector-16776433.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Some of you might remember the day (May 1,
2003) when President George W. Bush landed aboard the aircraft carrier <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">USS Abraham Lincoln</i> and gave a speech
beneath a banner with those words on it. Although he never used the words, it
became known as the "Mission Accomplished Speech."</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTnSfTuwk5ploFN2VoMY_Fk11dENb-l6_CgFj5t9Vr8qWIzuRreMReWbazu_jwOTHn5tdxQCF1IeQnh7hRRlPlVz7FxyuVbRhmVCq5bctHN3wui8b-b-Yxau7LcvzK4OMTsaXHUMjtq0/s1600/900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1400" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTnSfTuwk5ploFN2VoMY_Fk11dENb-l6_CgFj5t9Vr8qWIzuRreMReWbazu_jwOTHn5tdxQCF1IeQnh7hRRlPlVz7FxyuVbRhmVCq5bctHN3wui8b-b-Yxau7LcvzK4OMTsaXHUMjtq0/s200/900.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The banner was not referring to the end of the
war - it still went on - but the specific mission of the men and women on the
Lincoln was completed. They had been deployed in the war zone for 10 months,
longer than any carrier since the Viet Nam War.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">With this newsletter, we are excited and
grateful to share with you that the specific mission to which we have been
called since November 2009 has been accomplished! In that month we sent you our
first newsletter entitled, "Welcome to our Newest Adventure!" We
outlined there our calling and our goals for the years ahead: to <b><span style="color: blue;">plant a new, English-language church in
Darmstadt</span></b><span style="color: #0b5394;">, </span>Germany; to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #38761d;">lay the
foundation for a second church plant in Mannheim</span>, </b>Germany, and <span style="color: #b45f06;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">to assist the International Baptist
Convention (IBC) in creating a church planting movement</b> </span>in Europe and
around the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">That mission has been completed. Like the
sailors on the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lincoln</i>, our specific task
has been completed. The <span style="color: blue;"><b><u>church in Darmstadt</u> </b></span>is now in its 7th year. We've
welcomed hundreds of people from more than 40 nations into our church family -
and baptized new believers from Lebanon, China, Germany, Singapore, Cameroon,
Malaysia, Switzerland, India, Sierra Leone, and the USA. The church has been
blessed with solid leaders and is actively developing strong disciples and
leaders, both for the church here and for churches around the world, as we send
current members to their next international destination. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATAPssu8DYDSCSl0UtAk3KSXnzyM1cVGgdapUxEjWLGB_ZhNvNZf5YcYDyGnkb5mj7W1F6jUsZ9zh3h4Gc8firDmL6SISf2bSkY3DXvkL45COqzjELtd_qjpEl7Zn9f8CMR64xGq_6Vc/s1600/steven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATAPssu8DYDSCSl0UtAk3KSXnzyM1cVGgdapUxEjWLGB_ZhNvNZf5YcYDyGnkb5mj7W1F6jUsZ9zh3h4Gc8firDmL6SISf2bSkY3DXvkL45COqzjELtd_qjpEl7Zn9f8CMR64xGq_6Vc/s200/steven.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The vision of <u><b><span style="color: #38761d;">planting a church in Mannheim</span></b></u>
has not come to fruition but is carried in the DNA of the Darmstadt church. We
have completed a Feasibility Study, made some good connections, and are ready
to move ahead. We are still waiting for God to lead the right church planter to
come and complete that part of that mission. Pray with us that God will soon send
a laborer into that field!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi167tYjQQ7lerw29-qFpDWfq3cVeHt-EUOKYWKDHe_GbQssoiRSRGpXDhvV52HDuJXUrt_ewIyVIBFQXryekOVxBEhReynVZruPHjutl1h_ACeh-cBbM6Drm598T335Oad6idNv00EqHk/s1600/IBC+CP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1595" data-original-width="1600" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi167tYjQQ7lerw29-qFpDWfq3cVeHt-EUOKYWKDHe_GbQssoiRSRGpXDhvV52HDuJXUrt_ewIyVIBFQXryekOVxBEhReynVZruPHjutl1h_ACeh-cBbM6Drm598T335Oad6idNv00EqHk/s200/IBC+CP.jpg" width="200" /></a><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>The IBC</b></span></span></u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b> </b>has experienced dramatic and increasing
momentum in their church planting efforts, from five over a 5-year period
(2012-2016) to 4 in 2018 alone! We have had the opportunity to work alongside
some wonderful pastors and leaders to help implement essential components in a
healthy church planting effort in Europe, South-and Central-America. We've had
the honor to coach church planters and pastors of existing churches as they
worked to multiply Disciple-making churches in France, Germany, Italy, and
Poland. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We thank you for your vital part in completing
this mission! Without your support in prayers and finances, this work would not
have been begun - and certainly never been accomplished! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="height: 86px; margin-left: 524px; margin-top: 43px; mso-ignore: vglayout; position: absolute; width: 154px; z-index: 251663360;"><br /></span><span style="height: 86px; margin-left: 524px; margin-top: 43px; mso-ignore: vglayout; position: absolute; width: 154px; z-index: 251663360;"><br /></span><span style="height: 86px; margin-left: 524px; margin-top: 43px; mso-ignore: vglayout; position: absolute; width: 154px; z-index: 251663360;"><br /></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">But, like that day in 2003, the immediate
mission may be accomplished…but the larger mission goes on! There is still much to do for
the church Darmstadt, and there is a new mission assigned to us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Like us, it is time for you to "turn the
page!" (<a href="https://darmstadtdigest.blogspot.com/2019/03/cm.html">Click Here</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Bob Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683351861221577726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288578289432747016.post-37697034791775993762019-03-07T01:48:00.002-08:002019-03-07T01:48:54.354-08:00C.M.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OIQBXl1HieEeeABUYFkoOAUBuXEohE5Dwuk52M94NNy0arT6EHZY1V_ahbZhEpruieeRDtH7txGh8JvJvJ3-tv0YS73jrH_ohMKN605yQYlqJHZraWDYmZh-a74m5zar2ORpysLPjqo/s1600/charlie-mike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="1347" height="47" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OIQBXl1HieEeeABUYFkoOAUBuXEohE5Dwuk52M94NNy0arT6EHZY1V_ahbZhEpruieeRDtH7txGh8JvJvJ3-tv0YS73jrH_ohMKN605yQYlqJHZraWDYmZh-a74m5zar2ORpysLPjqo/s320/charlie-mike.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Living
in Germany and working with a few current or former US Military personnel, We've
met some great folks. One of them is a friend who signs off his emails with the
phrase, "Charlie Mike". Bob
asked him once what that meant. He explained that it's military code-speak for </span><span style="color: #c55a11; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">"<b>Continue Mission</b>"</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
we complete our work in Darmstadt, we have been given new "orders"
from our Commander and Lord - and we are announcing today that our mission
continues - and we are excited to share the details with you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAgJjDv2D9-sNp6LCt_7fSAFI9rkonS8IHfOB75A0kLpgWQY7HG5rnO-QYrJz8SbVbh2_1JnQAyV_wKbIKN8J4q6HOvvP6vaEiCftSsxzUC4byjaykSJp9ui3fYzyRXYVjciXIbNdmAA/s1600/ename.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="1324" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAgJjDv2D9-sNp6LCt_7fSAFI9rkonS8IHfOB75A0kLpgWQY7HG5rnO-QYrJz8SbVbh2_1JnQAyV_wKbIKN8J4q6HOvvP6vaEiCftSsxzUC4byjaykSJp9ui3fYzyRXYVjciXIbNdmAA/s400/ename.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We
have been appointed </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> by Converge International Ministries to a regional
position, serving as </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #2f5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent1; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;">Impact Team Leader
for Europe/North Africa/Middle East </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>(beginning September </i></span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">1</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>)</i></span><span style="color: #2f5597; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Impact Team
Leader role is multi-faceted, </span><span style="color: #548235; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">providing support to the current workers in the region</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">, but </span><span style="color: #c55a11; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">primarily building
connections with Evangelical ministries among people groups where Converge is
not currently engaged</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">. For example, in recent months we have been made
aware of small pockets of Evangelical pastors working in places like Lebanon,
Egypt, Turkey, Russia, Belarus, and the Republic of Ireland. Our team will work
to connect with these ministry leaders and find out how we can come alongside
them and help them be more effective in reaching their people with the Gospel.
It might be through personal coaching, providing educational opportunities,
arranging short-term missions efforts, or other means.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Our
role will be to work in this effort, but also to <b>recruit a team of pastors and leaders</b> from churches in the US and
abroad who have a heart to help local church leaders be as fruitful as possible
in their efforts to reach those unreached people. </span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><u>(Interested?</u> - <a href="mailto:bobm@converge.org" style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Contact us!</a><u>)</u></span></span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
addition, God has presented us with an opportunity to be involved in a
local-church effort as well! <b>We are
currently planning to assist with the beginning of a new, International,
English-language ministry in the city of Szczecin, Poland.</b> As the 7th
largest city in Poland, Szczecin is part of a Converge Initiative to plant 10
churches in each of the 10 largest cities in that nation. In that on-going
work, we were introduced to Robert Merecz, who pastors a Polish Baptist church,
and has a vision of a vital, English-language ministry associated with that
church. We have been invited to assist in getting that ministry going.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">So, we get to work </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">regionally</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">
- and </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">locally</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">! We are very excited
and grateful to God for this amazing opportunity. And we are excited to ask you
to join us in the work! We will return to the USA in September and begin
working to raise the prayer and financial support needed to fulfill this
mission. </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0;">We
invite you to be a part of what God is doing in Europe - <i><u>and now with an expanded impact to the Middle East and North Africa</u>!</i>
</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Please continue to pray for us, for the church in Darmstadt, and for
the new work that lies before us. And please consider supporting our efforts
financially as we "Continue the Mission!"</span></div>
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<u><span style="color: red; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">How to Support Our Continuing Mission:</span></span></u></h2>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><u>Online support:</u></span> </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Go to</span><a href="http://www.converge.org/give/133261" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> www.converge.org/give/133261</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> to set up a </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">one-time</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, or </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ongoing</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> support from your debit or credit card.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><u>By Bank: </u></b></span><i>Make <u>checks</u> payable to: </i>Converge Worldwide. In the
memo line of the check, please note <b><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">account
# 133261</span>. </b><i>Send checks to: </i>Converge
/ Attn: Jennifer LoGalbo / 2002 S. Arlington Heights Rd. /
Arlington Heights, IL 60005. Jennifer can also help you with <u><i>regular monthly giving from your bank account</i></u>. Call her at 847.879.3235</span></div>
Bob Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683351861221577726noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288578289432747016.post-7521847810784845782017-08-12T07:21:00.001-07:002017-08-12T07:28:12.435-07:00Summer 2017: Sabbatical & StridesMid-August is considered the peak of “holiday season” in Europe. It’s when most of the schools are closed, and families and individuals alike get away for some period of vacation, to get some rest from the hectic pace of work and study. For the Converge International Fellowship church family, this rest period is particularly well-deserved after a very busy and productive season of ministry. Let us share a few highlights with you.<br />
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<b>Personal Sabbatical</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Nicole & Eric in Athens, Greece</td></tr>
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First, the backdrop of all that follows. All the activities and advancements in the church that will follow happened while we were away. We departed on March 23 for the annual <b>Ministry Leadership Conference</b> of the IBC, this year in Athens, Greece. We had a terrific time there, enhanced by the chance to share the experience with our daughter, Nicole and her husband Eric. The theme of the conference this year was “Soul Care for Ministry Leaders,” and was especially encouraging to us as we began a Rest Sabbatical on April 1.<br />
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Our <b>sabbatical </b>gave us time for physical, spiritual, emotional and relational renewal. <b>It began with three weeks in Arizona</b>, hosted by Dennis and Amanda McMains, the Director of European & Middle Eastern ministries for Converge. They generously poured blessings into our souls as we rested there. We also got to spend lots of evenings and weekends in April with our youngest, John, and his girlfriend Kefei, who live nearby in Scottsdale. It was a wonderful start to the sabbatical experience!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With John & Kefei in Arizona</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtzH9TjFTMdFXft8NXSmyEuCWJApo2y0YPwFSdSj_7hbY-vRLsJhTzyG77vRLR919i2tocT2bvFFj0kkAh6FXLrgmDQBO_Jq93zddxf0zXB1brixGUB36E1o-NLqS-7XNeVSUmRdJcfE/s1600/IMG_20170417_183025091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtzH9TjFTMdFXft8NXSmyEuCWJApo2y0YPwFSdSj_7hbY-vRLsJhTzyG77vRLR919i2tocT2bvFFj0kkAh6FXLrgmDQBO_Jq93zddxf0zXB1brixGUB36E1o-NLqS-7XNeVSUmRdJcfE/s320/IMG_20170417_183025091.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeRIZIMP2GrRxB039yExgyJayVl9MQB9ABIDnwGSUpYY59dfMgOFVFC087J0Xm1JrJIxOmbEZVQkBCfaYDBcVytrHj2jX3edcAp9yB_IF8qqSp6oA7MJ88GeGKsxVgc_OCO0vK3BTzAAw/s1600/IMG_20170409_163937020_BURST000_COVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeRIZIMP2GrRxB039yExgyJayVl9MQB9ABIDnwGSUpYY59dfMgOFVFC087J0Xm1JrJIxOmbEZVQkBCfaYDBcVytrHj2jX3edcAp9yB_IF8qqSp6oA7MJ88GeGKsxVgc_OCO0vK3BTzAAw/s200/IMG_20170409_163937020_BURST000_COVER.jpg" width="200" /></a><b></b><br />
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I<b>n late April, we traveled to Elmira, New York</b>, to spend 3 weeks with Nicole and Eric, and their boys, Asher and Cayden, as they went about their routine of school, baseball, church and LIFE! We had a great time with them.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Nicole, Eric, Asher & Cayden in New York</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6QQd5wRa6pal2Q9IgYuMbnlZ7Xf-682oj7Zwb_e8DeZRW5EozXxK59NtGqzPPyAeCTxJE7_UpzyseWHsAt6xWn8rlY8c5wkEpfYVN6AEnKkyERn6sfNxt9M_8fDzkMadS8m5-qbUObw/s1600/18423825_10212627082969041_3588775875368293291_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6QQd5wRa6pal2Q9IgYuMbnlZ7Xf-682oj7Zwb_e8DeZRW5EozXxK59NtGqzPPyAeCTxJE7_UpzyseWHsAt6xWn8rlY8c5wkEpfYVN6AEnKkyERn6sfNxt9M_8fDzkMadS8m5-qbUObw/s200/18423825_10212627082969041_3588775875368293291_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<b>Then we moved on to Norfolk, Virginia</b>, for the final leg of our time in the USA with our son, Andrew, his wife Rachel, and their three children: Levi, Samantha and Jackson. Andrew was in a training school for the Navy, so we only got to see him on weekends, but it was still wonderful time with their young, growing family!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrew, Rachel, Levi, Samantha & Jackson in Virginia</td></tr>
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<b>Bob returned to Germany on June 30</b>, to spend a month in spiritual retreat, while Carol has remained in the US to assist and be with the grandchildren for a little longer. <b>Later in August we will meet in Wisconsin,</b> where we will do some work on our farm to prepare it for either new renters or for sale. Please pray for us as we work and consider selling or renting our Wisconsin property...and let us know if you know anyone interested in renting or purchasing a 5-acre, 4-bedroom hobby farm!<br />
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<b>The Sabbatical was a wonderful experience for us. </b>We have renewed our spirits, refreshed our souls, rested our bodies, and reconnected with our children and grandchildren. We are ready, by God’s grace, to begin a new season of ministry and service to Him and His church!<br />
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<b><span style="color: red;">What was equally wonderful was how God has been at work in Darmstadt while we were away...<i>Keep reading (<a href="http://darmstadtdigest.blogspot.de/2017/08/ministry-strides.html">Click Here</a>)!</i></span></b><br />
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Bob Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683351861221577726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288578289432747016.post-39225331252596313152017-08-12T04:40:00.002-07:002017-08-12T07:23:29.638-07:00Ministry Strides<b>While we were on Sabbatical</b>, the Lord was doing great things at Converge International Fellowship! We are so grateful to the Lord that in our absence, God enabled the leaders and the congregation to do some wonderful things:<br />
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•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b><span style="color: blue;">On March 25,the church hosted a "Board Game Night"</span></b> - an outreach event focused to invite friends, colleagues and family who don't go to church to come and spend an evening getting to know other English-speakers from the area, and introducing our church family to them. It was very well received, and a second evening is being planned for November 4!<br />
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•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b><span style="color: blue;">On May 13, CIF hosted the first annual Converge International Forum on Science and Faith. </span></b>Held at a local hotel conference center, the keynote speaker was Prof. Dr. Barbara Drosser, head of the Physics Dept. at TU Darmstadt. She spoke on "Are Science and Faith Incompatible?" She is part of an association of scientists who are also believers, and has agreed to assist us in finding future speakers. We had about 60 people in attendance, and the majority were not from the church. There were a large number of Muslim students who came, and the response was very positive. Our prayer and vision is to host this event annually in Darmstadt, Germany’s “City of Science.”<br />
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•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b><span style="color: blue;">A week later, the church hosted its first short term mission team</span></b> - they came from one of our partner churches in Kansas, and worked for a week at the German national headquarters of Youth for Christ. They did cleaning and prep work for the upcoming summer ministry season, and some joint ministry with our Young Adults and praise team.<br />
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•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> <span style="color: blue;"><b>The church hired an interim pastor</b></span> while we were gone, Dr. Denton Lotz and his wife Janice served the congregation faithfully; ministering to the sick, visiting the LIFE Groups, preaching on Sundays, and meeting with the leadership.<br />
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•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In addition, we are very excited that <b><span style="color: blue;">one of our young couples feels that God is leading them into full-time ministry </span></b>– specifically to serve in an International Church somewhere in the world! We are excited to see how God will lead them, and the church as we work with them!<br />
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Over the course of the summer, some dear friends from the last 6 years have concluded their work and studies in Darmstadt, and moved to other parts of the world, carrying the gospel of Christ with them as they go. In Acts 8:4 says, "But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went." We are sad to bid farewell to our friends, but excited as God leads them into new fields that are ripe for the harvest! <b><span style="color: blue;">We also enjoy then blessing of meeting new members of the church community who have recently joined us from Kenya, Germany, India, the USA and other lands.</span></b> <br />
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As you can see, the experience of our sabbatical was a glorious display of God's grace, both for us and as a big step in the further development the church. <b><span style="color: #cc0000;">We are more certain than ever that He <i>has equipped</i>, and <i>is equipping</i> the church for many years of ministry to come!</span></b><br />
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Bob Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683351861221577726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288578289432747016.post-88561197094377972642017-01-30T02:22:00.003-08:002017-01-30T02:33:56.882-08:00Spring & Summer Plans<span style="color: purple;">This promises to be a very exciting year at Converge International Fellowship - Darmstadt. Please pray about three new ministry events in the life of the church:</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimDQNlCpVKqk18ZZPs0x9goR9cWKC7oAFQc6RffWpZG0YDnK7xQTSGc949LhRcIl9Rp5oYsZX0Eiv3VVXL_0_jeUKAXBeWYxv97Jv-gQ-IHM-S6zNK1KIgYN94JhK0_L55o0TyNE-zP6w/s1600/12299323_923711317712045_7034216657558185389_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimDQNlCpVKqk18ZZPs0x9goR9cWKC7oAFQc6RffWpZG0YDnK7xQTSGc949LhRcIl9Rp5oYsZX0Eiv3VVXL_0_jeUKAXBeWYxv97Jv-gQ-IHM-S6zNK1KIgYN94JhK0_L55o0TyNE-zP6w/s200/12299323_923711317712045_7034216657558185389_n.jpg" width="142" /></a><br />
<b><span style="color: orange;">1. Short Term Missions Team: </span></b> Plans are in the works for a team of 5 to come from Union Valley Bible Church in Hutchinson, Kansas. This will be the first time we have welcomed a short term missions team to our work. The team will be working at the national headquarters of Youth for Christ, Germany. They will be doing clean up and preparation work in the campus buildings, gardening in the lawns and athletic areas, and preparing the center for the coming summer ministry season. In addition, they will join with our Young Adults group for ministry in Darmstadt, and visit IBC churches to get a full view of International, English-language ministry.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkaXH4ww_eqjeLFQ-JiYjGaaen8TA6232YTd3uNAbxh_G8kk3EewcqVzmuR1wdga8zGKTHkUiyyeR-r6HmxEYj_A1EsUEowPSF_B2iwfzhFROYssWiYDaSgm9hGrzkcwwvTdVcooSvGs/s1600/drossel_neu3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkaXH4ww_eqjeLFQ-JiYjGaaen8TA6232YTd3uNAbxh_G8kk3EewcqVzmuR1wdga8zGKTHkUiyyeR-r6HmxEYj_A1EsUEowPSF_B2iwfzhFROYssWiYDaSgm9hGrzkcwwvTdVcooSvGs/s1600/drossel_neu3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prof. Dr. Drossel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="color: #38761d;">2. First ever Converge International Forum on Science and Faith. </span></b> From our earliest days of ministry in Darmstadt (Germany's "City of Science") we have felt a strong compulsion to stage an annual event that would feature leading figures from the science community who also happen to hold a strong faith. Our goal is to impress upon the current scientific community and the future scientists who study at the<i> Technische Universität Darmstadt</i> that science and faith are not mutually incompatible.<br />
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Under the leadership of CIF Elder Adam Williams, who himself is a respected member of the European Space Agency (He is currently a coordinator on ESA's ExoMars mission), we have set a tentative date of Saturday, May 13 for the first of these annual events. Prof. Dr. Barbara Drossel, professor of Theoretical Physics at the TU-Darmstadt, and Executive Director of the Institute of Solid State Physics, will be the keynote speaker for the event.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTV5BGT1C4fMntUO8FzXnX3G5J8an7zXCQDW1vPo-Ig9uhS8lmZGXLMAlAC1GZikYV8ii39K4V1h8f0K6KxaU7okN3X2Y4NDYuRjpoPXHYIxvI5VfRD0cNTYMWUxbI5Z9Ir3xrvGBRcxU/s1600/Connect+Graphic.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTV5BGT1C4fMntUO8FzXnX3G5J8an7zXCQDW1vPo-Ig9uhS8lmZGXLMAlAC1GZikYV8ii39K4V1h8f0K6KxaU7okN3X2Y4NDYuRjpoPXHYIxvI5VfRD0cNTYMWUxbI5Z9Ir3xrvGBRcxU/s320/Connect+Graphic.png" width="115" /></a>Please pray for this event. Pray for the planning and logistics (meeting room, marketing, etc), for Prof. Drossel as she prepares and presents her material, and for careful follow-up with the students and scientists that we hope to attract to the event.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">3. Connect 2017.</span> </b> The first weekend in August will be the unveiling of the first CONNECT conference for the International Baptist Convention. This long weekend based family event replaces the Interlaken Conference that served as the summer gathering of the IBC for more than 50 years. Bob served as the committee chairman through the process of changing from the previous format to the new, and last fall the CIF church family went to the retreat site for a "trial run" and our first "church retreat." Bob is currently serving as the coordinators for the Seminars that will be presented as part of the event. Please pray for the speakers, praise leaders, coordinators and the attending members of the IBC family from around the world as they gather.<br />
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<br />Bob Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683351861221577726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288578289432747016.post-47146144793956728812017-01-30T01:39:00.001-08:002017-01-30T01:39:49.272-08:00Sabbatical Plans<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQVX1UCQt642wyoPJ_RowKiOiqWQgpS6OtB6_tbV1Va6Dt8iQBRy1pZmXlcI3d8fkQ6NgRXa-osPgWaNlb2Pbkj5LAlxDVKa1Z4USk0nUoj3YgqqwQVZzjiw5dNzOPPAB3NiDNEH_Ugg/s1600/B%2526C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQVX1UCQt642wyoPJ_RowKiOiqWQgpS6OtB6_tbV1Va6Dt8iQBRy1pZmXlcI3d8fkQ6NgRXa-osPgWaNlb2Pbkj5LAlxDVKa1Z4USk0nUoj3YgqqwQVZzjiw5dNzOPPAB3NiDNEH_Ugg/s320/B%2526C.jpg" width="319" /></a>After 5 1/2 years on the field, Carol and I have reached a point where we are in need of a time of rest and renewal. We are tired, and approaching burn-out.<br />
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We've spoken with the church leadership here in Darmstadt, the leadership of the International Baptist Convention, and the leadership of Converge International Ministries, and together we have agreed on a plan for a sabbatical to begin on April 1.<br />
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The plans are still coming together, but we do know that the first few weeks will be spend in the Phoenix, Arizona area, where we can meet with a Converge counselor and get away at a retreat center in the area. Subsequent weeks will include some visits with family, but mostly will be centered on physical rest, spiritual renewal and emotional refreshing.<br />
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We won't be doing any church visits, pulpit fills, etc. during this year. In previous years we have spent two months travelling the USA - driving thousands of miles and visiting with many of you. We would love to see you all again. Catching up with your and your lives and updating you on our life here in the place we love - but it simply won't be possible this year. <br />
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Please pray for us as we take this much-needed time for renewal. Pray for the church as there are many great things happening this Summer (see the rest of this newsletter). Pray as we seek an interim pastor to come for three months to serve in Darmstadt, and for the Elders and Ministry Coordinators as they lead the church. <br />
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Thanks for your prayers and love. Bob Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683351861221577726noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288578289432747016.post-54804277370630499642016-11-25T02:36:00.000-08:002016-11-25T02:40:23.037-08:00Black Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today is <b>Black Friday</b>. And while the name comes from retail businesses recognizing that it's the day in the year that they finally see black ink at the bottom of the page, it has also come to have a somewhat dark overtone, hasn't it? The day after America "pauses to be thankful," millions of people "rush to be greedy." People wait in lines for hours overnight to be the first to push into the local retailer to get the best deal on a flat screen TV to replace the one they got last year.<br />
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This rather bleak opening to the "Christmas Season" has sadly spread around the globe like a viral pandemic. It is tragically indicative of the nearly-complete loss of the significance of the birth of Jesus Christ.<br />
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This year, I want to be different. Instead of craving more presents, I want to crave more PRESENCE.<br />
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When God told Moses in <b><span style="color: #274e13;">Exodus 33</span></b> to lead the children of Israel away from the base of mount Sinai, where He had dictated the Law to Moses, the Lord said, "Go to the land I have promised your fathers...I will send my angel ahead of you, and I will drive out the inhabitants of the land that I have promised to you...but I will not go with you, because if I am with you I will destroy you, because you are a stiff-necked people" (verses 1-3).<br />
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The promise of an angel going ahead, and all the enemies being driven out would have sounded pretty good to most all of us...but not Moses! He said, "Lord, if you will not go with us, we will not leave this place. It is Your presence that makes all the difference!" (verse 16).<br />
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As we begin our journey toward Christmas, 2017, let's not go without God's presence. Of course He will be present - He is <i>omnipresent</i>, everywhere at all times. <b><i>But there is a difference between God being present, and being in God's presence! </i></b><br />
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A. W. Tozer wrote: "The world is perishing for lack of the knowledge of God, and the church is famishing for want of His presence. The instant cure of most of our religious ills would be to enter His Presence in spiritual experience, to become suddenly aware that we are in God and that God is in us. This would lift us out of our pitiful narrowness and cause our hearts to be enlarged. This would burn away the impurities from our lives as the bugs and weeds were burned away by the fire that dwelt in the bush."<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>This Christmas Season </b></span>- <span style="color: red;"><b>Crave More Presence!</b></span>Bob Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683351861221577726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288578289432747016.post-84689145577370418062016-11-10T05:47:00.002-08:002016-11-10T05:47:19.270-08:00Winter 2016: Spiritual Generations<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-hyphenate: auto;">
<b><i><u><span style="color: #4472c4; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-themecolor: accent5;">Winter 2016: </span></u></i></b><b><u><span style="color: #4472c4; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-themecolor: accent5;">Spiritual
Generations</span></u></b><span style="color: #4472c4; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-themecolor: accent5;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-hyphenate: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">In <b>Isaiah chapter 6</b>, the prophet has a
dramatic and overwhelming vision of God on His throne. He response is one of
utter humiliation before the awesomeness of God. After His repentance and
subsequent redemption, Isaiah hears God say, “Whom shall I send, and who will
go for us?” To which Isaiah responds, <b><i>“Here am I, Lord, send me!” </i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Mission
and ministry are all about people. In previous updates we have shared the
stories of some of those whose lives we have seen God touch in amazing ways. In
this update, we want to share how God us using those people to reach more people
with the power of the gospel!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetziMc5nsXq4piU-DQfz4S1JKUubfnt1LjnZyExRZ1NKP10a627x8crtpHN1BXiQopI6XkpYXBbznUOHrW2tlgDsBGQ7tvBpQFYYDc273a2u_98FAOkYsrBY8Lo0YrHRIjw3HFQaEsHY/s1600/Xiannan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetziMc5nsXq4piU-DQfz4S1JKUubfnt1LjnZyExRZ1NKP10a627x8crtpHN1BXiQopI6XkpYXBbznUOHrW2tlgDsBGQ7tvBpQFYYDc273a2u_98FAOkYsrBY8Lo0YrHRIjw3HFQaEsHY/s1600/Xiannan.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Xiannan - sharing the gospel with<br />fellow students in Darmstadt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">We told the story of <b><span style="color: blue;">Xiannan </span></b>in our
Spring, 2015 update. He’s a PhD student in Material Science at the <i>Technische Universität Darmstadt</i>. After
attending church services and Bible studies for more than a year, Xiannan
accepted Jesus as His Lord and Savior. A few months later, in a Bible study, he
shared that he felt his purpose was “to return to China and tell others about
Jesus.” But his chance has come before his return! On a recent sightseeing bus trip with other
Chinese students, and as they travelled, other students asked this bright,
young, man to share with them why he had become a follower of Jesus…and he got
a chance to share the gospel with them! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_EsB0IzfOufklUQJnRvprhV4cPUdtBIQ4LibzI58EeZJAZSSfTfpomI3beQ8g2khY2v_2z3fpskkhNVBiBdWU4sZda51pbr2pqt5MhrwZBA1CFmDjigzABpLWgjR4iZ4WueVlB6ekRhY/s1600/Tia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_EsB0IzfOufklUQJnRvprhV4cPUdtBIQ4LibzI58EeZJAZSSfTfpomI3beQ8g2khY2v_2z3fpskkhNVBiBdWU4sZda51pbr2pqt5MhrwZBA1CFmDjigzABpLWgjR4iZ4WueVlB6ekRhY/s320/Tia.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tianye - bringing the gospel to her mother in China</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">We
told the story of <b><span style="color: purple;">Tianye</span></b> in our August 2015 update. Tia and her husband
Jason, a Chinese-American believer, attended the church regularly, came to a
LIFE Group, and Tia met with some women at a Friday morning Bible study. But she
was not a believer in Jesus. God was at work in her life, however! One evening
at LIFE Group, Tia shared that she had given her life to Jesus, and had asked
Him to be her Savior. Recently, Tia had a chance to fly back to Bejing and
spend weeks with her mother who was being treated for cancer. Tia had a chance
to read the Bible and explaining faith in Jesus. Her mother has not yet come to
faith – please pray for her!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB5_90G1pA-60IZeAwFnmWVfJW_EjQvXmQFMea6OtyHe09ACpimMmcv9pSUleluL2VzF7pZbbA3rNm9iO1-yJlPDodEffp5G2HjE7vbnNr4AA3SMZQuXQB_Wkt5y_aicLzuuV2r_t3PiA/s1600/Imants_Dirba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB5_90G1pA-60IZeAwFnmWVfJW_EjQvXmQFMea6OtyHe09ACpimMmcv9pSUleluL2VzF7pZbbA3rNm9iO1-yJlPDodEffp5G2HjE7vbnNr4AA3SMZQuXQB_Wkt5y_aicLzuuV2r_t3PiA/s1600/Imants_Dirba.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Imants - reaching the science community</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Imants </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">is
a brilliant PhD student from Latvia, doing groundbreaking work in his field of
material science, specializing in magnetics (we call him “Magneto!”). Imants has a passion to bring the gospel to
the largely atheistic world of science.
He has prepared papers and lectures with PowerPoint presentations to
discuss topics like creation, supernatural miracles, and other theological
topics with his colleagues. When the Lord asked, “Who will go for Me, to the
science community?” Imants answered,
“Here am I, Lord, Send me!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3st_EeQN0XEQrjsCDKc572axZgejW-L6pa_Hp4RYgR55FdK50yWdk_AyIVWM4E14uDbDvWwIvr0aUy8_ZjzNh3HT604q6BjXeueGWFjO2Q0mxWyvo5jqZIWS2WQ7S9VTNOvLIcpPFIlg/s1600/Diane+with+dad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3st_EeQN0XEQrjsCDKc572axZgejW-L6pa_Hp4RYgR55FdK50yWdk_AyIVWM4E14uDbDvWwIvr0aUy8_ZjzNh3HT604q6BjXeueGWFjO2Q0mxWyvo5jqZIWS2WQ7S9VTNOvLIcpPFIlg/s320/Diane+with+dad.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diane reading the Bible to her <br />father in Taiwan.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: #741b47;">Diane </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">is a young believer,
baptized at our church in September of last year. In August of this year,
during a worship service, she asked us to pray as she went home to Taiwan to be
with her father who was suffering from terminal cancer. She asked us to pray
that she would be able to share the gospel with him, and that he would trust in
Jesus. We gathered around her and prayed. A few weeks later, she sent a text
message that he father had come to faith, and been baptized in the hospital. A
few days Diane wrote, “Dear Bob, my father went to heaven already, he smiled,
he’s happy.” Just this week she wrote, “I am writing an article about my
father’s story. I will send my article to a Christian newspaper. I am so glad
that my father became a Christian before he died, and now he is in heaven.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><span style="color: red;">Thank you </span></b>for your support of this amazing ministry
to the international, English-speaking community in Darmstadt and the
surrounding region. Your prayers, encouragement and financial support make you
a vital partner in this work. These great stories of personal faith, and of
faith shared with others, are part of YOUR faith story, too!</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Rejoice with us as we marvel at all God has
done and is doing in the lives of people from “every nation under heaven
gathered in the city.” (Acts 2:5) </span>Bob Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683351861221577726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288578289432747016.post-59892649747916023902016-11-10T05:38:00.003-08:002016-11-10T05:38:30.629-08:00San Jose, Costa Rica<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-hyphenate: auto;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">IBC Annual Meeting. </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">We
were privileged to be able to attend the annual convention meeting of the
International Baptist Convention in San Jose, Costa Rica in late October. It
was the first time that the IBC has met outside of Europe for its annual
meeting, and reflects the growing global impact the group is having. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-giCZ_Rsk9WdOioIo3AO3EWBVqWpoyXWofURdGhfkjWqPxidd_u-wdRv6M9KuSWfwPsOpCNmw3D4RLIxG2UqDuitI8EllSwuRcUoAr8XAYcgpn5cXMy_PkH99YyOIR2jZM2quDq9ReGc/s1600/multiply.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-giCZ_Rsk9WdOioIo3AO3EWBVqWpoyXWofURdGhfkjWqPxidd_u-wdRv6M9KuSWfwPsOpCNmw3D4RLIxG2UqDuitI8EllSwuRcUoAr8XAYcgpn5cXMy_PkH99YyOIR2jZM2quDq9ReGc/s400/multiply.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Part of
our time in San Jose was committed to the </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Multiply Conference</b></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, a gathering of
church planters, coaches, leaders and supporters. We spent the entire
conference focusing on recruiting new church planters. We have no shortage of
cities to reach with the gospel – from Lima, Peru, to Barcelona, Spain to
Amsterdam in the Netherlands, and, of course, Mannheim, Germany (our particular
focus). The harvest is truly plentiful, but the laborers are few!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; mso-hyphenate: auto;">
<b><span style="color: #c45911; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">Will you join us in prayer </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">for
the Lord of the Harvest to raise up new church planters – to lead us to them,
and them to us? <b><span style="color: red;">Will you join us in recruiting new
planters and pastors?</span></b> If you know someone – a pastor friend, a
family member who has a heart for missions, a student in your church who has a
desire to serve the Lord – anyone God puts on your heart and in your mind –
Please send their information along to us!
Or have them go directly to our Church Planting web connection. It’s
called Catalyst, and the link is:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-hyphenate: auto; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.internationalchurchplanting.com/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">http://www.internationalchurchplanting.com/</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Bob Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683351861221577726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288578289432747016.post-14921878413450627032016-11-10T05:34:00.002-08:002016-11-10T05:34:23.210-08:00Financial Update<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-hyphenate: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">We
have entered our sixth year on the mission field, and there has been some
attrition in our support over the years. About 60% of our monthly support is
being met from our supporters back home. The church in Darmstadt has stepped up
to meet the need, so far. But one of the dynamics of International Churches
such as ours is that people leave after 1-3 years as they complete the studies
or their job assignment changes. This can greatly impact the financial stability
of the church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #538135; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Will you
consider joining us in our efforts to reach the English-speaking International
Community of Darmstadt, Central Europe and, as you have seen from this
newsletter – the whole world?</span></i></b><span style="color: #538135; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Please
pray for God’s provision for us, and for His guidance for you and your family.</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-hyphenate: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<h2 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; tab-stops: list 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<u><span style="color: #70ad47; font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Here’s
How to Support our work:<o:p></o:p></span></u></h2>
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<b><i><span style="color: #33669a; font-family: "AndrogyneMedium",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">By Check<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Make checks payable to: </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Converge</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">In the memo line of the check, please note <b><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">account # 133261</span>.</b><i>
Send checks to:</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Converge Worldwide Attn: J. LoGalbo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; mso-hyphenate: auto; text-indent: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">2002 S.
Arlington Heights Rd. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; mso-hyphenate: auto; text-indent: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Arlington
Heights, IL 60005<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 9.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">-OR-<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #33669a; font-family: "AndrogyneMedium",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Automatic Withdrawal<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Set up an automatic withdrawal from your checking account for
contributions. <i>Here’s how:</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Contact Jennifer LoGalbo <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Telephone: 1-800-323-4215<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Email: </span><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jennifer.LoGalbo@converge.org</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">-OR-<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #33669a; font-family: "AndrogyneMedium",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">EASY Web-based support!</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #33669a; font-family: "AndrogyneMedium",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Go to:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<a href="http://www.convergeworldwide.org/give/133261"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">www.convergeworldwide.org/give/133261</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> to set up a
one- time, or ongoing support from your debit or credit card.</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h2 style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1;
tab-stops:list 0in'>
<u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#70AD47;mso-fareast-language:
EN-US'>Here’s How to Support our work:<o:p></o:p></span></u></h2>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:
0in;page-break-after:avoid;mso-outline-level:2;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;
mso-hyphenate:auto;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'>
<b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"AndrogyneMedium",sans-serif;
color:#33669A;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>By Check<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0in;mso-hyphenate:auto;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none'>
<i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Make checks payable to: </span></i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-variant:small-caps;color:black;mso-fareast-language:
EN-US'>Converge</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-fareast-language:
EN-US'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0in;mso-hyphenate:auto;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none'>
<span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>In the memo line of the check, please note <b><span
style='font-variant:small-caps'>account # 133261</span>.</b><i><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Send checks to:</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0in;text-indent:9.0pt;mso-hyphenate:
auto;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'>
<span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Converge
Worldwide Attn: J. LoGalbo<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0in;text-indent:9.0pt;mso-hyphenate:
auto'>
<span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>2002
S. Arlington Heights Rd. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0in;text-indent:9.0pt;mso-hyphenate:
auto'>
<span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Arlington
Heights, IL 60005<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-top:0in;text-align:center;
text-indent:9.0pt;mso-hyphenate:auto;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:
none'>
<b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>-OR-<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:
0in;page-break-after:avoid;mso-outline-level:2;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;
mso-hyphenate:auto;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'>
<b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"AndrogyneMedium",sans-serif;
color:#33669A;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Automatic Withdrawal<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0in;mso-hyphenate:auto;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none'>
<span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Set up an automatic withdrawal from your
checking account for contributions.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span><i>Here’s
how:</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0in;text-indent:13.5pt;mso-hyphenate:
auto;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'>
<span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Contact
Jennifer LoGalbo <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0in;text-indent:13.5pt;mso-hyphenate:
auto;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'>
<span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Telephone:
1-800-323-4215<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0in;text-indent:13.5pt;mso-hyphenate:
auto'>
<span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Email:
</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;background:white'>Jennifer.LoGalbo@converge.org</span><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-top:0in;text-align:center;
mso-hyphenate:auto'>
<b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:
EN-US'>-OR-<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0in;mso-hyphenate:auto'>
<b><i><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"AndrogyneMedium",sans-serif;
color:#33669A;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>EASY Web-based support!</span></i></b><b><i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"AndrogyneMedium",sans-serif;
color:#33669A;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> </span></i></b><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Go to:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0in;mso-hyphenate:auto'>
<span
style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><a
href="http://www.convergeworldwide.org/give/133261">www.convergeworldwide.org/give/133261</a>
to set up a one- time, or ongoing support from your debit or credit card.</span><span
style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<![if !mso]></td>
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<![endif]></v:textbox>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img align="left" alt="Text Box: Here’s How to Support our work:
By Check
Make checks payable to: CONVERGE
In the memo line of the check, please note ACCOUNT # 133261. Send checks to:
Converge Worldwide Attn: J. LoGalbo
2002 S. Arlington Heights Rd.
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
-OR-
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Set up an automatic withdrawal from your checking account for contributions. Here’s how:
Contact Jennifer LoGalbo
Telephone: 1-800-323-4215
Email: Jennifer.LoGalbo@converge.org
-OR-
EASY Web-based support! Go to:
www.convergeworldwide.org/give/133261 to set up a one- time, or ongoing support from your debit or credit card.
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Bob Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683351861221577726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288578289432747016.post-75781363265775903102016-09-10T07:35:00.002-07:002016-09-10T07:35:18.764-07:00Five Years in Germany<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-ezH4EkcwweK9ryBHMa9XzWIqOaZrf2lMC7hgt3p_CecqbGaDhySZvOOuXysxTU1jJthJGFjsdjp8Ayd_t4GBZQoRvdYTwYeUxsiRSulppRY2GcD6b0Yy5d88Zy-DBmQvvpDnDIZs3Q/s1600/IMGP4462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-ezH4EkcwweK9ryBHMa9XzWIqOaZrf2lMC7hgt3p_CecqbGaDhySZvOOuXysxTU1jJthJGFjsdjp8Ayd_t4GBZQoRvdYTwYeUxsiRSulppRY2GcD6b0Yy5d88Zy-DBmQvvpDnDIZs3Q/s320/IMGP4462.JPG" width="212" /></a><br />
Today is the fifth anniversary of our arrival in Germany to plant a new English Language International Church in Darmstadt. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xD6i8zuqaIw">This video </a>is an expression of our thanks to God for His faithfulness and to our supporters for their prayerful participation in this mission.<br />
<h4>
To God be the Glory!</h4>
<h4>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xD6i8zuqaIw">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xD6i8zuqaIw</a></h4>
Bob Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683351861221577726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288578289432747016.post-35523819054668736852016-06-02T23:59:00.004-07:002016-06-02T23:59:45.935-07:00Strengthening the Weak Protects the Strong.<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Now you are the body of Christ and individually
members of it.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1 Corinthians
12:27<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIeIBdeaBR0KpOQ2Tq7lmEuLF_PP-lwOSmLhM1WIvF9BFm6AqHVQmn_6uYlhhc9PKfPYJIYw21hIObBN9N5Hv_Wj765IvQjBOX1NgExs6n9Pht9t9bU0avv3Rcx6KmpIPLvIk9M5j5EU8/s1600/photo+2+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIeIBdeaBR0KpOQ2Tq7lmEuLF_PP-lwOSmLhM1WIvF9BFm6AqHVQmn_6uYlhhc9PKfPYJIYw21hIObBN9N5Hv_Wj765IvQjBOX1NgExs6n9Pht9t9bU0avv3Rcx6KmpIPLvIk9M5j5EU8/s1600/photo+2+%25283%2529.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Recently we went to Felsenmeer, in the Odenwald. It’s an amazing spot! Large boulders seem to cascade down the side
of a steep hill like a stone waterfall frozen in time. Thousands of people go each year to climb the
stones, or walk the trails along side.
Carol and I went with a couple of our university students to spend a
sunny day enjoying God’s creation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6z9DHX6wB9FiMLDofRlLJTLUBywjZmICo50JJS-Zncj1BOLZZ3ofLn8j-VdQjTrCz8Zg6jZ8v9NDMb2Dz65jtph-d4Yeol45SSEBYxlWx-eXHdTfy0XMMuH_jKTesvZw43cSfZJ6ubY/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6z9DHX6wB9FiMLDofRlLJTLUBywjZmICo50JJS-Zncj1BOLZZ3ofLn8j-VdQjTrCz8Zg6jZ8v9NDMb2Dz65jtph-d4Yeol45SSEBYxlWx-eXHdTfy0XMMuH_jKTesvZw43cSfZJ6ubY/s1600/photo+1.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I had only climbed be a dozen or so of the large
stones, when, as I pushed off with my leg to propel myself up to the next
level, I heard a loud “pop” and felt a searing pain in my left knee. I thought
I could wait a few moments and “shake it off,” continuing up the hill; but
alas, I had to very slowly make my way down the hill along the side trail. My
climbing for the day was over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The trouble was – my left knee had been my “good knee”
for years! My right knee had been week
and painful since a sports injury in the 1970’s. I thought that I could overcome the weakness
in that bad knee by putting the hard work on the good knee. In the end, the
good knee was left injured and the whole body suffered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Paul tells us that the church is like a body. Each
member is meant to do its part. Sometimes there are members of the body that
bear scars from old wounds, or are weak due to lack of use. Far too often, rather
than working with the weak to strengthen and mature them, we simply put
additional strain and tension on the stronger and healthier parts of the body.
Sadly, this can lead to new strains, and fresh wounds. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ministry leaders need to be constantly searching for
those who are weak and sidelined by pain; working with them to get them moving
again, building strength and finding purpose within the body. Members who find
themselves timid and resistant to ministry because of old pain or fear of
injury, need to recognize their important role in the body, and do their part.
They will not only be strengthened themselves, they will prevent others from
injury, and strengthen the entire body!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
Bob Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683351861221577726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288578289432747016.post-69723376400165068912016-06-01T22:48:00.001-07:002016-06-01T22:48:22.531-07:00Discontentment Says Something about You, Not Your Circumstances<header class="post-header" style="background-color: white; color: #514d47; font-family: 'Gotham A', 'Gotham B', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.3px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.3px;"><section class="post-meta" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; font-family: 'Sentinel A', 'Sentinel B', Georgia, Times, serif; font-style: italic; margin: 3rem 0px; padding: 0.5rem 0px;"><span class="right" style="float: right; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; font-style: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">This post by Philip Graham Ryken is adapted from the ESV Men's Devotional Bible. From</span>: <a href="https://www.crossway.org/blog/author/crossway/" style="color: #72abbf; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Crossway</a></span></section></header><section class="post-content" style="background-color: white; color: #514d47; font-family: 'Gotham A', 'Gotham B', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.035rem; line-height: 2.7rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-spacing: 0.035rem;"><div style="font-family: 'Sentinel A', 'Sentinel B', Georgia, Times, serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 1rem; padding: 0px;">
<span style="border-color: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-width: initial; font-size: 1.7rem; height: auto; margin-bottom: 2rem; margin-top: 2rem;"><img alt="" class="full-img" src="https://www.crossway.org/blog/content/images/2016/05/dealing-with-discontent.jpg" style="border: none; height: auto; margin: 2rem 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px;" /></span></div>
</section><b>Grumble, Grumble</b><br />
<br />
In Exodus 15, the Israelites camped by the springs of Elim for several weeks, lingering under the palm trees and taking long drinks of cool water. Then it was time to move on. They were on a spiritual journey—a pilgrimage that reveals the pattern of the Christian life.<br />
<br />
The spiritual geography of Israel's exodus from Egypt can be mapped onto the experience of our own souls. Although there are times of refreshing, usually they do not last for long. Soon it is time to head back into the desert, which is a place of testing and spiritual growth.<br />
<br />
The Israelites headed deeper into the wilderness. Soon they were tired and hungry, and once again they started to complain. Whining was Israel's besetting sin. It started when Moses first went to Pharaoh and people complained that he was making their job harder instead of easier (Ex. 5:21). They grumbled at the Red Sea, where they accused Moses of bringing them out into the desert to die. The grumbling continued more or less for 40 years, as they became a nation of malcontents.<br />
<br />
<b>Discontent With God</b><br />
<br />
Our own complaints are not caused by our outward circumstances; rather, they reveal the inward condition of our hearts. Really, the Israelites had nothing to complain about. They were not running out of food, but were confusing what they wanted with what they needed. This is often the source of our discontent: thinking that our "greeds" are really our needs.<br />
<br />
The Israelites also exaggerated the advantages of their former situation. "Remember the good old days?" They said. Looking back with longing on their time in Egypt, they imagined themselves bellying up to Pharaoh's buffet. Yet it is doubtful that, as slaves, they were ever treated so lavishly.<br />
<br />
Israel's attitude is a warning against the great sin of complaining. Although they complained to Moses, they were really grumbling against God. By saying that it would have been better for God to let them die back in Egypt, they were really saying that they wished they had never been saved.<br />
<br />
We need to be honest about the fact that all of our dissatisfaction is discontent with God. Usually we take out our frustrations on someone else. But God knows that when we grumble, we are finding fault with him. A complaining spirit indicates a problem in our relationship with God.<br />
<br />
The irony, of course, is that God always gives us exactly what we need. For the Israelites, this meant manna in the wilderness. For us it means the true Bread of Life, Jesus Christ.<br />
<br />
Philip Graham Ryken (DPhil, University of Oxford) is the eighth president of Wheaton College.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.crossway.org/blog/2016/05/discontentment-says-something-about-you-not-your-circumstances/?utm_source=Crossway+Marketing&utm_campaign=a642a43e6a-20160601+-+Bible+News&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0275bcaa4b-a642a43e6a-288288861&mc_cid=a642a43e6a&mc_eid=89d4843b63"> https://www.crossway.org/blog/2016/05/</a>Bob Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683351861221577726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288578289432747016.post-77737981857611440162016-05-25T08:27:00.003-07:002016-05-25T08:27:57.601-07:00Summer 2016 Update<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-hyphenate: auto;">
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</span><!--[endif]--><b><i><u><span style="color: red; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Summer 2016</span></u></i></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span><b><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpLVVFZbF3Nn4XcVGIxJJ6wqWoqRt8vmPYR2OCTxB4_2GzCOFy1u8d8VXTx6Xic2fDBAkIcAMnd_D71Wg87RHSwZX7z_lco7ou3T-vXsatKG96zpDpEh1z_18Yn2d8E2GF_F01rjkcmTc/s1600/IMGP8428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpLVVFZbF3Nn4XcVGIxJJ6wqWoqRt8vmPYR2OCTxB4_2GzCOFy1u8d8VXTx6Xic2fDBAkIcAMnd_D71Wg87RHSwZX7z_lco7ou3T-vXsatKG96zpDpEh1z_18Yn2d8E2GF_F01rjkcmTc/s320/IMGP8428.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carol with Sammy and quilt she made for her.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">It has been one of the most demanding seasons
of our time in Europe, and our communication to you has suffered as a result.
We’re sorry this update is so late in coming! There has been a lot of activity
in both our personal lives and in the ministry – we’ll try to give you a brief
but full update.<b><u><o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><b><u><span style="color: #00b050; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Personal News:</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">On
3 February at 7:00pm, our first grand-daughter, Samantha Rodman Marsh, was
born. She weighed 9 lbs., 7 oz. and was
19 inches long. She joins her big brother Levi, who was just 2 weeks shy of his
first birthday. Rachel and Andrew are
understandably thrilled, as are we! We
had a chance to be at their home in Annapolis, Maryland, in May for a visit. At
that time, Nicole and Eric, with their boys, Asher and Cayden, came to join us from
New York; and John and his girlfriend Kefei came from Arizona for a full-family
gathering! It was the first time for
everyone to be together!</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk32Qar7mWMYkW4n3y_YEFWYlV_wgt9cc1CVZSPrT_GELabwdfP-VE5GNn23kIoGkG5B_ZXJvDlukJm3a0P8npQmMT3eT2r_i98-cm5TEckcaagk36TOQYfmoIuFDr3h-wuv5WSurJGaY/s1600/IMG_4319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk32Qar7mWMYkW4n3y_YEFWYlV_wgt9cc1CVZSPrT_GELabwdfP-VE5GNn23kIoGkG5B_ZXJvDlukJm3a0P8npQmMT3eT2r_i98-cm5TEckcaagk36TOQYfmoIuFDr3h-wuv5WSurJGaY/s320/IMG_4319.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bob & Samantha</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Just after
Samantha was born, we received word that Bob’s dad was ill. He contracted a bad
cold that developed into pneumonia, which severely weekend his heart. Multiple body systems began to be strained,
and fail. When told that he was not going to recover, and that he had only a
few days to two weeks to live, he paused for just a moment, then said, “Well, ‘To
be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord!’ We should celebrate!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">We flew to West Virginia on 15 February, and
were with dad and mom through dad’s last days on this earth. He was in great spirits when we arrived,
making jokes, sitting in his chair, and resting on his hospital bed in the
living room of their apartment. But by Wednesday, he began to slip into more of
a semi-conscious state, and in the early hours of Friday morning, 19 February,
he went home to be with Jesus. Even in his semi-conscious state he quoted a
verse of Scripture: “Where does my help come from? My help comes from the
Lord…” What a testimony! We are blessed
to know dad is in heaven with Jesus!</span></div>
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Bob Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683351861221577726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288578289432747016.post-10151539051247931242016-05-25T05:54:00.001-07:002016-05-25T05:54:26.327-07:00Prayer Calendar:<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">June 7-10 – Feasibility Study
Munich<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">July 4-14 – In New York to care
for grandsons while Nicole & Eric minister in St. Louis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">July 17 – Visit and speak at
church plant in Toulouse, France.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">August 26-28 – Darmstadt church
retreat in Neustadt an der Weinstrasse.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">October 22-30 – IBC Annual
Meeting in San Jose, Costa Rica.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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Bob Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683351861221577726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288578289432747016.post-77682680447409103872016-05-25T05:52:00.000-07:002016-05-25T05:52:05.582-07:00Summer 2016 Ministry Update<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCAlY3F72b0a0QKomfPGcjQaDR2CQJOl8FrkJjLpJx2zqZPmfa39yhU1wwLWmwdS5nDF2oOeJtRn64Qd2mNEuIKlhUY4WiPFfKkvrjzM0qZ3x_x7SpIB2EvpNM1H9FWbgY6TEmu8bV8c/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCAlY3F72b0a0QKomfPGcjQaDR2CQJOl8FrkJjLpJx2zqZPmfa39yhU1wwLWmwdS5nDF2oOeJtRn64Qd2mNEuIKlhUY4WiPFfKkvrjzM0qZ3x_x7SpIB2EvpNM1H9FWbgY6TEmu8bV8c/s320/photo+2.JPG" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blake Nobles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><u><span style="color: #00b050; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Ministry:</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">
<b>In January</b> we welcomed Blake Nobles to Darmstadt. Blake is finishing his
Masters of Divinity degree at Truett Seminary in Waco, Texas. He came to
complete his final requirement for the degree – a six-month ministry
internship. While here in Darmstadt, Blake has been working to firm up our
ministry to Young Adults in the area – university students and young adults
just entering the workplace. It has been
a great </span><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600"
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">learning
experience for us as church leaders as much as for Blake! He’s made good progress in establishing the
ministry, and developing leadership to continue when his time is completed in
June.</span><span style="background: black; border: 1pt none black; font-size: 12pt; padding: 0in;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>In March</b> we attended the annual Ministry
Leadership Conference of the IBC in Malta. The meeting was filled with great
teaching, fellowship and encouraging connections with other pastors and
ministry leaders from around the world. The meetings were followed by the first
Multiply Conference, a two day focus on church planting in the IBC. Bob lead a
discussion outlining the growing opportunity to reach the world by planting
English-language churches in global cities.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We had a great time visiting the beautiful sites around the island that
was first evangelized by the Apostle Paul when he was shipwrecked there. It is,
to this day, the most Christian nation in Europe!</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyg0_lqXnKx8Z3F3SucF9cmEOHrHN0UGoRzXJ9nu603LOy8kPpzobTbeiqGdc7Jxux_nFF-vuM3Kj4QoQcbvsES92TaYLbXkZohWnKksvPFVApdzL1Kddrnz1-f-0jTrUqVsSMUxZ6IME/s1600/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyg0_lqXnKx8Z3F3SucF9cmEOHrHN0UGoRzXJ9nu603LOy8kPpzobTbeiqGdc7Jxux_nFF-vuM3Kj4QoQcbvsES92TaYLbXkZohWnKksvPFVApdzL1Kddrnz1-f-0jTrUqVsSMUxZ6IME/s320/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Grotto, Malta</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6AcfF9t-15pZtljHWQw35n8v1ysiE2SUg1VnruysjvhbHVOZz2hpY71XqFGo7UGovQS8Z2p323Kckt3pPJk1aOrVgjwh6JC423eI96-NN_2Oa3tTMa8hI64A9735hQnP1e-SPBCQBQs/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6AcfF9t-15pZtljHWQw35n8v1ysiE2SUg1VnruysjvhbHVOZz2hpY71XqFGo7UGovQS8Z2p323Kckt3pPJk1aOrVgjwh6JC423eI96-NN_2Oa3tTMa8hI64A9735hQnP1e-SPBCQBQs/s320/photo.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St Paul's Bonfire Chapel in Malta</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hong Kong</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>In April,</b> Carol remained in the US to spend additional
time with the grandchildren, while Bob flew to Hong Kong to attend the </span><u style="font-size: 12pt;">Global
Church for a Global World</u><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> conference. The conference brought international
church leaders from around the world to learn about networking and ministry
opportunities as we seek to fulfill the great commission together!</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style='font-size:9.0pt'>In
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">In</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b>May,</b>
we completed a Feasibility Study of Mannheim, a large city just 45 minutes from
Darmstadt. This city looks like a great opportunity for a sister-church to the
Darmstadt work. <b>In June</b> we will do a study of Munich, and later this year in
Strasbourg, France. Please pray with us about these opportunities!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feasibility Study Team - Mannheim</td></tr>
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Bob Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683351861221577726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288578289432747016.post-79687036296165803422016-05-25T05:30:00.000-07:002016-05-25T05:30:03.415-07:00Financial Update: Financial Update: We have entered our fifth year on the mission field, and there has been some attrition in our support over the years. About 60% of our monthly support is being met from our supporters back home. The church in Darmstadt has stepped up to meet the need, so far. That is good, but as the deficit grows, and as we face the loss of some critical members in the church due to graduation or new work assignment, the situation can quickly grow critical. Will you consider joining us in our efforts to reach the English-speaking International Community of Darmstadt, Central Europe and the world? Please pray for God’s provision for us, and for His guidance for you and your family. <br />
<br />
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<u><span style="color: #70ad47; font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Here’s
How to Support our work:<o:p></o:p></span></u></h2>
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<span style="color: #33669a; font-family: "AndrogyneMedium",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">By Check<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Make checks payable to: </span></i><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant: small-caps;">Converge</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">In the memo line of the check, please note <b><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">account # 133261</span>.</b><i>
Send checks to:</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Converge Worldwide Attn: J. LoGalbo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">2002 S.
Arlington Heights Rd. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Arlington
Heights, IL 60005</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">-OR-<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #33669a; font-family: "AndrogyneMedium",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Automatic Withdrawal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Set up an automatic withdrawal from your checking account for
contributions. <i>Here’s how:</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Contact Jennifer LoGalbo <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Telephone: 1-800-323-4215<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Email: </span><span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;">Jennifer.LoGalbo@converge.org</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">-OR-<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #33669a; font-family: "AndrogyneMedium",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">EASY Web-based support!</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #33669a; font-family: "AndrogyneMedium",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Go to:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.convergeworldwide.org/give/133261"><span style="color: blue;">www.convergeworldwide.org/give/133261</span></a>
to set up a one- time, or ongoing support from your debit or credit card.</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Bob Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683351861221577726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288578289432747016.post-14417994486238210102016-05-11T02:10:00.003-07:002016-05-11T02:10:36.290-07:00<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>Update: Mannheim, Germany Feasibility Study</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Team Mannheim: Blake, Kim, Susanne, Bob & Carol, <br />Nathan and Jeremy</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thanks for your prayers for us last week as we </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">traveled to Mannheim. With help from church leaders from Darmstadt, Ramstein and Frankfurt Oberursel, we had a very productive and exciting experience! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In reviewing the overall results of the Feasibility Study, the single word that comes to mind most is “positive.” It seemed that each of the meetings had a positive tone. The people we talked to from the various student ministries, <i>Studenten für Christus, Student Misison Deutschland, Katholischen Hochschulgemeinde,</i> and the<i> Stadtmission Mannheim</i> were all very positive.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We met with pastors Andale Weber from <i>Haus des Herrn</i>, and Pastor Walter Clark from Rhine River Baptist, who were also generally positive, but seasoned with the recognition that the work is difficult and the commitments must be long-term and enduring through the difficult times that will inevitably be faced. We heard more than once of previous efforts to begin new works in the city that had failed to gain a foothold.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">During our time in Mannheim, we were not able to include input from the professional/business side of the expatriate community. We simply were unable to make the vital connections necessary and set up appointments. We are going to follow up with supplemental visits to connect with the international business community. Some of those meetings will be through new leads we discovered last week, others will be "cold calls" to places of business and industry. If you know someone in Mannheim who works for SAP, John Deere, BASF Chemicals, Roche Pharmaceuticals, or another international company, please pass that information along! This certainly needs to be completed and entered into the mix as we consider future steps in the city.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our final evaluation after last week's visit gave the city a green light, but we recognize that this is only a preliminary result. The addition of information from the professional realm will certainly provide further insight, and may alter the conclusions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One conclusion that seems evident is that it will not be possible for us (Bob & Carol) to do this new plant in Mannheim while still fully engaged in Darmstadt. We will need to seek a new church planter, or an associate to help in Darmstadt to free us for Mannheim.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thanks for your prayers for us!</span><br />
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Bob Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683351861221577726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288578289432747016.post-40134687228412820202015-12-18T04:31:00.000-08:002015-12-18T04:54:22.724-08:00The Validation Verification Vortex<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Official Seal of Hesse, Germany</td></tr>
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It's amazing how different things can be from place to place and culture to culture.<br />
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In the US, if I needed a document notarized, I would go to the nearest bank, or a friend who is a Notary Public, and they would witness my signature, emboss the document with their embosser, stamp it with a stamp, and sign the document. I might give them $5 for their trouble, and be on my way - total time: 5-10 minutes.<br />
<br />
Carol and I recently needed a document notarized for our bank in the USA. The document was sent to us via email attachment. We printed it out, and took it to an attorney whose office is in the next building - perhaps 20 meters away. He looked over the document, asked for our passports, photocopied them, had us sign, and asked us to come back the next day to pick up the document.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRjkwHgRhX0rAg7XSalkj2cAypxrzUmKUfoYDirY6rtogyKLVeq2_PIR7dv-wCZK7co_4f-H8IOt1oYkBOaeRNsa_ogm0K0XYiXHXHHtTkZIeZ4jQVRsM9BurszH6sotYDNGMZHIC0d-k/s1600/notarized+doc..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRjkwHgRhX0rAg7XSalkj2cAypxrzUmKUfoYDirY6rtogyKLVeq2_PIR7dv-wCZK7co_4f-H8IOt1oYkBOaeRNsa_ogm0K0XYiXHXHHtTkZIeZ4jQVRsM9BurszH6sotYDNGMZHIC0d-k/s1600/notarized+doc..jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notarized Document with <br />
Ribbon and Seal</td></tr>
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We went back the next afternoon as instructed and were presented with the document, Attached to the original by a scarlet ribbon was a second document, complete with a wax seal, and numerous signatures. The attorney explained that we next had to take the two documents to the state courthouse to have an Apostille attached. This is very important, he explained, because he is audited every four years by the German government to make sure that every document and every penny charged was accounted for. Fee for his services - 24.99 EUROS - about 28 US dollars.<br />
<br />
The next morning (now day three, in case you are counting), I called the State Courthouse, and was told I could come at any time between 9 and noon without an appointment. I made my way through the metal detector (they took my Swiss Army pocket knife), then up to the 5th floor. I was in room 204, but as I started down the hall, I as in the 300's. So I turned around and crossed the lobby - to find myself in the 100's...having lived here for a while, I figured that the 200's would be at the far end of the 100's, even though they would then be at the furthest end of the building from the 300's. And I was right. <br />
<br />
I found room 204 - locked and lights out. An inverted business card was stuck in the name-plate on the door that simply read "205" - I looked next door, and there was 205 - with a light on. I went in, and was greeted by a very nice government worker, who invited me to sit down while he finished something on his computer.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.dublin.irishnotarypublic.ie/images/seal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.dublin.irishnotarypublic.ie/images/seal.jpg" height="129" width="200" /></a><br />
When he finished, I showed him the document, and explained in my limited German that we needed the document notarized. He asked which country it was for, I told him "USA". He checked his computer, and said, "That will be 18 Euros" (about 20 US Dollars). Beginning to marvel at the complexity of this process, I took out my wallet. He shook his head and said, "No, not here - go down to the ground floor to the cashier. Pay there, then return." I gathered up all my items, made my way down 5 floors, found the cashier, and paid the fee. I received a receipt, and an officially stamped form documenting that I had paid, which I returned to the kind gentleman on the 5th floor. He accepted the form, and asked me to take a seat in the waiting area at the end of the hall.<br />
<br />
I went there, glad I had brought my Kindle, and read for a while until I heard a woman say, "Herr Marsh?" I gathered up my document, which had now multiplied into three documents, and went to the post office to mail it to the US. When I got to there, I thought that it might be good, since it is Christmas time, to check into some form of expedited post. The man said, "Sure, we can do that - it will cost 60 Euros (about 65 US Dollars)..." I went for the standard shipping and paid 3.95 Euros.<br />
<br />
So - Three days, three offices, one original document, one document verifying our signatures on the original, one document validating the verification of the signatures on the original, one wax seal, two official government stamps, three receipts, and a total cost of more than 50 US Dollars. <br />
<br />
<br />
I told the person at our bank in the US to frame the forms.Bob Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683351861221577726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288578289432747016.post-23375934781908802202015-12-12T04:34:00.001-08:002015-12-12T04:34:46.990-08:00Christmas Greetings!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Bob & Carol Marsh</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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</span><!--[endif]--><b><i><u><span style="color: red; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Winter 2015</span></u></i></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span><b><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #00b050; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">“Christmas
Greetings!”</span></u></b><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The Advent Season is upon us once again, and as we
celebrate our fifth Christmas in Germany, we want to wish each of you a very
blessed season as we remember the greatest gift ever given – the gift of
eternal life as children of God through the birth, life, death and resurrection
of Jesus Christ!</span><b><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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Bob Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683351861221577726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288578289432747016.post-1823744518576980322015-12-12T04:29:00.001-08:002015-12-12T04:29:15.375-08:00Church Growth<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-hyphenate: auto;">
<b><u><span style="color: #00b050; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Church Growth:</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> This can mean a lot of things, can’t it? The
growth of Converge International Fellowship in Darmstadt can be measured in a
number of ways. </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">As a three-year old “toddler” church, we sometimes wobble a bit, but by God’s grace we are maturing in Him!</span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">One of them is the growth of mature leaders. It was a great
blessing to us to know that while we were gone for 8 weeks, the church was
under the capable leadership of our Elders, Ministry Coordinators and the
Church Council, who filled the pulpit and guided the continued ministry. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GNgEFhm-IFEt40R66EpKAYgg6EICLlP6gqt6y61v5SC6pDtFaQmrxYapP8dG6awfpku3ivnsfAgGE85MrLQcy6DzPvzi6EEZ5tSo2nLcUFYEU1Y93ZnhHcGi5u30hmvq8VI7QowP-30/s1600/IMG_5813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GNgEFhm-IFEt40R66EpKAYgg6EICLlP6gqt6y61v5SC6pDtFaQmrxYapP8dG6awfpku3ivnsfAgGE85MrLQcy6DzPvzi6EEZ5tSo2nLcUFYEU1Y93ZnhHcGi5u30hmvq8VI7QowP-30/s320/IMG_5813.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">There was also a lot of growth in the congregation
while we were gone. We bid farewell to many of our faithful friends and members
earlier this year as their contracts for employment ended, or they graduated
from school. Thankfully, while we were
away, many new students and professionals became part of the church – we are
still getting to know many of them! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">We had a Thanksgiving dinner for our
Thursday night LIFE Group, and after enjoying the meal, the group gathered in a
circle and shared their gratitude for God’s blessings. So many of them shared
how thankful they were for the “family” God had led them to in Darmstadt – and
we are thankful, too!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJEGOhF_t9WOOI11sUR4OZ-mCNpVUXt6VB6RApjGxVWNKJK5orp_LVR7P3ZV_EaZgYumT8S-2UYBocEXdw3kfWTMB0wZSr_-vO95pfeb1xpMP2yq9x80dfnc9-hMsfwWO3Ciz2EWXNB4/s1600/IMG_5812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJEGOhF_t9WOOI11sUR4OZ-mCNpVUXt6VB6RApjGxVWNKJK5orp_LVR7P3ZV_EaZgYumT8S-2UYBocEXdw3kfWTMB0wZSr_-vO95pfeb1xpMP2yq9x80dfnc9-hMsfwWO3Ciz2EWXNB4/s320/IMG_5812.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
Bob Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683351861221577726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288578289432747016.post-78941008956201871492015-12-12T04:17:00.000-08:002015-12-12T04:17:56.158-08:00Expanding Ministry<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9AojEsC_jX5HYq34RLmrRm9obxGBRmvJZnteOfzqh39uNvEiMYHP-zzEYaQI69_4WqedFHmRHXx8GB5zh1SVSMEJjfiNmDpKXpqYVNK7qVvcIszvQklZYJ3_Tt6s7fW6rcTVQsbWFdg/s1600/Cent+Eur+LEAD.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9AojEsC_jX5HYq34RLmrRm9obxGBRmvJZnteOfzqh39uNvEiMYHP-zzEYaQI69_4WqedFHmRHXx8GB5zh1SVSMEJjfiNmDpKXpqYVNK7qVvcIszvQklZYJ3_Tt6s7fW6rcTVQsbWFdg/s320/Cent+Eur+LEAD.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Bob is Captain of the Central European LEAD <br />Team - Planting churches from France to Ukraine</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><em><span style="font-family: "lucida sans unicode" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 24px;"><strong><u>Expanding Ministry</u></strong>: </span></span></em></span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">The week after we returned from the US, we had a full week of meetings in Bratislava, Slovakia. It was the Annual Convention Meeting of our European Agency, the IBC. Part of that week was a meeting of the </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Church Planting</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> Ministry Team, in which Bob is the leader of the Central European LEAD Team – focused on church planting in Europe from France to Ukraine. It was a very encouraging meeting, as we discussed new church plants in Paris and Strasbourg, France; Munich, Kaiserslautern, Frankfurt and Mannheim, Germany. We </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">will be conducting Feasibility Studies in 3 cities in the Spring of 2016, and the Darmstadt church will be especially involved in the planting of a new church in Mannheim/Heidelberg as God leads.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDIvEf6yGzL8P3BCljds-zt1JnFu3AtQS_0k1PUm9C_xznjdU8KWZ98vyf7nGGNJIx1xthytNhydScAfN0JDODkTiZf4opnXdXScgDtXP9XWWmeo10_1zhU-vavPYD2kY-AQVP60g4vYQ/s1600/01-Das-Logo-der-TU-Darmstadt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDIvEf6yGzL8P3BCljds-zt1JnFu3AtQS_0k1PUm9C_xznjdU8KWZ98vyf7nGGNJIx1xthytNhydScAfN0JDODkTiZf4opnXdXScgDtXP9XWWmeo10_1zhU-vavPYD2kY-AQVP60g4vYQ/s320/01-Das-Logo-der-TU-Darmstadt.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">We are very excited to be welcoming a </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">University Ministries Associate</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">, Blake Nobles, in January. The plan is for Blake to spend 2016 building a sustainable student ministry in the city. There are at least three German-language campus ministries at work on the campuses, but no English-language ministry for the thousands of International Students who are here. We hope to work with the German groups to change that! Our church will pay about 30% of the cost of his ministry, and he is raising support for the rest. Pray for Blake as he raises his support and transitions to Darmstadt! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">We continue to seek ways to minister to the </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Refugees</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> who have made their way to the Darmstadt area. So far, the opportunities have been scarce. They are being kept in a segregated area, where we have no access to them, and they cannot freely get out. Pray that God will open doors for us to reach out to them with the love of Christ!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxywlc3PMdK38FHB5B_8i0Ff11lMK34DehJKI7Zls0bYUMm4RBLXplVe5q5OsnMjkQIA_rtJlzT1qud7Un4z2gkl6JsW9W8rU92QGtjIoa9FTUeHJ_GCGnQSyX0hy1tMEeavRt1UGgJI/s1600/_85458466_85458460.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxywlc3PMdK38FHB5B_8i0Ff11lMK34DehJKI7Zls0bYUMm4RBLXplVe5q5OsnMjkQIA_rtJlzT1qud7Un4z2gkl6JsW9W8rU92QGtjIoa9FTUeHJ_GCGnQSyX0hy1tMEeavRt1UGgJI/s320/_85458466_85458460.jpg" width="320" /></a></span>Bob Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683351861221577726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288578289432747016.post-80098552298510218172015-12-12T03:56:00.001-08:002015-12-12T03:56:29.646-08:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-hyphenate: auto;">
<b><u><span style="color: #00b050; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">December, 2015 Financial Update</span></u></b><u><span style="color: #00b050; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">:</span></u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Please pray for us regarding our continued
financial needs. We have entered our fifth year on the mission field, and there
has been some attrition in our support over the years. Some churches have
changed their giving policies, or fallen on difficult financial times. Some
individuals have also struggled to continue, and some have been taken ill, or
died. Only about 60% of our monthly support is being met from our supporters
back home. So far, the church in Darmstadt has been able to keep up with the
shortfall. That is good, but as the deficit grows, and as we face the loss of
some critical members in the church due to change of employment, etc., the
situation can quickly grow critical. Will you consider joining us in our
efforts to reach the English-speaking International Community of Darmstadt,
Central Europe and the world? Please pray for God’s provision for us, and for
His guidance for you and your family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Bob Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683351861221577726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288578289432747016.post-51136864697950643392015-11-30T00:10:00.001-08:002015-11-30T00:10:56.184-08:00Every word of God proves true;<br />
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Proverbs 30:5 Bob Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683351861221577726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288578289432747016.post-16980332943072155822015-11-29T00:11:00.002-08:002015-11-29T00:11:27.685-08:00<span class="text Prov-29-25" id="en-NIV-17250" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">25 </span>Proverbs 29:25 Fear<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-17250AD" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-17250AD" title="See cross-reference AD">AD</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> of man will prove to be a snare,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Prov-29-25" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">but whoever trusts in the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-17250AE" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-17250AE" title="See cross-reference AE">AE</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> is kept safe.</span></span>Bob Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10683351861221577726noreply@blogger.com0