Europe Missions
The Power of Teams
The Power of Teams
Wales
Ryan McCullough
The Hard Stuff No One Wants to Tell A ...

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. 

The Hard Stuff No One Wants to Tell A Prospective Missionary
Portugal, Spain
Dan Desrosiers
Starting from Scratch

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.

Starting from Scratch
Netherlands
Dan Desrosiers
The Miracle of the Oasis

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.

The Miracle of the Oasis
Poland
Dan Desrosiers
On the Hunt: Embracing—and Breaking—Tradition ...

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?

On the Hunt: Embracing—and Breaking—Tradition in the Name of Christ

Albania

Balkan Youth Conference in Albania

In June, 230 youth and adults gathered in Durres, Albania, for the third annual Balkan Youth Conference sponsored by the Albania General Council of the Assemblies of God. It was led by the general superintendent, Gezim Spahija. Participants were from Albania, Italy, Montenegro, Kosovo, and Macedonia. Jacob Bock, missionary to Spain, was the keynote speaker for this three-day weekend event. The other guest speaker was the newly appointed director of the Italian Bible School in Rome, Vincenzo Specchi. He formerly served as the assistant superintendent of the Italian Assemblies of God (ADI). Preaching themes were the important questions of ‘Are you saved?’ ‘Are you filled with the Spirit?’ ‘Are you called?’ Young people were called to missions, ministry, and to attend Bible school. One young lady received financial provision to continue attending Bible school next year.

There was a wonderful spirit throughout the conference as people were touched and challenged through the preaching of the Word. God is raising up a new generation of workers for the harvest fields of the Balkans.

image004.jpgIn June, 230 youth and adults gathered in Durres, Albania, for the third annual Balkan Youth Conference sponsored by the Albania General Council of the Assemblies of God. It was led by the general superintendent, Gezim Spahija. Participants were from Albania, Italy, Montenegro, Kosovo, and Macedonia. Jacob Bock, missionary to Spain, was the keynote speaker for this three-day weekend event.

image006.jpgThe other guest speaker was the newly appointed director of the Italian Bible School in Rome, Vincenzo Specchi. He formerly served as the assistant superintendent of the Italian Assemblies of God (ADI). Preaching themes were the important questions of ‘Are you saved?’ ‘Are you filled with the Spirit?’ ‘Are you called?’ Young people were called to missions, ministry, and to attend Bible school. One young lady received financial provision to continue attending Bible school next year.

There was a wonderful spirit throughout the conference as people were touched and challenged through the preaching of the Word. God is raising up a new generation of workers for the harvest fields of the Balkans.

From the newsletter of Kurt and Stephanie Plagenhoef
Assemblies of God personnel in Albania

Students on a Mission to Kosova

Evangelical Theological College in Tirana, Albania sent its students on a mission trip to four countries this spring. There were six students that went to Kosova. Three of the students were from Albania, one student from Kosova and one student from Macedonia. The team was led by the Superintendent of the Albanian Assemblies of God, Gezim Spahija. The team was able to do prayer walks, home visits, practical work of cleaning and fixing up the church building, and also spent time with the missionaries who are currently serving in Mitrovice. All six students felt it was an incredible time of prayer for the people of Kosova. One of the students tells of the impact of this trip. “The trip to Kosova was great. God truly gives more than we expect. I started off with questions but then from the very first day I felt God's blessing throughout this trip. I felt so thankful to be with Pastor Gezim and all the students and to meet the missionaries and the believers there. It was the fellowship and unity I felt among us which was the greatest blessing. I enjoyed serving together in the practical work we did as well as the spiritual work of sharing the Gospel with locals. I was amazed with the warmth and kindness of some of the people we met. I personally felt so thankful that we could help the missionaries there with practical work. I prayed a lot for them. I could see how difficult it is for them, the church being attacked at some point, still having broken windows. They are still learning the language and raising their child and yet, they are dedicated and persevering in serving God.

“It was wonderful to visit one of the believers, Skender and his family. He is to be baptized soon and it was his first time to meet believers from Albania. He was so so happy. He kept saying how encouraged he was and what a blessing it was. His family, wife and three children were so gentle and humble. We prayed for them.

“We also met a girl who has been a believer for six years; her mother is Serbian and her father is Albanian. She suffered a lot from her family, but persevered. It was a blessing to hear her story. It gave me hope because God had put in my heart to pray for the end of the division that is in Mitrovica.”

Submitted by AGWM Personnel in Albania Gary and Michele Gallina

IMG-20160524-WA0007.jpgEvangelical Theological College in Tirana, Albania sent its students on a mission trip to four countries this spring. There were six students that went to Kosova. Three of the students were from Albania, one student from Kosova and one student from Macedonia. The team was led by the Superintendent of the Albanian Assemblies of God, Gezim Spahija. The team was able to do prayer walks, home visits, practical work of cleaning and fixing up the church building, and also spent time with the missionaries who are currently serving in Mitrovice. All six students felt it was an incredible time of prayer for the people of Kosova. One of the students tells of the impact of this trip.

“The trip to Kosova was great. God truly gives more than we expect. I started off with questions but then from the very first day I felt God's blessing throughout this trip. I felt so thankful to be with Pastor Gezim and all the students and to meet the missionaries and the believers there. It was the fellowship and unity I felt among us which was the greatest blessing. I enjoyed serving together in the practical work we did as well as the spiritual work of sharing the Gospel with locals. I was amazed with the warmth and kindness of some of the people we met. I personally felt so thankful that we could help the missionaries there with practical work. I prayed a lot for them. I could see how difficult it is for them, the church being attacked at some point, still having broken windows. They are still learning the language and raising their child and yet, they are dedicated and persevering in serving God.

“It was wonderful to visit one of the believers, Skender and his family. He is to be baptized soon and it was his first time to meet believers from Albania. He was so so happy. He kept saying how encouraged he was and what a blessing it was. His family, wife and three children were so gentle and humble. We prayed for them.

IMG-20160524-WA0008.jpg“We also met a girl who has been a believer for six years; her mother is Serbian and her father is Albanian. She suffered a lot from her family, but persevered. It was a blessing to hear her story. It gave me hope because God had put in my heart to pray for the end of the division that is in Mitrovica.”

Submitted by AGWM Personnel in Albania
Gary and Michele Gallina

Studying to Serve in Albania

The Evangelical Theological College in Albania has a group of new first year students committed to serving the Lord. One of these is E……. He tell his story of his journey to faith.

DSC03413.jpegThe Evangelical Theological College in Albania has a group of new first year students committed to serving the Lord.  One of these is E…….   He tell his story of his journey to faith.

“I am 21 years old and come from a city in the north of Albania.  I am from a non-Christian background family of seven, including my brother’s wife and two children. My high school days were the darkest of my life. I was deep in the ways of the world and depressed. I was easily angered and unable to do anything good for others if there was nothing in it for me. The only thing I could think to do was to ask God to forgive me, but I had no idea who this God was.

One day my mother went to a church meeting. She told me about it and suggested that I go with her, so I went with her. A brother from the church shared with me about Jesus-­‐-­‐about what he has done for us, how he paid for our sins, and if we accept him and trust him as our Lord and Savior, our sins will be forgiven and we will receive new life. His words truly touched my heart, so I continued going to church and later accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. I am very grateful to God for what He has done for me, for bringing me out of that darkness into his marvelous light.

I began contributing to the church by preparing dramas and mimes for church meetings, cleaning the church, and leading worship. Later I led the youth group and prayer meetings. After our pastor left the church, I started pastoring it. By God's grace, it's been two years that I have served as the church leader.  My call is to reach the villages in the north where the gospel has not been heard before so that even in the remote villages, people have a chance to be saved by the gospel of salvation available through Christ.” 

Albania's First Gospel Witness in 400 Years

A student ministry team from the Bible college in Albania, together with a local Albanian team, went to an Albanian village in a sensitive Balkan country where, for the first time in 400 years, locals heard the gospel, sang Christian songs and received prayer. The people of that village have been exceptionally receptive to the gospel. It is a historic, God-given opportunity. This village was one of the first to suffer the tragedy of war in 2001. Now it is hearing the Good News of Christ. One team member saw this vision during the outreach: “I saw a powerful man with a big hammer, hitting a stake firmly stuck in the dry ground. Each time he struck the stake, it went deeper into the ground. Each blow released shock waves and sent sparks flying. A great noise echoed over the land. God helped me to understand that this man is the church, that the hammer is our prayer, and that the stake is the gospel. This assures us that God is working and that despite the hard, dry ground, the gospel penetrates the hearts of men.

From Newsletter of Kurt Plagenhoef AGWM Personnel in Albania

Skopje_team.jpgA student ministry team from the Bible college in Albania, together with a local Albanian team, went to an Albanian village in a sensitive Balkan country where, for the first time in 400 years, locals heard the gospel, sang Christian songs and received prayer. The people of that village have been exceptionally receptive to the gospel. It is a historic, God-given opportunity. This village was one of the first to suffer the tragedy of war in 2001. Now it is hearing the Good News of Christ.

One team member saw this vision during the outreach: “I saw a powerful man with a big hammer, hitting a stake firmly stuck in the dry ground. Each time he struck the stake, it went deeper into the ground. Each blow released shock waves and sent sparks flying. A great noise echoed over the land. God helped me to understand that this man is the church, that the hammer is our prayer, and that the stake is the gospel. This assures us that God is working and that despite the hard, dry ground, the gospel penetrates the hearts of men.

From Newsletter of Kurt Plagenhoef
AGWM Personnel in Albania