From the January-April 2012 Issue
NOTES FROM THE EDITOR
Martin Leech
Martin LeechBy the time this edition of Vision for Europe
is being read it will already be 2012. This is a year long awaited by millions of people as the year of the London Olympic Games,which begin on 27 July. Millions will be
eagerly awaiting the European Football Championships in Poland and Ukraine beginning in June. Many will be looking
forward to these sporting events to provide momentary distraction from the ongoing pains of the economic crisis, which appears to be spiralling into even greater depths.
Sadly, there will be others overly influenced by the hype surrounding the recent Hollywood film, 2012, who will greet the arrival of this year in full expectation of a global cataclysm before the year is out.
Of course, none of this alters the great truth that the Lord Jesus Christ is building his church and his work continues on in its stately progress throughout the whole world, including the troubled nations of continental Europe. The end is certainly coming – but not until Christ has sought out and saved every last one of his lost sheep. The articles that follow paint different pictures of that most significant of works – the proclamation of the Gospel to the nations, the means by which the Good and Great Shepherd seeks out the lost.
As always, the January edition of the Vision for Europe contains the European Missionary Fellowship’s Annual Report. This year it is entitled, Giving Thanks to our Unchanging God,in recognition of the fact that 2011 has been a year in which much has changed within the life of the Mission but the work has continued because it is in the safe hands of the Lord.
Other articles include reports on the new situations in the lives of some of our missionaries. Michael and Ariëtte Robinson have moved from Eeklo to De Panne in Belgium and Michael writes about this in Time for a Change. Jan and Lucie Hábl are now settled in to life in Usti nad Labem as reported in Jan’s article Life with God is an Adventure. There is also a report from our friends Keith and Janette Noldt (Sydney, Australia) who have been able to make a repeat visit to the brethren in Transylvania. Such visits prove to be of benefit not only to the missionaries and their churches but also, and usually more so, to those making the visit. David and Thelma Aspin make a similar point in their article on providing hospitality to missionaries visiting the UK on deputation. We would be delighted to hear from anyone willing to take up the challenge in the Aspins’ article! Likewise, Andy and Jean Woods will be very happy should readers of their article Summer Work Party be motivated to offer to come to Guessens to help out.
I hope that the articles in this New Year issue of Vision for Europe will prove to be helpful, stimulating, challenging and will provoke thanksgiving and much intercession before theThrone of Grace.
With warm Christian greetings,
Martin Leech