PRAYER UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2015
Refugee Update
In our last update we mentioned the refugee situation that is happening here in Europe. Since then this has become a lead story worldwide in the news. Among the thousands of photos and videos in the news and on social media, we have seen images of a child who drowned crossing the sea and of families who suffocated in the back of a refrigerated truck.
All of this has played on the heart strings of the European people. The immediate response for Austria and Germany was to open their borders and welcome people in – and people came in the thousands. They are still coming now even though the borders are closed.
There has been an outpouring of relief work from the people of Austria. When we go to the park near the refugee camp or to one of the train stations in Vienna we see many people volunteering and donating clothes and food. So much so that many of the clothes go unused and some of the food unclaimed. It is great for the refugees to feel welcome…
…but what next?
That is the question we as a team have been asking ourselves and that is the question we have been asking the churches we attend. In fact, there will be a meeting this coming Monday (Sept 21) for the leaders of Evangelical churches in Vienna to discuss just this.
What happens when the emotion we have that is a response to seeing the graphic horrors that have occurred wears off? Who is going to help the thousands of people here in Austria figure out the system for getting legal papers to stay and then how to assimilate into the culture?
In our last update we mentioned the refugee situation that is happening here in Europe. Since then this has become a lead story worldwide in the news. Among the thousands of photos and videos in the news and on social media, we have seen images of a child who drowned crossing the sea and of families who suffocated in the back of a refrigerated truck.
All of this has played on the heart strings of the European people. The immediate response for Austria and Germany was to open their borders and welcome people in – and people came in the thousands. They are still coming now even though the borders are closed.
There has been an outpouring of relief work from the people of Austria. When we go to the park near the refugee camp or to one of the train stations in Vienna we see many people volunteering and donating clothes and food. So much so that many of the clothes go unused and some of the food unclaimed. It is great for the refugees to feel welcome…
…but what next?
That is the question we as a team have been asking ourselves and that is the question we have been asking the churches we attend. In fact, there will be a meeting this coming Monday (Sept 21) for the leaders of Evangelical churches in Vienna to discuss just this.
What happens when the emotion we have that is a response to seeing the graphic horrors that have occurred wears off? Who is going to help the thousands of people here in Austria figure out the system for getting legal papers to stay and then how to assimilate into the culture?
There is a chain of bakeries here in Vienna called Anker. Our pastor told Lori and I the other day that we, along with anyone else in society, can bring the refugees the bread of Anker, but only the church has the bread of life to offer. THAT is the most important thing we have to do. God is literally bringing the Nations to us here in Europe and we have an incredible opportunity to be used by Him to reach them.
Because of the work Russ and Matt have been doing for years at the Oasis and among the immigrant churches here in Austria, we are hoping to come at this opportunity from a unique angle. It is our desire to come alongside and help these churches, churches of people who have walked this road before the current flood of refugees. We hope this will include the honor of training up a generation of servant leaders in their ranks.
Some of you have asked how you can help and how you can pray.
Help
We can use Bibles in the Arabic and Farsi languages, and lots of them. We have been working on finding fast and cost effective ways to get bibles to us. If any of you know of a way to do this, please let us know. Once we decide the best way, we will communicate how you can participate in getting bibles here.
Learn more
Here are some links we found particularly informative if you are interested in learning more
Because of the work Russ and Matt have been doing for years at the Oasis and among the immigrant churches here in Austria, we are hoping to come at this opportunity from a unique angle. It is our desire to come alongside and help these churches, churches of people who have walked this road before the current flood of refugees. We hope this will include the honor of training up a generation of servant leaders in their ranks.
Some of you have asked how you can help and how you can pray.
Help
We can use Bibles in the Arabic and Farsi languages, and lots of them. We have been working on finding fast and cost effective ways to get bibles to us. If any of you know of a way to do this, please let us know. Once we decide the best way, we will communicate how you can participate in getting bibles here.
Learn more
Here are some links we found particularly informative if you are interested in learning more
Pray
- Pray for a solution allowing us to distribute Arabic and Farsi bibles.
- Pray for creativity as we consider how to get the gospel message to so many and that we would see many come to a saving relationship with our Jesus.
- Pray that we would be given the honor to start leadership training courses among the immigrant churches here.
- Pray for unity among the Evangelical church leaders meeting on the 21st. Pray for creative ideas of how to proceed working together for the Kingdom.
Other News and prayer requests:
- We moved to a new apartment in late August, our new address is below. Pray we can reach out to our new neighbors in a culturally sensitive way.
- We are so encouraged we will have six sets of company from the US coming to visit before Christmas. Pray for all the logistics involved in this.
- Tim and Matt, along with Mike Scheer and Sam Buliga will be conducting further training in Romania as well as conducting a workshop to start a similar ministry in Ukraine October 22-28. Pray specifically for great relationships with the leaders in the Church in Ukraine.
- Our niece is getting married November 7th in the Houston area, we excited to be able to attend but will only be in the USA for a few days. Pray for stamina and good times with family.
As always, we can not thank God enough for you!
We praise Him for your love and friendship.
We praise Him for your prayers.
We praise Him for your financial support.
Even though we thank and praise God, please know .......
YOU are each appreciated.
We praise Him for your prayers.
We praise Him for your financial support.
Even though we thank and praise God, please know .......
YOU are each appreciated.
Please let us know via email how we can be praying for you.
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