31 March 2011

Training youth workers in Lithuania

This past week I have been in Lithuania helping the local CEF workers to teach a JYC course. We had an enthusiastic group of 10 students with an additional 5 joining us for the weekend sessions. One woman came on the Saturday with some friends. She enjoyed it so much that she came back again on Sunday with her husband and children - even though it was a 6-hour round trip!
We stayed in a remote homestead about 90 minutes from the capital city of Vilnius. I taught in English and Sandra interpreted into Lithuanian. While Vika, a Latvian CEF worker taught in Russian and Kristina-Maria translated her into Lithuanian. I was glad that some of the students were also able to communicate in English. Here's what they had to say about the course:
  • "It was very important for me to learn about working with teens. I now have a much better understanding of them and a big desire to work with them. Pray that this passion will continue." Vika
  • "The teachers were warm and encouraging. The lessons were very helpful with good structure and many illustrations. The practicals scared us a little bit but it gave us good practice. The morning devotionals from Gary were a refreshment to my soul." Ieva
  • "I have been to many other seminars and afterwards felt that they were a waste of time. This one was different. The teachers were well prepared. Through them, I have received courage and confidence to work among teens." Jurgita

15 February 2011

Being a student again at Kilchzimmer

On Friday, I and 11 others will complete the 2-week IOT1 (Instructor of Teachers level 1) for teaching a 30-hour course called TCE1 (Teaching Children Effectively). It has been a great learning experience and the fellowship at the course has been both warm and uplifting.
I should actually be leading this course but I decided to take it as a student first. That meant attending all the classes and doing all the home-works and practical assignments. I realised that I had forgotten how stressful it is for a student to prepare for a practical and then to demonstrate their skills in front of an experienced group of instructors who are evaluating you. Tough as it was, I believe it helped sharpen my skills as a teacher and it give me more empathy for those I will teach in the future. Another advantage was that by attending as a student, I could get a better knowledge of the content of the course and could witness first hand how it was taught by a very capable and experienced CEF team.

27 January 2011

10 instructors trained in Hungarian course



It was a privilege for David Crutchley and I to spend 8 days with 8 people from Hungary, 1 from Romania (Transylvania), and 1 from N. Ireland at the Hungarian National Office near Budapest. We had come together for a CEF Junior Youth Challenge Instructor Course. The course participants were all full-time CEF workers who have a strong desire to develop the Youth Challenge work in the areas where they work. They studied with enthusiasm, taking down lots of notes and tips for how they could use what they had learned to train others. During the practicals they were able to demonstrate a JYC and a Bible Study for this age group and receive evaluation in a helpful and constructive way.
It was especially thrilling to see them sit around in a circle last Saturday to plan when and where they will launch the first JYC training seminars. God willing these will be held in the autumn in Budapest and in the NE of Hungary.
Special thanks to our translator who did a fantastic job and who was also able to share some of her amazing knowledge of history as we spent an afternoon visiting the tourist sites of the city!

Last Sunday I preached in Pécel Reformed Church, you can listen here to the sermon. Yes I do have my coat on! The Pastor and the congregation kept there's on, so I took the liberty to do the same.

14 January 2011

Wondering if it's time to leave ???

No I'm not talking about the ministry, I'm talking about facebook. It's great for keeping in touch, but it's just getting TOO BIG and it seems for a lot people it is also becoming an addiction!

If 48% of 18-30 year olds are checking facebook as soon as they get up in the morning and if 48% of Christians (young adults) are doing the same - how many of them are still making time for God before the day begins? So, am I brave enough to delete my account? I'm not there yet but I'm closer than I ever was before.

11 January 2011

Largest mission sending nations

At the last mission-net congress in Germany, one of the speakers from S. Korea shared the following statistic with us about how many evangelical missionaries there are throughout the world and what countries they are sent from. No surprise to see USA and South Korea up there in first and second places respectively. I presume UK also includes Northern Ireland helping it to take third place.
Not sure about the source of the data but it can't be far wrong.
I'm looking forward to the next mission-net congress (December 2011 in Erfurt, Germany) and also to getting my hands on the new Operation World book which should be full of lots of statistics and concrete prayer requests concerning world evangelism.

10 January 2011

Join CEF back in 1968

 
Recently a colleague at Kilchzimmer brought a number of old CEF USA magazines to coffee break. Some of the advertisements amused us greatly, such as the "5 day home trail" for accordions. We wondered if back then playing the accordion was essential to leading a Good News Club. :)
However the inside back cover ad entitled "help wanted" really caught my attention. Here's the text: MISSIONARIES NEEDED: ANYONE WILLING TO GIVE HIS LIFE FOR CHRIST IN FULL-TIME SERVICE - CALL OR WRITE CEF.
STATE, CITY, COUNTRY DIRECTORS AND HOME OFFICE WORKERS NEEDED: SEEK PERSONS WITH BURDEN FOR WINNING CHILDREN TO CHRIST - CALL OR WRITE CEF
Want a career with unlimited opportunities, personal satisfaction, and a lot of money? How about a career with unlimited opportunities, personal satisfaction and less money? You have a choice in the matter: your own. Or, what the Lord would have you do.
Have you ever stopped to think that God needs you? He does. He needs all of us to work out His plan.
There are many ways to be of service but preparation should come first: 3 months of CEF Institute will give you practical know-how in helping you to reach boys and girls for Christ. 27 courses are offered with sessions beginning in March, June and September.
Why not consider making the Lord's business your career? He gave His life for you.

Do you notice anything different in that advert for missionaries from 40 years ago compared to those you read today? No offer here of short-term service! No attempt to make the work sound appealing! And yet because many responded, we in Europe and across the world have heard the Gospel as children. If you too would like to respond, we would love to hear from you. The first step would be to apply to the Children's Ministry Leadership Course at Kilchzimmer.

04 January 2011

7 Billion Reasons

I wouldn't normally be endorsing National Geographic but this short video offers up lots of interesting facts about the world’s population which is projected to soon hit 7 billion. I would just like to change the last bit to: "7 billion reasons to be active in evangelism and world missions"

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:18-20 ESV)

02 December 2010

Kilchzimmer staff

Staff and volunteers (December 2010) Photo: Tim Shirey
The Kilchzimmer team doesn't often get together for a photograph. However since there have been a number of major changes in the team over the past 3 years, it was time for an update. For example, we have a new European Director, new Kilchzimmer house parents, new Education Department coordinators ;), new assistants in various departments and volunteers who play a vital role in the efficient running of the centre. They come from Germany, Switzerland, Ireland (North and South), England, Scotland (not in photo), Isle of Man, USA, Poland, Sweden (not in photo) and the Netherlands!
Kilchzimmer is the European Headquarters of CEF. It serves our 560 full-time workers and thousands of volunteers throughout Europe. In the second part of the year, we offer our 3-month Children's Ministry Leadership Course (CMLC) in English and German.

29 November 2010

Crossing the line

www.baslerstadtlauf.ch
Basel City Run (5,5 km),
Switzerland
If you click here and watch this clip carefully you can see me cross the line over on the right (Adidas hat)!
It had snowed all day and the temperature was around freezing but it didn't put of several thousand people of all ages from taken part in the traditional Stadtlauf. It was my first time and despite the difficult conditions, I really enjoyed the experience and I was very happy with my time of 27 mins 49,8 secs. 
I'm always very impressed with the professional organisation and time-keeping over here in Europe. Each starting bib comes with a chip which registers your exact time when you cross the start and finish (as well as a few checkpoints along the way). A couple of minutes after crossing the start line, you get a text message (SMS) with your official time. After the race you usually receive a reusable bottle with an energy drink, a medal and some vouchers and goodies. Then later on you can download photographs and videos of yourself taking part. If you like, you can even print of your own certificate when you go home.

10 November 2010

Artikel in den KEB-Nachrichten 3/2010

This is an article that I wrote recently for the CEF Germany magazine. Dieser Artikel ist in den "KEB-Nachrichten" 3/2010 erschienen.

Im letzten Jahr haben über 26.000 Leute irgendeine Form der Schulung durch die KEB in Europa erhalten. Wir sind uns in der europäischen Ausbildungsabteilung darüber im Klaren, wenn wir mehr Kinder in Europa erreichen wollen, müssen mehr Menschen geschult werden. In Europa stoßen wir immer wieder auf das Problem der fehlenden Finanzen für neue Vollzeitmitarbeiter. In unserem Eifer neue Vollzeitler zu gewinnen, vergessen wir leicht den wertvollen und treuen Dienst, den unsere Ehrenamtlichen verrichten. Diese Menschen haben ein Herz für Kinder, sie sind in ihren Gemeinden engagiert, sie besitzen viele Erfahrungen und gute Kontakte zu Kindern in ihrer Umgebung und sie sind bereit, Zeit in diese Arbeit zu investieren. Genau solche möchten wir ermutigen, an unseren ZAK Kursen, teens!aktiv-Kursen teilzunehmen oder sogar unser Intensiv-Training in der Schweiz zu besuchen.

Jedes Jahr wird das Intensiv-Training in Kilchzimmer zweimal auf Englisch und einmal auf Deutsch angeboten. Dieses Training ist für einen werdenden KEB-Mitarbeiter erforderlich, aber die meisten Studenten, die unser 3-monatiges Training absolvieren, werden nicht Vollzeitler. Trotzdem freuen wir uns, wenn sie motiviert in ihre Gemeinden zurückgehen und mit einer größeren Hingabe die Kinder biblisch fundiert unterrichten und sie darüber hinaus eine Sicht dafür bekommen, unerreichte, gemeindefremde Kinder in ihrer Umgebung zu evangelisieren.

Nicht nur Theorie
In Kilchzimmer nehmen die Studenten täglich an sechs Unterrichtsstunden teil. Sie beschäftigen sich „intensiv“ mit der Frage der Kinder-Evangelisation und deren Umsetzung in ihrer Heimatkultur. Fast 40 Lehrkräfte sind über einen Zeitraum von 6 Monaten am Unterricht in Kilchzimmer beteiligt. Die meisten von ihnen kommen direkt aus ihrem Einsatzgebiet und investieren zwischen ein bis drei Wochen ihrer Zeit, um zukünftige Mitarbeiter in der Kinderarbeit zu schulen. Wir glauben, dies ist eine besondere Stärke unserer Ausbildung, da die Lehrkräfte nicht reine Theorie vermitteln, sondern praxisorientiert das weitergeben, wofür ihr Herz schlägt, nämlich die Kinder Europas effektiv mit dem Evangelium zu erreichen. Wie ermutigend ist der Unterricht, wenn man beobachtet, dass der Funke der Begeisterung überspringt.

Dankbar blicken wir zurück auf das letzte Jahr mit 44 Studenten aus Irland, Großbritannien, USA, Tansania, Südkorea, Slowakei, Frankreich, Tschechische Republik, Dänemark, Niederlande, Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz. In diesem Sommer sind es nur 9 Studenten und für den Herbst haben wir 26 Student. Der Hauptgrund für den Rückgang der Studentenzahl in Kilchzimmer liegt darin, dass parallel zur unserem Training im Sommer auch Kurse in anderen europäischen Ländern stattfinden. In Serbien wurden die ersten 6 Wochen des Intensiv-Trainings mit 22 Studenten aus 5 Ländern des ehemaligen Jugoslawien gehalten. Außerdem besuchten 19 eifrige Studenten (aus Tschechien und der Slowakei) den Kurs in Bratislava. Weitere Intensiv-Training sind für nächstes Jahr in Rumänien, Georgien und Russland geplant. Wir sehen fast nur Vorteile, wenn das Training in anderen Ländern abgehalten werden kann (z.B. der Kostenfaktor, die einheitliche Sprache), aber betet auch dafür, dass Gott Kilchzimmer mit neuen Studenten (besonders aus Westeuropa) versorgt.

Wer mehr über das Intensiv-Training in Kilchzimmer erfahren oder Bewerbungsformulare anfordern möchte, besuche bitte die KEB Deutschland Webseite.