Europe Missions
The Power of Teams
The Power of Teams
Wales
Ryan McCullough
The Hard Stuff No One Wants to Tell A ...

You don’t become a missionary by raising money and flying to a foreign country. You do it by being obedient to God. Tell people about Jesus where you live. Get out of your comfort zone. Sell something precious and apply it to your debts. Make a sacrifice. Develop better friendships. There is an old saying: “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” While this is not to be taken literally in this sense, (please, don’t start wearing the national garb of the country you want to go to just yet). However, somewhere in the process, we have to make a conscious decision that there is no going back. 

The Hard Stuff No One Wants to Tell A Prospective Missionary
Portugal, Spain
Dan Desrosiers
Starting from Scratch

Dan and Joy West have had a rich missionary career, yet at a time in their career when they might be tempted to stay in their comfort zone, Dan and Joy are starting over.

Starting from Scratch
Netherlands
Dan Desrosiers
The Miracle of the Oasis

More than 30 years ago, the last evangelical church in the municipality of Bergen, Netherlands, closed its doors, leaving no evangelical witness for two generations. But a small yet passionate group of Christians believed God for a miracle in their community.

The Miracle of the Oasis
Poland
Dan Desrosiers
On the Hunt: Embracing—and Breaking—Tradition ...

For most of his life, one of missionary Rich McLane’s passions has been hunting. His wife Lori enjoys playing the trumpet. When they became missionary church planters in Poland years ago, who would have guessed these passions would converge to reach more than 120,000 hunters throughout the country?

On the Hunt: Embracing—and Breaking—Tradition in the Name of Christ

Albania

Missions Conference in Albania

More than 200 Assemblies of God young people from Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Italy, and England joined together in Durres, Albania for a three-day missions conference highlighting the spiritual need of the Balkans. The event was hosted by the Albanian general council. The greatest overall impact was an increased missions vision among the youth. Some were called to missions, and others were baptized in the Holy Spirit. Time spent at the altar was transformational. One mature Italian pastor and his wife were deeply touched by the Spirit and called to Montenegro, the least reached nation in Europe. Just as Jesus prayed in Luke 10:2 “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” so prayer is being requested for Albanian workers to be called and sent to Kosovo, Montenegro and Turkey.

image002.jpgMore than 200 Assemblies of God young people from Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Italy, and England joined together in Durres, Albania for a three-day missions conference highlighting the spiritual need of the Balkans. The event was hosted by the Albanian general council. The greatest overall impact was an increased missions vision among the youth. Some were called to missions, and others were baptized in the Holy Spirit. Time spent at the altar was transformational. One mature Italian pastor and his wife were deeply touched by the Spirit and called to Montenegro, the least reached nation in Europe.

Just as Jesus prayed in Luke 10:2  “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” so prayer is being requested for Albanian workers to be called and sent to Kosovo, Montenegro and Turkey.

Evangelical Theological College Celebrates 10th Anniversary in Albania

The end of the recent school year culminated with the celebration of the 10th anniversary of ETC in Albania as well as the graduation. More students were launched into the ministry to harvest souls into the kingdom of God. Four graduates went directly from school into church plants where they are now serving the Lord. Another student returned to his home church in Kosovo for ministry. Ministers of the gospel are being trained to serve the Lord in Albania and abroad as the Holy Spirit direct. God’s wisdom is evident in his orchestrating the birth of the school and his faithfulness in sustaining it. As a result, the kingdom of God is expanding. ETC believes in missions, and the Bible College students are taught to have a missional worldview. In April, 30 people were sent from Albania to four countries including Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Turkey with the Word of God and the power of their testimony. The teams did a variety of ministry including praying, encouraging believers, visiting believers and non-believers alike, doing contact and relational evangelism, testifying, and serving through physical work. In Turkey, the team held a cultural event in a local church with Albanian folk music, folk dancing and national food. It was well received and established several new contacts.

ETC_graduates_2013.jpegThe end of the recent school year culminated with the celebration of the 10th anniversary of ETC in Albania as well as the graduation.  More students were launched into the ministry to harvest souls into the kingdom of God.  Four graduates went directly from school into church plants where they are now serving the Lord.  Another student returned to his home church in Kosovo for ministry.  Ministers of the gospel are being trained to serve the Lord in Albania and abroad as the Holy Spirit direct.  God’s wisdom is evident in his orchestrating the birth of the school and his faithfulness in sustaining it.  As a result, the kingdom of God is expanding.

ETC_gradutes__credentialed_ministers_2013.jpegETC believes in missions, and the Bible College students are taught to have a missional worldview.  In April, 30 people were sent from Albania to four countries including Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Turkey with the Word of God and the power of their testimony.  The teams did a variety of ministry including praying, encouraging believers, visiting believers and non-believers alike, doing contact and relational evangelism, testifying, and serving through physical work.  In Turkey, the team held a cultural event in a local church with Albanian folk music, folk dancing and national food.  It was well received and established several new contacts.

Studying to Serve in Albania

The Evangelical Theological College in Tirana and Shkoder, Albana is training students for Spirit-empowered ministry. This year a program was initiated to train church planters in an effort to focus on this vital need in that country. AGWM Personnel Kurt Plagenhoef also reports that more Albanian teachers are lecturing at the school this year with the purpose of making the school more indigenous. Most of these teachers are themselves ETC graduates.

The Evangelical Theological College in Tirana and Shkoder, Albana is training students for Spirit-empowered ministry. This year a program was initiated to train church planters in an effort to focus on this vital need in that country.AGWM Personnel Kurt Plagenhoef also reports that more Albanian teachers are lecturing at the school this year with the purpose of making the school more indigenous.  Most of these teachers are themselves ETC graduates.

Ari.jpegTwo of the students shared their testimonies.  Ari is from the town of Kuçova.  He tells his story in how own words: “My family is from a non-Christian religious background but they are really more atheistic in belief. As I grew up, I became infamous in my town as  a criminal and terrible person, known for all kinds of evil deeds. I was a hooligan and tried to find  comfort in alcohol. In 1995, one of my partners in crime came to know Christ. He then invited me to church. The pastor preached  the gospel and invited those who wanted prayer to come forward. I responded, but I was very proud in my  heart. The pastor laid his hand upon me and spoke these words: ‘Lord, break the pride in this man and bless his  life.’ The Spirit of the Lord came on me, and I fell on the floor for about fifteen minutes. I experienced God in a way that forever changed my life.  He showed me a vision of a man paralyzed in his bed and said, ‘Rise up and tell others that I am Lord, because people need my Word. I have called you to be an evangelist.’  I rose up frightened, but I received the call to preach the gospel. I  have come to the Bible school to know God better and go deeper in  the knowledge of  his Word.  God has called me to plant churches, and I  am convinced that the school will help equip me to fulfill this vision.” 

Xhesi.jpegXhensilda tells her story:  “My mother and I are the only believers in my immediate family. I was first invited to church by my uncle.  I went and felt peace there. However, it was very difficult for me to abandon my worldly life. For about six months, I attended church but lived for the pleasures of the world at the same time. One day I went to a youth conference at our church. The preacher spoke about the blessings we receive when we give our life to the Lord.  At the end, he gave an invitation for those that wanted to respond in prayer. It was difficult for me because of my pride. I did not want to allow anyone to control my life. At the same time, as I reflected on my life, I felt weak and understood that I had failed because of my way of living. I surrendered to Jesus, and since then, I have never regretted that decision. From the time I gave my life to Jesus, the greatest desire in my heart has been  to serve him. For two years, I have had the privilege of serving the children of my local church. I thank God for this opportunity. I also often serve in practical ways in my church. Like young Samuel, I have heard God’s voice calling me to serve him. That is why I have come to study at the  Bible school. I want to do his will.”