You don’t become a missionary by raising money and flying to a foreign country. You do it by being obedient to God. Tell people about Jesus where you live. Get out of your comfort zone. Sell something precious and apply it to your debts. Make a sacrifice. Develop better friendships. There is an old saying: “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” While this is not to be taken literally in this sense, (please, don’t start wearing the national garb of the country you want to go to just yet). However, somewhere in the process, we have to make a conscious decision that there is no going back.
Dan and Joy West have had a rich missionary career, yet at a time in their career when they might be tempted to stay in their comfort zone, Dan and Joy are starting over.
More than 30 years ago, the last evangelical church in the municipality of Bergen, Netherlands, closed its doors, leaving no evangelical witness for two generations. But a small yet passionate group of Christians believed God for a miracle in their community.
For most of his life, one of missionary Rich McLane’s passions has been hunting. His wife Lori enjoys playing the trumpet. When they became missionary church planters in Poland years ago, who would have guessed these passions would converge to reach more than 120,000 hunters throughout the country?
As Mike and Cara Tyler, missionaries to Germany, began to explore ministry needs in their region, they heard the same thing over and over again: “We need more churches in Weil am Rhein.” A town of about 30,000 people, Weil am Rhein (also known as simply Weil) is an ethnically diverse suburb of Basel, Switzerland, and is situated on the Rhein River at the juncture of Germany, Switzerland, and France.
On June 23-27, 2015, the Pentecostal European Fellowship (PEF) conducted its annual city-wide outreach, this time in Lugano, Switzerland, in cooperation with its branches (PEM and PEFY) and with 7 local churches. It was truly a dynamic week as 60 young people from Europe, including Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Macedonia, Norway and Spain spread the message of the Gospel in the streets, parks, and squares of Lugano. Some joined in this outreach as individuals while others came in teams, sharing the Good News in various ways and methods.
Most of the participants were able to benefit from the two-day training program before the actual outreach. These training sessions featured various topics related to evangelism presented by a variety of instructors, and provided extended times of worship and prayer. Also, the IL15 teams and the local churches had a special evening gathering focusing on the Pentecostal power. A good number of Christians were baptized in the Holy Spirit.
The teams spread throughout the various areas of the beautiful Italian-speaking city of Lugano, sharing the Gospel with the local residents as well as with many international tourists. Thousands of tracts in Italian and English, plus a 4-page magazine, were distributed throughout the week, all with the chosen theme, “God Loves Lugano.”
It was a blessing to see local authorities cooperate with this evangelistic initiative by granting permission to use the Dante Square where thousands of people had a chance to hear the Good News, Gospel music, testimonies and brief messages. The city even granted free access and usage of a big hall for the evening meetings during which Evangelist Siegfried Tomazsewski preached, and then prayed with those accepting Jesus and for those in need of healing and deliverance. Reports indicate that people were saved, not only in these evening meetings but also on the squares, in the parks and in the streets of Lugano. Many others received prayer for personal needs, often after intense conversations.
The Holy Spirit was at work and brought the joy of salvation to the city of Lugano. One of the local pastors summarized the sentiment of appreciation felt by many of the local believers: “... Impact Lugano 2015 was a formidable experience. To see seven churches cooperate with so much enthusiasm and unity was the result of much prayer. This experience will have a long time impact. We have learned a lot and we will treasure these days.”
From PEF Head Office, Brussels, Belgium
On June 23-27, 2015, the Pentecostal European Fellowship (PEF) conducted its annual city-wide outreach, this time in Lugano, Switzerland, in cooperation with its branches (PEM and PEFY) and with 7 local churches.
It was truly a dynamic week as 60 young people from Europe, including Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Macedonia, Norway and Spain spread the message of the Gospel in the streets, parks, and squares of Lugano. Some joined in this outreach as individuals while others came in teams, sharing the Good News in various ways and methods.
Most of the participants were able to benefit from the two-day training program before the actual outreach. These training sessions featured various topics related to evangelism presented by a variety of instructors, and provided extended times of worship and prayer. Also, the IL15 teams and the local churches had a special evening gathering focusing on the Pentecostal power. A good number of Christians were baptized in the Holy Spirit.
The teams spread throughout the various areas of the beautiful Italian-speaking city of Lugano, sharing the Gospel with the local residents as well as with many international tourists. Thousands of tracts in Italian and English, plus a 4-page magazine, were distributed throughout the week, all with the chosen theme, “God Loves Lugano.”
It was a blessing to see local authorities cooperate with this evangelistic initiative by granting permission to use the Dante Square where thousands of people had a chance to hear the Good News, Gospel music, testimonies and brief messages. The city even granted free access and usage of a big hall for the evening meetings during which Evangelist Siegfried Tomazsewski preached, and then prayed with those accepting Jesus and for those in need of healing and deliverance. Reports indicate that people were saved, not only in these evening meetings but also on the squares, in the parks and in the streets of Lugano. Many others received prayer for personal needs, often after intense conversations.
The Holy Spirit was at work and brought the joy of salvation to the city of Lugano. One of the local pastors summarized the sentiment of appreciation felt by many of the local believers: “... Impact Lugano 2015 was a formidable experience. To see seven churches cooperate with so much enthusiasm and unity was the result of much prayer. This experience will have a long time impact. We have learned a lot and we will treasure these days.”
From PEF Head Office, Brussels, Belgium
One of the most dynamic and powerful works of the Holy Spirit in our day certainly is the Pentecostal revival among the Gypsies Streams of this revival started in the decade of the 1950s. God began to pour out His Spirit upon the diverse ethnic groups of Gypsies in Europe and around the world. Because of prejudice and ill reputation, many leaders were skeptical about the conversion of Gypsies, but over time, these leaders recognized that God is no respecter of persons. France has more than 150 000 baptized Gypsy adults. There are some 2150 preachers trained in their own Bible school with almost 300 students studying every year. The French missionary work, called ‘Life and Light’ (founded by Pastor Clément Le Cossec), reaches into 30 countries, supporting over 30 missionaries in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and India. The French Gypsies brought the Gospel to neighboring countries such as Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy.
Spain has also experienced phenomenal growth as today there are over 200 000 baptized believers, some 600 Gypsy churches and 2500 preachers. The “Gitanos ” have evangelized Portugal and South America as well. England has been marked by the same kind of development since 1975. Today there are over 15 000 born-again Gypsies and Travellers, many of whom were instrumental in reaching Ireland, Canada, and the USA. . In Eastern Europe, we see similar growth. In Romania, there are some 110 000 converts and hundreds of Gypsy churches with about 200 preachers. Bulgaria has some 70 000 Gypsy believers and over 120 Gypsy churches and preachers. Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary are currently experiencing a mighty move of the Holy Spirit. There are over 10 million Gypsies in Eastern Europe. Only 3% have knowledge of the Gospel.
There is also a growing work in the Scandinavian countries, such as Norway, Sweden and Finland. TV programs are broadcast in the Gypsy language in more than 15 cities throughout Russia and Eastern Europe. There are some 40 million Gypsies in the world, half of whom are in India. To this day, 700 to 800 000 Gypsies from various ethnic groups know Jesus Christ as their Savior, with a total of 6 500 preachers and pastors. The task to reach this vast mission field is still unfinished. Gypsies have their own language, mindset and traditions. Please pray the Lord of the harvest to send many more workers to these people for whom Jesus died!
One of the most dynamic and powerful works of the Holy Spirit in our day certainly is the Pentecostal revival among the Gypsies Streams of this revival started in the decade of the 1950s. God began to pour out His Spirit upon the diverse ethnic groups of Gypsies in Europe and around the world. Because of prejudice and ill reputation, many leaders were skeptical about the conversion of Gypsies, but over time, these leaders recognized that God is no respecter of persons.
France has more than 150 000 baptized Gypsy adults. There are some 2150 preachers trained in their own Bible school with almost 300 students studying every year.
The French missionary work, called ‘Life and Light’ (founded by Pastor Clément Le Cossec), reaches into 30 countries, supporting over 30 missionaries in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and India. The French Gypsies brought the Gospel to neighboring countries such as Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy.
Spain has also experienced phenomenal growth as today there are over 200 000 baptized believers, some 600 Gypsy churches and 2500 preachers. The “Gitanos ” have evangelized Portugal and South America as well.
England has been marked by the same kind of development since 1975. Today there are over 15 000 born-again Gypsies and Travellers, many of whom were instrumental in reaching Ireland, Canada, and the USA.
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In Eastern Europe, we see similar growth. In Romania, there are some 110 000 converts and hundreds of Gypsy churches with about 200 preachers. Bulgaria has some 70 000 Gypsy believers and over 120 Gypsy churches and preachers. Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary are currently experiencing a mighty move of the Holy Spirit. There are over 10 million Gypsies in Eastern Europe. Only 3% have knowledge of the Gospel.
There is also a growing work in the Scandinavian countries, such as Norway, Sweden and Finland.
TV programs are broadcast in the Gypsy language in more than 15 cities throughout Russia and Eastern Europe.
There are some 40 million Gypsies in the world, half of whom are in India. To this day, 700 to 800 000 Gypsies from various ethnic groups know Jesus Christ as their Savior, with a total of 6 500 preachers and pastors.
The task to reach this vast mission field is still unfinished. Gypsies have their own language, mindset and traditions. Please pray the Lord of the harvest to send many more workers to these people for whom Jesus died!
