What your prayers did in Europe!
Dearest Friends and Family,
I wanted to thank you for how you have stood behind us these years, especially during this unsettled time we all find ourselves in. I want, also, to report to you on our ‘Taste and See’ weekend and ‘Thanksgiving’ at the end of November.
Taste and See, is a 4-day weekend where we introduce our one year training program (called SPOUDAZO) to younger European leaders. They receive some hands on training and experience in living out the presence of God in the environments in which they live. I can tell that many of you prayed for us…as the weekend was more profound than we had even hoped. We had 10 leaders for 4 different countries…Portugal, Spain, German, and The Netherlands and here are some of their responses.
How are you my brothers and sisters in Christ doing… I miss our conversations, the music and community. I miss Lain’s and Mickey’s food…I thank Jesus for the great time we spend there and how much we learned…
God bless, Nuno (from Portugal sent this on 3 December)
The course was deep and the community among participants strong…For me being in a small group sharing faith was new and it was like taking a warm bath (Dutch expression, sorry if you don’t get it). Phil, Laina and Deb provided the subjects, shared…
Phil modeled a new kind of leadership that empowered us all…
Deb shared from her mission experience and how to love on those far from the church…
Laina touched our harts by sharing her life story and talking about the strength of being vulnerable and humble before God. That His guiding and shaping us is an ongoing proces in our lives. Also her talk about hospitality was really helpful. …This was really an eye opener for me, since I always feel very restless when I invite people over. I tend to see people as interruptions.
We also had some practice on the streets…it awakened a missionary mind in me. The whole course it felt like God was present Thank you… Blessings, Fieneke Peters (from Amsterdam sent this on 6 December)
Well, I see Munich a little different now. Thank you for everything you did for me and for believing in me. You modeled something I have never understood before. I´d really like to join the Spoudazo training…
Christoph (from Germany sent sent this on 9 December)
Dear Phil and Laina,
My best love from the holy land. Peace is far away from this town and country. For sure it is a scary atmosphere in this country. I am here for 2 weeks….
I still think back often to our weekend in Amsterdam, and I still live from the input I got there. And I want to say THANK YOU VERY MUCH, once again. I got so much spiritual food at yours, what I cannot get in Muenster at the moment. It was a bit hard for me to realize that I cannot get inspirations like that here in Muenster, but I am just the more thankful for you, your initiative, and the way I may take part in it. So I would love to take part in Spoudazo.
Thanks for your deep love to Christ, and to the people around you…
Deeply Connected, Jule (from Germany sent this on 2 January, ‘09)
During the weekend, we had all the participants help us get ready for our annual THANKSGIVING FEAST. Once again, we had 68 people from more than 20 countries, all ages and stages of life. Some wealthy, some poor, married, single. And, we had Muslims, Jews, Hindus, nothings,…and yes, those of us who love Jesus. The night started with giving thanks to God by having some people speak out their own thankfulness in their native tongue.
Besides feasting on the beautiful provision of food, people began to feast on grace and generosity. The conversations deepened, and eventually people picked up musical instruments and spontaneous worship began to invade the living room. Many of our friends, who have been fearful of this kind of display of the love of God, scooted their chairs closer, tuned in their ears, and we began to see smiles spread across faces that had shied away from this before.
Your prayers have made such an impact on the lives of our leaders in training, and also on each of those in the community that surrounds us. We pray that the hope of God would pour out of us and those that we are developing, into this disheartened world. In this global mess, we preach Christ, and it is only in Him that we trust.
We are reminded of the courage building words of the prophet Isaiah,
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favour
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.
Thank YOU for trusting God with your prayers and your finances and for generously standing with us while we’re here in Europe. And thank you for what you are allowing God to do through you right where you are!!!!!
in peace and with love,
phil & Laina & the rest of the Graf gang
