| |||||
| |||||
Friday, June 7, 2013
Excellent! Converge Mission Link: 7 June 2013
Thursday, April 11, 2013
WILL YOU CONSIDER PARTNERING WITH US?
In the last 18 months, God has gathered over 60 people from more than 20 nations to form Converge International Fellowship in Darmstadt. It has been nothing short of amazing to witness Christ building His church! We trust that as you have followed our reports of His blessing, you have been blessed and encouraged along with us. Thank you for your participation in this ministry through your prayers, notes and financial support.In our last update, we shared that when we came to Germany, we were fully funded by generous regular gifts of faith-filled friends who caught the vision for a new International Church reaching people “from every nation under heaven” (see Acts 2:5). A substantial part of that support also came in the form of several large gifts that were divided over the months we would be on the field. With the fluctuations in the Dollar and Euro, and some loss in regular support, those months have been reduced, and we now face full funding only through August of this year.
On August 1, we will be returning to the US, and will not be able to return to Darmstadt until we are once again 100% funded. We need your help to continue our mission! One encouraging source of financial support that we have now did not exist 2 years ago – the Darmstadt church itself! The faithful congregation at CIF (many of them students!) is supporting the church with enough resources to pay all the local expenses (building rent, supplies, advertising, etc.), and will be stepping out in faith to add support toward our support target! We are actually glad to have this opportunity for our church family to be part of this support-raising effort. It is so encouraging to watch God do the amazing and miraculous – it strengthens our resolve and confirms His vision for the work in Darmstadt.
Our initial shortfall was $5800/month. In just the last 6 weeks, we have seen God provide over $1800 in new monthly support! Praise Him! We are praying specifically that God will provide the needed funds so that we can be back in Darmstadt for our first anniversary service on October 6.
Will you join us in that prayer? Will you join us in achieving that goal?
We invite you to join us in reaching the world! Here’s how you can help:
• If you are not already personally supporting this work, will you prayerfully consider it?
• If you are on the team already, will you pray about increasing your level of support?
• Will you contact your pastor, or church missions team, about our mission and our need, or send us their contact information so we can contact them?
• Pray with and for us!
HOW TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION:
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.
By Check: Make payable to: CONVERGE WORLDWIDE in the memo line, please note ACCOUNT # 133261. Send to: Converge Worldwide / 2002 S. Arlington Heights Rd. / Arlington Heights, IL 60005
Automatic Withdrawal is available. Contact Daniel Boerst at 1.800.323.4215
Powerful Partnerships
Our ministry in Darmstadt is the result of Kingdom-minded partnerships. Our very presence here is the result of a partnership between Converge Worldwide in the United States and the International Baptist Convention, based in Frankfurt, Germany. That core value of working with ministry partners to see the gospel proclaimed around the world is part of the DNA of Converge International Fellowship. Over the last six months since the launch of CIF, we have been blessed with amazing partners in ministry in Darmstadt.
The German-language Baptist church that rents us our meeting space in their building is a vital partner. Bob had a chance to preach there this past month, and was warmly received. The church has been very supportive of our work, and they are excited to see the relationship and ministry results grow as we work together to reach the city!
A few weeks ago a new family joined us for worship. Markus and Jojo are regional directors for Youth for Christ- Germany, and we are so blessed to have them join us! They are currently training and leading a South African ministry team called “iThemba” which means “hope” in the Zulu-language, one of the 11 official languages of South Africa. Markus explains their mission:
"iThemba started as a ministry of Youth for Christ South Africa in 1998 and from that time on, several teams have ministered in Germany, Great Britain, The Netherlands, Spain and the US through the creative arts like dancing, singing and drama. Through their life-stories and testimonies they have the privilege of sharing the gospel with many young people in Germany, even in governmental schools in Germany which are usually quite restrictive towards Christian groups. This year we are hosting 3 teams of each 7 young people. They will start their tour in May until the end of November."CIF will be serving as their “base church” through the remainder of the year. Pray that we will be a faithful and effective partner in their mission to Germany!
The Chinese-language Bible study on the University Campus continues to be another great partner. As this group continues to grow, more and more of the students are coming to CIF to find a church home. It is so exciting to see God at work among the Chinese and other Southeast Asian people. God is doing a great work, and Pray for the leaders of the Bible study, and for our support to their important mission. Pray that CIF will be a loving and enriching church home to them!
Signs of Life in the “Endless Winter”!
Germany, like many parts of the world, is experiencing a long and stubborn winter season. A recent news story reported that the period from December 1, 2012 through March 1, 2013 was the cloudiest 3-month period in Germany since records have been kept. During that 90 days, there was a mere 96 hours of sunny skies! It has been cold, wet, gray and harsh. As Carol and I walked through the stadtmitte (city center) in Darmstadt last week, I said, “This is not a bad day for early January – but not good at all for early April!” We have seen reports that much of the rest of Europe and the US are experiencing an “endless winter” just as we are.
But in the midst of this gray, oppressive season, there are signs of life! Tiny, colorful crocuses push through the snow, bright yellow daffodils have blossomed along the city streets, the trees are beginning to exhibit the first signs of life, and the local farmers have taken to the fields, caring for their spargel, or asparagus. They grow a very unique asparagus in our region. Early in the spring, they cover huge fields of asparagus with tarp, and the earth is mounded high over the plants, so that the asparagus actually grows and matures beneath the surface, hidden from the sun. The result is an asparagus that is white instead of green. It is more flavorful and tender than its traditional green cousin, and is the object of “Spargelfests” all over our area.
Farmers all over the world are people of great faith. They may not ever go to a church, and they may not know God, but they have faith, nonetheless. I know because I see them out in their fields on gray, cloudy, snowy days in April preparing for a harvest that I would have long ago determined would never come! They do not look at the current circumstance to determine their commitment to their work. They look beyond the immediate conditions toward the harvest that they trust will come if they are committed to their work! There have been wonderful signs of spiritual life in this endless winter of 2013. We celebrated our first Easter with a great service of Biblical readings and musical selections by hymn-writers Townend and Getty. Our three LIFE Groups have seen good, steady growth, and we have added a Friday morning women’s study, and a Saturday morning men’s group. The youth group continues to grow, reaching out to young people who do not attend church. Our worship services have seen new growth too! Two of the last three Sunday worship services have been our largest to date, with new families, new university students and the addition of an entire international ministry team from Youth for Christ South Africa! Carol marveled last week as she observed young men from China, Latvia, India and Germany talking and sharing together – what a joy this is!
“Ask rain from the Lord in the season of the spring rain, from the Lord who makes the storm clouds, and he will give them showers of rain, to everyone the vegetation in the field.” ~ Zechariah 10:1
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
“FISCAL CLIFF” OR “FAITHFUL VISTA”?
At the end of last year the world was obsessed with the “Fiscal Cliff,” when the United States approached a looming financial deadline. Fear gripped many as they worried about their homes, jobs, savings and futures.
As we move through 2013, we face a “fiscal cliff” ourselves. When we came to Germany, we were fully funded by generous regular gifts of faith-filled friends who caught the vision for a new International Church reaching people “from every nation under heaven” (see Acts 2:5) who came to Darmstadt to live, work and study. A substantial part of that support also came in the form of several large gifts that were divided over the months we would be on the field. We came knowing that we would be fully funded for only 30 months.
With the fluctuations in the Dollar and Euro, and some loss in regular support, those months have been reduced, and we now face full funding through August of this year. We need to increase our support levels to reach 100% again as quickly as possible. One great source of financial support that we have this year did not exist at all 2 years ago – the Darmstadt church itself! Our young, new congregation is already faithfully giving in excess of $3,000 each month, and that certainly takes off some of the pressure, but we are still in need of support. Many of you (about 25%) who receive this newsletter regularly are supporting us, and we are grateful for your faithfulness! You are our partners in this ministry in a very real and special way, and we thank God for you!
We do not look at this “cliff” as a crisis! We see it as a place from where we will see God’s glory demonstrated! Once again we look to the Lord and ask Him in His grace and mercy to supply our needs as we fulfill the mission He has placed before us. We invite you to join us in the adventure! Here’s how you can help:
- If you are not already personally supporting this work, will you prayerfully consider it?
- If you are on the team already, will you pray about increasing your level of support?
- Will you contact your pastor, or church missions team, about our mission and our need, or send us their contact information so we can contact them?
- Pray with and for us!
How To Support Our Work in Darmstadt:
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.
- Make checks payable to: Converge Worldwide. In the memo line of the check, please note account # 133261. Send checks to: Converge Worldwide Attn: Daniel Boerst / 2002 S. Arlington Heights Rd. / Arlington Heights, IL 60005.
- Automatic Withdrawal is also available. Contact Daniel Boerst at 1.800.323.4215
Brothers & Sisters, Serving Together
One of the truly great blessings that God has brought our way in the months of our ministry to Darmstadt has been the partnership of two gifted and committed couples: Daniel and Adela Herth, and David and Nikki Herth. They have been an incredible part of our launch team, participating in LIFE Groups, the Genesis Team, and helping with various ministries including sound tech, information tech, praise team, events planning, prayer coordination and financial secretary.
You may have guessed, from the common last names, that Daniel and David are from the same family – and they are! They are German/American brothers who spent much of their formative years growing up in Romania, where their parents worked in ministry. It was while living in Romania that the two young brothers met two sisters, who, years later would be their partners in life and ministry. Through their childhood, they were involved in a great church, especially a dynamic youth group. Because of that experience, both couples realize the importance of a youth-focused ministry within the church, and both have stepped up to have an impact in Darmstadt – but in uniquely different ways!
 |
| David & Nikki |
 |
| Daniel & Adela |
We are so excited about both of these youth programs! Please be in prayer for Daniel and Adela and David and Nikki, as they work diligently to connect with the next generation of Christ-followers from around the world! Pray for their direction and equipping by the Holy Spirit, and pray for receptive hearts and minds in their respective youth groups!
Monday, February 18, 2013
Our First “Missionary”!
Our First
“Missionary”!
It has been said that the only constant
in life is change. That is never truer than when working in an
International Church setting. From the
earliest days of our exposure to this unique and amazing ministry opportunity,
we were told (warned?) of the most difficult part – saying “goodbye” to
friends, brothers and sisters in Christ and partners in ministry with
heart-breaking regularity.
 |
| Carin |
Students average
2-3 years at the local university.
Corporate workers tend to be on 3- to four- year assignments. As a
result, the congregation of the church that reaches out to that community will
tend to have regular and constant turnover.
A typical early conversation with a new Guest to the church includes
questions like, “Where are you from?” and “How did you hear about us?” followed
by, “How long will you be in the area?”
The most common answer to that
question is “About three years.”
Since
those earliest days, we have been determined that we would not allow this “most
difficult part” of the ministry to dominate
us – instead, we need to use it to motivate
us! There are some advantages to this reality.
We know from the outset that we have a limited time with these dear
friends – so we don’t want to waste any of it!
We want to be deliberate in showing them the love of Christ; sharing the
gospel with them; praying for and with them; encouraging and nurturing them and
preparing them for the next assignment God has for them.
Following
the lead of our mentor and coach, Pastor Darryl Evetts, at Frontline Community
in Ramstein, we have adapted the theme “Lose No One – Send Every One!” Instead of seeing the departure
of a member of our church community as a loss – we see it as an opportunity –
in fact, it is the culmination of the mission of the church! Jesus’ charge to the church was to “make
disciples and send them out to the whole world!”
Though CIF is officially
just 4 months old, we have already had the opportunity to send our first
“missionary” into the world! We first
met Carin shortly after our arrival in Germany.
She had a life-transforming encounter with Jesus in November of 2011,
and became a wonderful source of enthusiasm, encouragement and joy to our small
groups and Genesis Team as we moved steadily toward launch. Carin is from Beirut, Lebanon, and was
working at Procter & Gamble in Germany.
Though she lived in the Frankfurt area, she drove down to Darmstadt
multiple times each week to attend Life Group meetings, Genesis Team leadership
meetings and eventually our worship services.
Many times she brought friends from Frankfurt, either from her workplace
or from the young adult group at our sister church in Oberursel.
 |
| 27 January, 2013 - Converge International Fellowship Carin Haddad (front, 3rd from left) commissioned to answer the call of God to Beirut, Lebanon. |
We do not know what God
is up to in Lebanon, but we are privileged to be part of it! On Sunday, January 27, the people of Converge
International gathered around Carin, laid hands on her and commissioned her to
the work to which God had called her. We
are excited to watch and pray as she goes!
We encourage you to pray for her in her obedient walk with Christ to
bring the gospel to the people of her homeland.
And pray for us as we prepare more missionary-disciples in the months
and years ahead!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)