Europe

Europe:  Making an Impact

By Werner Kniesel

The European zone comprises a number of countries in both Western and Eastern Europe.  In certain countries, our main goal is to establish model churches with pastors who desire our help. At present, I am involved in helping pastors or churches in Slovakia, Slovenia, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Cairo, Switzerland, and Germany. In many Eastern European countries, we have been able to plant new churches, especially in Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, and other places.

An Unusual Church Plant

A couple actively involved in the work of their church in a capital city could afford only a two-bedroom apartment. This was unbearable for them and their seven children. They thus moved to a smaller town 45 miles from the city, where rent was more affordable. Their desire was to plant a church in this area.

This couple continued to be blessed with more children. While in the hospital for another birth, the wife learned of a lady who had died while giving birth. She went to this lady and fervently prayed for her. The medical staff was more than shocked when God brought this lady back to life!

God used this miracle to bring a number of doctors to Christ and to plant a church.  More than 60 baptized believers now follow Christ in that Muslim area, and Surge helped them get a good start.

Report from Church Planter Vitaly

A man named Roman lived a sinful life for many years. He was a member of the Communist Party and didn’t believe in God. He never imagined that he could become a believer. But God, in His grace, had someone bring the word of salvation to Roman, and he received it.

Roman’s life soon changed. He was expelled from the Communist Party and was monitored and persecuted. There was no church where he lived. To attend a meeting, he had to travel 65 miles. He finally joined that church and became an active believer. Desiring to bring the gospel to his countrymen, he was trained in that church and finally sent to an area where there were no churches. The support that you give is used to send out church planters, and Brother Roman is one of them. Through his ministry, a number of churches have already been established.

Pastors’ Seminar

At a recent training seminar for church planters in the Ukraine, the pastors determined to establish 1,000 new churches in the next five years. They are training workers in many areas. With the help of the Surge, we will be able to help them succeed and bring many people into the kingdom of Christ. Imagine what can be done!