Summer 2017: Sabbatical & Strides

Mid-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.

Personal Sabbatical

With Nicole & Eric in Athens, Greece

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 Ministry Leadership Conference 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.



Our sabbatical gave us time for physical, spiritual, emotional and relational renewal. It began with three weeks in Arizona, 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!

With John & Kefei in Arizona

In late April, we traveled to Elmira, New York, 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.

With Nicole, Eric, Asher & Cayden in New York

Then we moved on to Norfolk, Virginia, 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!

Andrew, Rachel, Levi, Samantha & Jackson in Virginia

Bob returned to Germany on June 30, 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. Later in August we will meet in Wisconsin, 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!

The Sabbatical was a wonderful experience for us. 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!

What was equally wonderful was how God has been at work in Darmstadt while we were away...Keep reading (Click Here)!