From the January-March 2010 Issue
CELEBRATING FIFTY YEARS OF GOSPEL MINISTRY
Daniel Webber
The Annual Report on the work of the EMF for 2009
Sometimes during the past year it was difficult to decide whether the EMF was supposed to be celebrating its fiftieth, or its seventy-fifth, anniversary of gospel labours in Europe. As explained in the last (and first!) issue of the Vision for Europe, although as the “European Missionary Fellowship” this work had reached its fiftieth birthday, under other names its roots can be traced back to 1934. Nevertheless, it was fifty years ago that T Omri Jenkins led the EMF into a new sphere of service and we thought this was something worth remembering and celebrating. Indeed, it had been our original intention to make so much more of the link with 1959 than in the end proved possible. We had hoped to mark the occasion with a full Field Conference – something not held since 1993 – but the recession put paid to such hopes. Nevertheless, albeit in a much more restricted way, we were glad for an opportunity to look back and acknowledge the Lord’s good hand upon us. It was also heartening not only to remember the efforts of our predecessors, but to realise that the same great works that they were interested in pursuing continue today: the preaching of the gospel, the establishment of new churches, the provision of training for a new generation of labourers, and the publication of good Christian books.
THE RECESSION
Having already mentioned the recession, there is a need briefly to return to it. It has been a dominating consideration throughout the world for more than a year now. There has hardly been an institution, Christian or non-Christian, that has not in some way been affected by the recession. It has not only affected the EMF, but it has been tough for us too. Indeed, but for the kindness of two legacies, our year-end situation would have been very difficult.
However, not only do we have every reason to be grateful for the Lord’s provision through legacies, but also for the realisation that throughout this difficult year the general income of the EMF has not fallen below that of the previous year. Our main difficulty has been with expenditure, and this is almost entirely due to additional costs on the mission field. This, in turn, is related to the fall in the value of sterling against the euro during the previous twelve months. In the Lord’s kindness, what these legacies have done is to provide us with some additional breathing space, and for this we are most thankful.
NEW MAGAZINE
And yet, in spite of all this, and in celebration of our fiftieth year, the EMF was able to launch its new magazine. It had long been thought that the older newspaper format needed to be replaced by something newer and fresher. In the past the main obstacle to such a change had been the cost. But times themselves have changed and, simply by reducing the number of issues from four to three each year, it was possible for a new format to be launched. The first issue of the Vision for Europe appeared in October 2009 and we were somewhat nervous about how it would be received. We are however pleased to report that its appearance has been almost universally welcomed. Moreover, those making a comparison between the previous issue and this one will hopefully realise that we have responded to the comments which had been invited on its appearance and content.
As we have already said, most correspondents have simply praised the new format. Where there has been criticism, it has mainly been restricted to the size of the typeface employed. It would seem that quite a number of our regular supporters no longer possess 20-20 vision. Indeed, even a number of those working within the Mission will be pleased to see that we have already increased the font by a couple of sizes. One of the features that has particularly pleased us in connection with the new Vision for Europe is that it still has something of ‘the feel’ of the old. When you turn its pages and read its articles, there is a very real sense of engaging with something that is familiar.
SIGNS OF GROWTH
But all this talk of anniversaries, recession, and new magazine, must not be allowed to deflect attention from the primary purpose for the EMF’s existence: participation in the work of the gospel throughout Europe. Here we are pleased to report that, no matter what else may have been taking place in our world during the past year, there have been happy signs of growth among many of the churches being supported through the agency of this Mission.
MOVEMENTS OF PEOPLE
Part of this growth has of course coincided with the vast movements of people around the world during the past two decades. Christian people have been caught up in this movement too as men and women have been desperate to find a better standard of living for themselves and their families. Often in the first place looking for practical help from fellow-believers, some have gone on to make an important contribution to the lives of congregations that had previously endured years of struggle. Those who have remained, and whose backgrounds have contained a more evangelistically-orientated Christianity, have often infected our churches with their zealousness for the cause of Christ.
Others, displaced from all that is familiar, and also looking for help, have instinctively turned to those people who have a reputation throughout the world as those who are willing to provide it. And so they have found themselves in the midst of caring communities of Christian believers, hearing the gospel, and being saved. Then, as rising unemployment has accompanied recession, so some of these people have begun trickling back to their homelands. But now they do so with a new heart and, we trust, with a determination give something more to the families they had previously left behind.
BUILDING PROJECTS
Another sign of growth among the churches can be seen both in the building projects currently being undertaken by a number of our colleagues and in the needs of others for enlarged premises. The EMF has never been overly preoccupied with buildings. For us the primary focus of support has always been on the workers themselves. In our view it is one of the disappointing aspects of modern church life that Christian people are somewhat preoccupied with projects. As important as such things are in their place, it is our conviction that it is the proclamation of the gospel that should always be at the forefront of our minds and hearts. Nevertheless, there are times when the need to lend support to the erection of a new building, or some form of enlarged premises, is a sign of spiritual life and that growth is taking place. And, during the past year, a number of our friends have necessarily found themselves involved in such projects.
Perhaps the most ambitious of the projects undertaken in recent years by those associated with the EMF has been in Belarus.
Something similar could be said about the congregation that now meets in Warburg, Germany. It is approximately twenty years since Jörg and Heike Müller first returned from the United Kingdom to commence church-planting. During that time they have witnessed a new congregation come into being and, though for much of that time they have been renting accommodation, for the past two years they have been renovating and occupying new premises for a growing church. Likewise, just outside the town of Druzhba, in south-west Ukraine, Volodymyr Kostyshyn and the members of this fledgling congregation have embarked on an ambitious building project. As with the projects in Belarus and Germany, most of the work is being undertaken by the church members themselves. The same can also be said of the church in Alto do Moinho in Portugal which, during last summer, completed yet another extension to meet the needs of its growing membership.
Growth in Spain has also meant that most of the churches with which we are involved are either searching for new premises or planning to extend what they already possess. This is certainly true in Almuñecar and Ciudad Real, and may soon be a requirement in Madrid as well. The church in San Fernando, with which Pepe Rodriguez was associated for so long, has taken over part of the ground floor of a new block of flats and turned it into a meeting place for their resurgent congregation. Whilst in Alcázar de San Juan, José Moreno reports that their building is becoming too small to cope with their needs. It was only last year that we were rejoicing with them concerning the tenth anniversary of the erection of their new building! Then, in Palma de Mallorca, such is the growth that their hopes are now set upon establishing a second church on the island. After so many years of diligent sowing by so many, it is simply wonderful to see the Lord granting such encouragement to his people.
FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE
Another real sign of growth comes in the form of churches attaining financial independence of outside resources. This is of course one of EMF’s aims in all its evangelistic and church-planting activities. We wish to see newly-formed congregations gradually attaining full responsibility for every aspect of their own life and work. Two years ago – and not without a degree of trepidation – the Evangelical church in Seixal, Portugal, began taking full responsibility for their pastor, Paulo Nunes. Then, at the beginning of 2009, the members in Ciudad Real (Spain) began doing the same for their pastor, Luis Cano. In the coming year (2010), we are expecting something similar from the friends in Palma de Mallorca.
Rarely does such progress happen quickly. Usually it is the result of many years of patient labour and sensitive teaching. In addition to these encouraging signs, a good number of churches with which we are working are already making some contribution towards the support of their own pastors. It is our sincere hope that the growth of other churches will soon enable them likewise to participate more fully in the support of their own works.
So, despite the recession, there is much for which we can give thanks to the Lord in 2009. Not only has he granted us these fifty years of gospel proclamation in Europe, but he has also supplied our every need, including the bestowal of wonderful tokens of his kindness in church growth. We long for more. We yearn for those days when the entire cause of Christ throughout the world is being saturated with the blessing of God’s Spirit. May it come soon. And may it be in such a way that that which has been glimpsed during the past year might seem like just a drop in the mighty ocean of God’s grace.