16 January 2012
Teaching in a TCE course in Southern Germany
07 January 2012
mission-net congress
[Extract from official press release]
2,650 young Europeans from 40 nations gathered for the 2ndMission-Net Congress in Erfurt, Germany from 28 December to 2 January 2012. Commissioned by the European Evangelical Alliance and European Evangelical Missions Association, Mission-Net exists to encourage and promote new Mission-Net movements across Europe, as well as bring 16 – 30 year old Christian Europeans together for mutual encouragement, teaching, training and mobilisation. “As Mission-Net is not just a bi-annual congress, but a movement,” said Evi Rodemann, Director of Mission-Net, “we are dependant on National Motivators in each country to promote Mission-Net at a national and regional level. The congress itself was only made possible through the help of many volunteers. Without their help, Mission-Net would not have been possible!”
Amongst guest speakers from Portugal, Bulgaria and Germany were George Verwer, founder of OM International, and Ramez and Rebecca Atallah, Director of the Bible Society of Egypt. They spoke about what it means to live a missional lifestyle at home and abroad, and challenged participants to transform their world through sharing God’s love with others. “I see a new generation in an old Europe,” said Niek Tramper, Secretary General of the European Evangelical Alliance during the opening ceremony of the congress. Making reference to the reformer who studied in Erfurt, Martin Luther, added Tramper, “Even if you are not Luther, you can change history and the world.”
CDU Member of Parliament Frank Heinrich from Germany encouraged participants to pray that politicians would have a “strong head and strong backbone, so that their hearts may remain soft.” George Verwer emphasised the meaning of prayer and added, “Christians are needed in all spheres of society. But especially missionaries.”
The “World News Band” from the Netherlands led inter-cultural worship during the week, while well-known bands from Croatia and Northern Ireland performed after the evening sessions. Through mime and the arts, participants were encouraged to seek new ways of expression in worship and 13 different missional tracks were on offer each afternoon. 400 young people put into practice what they had learnt during two outreaches in Erfurt on Friday afternoon. 1500 participants filled in a personality profile and 500 participants did a gifting exercise at the Mission Advice Centre adjacent to the “Global Market” where over 100 Christian organisations, mission agencies (including CEF), Bible schools and theological seminaries were exhibited.
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Our CEF stand was in an excellent location ensuring a steady flow of visitors. They came mostly from Germany, Switzerland, France and Italy as well as Finland, Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania and many more places. We distributed armbands with 4 rings on them in the colours of the wordless book and the 5th ring was the armband itself which glows green in the dark. These were produced specially by CEF in London for use at the Olympic game celebrations this summer. They were certainly a real hit with the young people at mission-net. By the end of the conference, the vast majority of the participants were wearing one.
Many longer conversations were held at our stand with people interested in the CMLCs in Kilchzimmer in German, English and Italian. Many took time to look through the literature samples and took a catalogue to order later in their language. Also several were interested in working with CEF both short-term and long-term.
2,650 young Europeans from 40 nations gathered for the 2ndMission-Net Congress in Erfurt, Germany from 28 December to 2 January 2012. Commissioned by the European Evangelical Alliance and European Evangelical Missions Association, Mission-Net exists to encourage and promote new Mission-Net movements across Europe, as well as bring 16 – 30 year old Christian Europeans together for mutual encouragement, teaching, training and mobilisation. “As Mission-Net is not just a bi-annual congress, but a movement,” said Evi Rodemann, Director of Mission-Net, “we are dependant on National Motivators in each country to promote Mission-Net at a national and regional level. The congress itself was only made possible through the help of many volunteers. Without their help, Mission-Net would not have been possible!”
Amongst guest speakers from Portugal, Bulgaria and Germany were George Verwer, founder of OM International, and Ramez and Rebecca Atallah, Director of the Bible Society of Egypt. They spoke about what it means to live a missional lifestyle at home and abroad, and challenged participants to transform their world through sharing God’s love with others. “I see a new generation in an old Europe,” said Niek Tramper, Secretary General of the European Evangelical Alliance during the opening ceremony of the congress. Making reference to the reformer who studied in Erfurt, Martin Luther, added Tramper, “Even if you are not Luther, you can change history and the world.”
CDU Member of Parliament Frank Heinrich from Germany encouraged participants to pray that politicians would have a “strong head and strong backbone, so that their hearts may remain soft.” George Verwer emphasised the meaning of prayer and added, “Christians are needed in all spheres of society. But especially missionaries.”
The “World News Band” from the Netherlands led inter-cultural worship during the week, while well-known bands from Croatia and Northern Ireland performed after the evening sessions. Through mime and the arts, participants were encouraged to seek new ways of expression in worship and 13 different missional tracks were on offer each afternoon. 400 young people put into practice what they had learnt during two outreaches in Erfurt on Friday afternoon. 1500 participants filled in a personality profile and 500 participants did a gifting exercise at the Mission Advice Centre adjacent to the “Global Market” where over 100 Christian organisations, mission agencies (including CEF), Bible schools and theological seminaries were exhibited.
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Our CEF stand was in an excellent location ensuring a steady flow of visitors. They came mostly from Germany, Switzerland, France and Italy as well as Finland, Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania and many more places. We distributed armbands with 4 rings on them in the colours of the wordless book and the 5th ring was the armband itself which glows green in the dark. These were produced specially by CEF in London for use at the Olympic game celebrations this summer. They were certainly a real hit with the young people at mission-net. By the end of the conference, the vast majority of the participants were wearing one.
Many longer conversations were held at our stand with people interested in the CMLCs in Kilchzimmer in German, English and Italian. Many took time to look through the literature samples and took a catalogue to order later in their language. Also several were interested in working with CEF both short-term and long-term.
03 January 2012
Behind the scenes at mission-net
After a few minutes of explanation, he asked, "Are you ready to go inside?" Such was my excitement, I felt like an astronaut about to enter the space shuttle. Inside Ian Curry was sitting at the flight controls and editing a live feed coming from six cameras (4 stationary, 1 handheld on the stage and a boom) which went out unto the large screens above the stage. The atmosphere in the air conditioned lorry was one of concentration and discipline but also extremely relaxed. It was clear they were all enjoying themselves – using their God given gifts in this unique ministry. I was impressed with the way Ian communicated by headset with his camera men. Telling them in advance that their camera was going live any second and what angle he wanted. "here we go guys... now feel the music", "6 - get me some drums", "2 – go wide, then push unto lead singers face.. push, push, push", "it's too dark.. tell the guys we need some light - I can't get any shots of the crowd". He was always one or two steps ahead and even would drop in the occasional piece of English humour. Behind Ian were two women who were ensuring that the right song lyrics and graphics were coming onto the screen at the right time. In the next room, two technicians adjusted the picture quality.
This OM team does an excellent and very professional job and they are evidence once again that you don't need to be a preacher to use your gifts for God. (Incidentally Phil provided the technical services for the interpreters at our last CEF European Conference and we hope to have him again at our next event in 2013.)
Here is an example of their work on another evening when the "World News Band" were leading a time of worship:
This OM team does an excellent and very professional job and they are evidence once again that you don't need to be a preacher to use your gifts for God. (Incidentally Phil provided the technical services for the interpreters at our last CEF European Conference and we hope to have him again at our next event in 2013.)
Here is an example of their work on another evening when the "World News Band" were leading a time of worship:
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