From Feb. 7-11, Greater Europe Mission - Youth Ministry gathered together in Vienna for a conference time together. Youth leaders from Germany, Holland, Ireland, Malta, and Slovakia were present with wives and children. What a week. LOTS of think time, discussion, some arguing and tons of laughter.
This is a great team of people with which to begin a new era in the life of GEM-YM. It’s been a long haul to get where we are now - to get GEM-YM on the map. There’s a very long road to travel to reach the “something like 250 million young people of Europe.”
I don’t think that I have ever felt more insignificant than when I consider this responsibility. In my role in Slovakia helping the Baptist denomination develop healthy youth ministries, the feeling of insignificance is present when considering that the entire country is “only” 5.5 million people and, of that, the protestant population of churches (Lutheran, Baptist, Apostolic, Methodist, Brethren and a few others) doesn’t even add up to 25,000 people. But that is a “manageable insignificance” because I have been in crowds of 10,000-25,000 people and it is conceivable that a single person can have a significant impact on 25,000 people - but 10 times that number, 100 times that? 1,000 times that number? That’s inconceivable to me.
However, that is number sitting in front of me as I think about leading the GEM-YM team. I will never know 1/10000th of those people personally - but the Lord does. He knows them, listens to them (and all at once!!!) and LOVES them deeply!
I left the conference encouraged, blessed, motivated and terrified!
Encouraged by the openness of the hearts before our Lord to know Him & love Him deeply and make Him known to the people in their countries.
Blessed by the privilege to serve with them and so many others represented by them in the Kingdom of God.
Motivated to bring to them resources, prayer support and help to raise up workers for their countries so that the Gospel - a glorious message - can go forth faster, clearer, more personally and more easily received.
Terrified by the realization that God has called me at this time to serve these brothers & sisters in their endeavors to fulfill the calling of God on their lives.
I thank You, Lord, that YOU are in control and have a clear plan to accomplish Your goals and desires. Give me wisdom that I may remain in step with You - neither lagging behind nor running ahead.
This is a great team of people with which to begin a new era in the life of GEM-YM. It’s been a long haul to get where we are now - to get GEM-YM on the map. There’s a very long road to travel to reach the “something like 250 million young people of Europe.”
I don’t think that I have ever felt more insignificant than when I consider this responsibility. In my role in Slovakia helping the Baptist denomination develop healthy youth ministries, the feeling of insignificance is present when considering that the entire country is “only” 5.5 million people and, of that, the protestant population of churches (Lutheran, Baptist, Apostolic, Methodist, Brethren and a few others) doesn’t even add up to 25,000 people. But that is a “manageable insignificance” because I have been in crowds of 10,000-25,000 people and it is conceivable that a single person can have a significant impact on 25,000 people - but 10 times that number, 100 times that? 1,000 times that number? That’s inconceivable to me.
However, that is number sitting in front of me as I think about leading the GEM-YM team. I will never know 1/10000th of those people personally - but the Lord does. He knows them, listens to them (and all at once!!!) and LOVES them deeply!
I left the conference encouraged, blessed, motivated and terrified!
Encouraged by the openness of the hearts before our Lord to know Him & love Him deeply and make Him known to the people in their countries.
Blessed by the privilege to serve with them and so many others represented by them in the Kingdom of God.
Motivated to bring to them resources, prayer support and help to raise up workers for their countries so that the Gospel - a glorious message - can go forth faster, clearer, more personally and more easily received.
Terrified by the realization that God has called me at this time to serve these brothers & sisters in their endeavors to fulfill the calling of God on their lives.
I thank You, Lord, that YOU are in control and have a clear plan to accomplish Your goals and desires. Give me wisdom that I may remain in step with You - neither lagging behind nor running ahead.
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