Meeting up with Michael Kotsch

In autumn 1999, Claudia and I graduated from Brake Bible College and 5 weeks later, we were married by our year teacher, Michael Kotsch. Last week he was in the area for some teaching and it was great to have a chance to catch up with him. Thanks to Anja and Martin (left in photo) for inviting us all over for coffee. They also got married around the same time as us and there were many more couples from our class who weren't too far behind us.

EMA 2013 Pastors Conference

The Scottish-Northern Irish contingent outside Buckingham Palace.

"Faithful - living and preaching in an alien world" was the theme of this years' Evangelical Ministers Assembly which was held for the first time in the Barbican in the centre of London. The teaching was refreshing and bold and as you can see, so was the 'craic'. On the final evening, in a moment of madness, 9 baptist preachers decided to hire some bicycles and to pedal around and see some of the sights of London.
Audio from the main sessions can be downloaded here for free.

 

Today is my 40th birthday!

Thanks to you all for your kind wishes and for all who contributed towards my dream present.

I praise God for every day that He gives to live for His glory.

 

 

My wife's roses (scarman's himalayan musk) in full bloom

The roses are planted in our flowerbeds but they now cover the wall of the farm building next door.
A joy for us and all who pass by!

Trail running on Cannock Chase in England

Pentecost

Today is Pentecost Sunday, and across Europe many are taking a few days off for their pre-summer break (German: Pfingstferien). During this annual celebration in the church calendar, we remember how God gave the Holy Spirit to the Church. No longer (as in the OT) does He only rest on certain individuals for a certain period of time for a specific task. Today He indwells (at the point of conversion) everyone who is a true follower of Jesus Christ. How easy in day-to-day life do we forget this amazing reality that should cause us to reflect on everything we say, think and do – Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, ESV)

 
Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
© 2006 Thankyou Music  

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4, ESV) 
Click here for the lyrics and the story behind the song

CEF European Conference 2013

Changes were being made right up until arrival day. People dropped out and people turned up that we hadn't expected :) Even before the conference started we were reminded that there was a spiritual battle going on. Several people cancelled at the last minute or were hindered due to illnesses, sudden bereavements, accidents, a twisted foot, refused visa, broken down vehicle, missed plane... then during the conference a vomiting and diarrhoea bug with associated high temperatures went around so that 2 children and an adult ended up in hospital. An early morning phone call from a concerned worker alerted me to an internal drain pipe which came loose during heavy rain and flooded the main foyer (thankfully none of the nearby translation equipment was damaged). Of course, most people knew nothing about any of these things and so they were able to fully enjoy the conference.

In the end, 350 people (plus day guests) from 39 countries were challenged and encouraged by the excellent messages from the book of Hebrews through pastor and author Robert J. Morgan. The seminars from Robert Lugar on issues of identity and balancing marriage with ministry, were particularly practical and appropriate for our workers. Each evening session was concluded with a "heart2heart" message from Reese Kauffman (International President of CEF). Interspersed throughout the main meetings were short reports from the various departments of training, equipping, supporting and member care. Linda Corry and her band representing workers from Slovakia, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Switzerland, Romania and Ireland, led the times of praise. A nice touch this year was that each evening had a focus on one of our four European regions. This was complemented by people wearing national dress and sometimes even providing us all with things to try from their country.

For the second time, I had the responsibility of organising this conference – something I enjoyed a lot. It was very exhausting, but the Lord gave the strength and the ability to think and react quickly as each new situation arose. One week before the conference I was facing an impossible task of fitting 370 registered persons into Schönblick guest house. Some rooms in nearby hotels had been reserved. However in the end everyone had a bed in the centre, and I even had one spare room which right until the end of the conference remained unused.

My thanks goes out to all involved in different ways: sound, lights, power-point, video, interpretation equipment, praise-band, leading meetings, interpreting (8 languages simultaneously), crèche, children's programme, info-point, literature sales, transport, finances, gift purchasing, room allocation... as well as the wonderful staff at Schönblick in housekeeping, catering, administration and maintenance. Thanks also to all who prayed, sent an email or said an encouraging word.
Thanks most of all to God, without Whom we can do nothing.

The 2013 CEF European Conference in Schönblick, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany.

www.cefeuropeanconference.com

Korean Trip

I have just returned from a 4-day trip to South Korea where I had the privilege of being the speaker at the CEF Korean conference for leaders and local directors. This years' theme was 'Youth Challenge' and I taught 10 sessions of 50 minutes each with interpretation.

The fellowship was very special, the food was amazing (I'm now a master with the chop-sticks) and it was amazing to pray with these believers 'Korean style' (everyone at the same time, out loud, in their own language) for the children and teenagers of South Korea as well as to cry out to God for open doors into the north (a country very much on my heart).
If you have been watching the news in recent day, you will know that it has been dominated by threats coming from Pyongyang. The day I arrived, news broke that the north was advising foreigners to leave the country. My Korean friends smilled and said, "Don't worry, we will take care of you and we are all in God's hands". Despite the reservations of many about travelling to the region, I felt that this was an opportunity to speak to these dear CEF workers that was one too good to miss. Now I am so glad that I went.

Pray that the workers will soon begin to translate the JYC teaching manuals and that the JYC ministry will now begin to grow in this country. Plans are also being made to hold a full JYC Instructor course in the country next year.

감사합니다

NW Europe Area advisory group

This week while in Denmark for the advisory group meetings we were able to visit the film studios where CEF make the children's programme – GPS.

St. Patricks outreach in the FES Lörrach

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„Slemish war super! Klasse Aktion“, so die Stimme aus der Grundschule nachdem die Gruppe Slemish den Unterricht mitgestaltet hat und im Pausenhof unserer Schule spielte.Diese Begeisterung war auch am Samstagabend beim Konzert vom ersten Lied an zu spüren. Der Spannungsbogen hielt bis zum Schluss an und animierte Besucher nach Konzertschluss, begleitet von der Band, sich im traditionellen irischen Tanz zu üben.Paul, Nigel, Andy, Albert, Andrew, Kevin & Davy verbanden traditionelle Musik mit den Erzählungen zu ihrem Glauben und der Kultur Irlands. So entstand ein bunter, unterhaltsamer und hinreißender Abend mit phantastischer Folk Musik, direkt von der Grünen Insel. Die Musiker beeindruckten auf ihre besondere und irisch-fröhliche Art das Publikum, und brachten so auch einen Hauch des Irischen Nationalfeiertags St. Patrick's Day am Vorabend nach Lörrach. Bilder von Städten und der Landschaft Irlands, die parallel und abgestimmt zu den Liedern gezeigt wurden, rundeten das traditionelle und geistliche Liedgut ab.Gegründet wurde die Band im Jahr 2005, dabei bezieht sich der Bandname „Slemish“ auf einen Berg in Irland, auf dem, der Überlieferung nach, Saint Patrick seine Verbindung zu Gott gefunden hat. Er wurde als Jugendlicher versklavt, in diese Gegend verschleppt und musste Herden auf dem Slemish hüten.
Auch ein Bandmitglied berichtete von seiner besonderen Verbindung zu Deutschland, hat er doch hier zu seinem Glauben an Jesus Christus gefunden.2008 erschien das erste Album von „Slemish“, nach erfolgreichen Auftritten in Irland, Frankreich und Spanien. Die Bandmitglieder sind keine Musikprofis, sondern nehmen sich jedes Jahr rund um den St. Patrick Day einige Tage Urlaub und reisen auf eigene Kosten in Städte um dort ihre Musik und Ihren Glauben weiterzugeben.