Leadership Matters Course (LMC)

 

During March I attended the 12 day Leadership Matters Course held in Willingen, Germany. This time (for a change) I was a student along with 27 others and 9 trainers.
I think I will look back at this course as a turning point in my life and ministry. I know that’s a big claim but the skills gained there and the time given for personal reflection and evaluation of our own lives and ministry was something very profitable.
It was also a great blessing to enjoy the fellowship with other leaders who are serving with 11 organisations.

The teaching is interactive and of a very high standard. Subjects include:

• Communication skills
• Management skills
• Relational skills
• Devotional skills
• Strategic planning for ministry and life
• Training skills
• Public relation skills
• Leadership skills

 

 

 You can find out here when the next course will be in your area and register your interest.

JYC training course in Lithuania

From the 2-5 March I was in Vilnius, Lithuania teaching 20 students at a JYC seminar held in the building of the Baptist Church. The course is being taught over 3 weekends and I gave all of the teaching for the second weekend (thanks to Sandra and Rita for interpreting). The students listened very well and were keen to learn all they could. In the main photo above you can see a practical taking place. Three students pretend to teach a JYC while the others pretend to be teenagers. This is always an encouragement for us as instructors to see each student putting into practice what they have learned.

I was reminded of the importance of this work during one of the coffee-breaks in conversation with a student. He told me that he started smoking when he was 7 years old, drinking when he was 12 and taking drugs when he was 22. He stole from more than 500 vehicles and served two prison sentences. He came to Christ through the work of a Christian rehab centre were he now works with teens in similar situations. He told me that he learned so much in this course that will help him to better share the Gospel with these teens. His desire is that they will trust the Lord and be freed from the life of drugs, drink and crime that he once led.
We are planning to have a CMLC in Lithuania this summer. The photograph on the top left is of an informal meeting we had for those who wanted to find out more about the course. I also had an opportunity to testify and to share about the CMLC in the Sunday morning service.

Teaching in a TCE course in Southern Germany

Normally I am training the instructors to teach courses but last Saturday I helped one of local workers to teach a Teaching Children Effectively (TCE) Level 1 course with 15 participants. They were a gracious group – willing to learn and very appreciative of our teaching. They had classes from late Friday afternoon, evening and from 9am-5pm on Sunday. The course will be taught over 3 weekends and the participants have homework to do in between. It was especially encouraging to see so many men along - normally the women outnumber the men by far.

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.

Behind the scenes at mission-net

On New Years eve I was delighted to get an invitation from Phil Burt at OmiVision to get a look back stage. Going behind the large black curtain it took a while for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. Then I could see the 12 translator cubicles and the large lorry that is used for the video editing.

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:

Jesus, Joy of the Highest Heaven

Happy Christmas to all of my Blog readers!  

Joy: an Iris Christmas (MP3 download)

Joy: an Irish Christmas (Buy the CD)

Completing the Lucerne Marathon (4:25:45)

My first marathon - a diary 

• 6:40 leave home
• 7:50 arrive Lucerne car-park
• 8:00 get boat to Verkehrshaus (the national transport museum) and the start/finish area
• 8:20 pick up start number with timing chip and pace band (km/0:06:22)
• 8:30 quick change, leave bag in changing area, toilet
• 8:45 10-15 min warm up (gentle jog) 
• 9.00 start of the men's marathon (but only the very fast runners - not me)
• 9.10 toilet again ;)
• 9:15 start of all runners aiming for a time greater than 4hrs. Conditions are perfect. Sun is shinning. There was no countdown and the firing pistol took us all by surprise but when we heard it there was no doubt what we had to do. We were off!
• 5km – I have been carried along by the speed of those around me (mostly half-marathon runners - recognisable by their orange bibs - ours were blue) and I'm aware that my pace is too high. Debating in my mind to drop off speed but the road is still too densely populated and I don't want to cause an obstruction
• 10km – still feeling great - enjoying the view and wondering if I have underestimated my ability (I'm fast but my pulse is still within my interval training range)
• 15km – entering the new train tunnel (tracks not laid yet) with Swiss alpine horn players at the entrance. Great atmosphere at the start but tunnel quite dusty in the final stages. Novel idea but not so nice (it also messed up the pace timings).
• 18km – back into Lucerne and the first sight of my family again near the bridge. They had signs saying "Go daddy" (which Claudia previously prepared in secret). I was so happy to see them!
• 21km – at the turning point I started the second lap as most of the runners continued the 500 metres to complete the half marathon. Knowing that the rules allow you to change your mind and to finish at half way, I have no regrets that I chose the full marathon. I look at my watch and see 2hrs (15 mins faster than I had planned) and 10 minutes faster than my PB for a competitive half marathon last year.
• 23km – I see the family again on the way back. They positioned themselves at a great spot at the end of a straight (in front of the train station) so I could see them from a good bit back and already wave. I'm overjoyed to see them again. I know I can't keep the pace up but I know there's a real possibility that I could be quicker than the 4hrs 30mins I was aiming for. I shout to Claudia as I pass "I'm really fast, I could be 30 mins earlier - make sure you are at the finish on time! It's going well!"
• 25-30km – Without warning, over 1-2 km my body starts sending out signals of fatigue. Stiffness sets in to the back of the legs, a check of my pulse reassures me that my heart is OK and that I could push harder but my legs are telling me to walk. As I run along the coast to the most southerly part of the course, the sun is beating into my face, I close my eyes briefly and find some relief for those few seconds. The crowd would read the name on my bib and call out "Hopp Gary Hopp" (the Swiss version of GO-Gary-GO) I motioned to a few that I was getting a bit scared by pretending to bite my nails but they just laughed and cheered me on all the more.
• 31-35km – don't remember much other than that it seemed to go very slowly. In the tunnel it was very quiet this time with only 4 other runners in view. Out of the tunnel and getting used to the drop in temperature, I am calling at every drinking station to take on fluids - sometimes stopping for 10 secs to knock them back (afraid of gulping it down the wrong way and having to be sick).
• 36-40km – back into the outskirts of Lucerne - the realisation sets in that very soon I will see my family and the finish line. Crowds begin again to line the route. In the distance I can hear the 15 alpine horn players that were positioned near the train station. They were playing "amazing grace" and I prayed "Thank you Lord -  I know that tune is for me" It finished just as I passed them and then came the man who shouted the words in English on his sign "You can do it - yes you can!" By this stage I knew that I couldn't afford to walk if I wanted to get a time of under 4hrs 30mins. The roads were wide and each runner was on his own. The crowds still lined the barriers calling out my name and shouting "bravo Gary", "you've almost done it", "come Gary keep going". 
• 41km – I took a last cup of water and drew in a deep breath. At that moment I knew I had almost done it and I could have burst into tears there and then. Instead I bottled in up, gritted my teeth and started running again, even trying to up the pace.
• 42km – as I entered the finish area (the transport museum) the noise was deafening as the spectators cheered and banged the advertising boards. I sighted my family and the boys came running towards me (as previously arranged) and we ran to the finish together with one on either hand. That moment I emotionally let go. My eyes welled up so much I couldn't even find the finish line. I just kept going on the red carpet until an official held out his hand to congratulate me.


• After the finish line – I kept walking. A cup of water was handed to me. Someone placed a medal over my head. Someone else handed me a bottle filled with energy drink. I looked for a place to sit down, dropped my head, elbows on knees and wept uncontrollably at the realisation that I had just completed a marathon (42km / 26 miles) in 4hrs 25mins. The training of the past 6 months with 40-60km a week had been worth it.
• It was extra special to have my family present for this very proud moment (Claudia, Joel and David, mum and dad and my aunt). We took time to take lots of photographs. Then a text came through to dad's phone with my official time.
• Then I made my way over to the tent to pick up my finisher gift. Each person completing the marathon received a long sleeve running shirt from Asics with the words "Lucerne Marathon Finisher 2011" printed in large letters down the back
• A 10 minute walk (or limp) to the changing area. On the way I joined the queue for a leg massage. The 15 minute rubdown was much appreciated and will hopefully reduce the recovery time.
• The showers for the men were a large marque with 40 shower heads fixed to scaffolding rails on the ceiling. The water temperature was perfect and very refreshing.
• Phoned the family to arrange a meeting point. Had a sandwich and finished the bottle of energy drink. Then walked 10 mins to get the boat and commence the journey home.
• At home I went unto the website. Checked my time and compared it with others in my catagory. Printed out my certificate. Tweeted my result.
• 18:30 – had tea
• 20:00 – went to bed and slept for 11 hours :) - woke up very stiff - tbc.

NEW CMLC video

Students at the autumn CMLC in Kilchzimmer

The Lord has given us a wonderful group of students for the autumn CMLC in Kilchzimmer. There are 14 in the German speaking class and 8 in the English speaking class. They come from Germany, Switzerland, N. Ireland, Portugal, Romania, Austria/USA and the Netherlands.
These numbers are lower than in previous years and we are praying that God would show us the way forward. A new promotional video and leaflets are being produced and we will be introducing modules in 2012.

Preparing for the Lucerne marathon

18 months ago I took up running as a hobby. At the end of October I would like to run my first marathon and I have chosen what must be one of the must beautiful in the world – the Lucerne Marathon (Switzerland). I invite you to sponsor me and help CEF in Latvia build a new centre (National Office Project)

There are 195,000 children (age 5-14) in Latvia who need to hear the Gospel. We have the unique opportunity to be able to gain access to all local schools and participate in the religious education program. Grades 1-3 are using CEF Memory Verse Sets and over 3,500 pupils are reading "Wonder Devotional Books" – three years of daily Bible readings!
Their 10-year office lease has expired and now they urgently need a centre from which they can coordinate the CEF ministries, which include:

• schools ministry
• Good News Clubs¸
• Children's website - 1,600 children registered
• Mailbox Club - over 1,000 children in public schools invloved. A further 2,300 are mailing letters to the office
• Literature - A 5-year cycle of teaching materials is available in Latvian and Russian
• Teacher training - Regular courses and training seminars are organized