Annual Conference 2015

We just returned from Willingen, Germany where we spent 6 days with our extended (300+) GEM family at our Annual Conference (AC).  Reflecting on the last several days and considering what to share with you, I re-read the posts from the previous Conferences (here and here), and I'm struck with the realization that it's always the same things that stand out to me:  People persevere in their prayers and service, and God is moving in amazing ways across Europe.

One of my favorite parts of AC is the field reports.  Each day, people from each field/country/Europe-wide ministry were given 3 minutes to share about their last year; after they shared, the entire group prayed specifically for the people/ministries/countries.  While GEM's mission is to disciple all peoples of Europe through rapidly reproducing churches, this is done in a variety of ways across the continent.  Some people are so creative in reaching people with the Gospel!

We also recognized people for their years of service - from 5-40 years with GEM!  [Can you believe that it was 5 years ago that I started working at the GEM office?!] One couple, with GEM for 40 years, said, "We are not the same mission that we were 40 years ago - but that's a good thing.  This isn't the same continent that it was 40 years ago either."  Praise God for the way He's sustained people over the years.  Praise Him for the way He's moving in hearts in new ways and drawing more people to Him.  Over the last year, at least 441 people have surrendered their lives to Christ as a result of the investment of GEMers.

We're now home in Aix-les-Bains and doing our best to prepare for "La Rentrée" (literally the re-entry, or, in America, back-to-school).  We're reconnecting with people we haven't seen all summer, strategizing about how to best lead our small group, and praying about how God wants to use us in this city.  Join us in praying for the coming year.