Dear Prayer Partners,
First of all we would like to thank you for your prayer covering throughout our trip to Hungary. To be honest, it was the smoothest trip we'd ever had in Europe.
HUNGARY ROAD TRIP: Our time in Hungary was exceptionally fruitful. To begin the Lord made it absolutely clear to us that we were to go to Sopron for an interim time. While there He provided a flat for us in a very Godlike way. A couple at the Calvary Chapel there had been on the mission field in Tanzania for several years but had returned from the field. The husband is German but the wife is a Hungarian from Sopron. They are now relocating to Germany but did not want to sell their flat. The arrangement worked out perfectly as they still want to keep their place for a vacation home and don't want to rent it long term and we only need it for a short time. God took care of their need and ours at the same time. He is so resourceful! The flat and the timing are perfect as well. It is only a two minute walk from the Wilbanks' home and will be available at the time we were hoping to move from Italy.
THE MOVE TO SOPRON: We plan to make our final move from Montebelluna to Sopron beginning on July 13. Suzie and I will drive our car from here to there first with a small load. On the next day (July 14), we will drive back together with Tony Wilbanks in his van to pick up the remaining items that we have. It is only about a 7 hour drive which is good for Europe (at least in comparison to what we've been use to).
HUNGARIAN VISAS: It was recommended to us to wait to apply for our residence permits until we actually move because we will need to return to Vajta to pick them up. If we applied too early it would mean an extra trip to Hungary if we were still in Italy. We thought it would be safest to follow this advice. With that we are waiting until the week we return to Hungary to drive down to Vajta to apply.
LONG-TERM DIRECTION: As we mentioned above our time in Hungary was exceptionally fruitful in every way, especially our time at the Foundations conference where we believe that God confirmed some things to us that we had been praying about. Two weeks before we left for Hungary we had spent every morning in fasting and prayer as we felt led to seek the Lord for long term direction. The Lord had shown us our need to do this through some passages in the Book of Nehemiah as well as through Acts 13:1-3. Over the last year and a half the one thing the Lord continued to say to us was that He was going to lead us and tell us what He wanted us to do. During this time of fasting and prayer we believe that He has finally spoken. One thing that He made clear was that He was sending us into a work in which we would need to dig in and plough for what we believe will be a long time. He has given us this heart and desire in an increasing way over the last year and a half. The place however was one that had been brought to our attention several times through various means since we left Poland. God's timing is perfect, so until now He hadn't made known to us that He was sending us there as we believe that our years in Poland and the time after have all been in preparation for this new season. Even our time in Italy was something that the Lord sent us into, short as it has been, to mobilize us and get us back to Europe after Suzie's surgeries.
THE PLACE: The country that we are referring to, is Greece. It is a nation where there are no Calvary Chapels, very few Christian churches, and even against the law to "proselytize" people from other faiths. The need there is dire and we believe that now is the time that God has chosen to send laborers from Calvary Chapel ministries to stay and plough the hardened ground. Although it is the first nation in Europe to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ it is now one of the spiritually deadest. The climate is very similar to that of Poland, but rather than Roman Catholicism being the dominant religion it is Greek Orthodoxy.
CONFIRMATION: While at the Foundations conference the Lord gave us our final confirmation of this calling in overwhelming ways. The Lord spoke through His word. One verse that He used to speak to us was 1 Corinthians 3:11, "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." The context of this verse is that of foundation laying in the work of the ministry. I believe that the Lord showed me (Frank) through this that He is calling us to lay a foundation that has been lost over the centuries. The Lord also encouraged us through various European and American leaders who were very supportive of the step. Certain churches in Europe are excited about us going to plant a church in this nation which they had been praying about for years. Phil Meztger pastor of CC Budapest and Director of CCBCE was very encouraging and supportive as he has taken teams to Thessaloniki in the past and hoped that some missionaries would go there to church plant. These churches are prepared to help out through outreach teams and any way that they can. We are blessed by the prospect of their help in the Lord!
TEAM GREECE: One of the things that had been on our hearts since our time in Olsztyn was to serve with a team in the next place that God sent us, as anyone planting a church desires! God had been building that team before we even knew that He was calling us. Our friends Travis and Kristen Spencer and their two daughters Ksena and Kati, whom we have mentioned in previous updates, just graduated from the Missions Training Program in Vajta last May. They and a few others had been praying for Greece throughout the semester and during that time the Lord showed them that they (the Spencers) were to go. Our history with them goes back many years with this young family of four. I (Frank) was actually Kristen's junior high pastor when she was eleven many years ago (scary I know!). We were encouraged to learn about the impact that they made while in Vajta and how the Lord made clear their calling as missionaries to the staff there. They are a joy to us and were to them and we greatly look forward to serving together with them in Greece. We pray that God would add to this team those whom He is calling in His timing and way.
THE CITY: The city we are specifically praying about is Thessaloniki (the Thessalonica of the New Testament). It is in the north-eastern region of the country on the Aegean Sea. It is the second or third largest city in Greece with a population of about 2 million. There are several universities there that we believe create a more open door to the gospel as the youth of the nation are frustrated with their traditional religion (Greek Orthodox) and the condition of their country. Our team is currently seeking the Lord to confirm that this is the city where we are to begin working.
GETTING TO GREECE-FIRST STOP SOPRON, HUNGARY: From Sopron I (Frank) and Travis will make an exploratory trip down to Greece in the late summer or early fall. We will go to pray and connect with some national Christian leaders and see what God has to show us. We don't have a set date in mind yet for the final move down as we are still seeking the Lord for that. The Spencers are also considering and praying through different possibilities for their family and the move. We know that God will show us when to go and that His timing is perfect. While in Sopron we will be whatever help we can be both in the work and in fellowship with the Wilbanks as they currently do not have co-laborers serving along side them. Suzie and I are excited about this interim period and greatly look forward to serving with Tony & Kim Wilbanks in whatever ways the Lord allows. We've known them for a few years though we've only had brief contact with them. But in that time the Lord has given us a very natural connection with them. We expect and hope to become better and closer friends during our time in their city! God is doing an amazing work in Sopron and using this family in a wonderful way! They are also very excited about what God is doing with us and have been very encouraging in this time.
EXPECTATIONS: None... other than God doing what He want's to do. We simply want to go and share the gospel through whichever tools the Lord provides and leave the results to Him. We know that He is sending us to be witnesses and to make disciples but how to begin specifically... He will show us! This we know!
Thanks again for taking the time to read this update. We know it is a bit lengthy but we felt it necessary to give you the details as you all play such an important role in the work that God has sent us to do in Europe.
Some things to pray for:
1. Our final move: We need to finish packing this week and be ready to go by July 13. Please pray for a fruitful week in this and a safe drive to Hungary (twice).
2. Provision: That the Lord would provide all we need as there are many extra expenses that we are currently facing.
3. Residence Permits: Please continue to pray for a speedy application process once we are in Hungary and that there would be no problems with approval.
4. Health: An open door for Suzie to visit a special spinal clinic in Munich to have her bulging discs repaired.
5. Outreaches in Sopron: July 17 -Yo Yo Competition. The Wilbanks oldest son has become a very skilled yo yoer and the Lord has used this skill to meet people and build many relationships. CC Sopron is hosting this competition that will be attended by kids and young adults from throughout Europe and Hungary. Please pray that God creates open doors for the gospel. July 19-23 -VBS CC Sopron will be hosting a VBS in their city. Please pray that the Lord would bring out the kids and families whom He wants to attend and that we would all be able to effectively share the love of Jesus with them.
6. Missionaries: The Wilbanks Family in Sopron, the Kulas, the McGuire Family in Vac, and the Spencer Family on route to Greece, that God would lead, bless, encourage and provide all their needs. We love them very much!
7. CC Italy: Please continue to lift the needs of the churches, pastors and missionaries serving in Italy, that the Lord would continue to use and strengthen them and establish His kingdom in this nation. We have grown close to many of the saints and workers here in this nation and will continue to lift them to the Lord.
8. Greece: Pray that the Lord would begin to prepare the hearts of the people to whom He is sending us, that they would receive the gospel and believe! The Lord's leading to the specific city He is sending us to. Open doors to begin to work in God's timing.
9. Team Greece: That God would unite our hearts in every way! That we would be a prayerful team always seeking the leading of the Holy Spirit. Wisdom for Frank as he leads. Grace for the Spencers as this will be their first time on the field in a long term ministry... we know that God has prepared them for this and that His hand is upon them! For Suzie (that she can put up with me:) that God would give her physical strength and use her in her gifts of intercessory prayer and discipling one on one.
In His Service,
Frank & Suzie
No comments:
Post a Comment