Trail running the Blue Ridge Mountains

The CEF International Conference was located at the Ridgecrest Christian Conference Centre in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in western North Carolina. In between the many meetings, there was opportunity to get out and explore the Tranquillity Trial System - a wonderful network of steep trails rising from 800m - 1100m within and just outside the conference grounds. But it wasn't the terrain that kept the pulse high, it was the knowledge about the local wildlife, particularly bears, copperhead and rattle snakes that kept me fully alert and cautious while running. Another creature which needs to be shown respect here as in other parts of the world is the simple 'tick'! They came in all shapes and sizes and required a thorough check over after each run. Despite the dangers, the scenery was very rewarding.

Looking down on the conference centre

Billy Graham interview when he was 92

Q. If you could do it again, would you do anything differently?
A. I would travel less and read, study and pray more.

Q. Why would you travel less when you have been able to preach all over the world.
A. I would accept less speaking engagements at conferences. Concentrate on the crusades and winning people to Christ.

Q. What advice would you give to young preachers?
A. spend more time in study and prayer

Affectionately known as the REDs

The Regional Education Directors in Ridgecrest, Asheville, NC, USA. Front row, left to right: Martha Olango, East and Central Africa, Gary Cousins, Western Europe, Lynda Pongracz, Executive Director of Education for CEF worldwide, Lynne Herlein, Associate Director of Education. Second row: Janet Snyder, N. American/Caribbean, Susan Pineda, Latin America, Cora Viljoen, Southern Africa/Indian Ocean, Kathy Gleckler, East and Central Africa, Bev Huff, N. American/Caribbean, Jan Johnson, Asia/Pacific. Third row: Abner Pineda, Latin America, Kobus Viljoen, Southern Africa/Indian Ocean, Laura Wegert, Dept. of Education intern.

Last month, the REDs got together for several days of meetings before the International Conference in USA. This was indeed a rich time of fellowship and learning from one another. Together with the staff at the International Headquarters we coordinate the CEF training programmes in our areas of South America, North America and the Caribbean, Central & Eastern Africa, Southern Africa, Asia-Pacific and other places. I was representing the European region which I share with Linda and Iris.
I am so glad that I attended these meetings and I was able to meet personally people who until now I had only communicated with by email.

Every Child Every Nation Every Day

The impressive plaza at the CEF International Headquarters near St. Louis in Missouri where country flags are hoisted each week and where prayer is made for the children of those nations. Each pole represents one of the CEF world regions and at the base is a plaque with the names of the countries where CEF is active and the countries which still have to be opened.

Our founder Mr. Overholzer (on the middle photo :), his Bible and the globe he used to pray for the children of the world

Visiting South Carolina

Pastor Myles Beck

This weekend I have the great joy of spending time with some great friends who I spent a summer with as an intern almost 13 years ago. Back then Pastor Myles Beck was based near Pittsburgh. It was with him that I got some of my first preaching and pastoral experience. Many of the lessons I learned then I still practice today. During that summer I stayed with the Savage family. Despite the distance and time, we have been able to maintain contact with both families. I really appreciate their interest in our family and ministry. Both families worship in New Heights Baptist Church were Myles is the Associate Pastor. I am really thankful for these friendships and for the opportunity this morning to preach and share about the ministry in Europe.

"The Cove" - Billy Graham Training Centre

One afternoon last week I had the opportunity to visit "the cove" which is the Billy Graham training centre in North Carolina, USA.

The mobile pulpit used by Billy Graham in some of his crusades

Billy Graham's pulpit with bible, preaching notes and lights marked (5, 3 and 1 minutes)

Budapest, Hungary

People in Arad, Romania listening to Billy Graham preach during the communist years. 

Many recorded the Bible message at every meeting in Eastern Europe

International Conference

This past week I was attending the CEF International Conference in North Carolina, USA. Our theme was "Every child Every nation Every day". We had a really great week of getting to know other workers and worshipping together with 1007 people from 64 nations. Here are some of the highlights and key announcements which I tweeted:

• 176 flags representing countries (142 last time) where CEF has an established and ongoing ministry.
• Every child, every nation, every day: 31 countries to go!
• Hot news: CEF app launched last night on all platforms!!!
• SPAN (Sponsor a National) being expanded and designed to fit the economics of the region / rather than one size fits all
• Reese Kauffman says the SPAN program has the potential to reach not 10 million but 100 million children worldwide by 2027!
• To say that children can't trust the Lord is 'heresy' and a contradiction of the teaching of Jesus Christ @LuisPalauLive 
• @BBassara International Literature Director says: Our material is in 70 languages and being used in 176 countries
• Thanks to Revival Movement in N. Ireland we are launching the teachers packs project. Free boxes of literature for our teachers
• @BBassara 7 million Meet the King evangelistic booklets distributed worldwide
• We have 233 workers in Korea
• 30 Koreans on stage singing Jesus loves the little children - amazing!
• 20 countries in West Africa opened and 3 more to go
• Cambodia has a weekly training class for GNC teachers. 'my workers are not evangelising machines - they need encouragement'
• It has been years since I have heard such good congregational singing. A great mix of old & new and glory directed to God not man
• $547,891 pledged this week for the SPAN project which will be matched to give a total of $1,095,782. Pray that it now comes in.
• Well that's it then! As the sign says on the gate going out of Ridegecrest: "You are now entering the mission-field"

Feeding 1000 all at once!

One of the many seminars

One of the many school buses that took us on a trip

CEF International Conference 2011

It only happens every 3 years but this is actually the first time I am attending this international conference in North Carolina, USA. I am (unofficially) tweeting from the pre-conference meetings and the main conference. You can view this on the sidebar to the right or here.
If you are also tweeting from the conference then please use the search #CEFIC11 so we can link to each other.