Highly esteemed Partners in the Gospel, I am most obliged to you for taking up this greatly valued task of bringing our work before the throne of God in prayer. Thank you for allowing me to lay before you certain requests concerning our work in Germany.
1. Time of Encouragement
I am very grateful for the wonderful opportunity to spend a good amount of time at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington DC. It was a blessing to observe the life of CHBC, as it is a biblical model for a healthy church. I enjoyed the lectures, the discussions, the different meetings, and the brotherly fellowship. It was truly a time of refreshment and encouragement to ponder about what it means to build the church after the biblical pattern.
When I look around (at least here in Germany), I see that the great majority of congregations don’t preach the Gospel, don’t evangelize in a biblical way, don’t pay attention to biblical church membership, don’t practice church discipline, don’t have a qualified leadership and violate the regulative principle of worship. This sad reality doesn’t cause me to look down on other churches, but rather to look up to Christ to plead for His mercy. I long to see more biblically ordered churches in Germany. May the Lord do this for His name’s sake! Please pray that this time of instruction and encouragement will help me to become wiser to build the church with gold, silver, and precious stones (1 Corinthians 3:12).
2. 222-Training
In May, we finished the first part of our 222-Training. The number 222 stands for 2 Timothy 2:2, “what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.“ Over approximately one year we studied the question of what it means to live a spiritually disciplined, totally committed life for Christ. Please pray for the brothers and for me as we seek to keep closer to Christ, our beloved Master.
3. Discouragements and Difficulties
Most church planters (at least those that I know) face challenges and difficulties even to the point that they question sometimes if they should quit. I can understand my brothers as it can get very discouraging and lonely at times on the mission field. The last month wasn’t easy for me. I found myself confronted with all sorts of challenges. I thank the Lord who faithfully provides us with the strength to serve His people. Please pray that I continue to experience the reality of God’s Word in Isaiah 40:29-31, “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
4. Help from Overseas
In the beginning of June, a group of around ten young brothers and sisters from the USA will come over to serve and to help us to reach out to the lost. Please join us in thanking the Lord for this wonderful blessing. Please pray with us that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith and that Christ will be glorified by the salvation of sinners.