Making and Maturing

Today we enjoyed an excellent American worship service… 4,000 miles from the United States.  The church body at High Point Baptist in Vilseck is filled with young families (mostly military).  We had a great time worshipping with them.  Kelli, Sarah, and Lindsay gave their children’s church workers a break for the week.

As you think about Keith and Diana, here are a few prayer requests:

• Pray for continued transition to life in Germany.  The first year transitioning to life in a cross cultural ministry context is usually the most challenging.  Please pray for the Edwards family as they adjust to life in Germany.  Two of the Edwards family, Molly and Caleb, are in college and high school (respectively).  Pray for their continued success at school.
• Pray for the start of a Word of Life Bible Club on base.  Keith and Diana have secured permission to operate a WOL club on base.  This is a great opportunity for outreach.  Pray as they get this club up and running.
• Pray for outreach to local Syrian refugees.  By God’s sovereign grace, many refugee families have been housed in former US military housing.  God has brought the nations to the gospel once again.  Pray as High Point considers how to reach out to these families.
• Pray for possible expansion of their facilities.  Currently they rent their meeting space and have 2 services.  They have several options, and they need God’s wisdom as they consider what to do in the future to make room for their church body.

Keith and Diana expressed how perfect the timing of our trip was for them.  We were their first ministry partners to visit since arriving in Germnay last December.  They send their greetings to the church at Green Pond. 

Speaking of which- we miss the saints at Green Pond and Highlands!  Even so, we praise God for the making and maturing of disciples of Jesus at High Point.

(Keith and Diana Edwards).

Today we spent some quality time with Keith and Diana Edwards visiting Flossenburg Concentration Camp, one of the primary forced labor camps the SS used during World War 2.  This was where German pastor Deitricht Bonhoeffer was hanged for his refusal to support the Nazi regime and his participation in rescuing Jews and a plot to assassinate Hitler.  

Bonhoeffer once wrote, 

Who stands fast? Only the man whose final standard is not his reason, his principles, his conscience, his freedom, or his virtue, but who is ready to sacrifice all this when he is called to obedient and responsible action in faith and in exclusive allegiance to God—the responsible man, who tries to make his whole life an answer to the question and call of God.

This radical discipleship, for which he was famous, cost him his life.  Tragically, he was executed two weeks before the US Army reached Flossenburg.  His legacy is a call to that kind of commitment to Christ and his kingdom.  On a personal note, this theme has resonated strongly with me.  

It has been refreshing to consider what undistracted discipleship looks like.  How many Christians do you know who are ready to be hanged rather than compromise their fidelity to Jesus?  How many distractions do we face that make it difficult (or nearly impossible) to put Christ and his kingdom first?  

Today was a sobering day.  I hope that I left Flossenburg a more devoted disciple of Jesus.

(The courtyard where Bonhoeffer was hanged).

After a day of rest and a day of travel, we arrived safely in Vilseck, Germany (near Nuremburg).  We left Italy the day before the recent earthquake, and we have been in touch with the Fiores and Shaasfmas in Milan.  They are far from the epicenter, and asked us to pray for those in mourning.

Here in Vilseck, Keith and Diana serve at High Point Baptist Church, an English speaking congregation that serves the many Americans who live in this area due to the US Army base here.  Upon arriving in Vilseck, Diana picked us up and we headed straight onto the base where Keith was refereeing flag football.  This is one of his ministries where he is able to get to know active duty soldiers.   

The ministry here reminded me of ministry to English refugees in Geneva in the 16th century.  The Edwards serve a chunk of English speakers as a subculture in the local German community.  Almost everyone is either active military or works at a job related to the US Army being here.  For that reason, there is an extremely high rate of turnover.  Essentially, the church is “new” every 3-4 years.

This brings many challenges both in developing leadership and maintaining ministries that require volunteers (e.g., youth staff).  By God’s grace, both Keith and Diana have experience in the Army and understand well the unique challenges of military life.  We are looking forward to worshipping with the church body on Sunday. 

As we depart Milano, we felt even more united in spirit and mission with the Fiores and Schaafsmas.  Their ministries at Punto Lode and Punto Luce are simple: glorifying God by making and maturing disciples of Jesus.  Although they make many creature comfort sacrifices to serve in Italy (and have for decades), their strong church family more than compensates.  Such love for the Lord!  Such joy!  Such passion!  Here are a few takeaways:

• Need for workers/interns– While these churches are filled with active believers who are effectively sharing the gospel, there is a great need for help with discipleship and practical ministry needs.  They just don’t have enough people to effectively build relationships and share the gospel with the population.  It’s not a cliché: the harvest is ripe, and the workers are few. 
• Radio station– Many of you will be familiar with the ongoing saga surrounding Radio Vita, the only Christian radio station in northern Italy.  Punto Lode and Punto Luce own the radio tower and maintain it.  The legal battles over this radio frequency are ongoing.  By God’s grace, the courts have consistently ruled in favor of Radio Vita.  Pray that this would continue, and that the opposition would concede defeat.  Check out the photos of us “inspecting” the tower.
• Punto Luce building needs– Punto Luce is a church plant sent out from Punto Lode.  It’s their “Highlands Campus.”  The have completely filled their building space, and literally have no room for growth.  They are researching options to rent new space or possibly buy a building.  Please pray specifically for wisdom for Punto Luce as they make plans and decide how best to continue the mission.

One final note.  The day we arrived in Milano, Michael and Nina had dropped off their two sons to head to college at Wheaton in Chicago (their daughter was already there).  Nina shared with us that she was sad, as any mom would be, and prayed for encouragement.  When we arrived, I shared that our main goal was to encourage them.  I had no idea God sent us as a specific answer to prayer.  His ways are far beyond our ways!

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one…

Ephesians 2:14a

After 2 more days with the believers here at Punto Lode and Punto Luce, here are some of my observations:

1.  We are one.  In both churches on Sunday we looked at Ephesians 2:14-18 and how Jesus has made peace for us with God and peace with each other.  The end result is the creation of the church- a united body of believers from all people groups.  We have felt the unity of the body with the believers here in Milan.  

Joan Fiore (right) with Giusy and Dominico.

2.  A glimpse of what’s to come.  Italian culture is post Christian, with a healthy dose of Roman Catholicism.  The evangelical church here stands in stark contrast to the culture.  This is both a challenge and a blessing.  It’s a challenge because life and ministry can seem like an uphill battle.  But these believers are strong in their faith.  It’s a blessing because there’s greater clarity on who is a follower of Christ and who isn’t.  There’s hardly any middle ground.  I believe this is where the culture in the US is headed, and we can learn much from these Milano believers.

Some of the believers from Punto Luce.

3.  The nations are here.  Chalk this one up to ignorance re: Milan, but we worshipped with believers from: Italy, Romania, Brazil, Nigeria, Peru, England, Argetina, Ecuador, and the good ole US of A. Not represented were a recent influx of people of Morocco, a ripe field for the gospel here in Milan. We also heard that others from Bolivia, Egypt and more were out of town.  Talk about a great chance to make and mature disciples !

Sam Fiore explaining the Roman Catholic practice of praying for the dead and praying to the saints to Sarah and Lindsay.

Me and a faithful brother and elder Giorgio who translated.  The word on the street is he improved my sermon quite a bit.