Ministry News

The latest news from Youth Challenge in Europe.

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Simply the best in Word and Song

Since first hearing him speak in 2002 at the Evangelical Ministers Assembly (EMA) in London, and meeting him personally in Portrush at the Irish Baptist Pastors Conference in 2003, I have frequently visited the Truth for Life website to download the sermons of Alistair Begg. He is, in my opinion, up there among the best when it comes to faithfully expounding the Word, illustrating it appropriately and earthing it to our lives.

The second person(s) that have greatly blessed my life in recent years have been singer/song writers Keith and Kristyn Getty. I have never met them personally (even though they come from my home country N. Ireland) but their music has been used of God to give me many wonderful and intimate times with my Lord. Although most of Keith's best known hymns were co-written with Stuart Townend, Keith and Kristyn have recently started to release recordings together. Their hymns are now well established in many churches across Europe and North America, hymns such as, In Christ Alone, See What a Morning, Higher Throne and that hymn, which I can hardly sing without being overcome with emotion and deep, deep gratitude that my sins are forgiven, The Power of the Cross. This song, for me, is deserving of being up there with John Newton's Amazing Grace.
It was so wonderful to learn last year that Keith and Kristyn had accepted an invitation from Alistair Begg to join him and the staff at Parkside Church, Ohio. What a team! The best in Word and Song. However, it gets better! Parkside have just started to offer video streaming of their services on their church website, where the Gettys can often be seen leading the worship before the sermon! So if you want to be truly ministered too then go get a Bible, turn up the speakers and click here.
Have you too been blessed by the ministry of these dear people? Use the link below to leave your comment.

A Sunday afternoon cycle = 3 countries - 33 Km - 40,000 people

Yesterday I took part in the "slowUp Basel-Dreiland" along with 40,000 others on bicycles (90%) and Rollerblades (10%). This was the first time on my bicycle for two months (since my elbow operation) so I opted for a 33 km route rather than the full 45 km which went into Switzerland, Germany and France. The route crossed the border 5 times and the Rhein river 4 times. All of the roads were closed to traffic and everyone (well most people) went around the route in a counter-clockwise direction. The weather was superb as was the organization of this huge event. This was the first time for this event in Basel but it looks to become a yearly event. Next year I want to do the full route. Anybody want to join me?

Visit from my parents

It was great to have my mum and dad visit for a long weekend. We enjoyed showing them around our new home and area and just relaxing with them. Of course it was also very special for Joel and David to have their Granny and Granda visit.

First day at Kinderschule

On Friday we all visited the local Kindergarten. We also talked to the staff about Joel and they agreed with our opinion that he is not yet ready to enter the German primary school system. Joel turned 6 last June and since we moved here in July, he has been improving greatly in his grasp of the German language. We have now asked the primary school to keep Joel’s place for next year.
Today was Joel and David’s first day at the same school. The Kinderschule has 3 classes. David is in the first class and Joel is in the third class, which is very much, a preparation class for ‘the real school’. The children in Joel’s class are of the same age.
While this decision was a difficult one to take, both the teachers and we believe that it is the right decision for Joel. Now we just have to fill in a few forms to get this formalized.

Click on the video above to see a short film of Joel and David’s first day at Kinderschule!