Winter 2020
The
BALKANS
Europe's Powder Keg
Europe
Europe's Powder Keg
LOOKING AT THE Balkans 4
3 VISITING SLOVENIA AND BULGARIA
6 INTRODUCING CHARLIE & TANIA DEERING
11 This magazine is published twice yearly to report on the work of GLO in Europe and around the world and to promote mission interest. There is no subscription rate but readers are welcome to send gifts towards postage and production. GLO is a charity registered in Scotland: SC007355. If you would like to contribute financially to the work of GLO this can be done directly using the bank details below
SNAPSHOTS OF THE NEW NORMAL
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EDITORIAL
REFLECTIONS ON THE PANDEMIC
TILSLEY COLLEGE - WE'RE BACK
CONNECT WITH US!
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GLO BOOKSHOP & BRASS TACKS
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GLO Europe is on: LEAVING A LASTING LEGACY
or by contacting our Finance Director: Ian Smith (ismith@glo-europe.org).
Many people have a concern about what the long-term impact of their lives will be on others. As Christians this is a big issue because the Bible encourages us to live our lives in view of eternity. GLO, along with many
BANK OF SCOTLAND, 72 BRANDON PARADE, MOTHERWELL ML1 1UW ACCOUNT NAME – GLO TRUST SCOTLAND SORT CODE – 800915 ACCOUNT NUMBER – 00400636 2
other Christian organisations, benefits greatly from legacies that people leave behind. It is a way of significantly helping the work of the kingdom by organising your giving after you have gone. We have produced an information booklet on the use of legacies and if you would like to have one then write to: Stephen McQuoid | GLO Centre | 78 Muir Street | Motherwell ML1 1BN | smcquoid@glo-europe.org
Europe
Editorial by Stephen McQuoid
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his edition of e-vision, like the last one, comes with the backdrop of the global pandemic which is still with us. I suspect few of us could have imagined just how much Covid-19 would affect all of our lives. We have had to learn to live with restrictions aimed at keeping some kind of lid on the problem and, in truth, no one really knows when it will all end. In GLO the impact of the virus included the cancellation of our 2020 mission team programme. However, I am very grateful for the wonderful way in which GLO workers throughout Europe were able to adapt to the new situation and continue in their ministries. The future remains uncertain, and indeed we are not yet clear what next year’s mission team programme will look like. However, we are determined to press on and do all that we can in each area of our ministry, whatever the situation we find ourselves in. It is in that spirit that this edition of e-vision focuses on the Balkans. It has always been our desire in GLO to reach people with the good news about Jesus and nowhere in Europe is that need greater than in the Balkans. We feel that it is an area of Europe that we want to give some focus to, and we are partnering with our colleagues at Echoes International to achieve this. Pray that God will raise up a new generation of missionaries (long term and short term) who will bring the gospel to these needy lands. It is early days for us as we
are just beginning to learn about this part of the world. Over the next few years we hope to begin to engage in mission in the Balkans, but this edition of e-vision is designed to encourage you to pray that God will pour out his Spirit and bless this spiritually parched area. We also have a few updates in this edition. Tilsley College has been able to welcome students back to the college campus as well as teach the Joshua programme online, and you will be able to read about how they are getting on. There are also short extracts from some of our missionaries talking about their continuing work during the pandemic. The GLO Centre in Motherwell continues to be a busy place especially as we have reopened our Bookshop and Coffee Shop. The current restrictions mean that there are limits on what we can do, but we continue to serve the general public and Christians at a time when getting hold of encouraging Christian books and meeting people for fellowship have become ever more precious. We would ask you to pray for all of our GLO Centre staff as, especially at a time like this; the centre is a real oasis for people. It is also great to have new people joining us here in the form of Charlie and Tania Deering. Charlie is the new GLO Centre manager while Tania is involved in the student residence. They come from a mission background and in this edition, they introduce themselves.
As General Director of GLO Europe I would like to take this opportunity to say a word of thanks to our Trustees. Every charity needs trustees, and they are often unsung heroes, taking on the legal responsibilities. The pandemic has placed a much greater burden on our trustees and we meet much more frequently so that we can monitor the current situation and make important decisions about the future of the work. It is a role that requires diligence, a heart for mission and a high level of competence. Without good trustees a Christian charity cannot maintain good governance. Please pray for us in the days and weeks ahead. We do not know what bumps we will encounter along the way, but we trust that God will guide and that we will be able to continue our ministry or reaching Europe for Christ.
“ this edition of e-vision is designed to encourage you to pray that God will pour out his Spirit and bless this spiritually parched area. ” 3
Europe
“ From our perspective the
by Stephen McQuoid
most significant aspect of the Balkans region is the sheer spiritual need.”
Europe's Powder Keg T
LOOKING AT THE Balkans
he Balkans is one of the most beautiful, fascinating and complex regions in all of Europe. It is often referred to as Europe’s powder keg because, historically, it has been so volatile. The strategic importance of the Balkans, coupled with the fact that it is home to different cultures, nationalities and religions has added significantly to the many tensions that have existed there over the centuries. Its geography has made it a meeting place between East and West, the mid-point between the Latin
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and Greek sections of the Roman Empire. It was the destination for a massive influx of pagan Bulgars and Slavs, then a meeting point for Orthodox and Catholic Christians as well an interface between Islam and Christianity. It has also been a buffer zone between two great powers, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Ottomans. The Balkans was the place where Yugoslavia was born and also where it fell apart causing some of the most recent Balkan violence. This remarkable region is now multilingual with
multiple Slavic and Romance languages as well as Albanian, Greek, Turkish, Romani and many other smaller dialects. Trying to define the Balkans is not a straightforward business. If we do so geographically using the Balkan mountains, which stretch from the Adriatic to the Black Sea, as our measuring line, the nations that fall entirely within the Balkan Peninsula are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia, while countries that lie
Europe
mostly or partially within the Balkan Peninsula are Croatia, Greece, Italy, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey. However, some of these countries would not consider themselves to be Balkan, not least Italy where only a small amount of territory lies in the Balkan Peninsula. Likewise, many Turks would consider themselves Asian and not European and so Turkey is often not seen as a Balkan state either. Many Slovenians also distance themselves from the name Balkan, although given that Slovenia was part of the former Yugoslavia, it often gets included. Generally, historians would say that the Balkans consist of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia. If that definition is accepted, it results in an area with a combined population of around 60 million people. Within that region there are Catholics, Orthodox Christians and Muslims as well as a very small number of evangelical Christians. Religion as well as culture plays an important role. It gives some of the Balkan states a measure of their identity and also causes tensions as well as forming alliances. The Greeks, for example, feel a kindred spirit with the Serbs because they both share the Orthodox faith. Indeed, this sense of religious identity is so strong in both countries that it is not unusual when someone becomes an evangelical Christian, for them to be disowned by the family. State religion is virtually synonymous with citizenship. Likewise, the Albanians, Bosnians and Kosovans share an Islamic faith. Of course, the reverse is also true because tensions and conflict have also been caused by the religious as well as cultural differences. For this reason, many describe the Balkans as a mosaic of different people rather than a melting pot, with each Balkan country attempting to assert its own distinctives that separate it from its neighbours. From our perspective the most significant aspect of the Balkans region is the sheer spiritual need. Indeed, it would be hard to find an area of the world that is so unreached. Only Romania is home to significant numbers of evangelical believers, while in Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Slovenia and Turkey evangelicals make up only 0.1% of the population. To put that in context, as a proportion of population, these Balkan states have fewer evangelical believers than Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh or Mongolia.
Of course, just recognising that there are great spiritual needs is not enough. We also have to ask what can be done about it? Here is where the challenge lies. The Balkans rich and varied history has also been deeply marked which conflict. Important elements of these conflicts have been religion, identity and nationality. Consequently, any evangelistic endeavour must be done sensitively so as not to raise suspicion, much less tension. Any mission endeavour needs to be characterised by humility and warmth given that the region has seen its fair share of invasions, prejudice and power struggles. Some of the past conflicts have actually led to a spiritual questioning. For example, when NATO began bombing Serbian military positions in Kosovo in the late 1990’s, some Serbs fearing the situation began to turn to God and there were reports of conversions taking place. There are also good things happening at the moment in many Balkan countries among the marginalised gypsy communities. In general, however, evangelism remains difficult and in many Balkan countries, government permission is required for some forms of evangelistic activity. Moreover, with the modest economic growth of the region, people in the larger towns and cities seem more resistant to the gospel than those living in rural areas. The church is these countries is small, but there are some good leaders and in many of the Balkan states there is a sense of optimism among the evangelical community that they can make a difference and impact their countries with the gospel. GLO has never had a resident mission team in the majority of the Balkan countries and neither have we sent many short-term teams to the region. Historically our main involvement
in the area is in Albania and Romania where GLO workers have been serving God for many years and continue to do so, but the rest of the Balkan states remain outside of our normal mission activity. However, we believe that God is guiding us to be more involved in the Balkans and to begin to work more proactively in the area. How we do this is a question we are currently asking, but we will commit a great deal of thought and prayer to the issue. God willing, we will begin having short term mission teams going to new areas both to evangelise and also to build links with local Christians and work under their leadership. We may be able to offer some training and even resources to churches and church leaders. In the longer term our prayer will be to see a new generation of missionaries raised up to serve God in this important part of Europe and also to see national Christians join the work of GLO as they serve their own people. Missionaries who do go to the Balkans will need to show wisdom, grace and courage as they work in a region with such a challenging history. This will not be a job for the faint-hearted. However, we believe the Gospel is good news and can being joy and unity to the most troubled parts of the continent of Europe, including the Balkans. This is one of the neediest mission fields anywhere in the world and we ask you to pray with us as we reflect on what we can do to help. If you have a heart for the Balkans and would like to get more involved, please be in touch with us. You can pray, visit, give and perhaps even go there with the lifechanging message of Jesus. As we pray about the Balkans and what God might want us to do there, please join with us on that adventure.
“ Any mission endeavour needs to be characterised by humility and warmth given that the region has seen its fair share of invasions, prejudice and power struggles. Some of the past conflicts have actually led to a spiritual questioning.� 5
Europe
W
hen we arrived in Ljubljana airport at eight in the evening it was dark and foggy, a bit like my knowledge of Slovenia. I knew that it was there but knew very little about the language, culture, people, history or politics and even less about the Christian churches. John Aitken of Echoes International and I decided to pay a visit to this beautiful country which, to my surprise, looked more Alpine than Balkan with the snow-capped Austrian mountains in the background. Our purpose was three-fold: 1 To become better informed about the evangelical churches, church plants and other ministries including work with students and the Bible Society. 2 To meet with Christian leaders and see if there are any opportunities to help through GLO short-term mission teams, publishing or translating Christian literature, training and teaching to encourage the small number of evangelical churches, of which there are about 40 totalling 1500 to 1700 members. 3 To learn about the people and culture in general. We visited key Christian Leaders from all around the country and were thankful for help from Charlie
Anderson of ECM and Margaret Davies who, has been there for many years teaching English, as they helped us make these connections. Our first visit was with Sebastian, a young man living in Radovljica, near Lake Bled in the north west where, he, his wife and two children are involved in church planting and are encouraged with the growth of the church, especially among young people. From there we drove east to the town of Celje where we met Ben, a pastor of a small church who gave us an overview of the history of the evangelical churches. He also told us about a project linking the printing and distribution of the New Testament in schools with a well-known historical figure called Primoz Trubar. We valued the insights we also gained about the language, culture and mind-set of the Slovene people today. After a couple of hours with Ben we continued our journey east to Maribor, the second largest city after Ljubljana. Sitting on the banks of the river Drava with a population of around 100,000, a university, a commercial
A Visit to
SLOVENIA
hub and administration centre as well as having its own castle, Maribor is a busy city. There are three evangelical churches here and a good outreach work among the students with IFES. Alan and Darko are two local leaders. Both Alan who is very involved in the work with students, and Darko with training church leaders, gave us good overviews of their ministries and their vision for the future, which was challenging and inspiring. Leaving them we had a meeting with some leaders from the EKC church, a church formed when members of the local Baptist and Brethren churches decided to meet together as they were already sharing the same building in a city where there are so few evangelical Christians. The time here in Maribor proved to be very encouraging and yet it is so challenging for the few Christians who are there. Future collaboration looks a real possibility with the local leaders guiding us as to the best way to help. As we continued our journey over the next two days to Ptuj, Ljubljana, and Kocevje in the south, we were warmly accepted by all and inspired to see the perseverance of God’s people in this deeply secular country. Please join with us in praying that Christians in Slovenia will be empowered to spread God’s eternal word.
by Sam Gibson
“ We valued the insights we also gained about the language, culture and mind-set of the Slovene people today.”
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One of the many partnerships we are developing, is with Southside Church, Ayr. Danella Strachan, the church administrator writes about the work in Bulgaria.
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outhside Church, Ayr has been involved with a Roma Gypsy community in Razgrad, Bulgaria for 17 years. The work there has varied dramatically over the years, starting with the church, working with children on the streets, in orphanages and ultimately doing construction work in people’s homes. The church was started by a couple John & Afize Taylor who dedicated their lives to serving this community both spiritually and physically. It began in their home but outgrew that moving to a rented facility and then to an empty flat. This caused problems with neighbours who complained about the church singing and its presence beside them. Over this period of time God started to challenge Southside as a church to think about building a multi-purpose building that could be used as church but also for practical outreach for this community.
'Centre For You'
RAZGRAD, BULGARIA
The building was completed and opened in May 2014. The building has six bedrooms (which can be used by orphanage children as a half-way house when they have to leave aged 18) and for adults that are homeless. There are four shower rooms that the community use as many people have no running water in their homes, a washing machine that is again used by the community. There is also a large hall that is used for adult and children’s church on different days. It is sometimes turned into a learning centre giving both adults and children the opportunity to learn to read and write. The church also run conferences from this building for other pastors in the area. In short it is a beacon of light in a dark environment. We send mission teams to Razgrad and the centre is a great base for us. During one of the
summer trips with a youth team we were able to hand out shoes to children. This was important because having a pair of shoes, a notebook and pen were the things that allowed these children entry into the school system. Prior to this these children were unable to attend school. We also use the building to store tools that we have collected over the years which we use when we take a group of willing volunteers out to help make home improvements within the area. These range from laminating and painting to electrical and plumbing work, replacing ceilings and fixing roofs. As teams, we leave Ayrshire with the intention to bless the people in Razgrad and the surrounding area. We always come home far more blessed than we can ever give. If you would like to get involved, we would love to take you on this journey. You do not need to be a professional trades person; all we ask is that you come as a willing volunteer.
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Europe
HINDRANCE OR CREATIVE OPPORTUNITY? by Philippe Perrilliat
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fter the lockdown was over, we left Zoom and chose to meet as a church in a park in Aix-en-Provence. In the same park there are yoga clubs, sports, artistic expression, and joggers. A church was missing from the landscape. We used a cool box as a pulpit. Camping chairs for bench. The lyrics of the songs sent on mobile phones. The celebration reduced to the essentials. We started by taking the bread (respecting the health guidelines), placing our meeting under the authority of the Master. After a few songs, we distributed questions in relation to the text chosen for preaching to small groups. Not a Bible study: these questions were intended to promote worship. After brief feedback from the groups, we spent some time in worshiping our God, based on what we had learned from the text. Then the preacher
brought a brief ten minute conclusion: simple lessons to be applied during the week. We finished by taking the fresh grape juice, in large disposable glasses. The first sip in memory of the blood of the covenant, the rest of the glass to share while chatting with each other. End of service. A picnic followed and most of us stayed. Since then, the authorities have forbidden meetings of more than 10 people in the public parks, because of the resumption of the pandemic. The south of France is classified as a red zone. We need to think of another strategy. Our premises allow no more than 35 chairs with the current restrictions, and we are now more than 50 adults. But the Lord already has a new solution for his church. A virus cannot stop the gospel. To be continued.
The New
NORMAL A
fter three months of online church meetings we have gone back to doing church meetings in person. Over the summer we met outside our building in order not to limit the number of attendees and allow more freedom, though still with masks and respecting social distancing. As the cold weather approaches we have moved the meetings indoors. By sitting in family clusters scattered around the hall we are able to respect the distancing requirements and still fit in the space. We are adapting to singing with masks on, and the children are adapting to a whole new way of doing Sunday school. It is a challenge to keep reminding people of the government restrictions, and to show respect for the continuous danger of Covid, while also fulfilling the church’s need for communion and fellowship. Pray for Pasquale, Domenico and Tryphen who all made a profession of faith during the lockdown, that they will grow in their new-found faith and
by Regin & Heidi Guttesen
SANT’ELIA, ITALY 8
that they will integrate well into the church, and have the courage to share their new faith with their families. Pray also for the Umano project which expanded during the lockdown to assist those affected by the economic crunch felt as a result of Covid-19. At the moment Umano is helping to provide groceries for five local families who are not part of our church family, as well as a couple of church families.
Europe
DARNLEY MILL CHURCH, SCOTLAND by James McKerlie
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hen the lockdown came, as a result of the global pandemic, we were progressing well as a church. We had started a children’s after school group and were in discussion about being involved in a Scripture Union club in a local primary school. Our senior citizen’s group was going well, and much appreciated. Our church services had increased from monthly to fortnightly, and we were encouraged by the mixture of people who were coming along. The relationship we had with the pub/restaurant staff where our activities took place was good. We were also in discussions about a family coming to join us from Texas as
missionaries and we were looking for a building we could use as a church. We immediately started weekly online services and a home study group using Zoom and embraced the challenge of training and equipping as many people as possible to access the services online. This has inevitably meant that we have gained some and lost some. One such gain has been Bill, who attended our senior citizen’s club but had never accepted an invitation to come to a church service. He joined us on week one and almost every week since. As I write, the Irvin family are applying for a visa so they can join us, many of our members are
following a Bible reading plan using WhatsApp and sharing prayer requests online. We continue to meet online and keep in touch with the friends that we have made as well as offer pastoral support. The pub/restaurant has invited us back although the restrictions are making it unviable at the moment. We pray that God will open up the possibility of better accommodation for us although we are grateful to him for how he has led us thus far and we are confident that he will continue to do so.
YOU CAN’T QUARANTINE THE GOSPEL
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he church in Albania has been growing because of the young people and children who were hungry to hear about God. This same growth was taking place in Vlorë, but it appeared that Covid-19 would damage the gospel especially with the ban on meeting. This made us afraid, but also forced us to think about the next step. The closure of church and camps also caused
by Juli Muhameti
depression among young people which added to the challenge. We had the choice of giving in or adapting our youth ministry. We discovered that young people had a real hunger to search for the truth and for personal connections. So, for the summer of 2020 we had the opportunity to meet one on one with them and study the word of God. We also were able
to share the gospel with more young people than any previous summer through hiking, climbing, camping and other outdoor activities and this has now become the normal way for sharing the gospel with young people. Personal connection, quality time, focusing on Jesus and not giving up have been the characteristics for the summer of ministry in Vlorë for 2020.
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Europe
“ We have been created by a relational God to be in community with each other and it saddens me that this is the part of life which Covid seems to have impacted the most”
J
udith McKeown who administers short term mission teams gives her personal reflection on the Covid lockdown. One thing that struck me during lockdown was the importance of having friends and family in our lives. Without being able to keep in touch via WhatsApp, Zoom, phone calls, or old-fashioned snail mail it would have been a very lonely experience. Indeed, I came to appreciate the words of The Script who sing, “I’ve got friends that will run through walls, and I’ve got friends that don’t text, they call…” I went back to Northern Ireland for lockdown and I packed one suitcase. Admittedly
Reflections On The
PANDEMIC
I had nowhere to go and therefore did not need an extensive wardrobe, but what struck me was that I was able to survive perfectly well without my entire spring/summer collection! I would not, however, have coped so well without people. As a society we have become increasingly individualistic; you only have to scroll through your Instagram feed for a few seconds to see the “life is all about me” mentality. Sometimes I suspect that this is also creeping into the Church. How often do I take my home for granted and the fact I can invite friends for dinner? Suddenly when that freedom is taken away you begin to realise the value of
Summer 2020
by Judith McKeown
Life Beyond
CORONA VIRUS 10
hospitality and why as Christians, Peter implores us to offer hospitality without grumbling (1 Peter 4:9). I have become increasingly aware of headlines that tell us that we are facing a loneliness epidemic in society, which Covid-19 has only served to highlight. How, as Christians, should we respond to that? Undoubtedly a positive for me in lockdown was the re-establishing of friendships with people who I had lost contact with, simply due to the busyness of life and Covid has forced us to slow down and re-evaluate what and most importantly, WHO our priorities should be. We have been created by a relational God to be in community with each other and it saddens me that this is the part of life which Covid seems to have impacted the most, as we sit apart from each other, wear masks and have limitations on how many people we can have in our homes. Over lockdown I was reading in Acts where the disciples experienced a major transition in their lives and we see the beginning of the Christian church. One thing that stood out to me was how “together” they were as a community. Perhaps this too is a time of transition for the church. Church life and ministry may look very different in coming weeks and months, but in that process, let’s not forget about the people as we plan new programmes – do we need new programmes? One of my favourite passages in the Bible is Exodus 17:8-16 where Aaron and Hur hold up Moses’ hands when he becomes weary and as a result of that support the Amalekites are defeated. Lockdown has reinforced to me that people need people. What a privilege to be part of the family of God where we can bear each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), something that is especially important now as we face uncertainties in work, ministry, family and church life. Now, more than ever, I believe that we need to be Aaron and Hur’s for each other.
“ Undoubtedly a positive for me in lockdown was the reestablishing of friendships with people who I had lost contact with”
Europe
Introducing
CHARLIE & TANIA
Deering
C
harlie & Tania Deering have recently joined the work of GLO. Charlie is the GLO Centre manager and Tania assists in catering and childcare at Tilsley College. We are originally from Northern Ireland, and have two children and a grandson. Naomi lives in Weymouth on the south coast of England whilst Mark, Nicole and wee Luke live in the north of Scotland in Westhill. We are also members of Glenabbey Church in Glengormley which is our sending church. Our first cross cultural experience began in 1995 with HCJB (now Reach Beyond) where we worked for seven years in Shell, Ecuador. Charlie worked in the maintenance department of a mission hospital and Tania taught in a mission school. In 2002 we returned home to Carrickfergus where Charlie worked with a small company selling and maintaining cleaning equipment and Tania was a classroom assistant. During this period, we were able to re-engage with Glenabbey and serve in various ministries such as homegroups, children’s work, catering and music. As Naomi and Mark were finishing their schooling and progressing into adulthood, we realised that maybe there were some new opportunities to serve the Lord in an overseas role once again.
After two years of investigating asking questions and seeking wise counsel we moved in 2012 to Madrid in Spain to work with European Christian Mission. Our roles there could be summed up as “providing practical and administrative support for church planting initiatives in Spain”. Often this involved hosting groups in the ECM ministry centre, small maintenance tasks, and catering for various conferences and leadership meetings. Which brings us to the here and now… From 2019 onwards, we began to think that maybe our work with ECM was coming to an end and so once again we started to see what was out there that would be a good fit for us. We considered some options in Spain, but nothing seemed to take root. Then, during a visit to our son’s family over Christmas last year, we visited Deeside Christian Fellowship in the Aberdeen area. As he is prone to do, Charlie was browsing the notice board when a vacancy for a Centre Manager in GLO caught his attention. The following week during the teaching at Glenabbey we were challenged by the phrase “significant outcomes can turn on really small hinges” based on Ruth 2v3. So, was the Lord prompting us to see this “browsing of the noticeboard” an example of this? We didn’t know for sure but what we did know was that we needed
“ we were challenged by the phrase “significant outcomes can turn on really small hinges” based on Ruth 2 v3”
to pursue it. Part of this pursuing was to make a visit to GLO in March just before the lockdown which was a positive experience all round and cemented our desire to apply for full-time work with GLO. Of course, there is much more to say but hopefully that gives a little insight as to how the Lord has brought us here. We enjoy working in a supportive role and being involved in the ministry centre will certainly allow us to do that and our desire and prayer is that our work will enable our brothers and sisters within the GLO family to be more effective and fruitful in their ministries.
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Europe
Tilsley College
WE'RE BACK! by Allan McKinnon
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e are delighted that we have been able to start the 2020/21 academic year at Tilsley College with our cohort of students resident onsite at the GLO Centre campus. After six months of remote learning, and even ‘graduation’ using Zoom, it is such a blessing to meet people again face to face. Of course, we are following all the necessary guidelines that have become part of daily life in the UK these days, but it’s good to be able to say, we’re back! This year we have had a really encouraging intake of students. Eighteen students are studying with us this year in a variety of programmes that will help equip God’s people for God’s work in God’s world. Incredibly, we have eleven nations represented among the students this year – seven from the home nations and eleven from other European nations. We are an international group. All of our programmes at Tilsley College are framed in such a way as to help students grow in their discipleship of the Lord Jesus Christ. We work with students in thinking about their faith carefully and clearly, so that as disciples they can also be disciplemakers. We are always ‘thinking discipleship’. We love the fact that Tilsley College’s programmes are oriented towards action also - not just learning the theory, and building up our knowledge of Jesus, but putting faith into practice. Tilsley’s programmes are vocationally driven so that through training we can help students become more effective in Christian service. Disciples are life-long learners.
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Our Certificate year has nine new students people interested in exploring what it means to join us for the programme. Two married couples be an evangelist - as well as practical hands-on and their children are part of this year’s College experience of serving alongside other evangelists community which brings a great family feel to the across the UK, TEAM students also spend four life of the College. Other students have come to us weeks at Tilsley. This year, between these two having their roots in Faroes, Germany, Latvia and programmes we have had four students with us. Zimbabwe. Joshua is a programme of study in Christian In the Diploma year two students are taking theology, biblical studies and ministry practice their studies forward - one from Italy and another delivered in short modular units. Its flexibility from Scotland. Their studies are led by a blend allows people to access the content individually or of online and face to face lectures but the two of at local church groups. Joshua is available ‘Online’ them are present in College each day - one as a and at local ‘Joshua Centres’. Your church could day student and the other resident with us. The be a Joshua Centre. A ‘menu’ of studies offers European Baccalaureate year also has two students foundational and more advanced studies. Any studying - these small classes offer students a great Christian who wants to develop skills for personal opportunity to have the full attention of the lecturer spiritual growth and Christian ministry. Joshua is - a privilege which is often only available in higher designed to deliver flexible training to people who education at post-graduate levels. This means that have busy lives but who may be unable to access there can be real depth of learning in these years of this kind of learning elsewhere. This year we have our programmes. had 30 people enrol for Joshua online which we are In addition to our regular programmes, each delivering on a Tuesday evening from 7.30 - 9.30pm year we host students from other programmes such UK time. Joshua Online will follow the programme as FirstServe and TEAM. FirstServe is a gap-year set out below for the year (2020/21): programme run by GLO, Counties and Echoes International, with a Christian service emphasis which normally begins Bible introductions & foundations (from 22nd Sept 2020) at Tilsley College for four weeks, offers Unpacking the Bible’s message (from 10th Nov 2020) a local church placement experience, Preaching the good news (from 5th January 2021) and then a 3- to 6-month crossExploring Luke’s writings (from 23rd February 2021) cultural missions experience. TEAM is a Spiritual character formation (from 20th April 2021) programme run by Counties for young
Europe
Standing (L to R): Yasmin Barrett, Gareth Armstrong, Jenny Turvey, Stephen Donaldson, Matteo Garofano, Diane & Daniel Kell, Agris Zirnovs Sitting back row: Julia Reichel, Helgi Johannesen, Ruth Chisholm, Zac Whitehouse Sitting front row: Nicole Stevenson, Mary & William Matar, Raghild Andreasen, Liam Grieg
“ Eighteen students are studying with us this year in a variety of programmes that will help equip God’s people for God’s work in God’s world. ”
Where are you?
W
e hope as you read this brief review of the start of our year at Tilsley College that you will have noticed that Bible College is for everyone - even you! We have students from all ages, backgrounds and abilities. We have mature couples, young singles, full-time and part-time students. We have classes that have many students and classes for a couple of students. We continue to work on our flexibility and we are actively engaged in developing other delivery methods that will be high quality and high impact for all those who will benefit from them. Watch this space… But above all we hope you have noticed that there is something for everyone at Tilsley College. There is something for you. For more information on any of our programmes, visit: www.tilsleycollege.com
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Europe
THE SCARLET
Cord by Andrew Lacey
T
he significance didn’t occur to me until a customer pointed it out. As part of our preparations for re-opening after a twomonth Covid-19 closure, we decided to place a rope barrier over the front of the GLO Bookshop, so that we could ensure everyone who entered had sanitised their hands. Faced with a bewildering array of colours, I eventually decided on bright red. On the day we re-opened, a customer commented to me about ‘hanging out a scarlet cord’ and asked if it was for protection.If only protection from coronavirus was as simple as that! I have thought much about that comment as we have resumed trading. We are certainly not as busy as the equivalent period last year, but I have been pleasantly surprised and greatly pleased by the support of our customers. Significant challenges lie ahead. Our autumn bookstalls and events have been cancelled and we have no real idea how Christmas trading will go. However, our website (ww.globookshop.com) has been much busier; we have been able to work with a number of churches to offer feature books and have done several online author events- check out our Facebook page for past and forthcoming events! Back to the red entrance rope. Rahab’s scarlet cord, let down from her window, provided sanctuary and protection to her and her family. Our
“ a customer commented to me about ‘hanging out a scarlet cord’ and asked if it was for protection.”
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scarlet cord has enabled us to welcome customers and has opened many opportunities to chat with them. Despite the mandatory face coverings, we have found that masks have fallen, and we have been able to have many in-depth discussions with people. We have sold many bereavement cards and the people who have bought them have appreciated our sympathy and compassion. Customers have found a listening ear to their concern and fears as they struggled to understand the complex issues of the strange year that is 2020. One customer had never visited the Bookshop before and was quite delighted by the range of stock in the shop and the service the staff offered. Families with young children have come to replenish stocks of books for their kids. A Sunday School teacher wanted to pick up gifts for her children- she couldn’t teach them, but she could show her children she still cared and prayed for them. One customer had just been released from four months of ‘shielding’ and the first place she felt confident going to was our shop - I felt really touched by that! One minister had been given a book budget by his church and wanted to support a local Christian bookshop - we were delighted to help him! One lady purchased one hundred Gospels of John. As she left, Helen chatted to her and found she was planning to distribute them to her neighbours with a personal letter over the next few weeks. All of these situations have reminded me of the importance of Christian bookshops on the high street! We are not relying on a scarlet cord to protect us, but we have found our bright red rope has provided new opportunities to carry the burdens of others and to share something of the great hope and certainty we have in Jesus.
Feature
BOOKS
LEARNING TO PREACH
by Jeremy McQuoid and Stephen McQuoid Available at special price of £8.00 with FREE UK post & packing. Please also ask about special pack prices.
GOD AND THE PANDEMIC by Tom Wright Available at a special price of £6.00 with FREE UK post & packing.
Europe
Practical
MINISTRY O
ld buildings require upkeep and the GLO Centre is no different. Over the years we have done a lot of work to the centre to ensure that it remains fit for purpose. However, such a busy and well used centre requires both continual maintenance as well as periodic upgrading. We are consequently very grateful to have had the help of Brass Tacks over the summer to do some building and maintenance work focussing particularly on areas of the centre used by Tilsley College. Initially the plan was for them to renovate the bathroom of a staff flat and refurbish the kitchen in the lower manse. However, it became clear that the work would need to be expanded to include some structural as well as final cosmetic work. This involved fitting a new five metre steel support beam, additional internal building work, painting, roof repairs, electrical and plumbing work and treatment for wet and dry rot. All of this within a limited time frame. It has been a big job and certainly a complex one given that it took place in an increasingly busy centre emerging from lockdown.
In addition to the Brass Tacks team of full-time workers, a number of GLO personnel tackled some other areas of refurbishment. This included the dining area and most of the bedrooms, as well as providing improved lighting in a number of the corridors. It has been a great pleasure to have the Brass Tacks team and the additional volunteers onsite during this time and their work has meant that we could not only greatly enhance the look of the centre, but also make it much more usable for staff and students. Buildings always need work and investment, however without them much of what we do in our Motherwell centre would be impossible. We are therefore very grateful for the efforts of Brass Tacks team and volunteers.
“ We are very grateful to have had the help of Brass Tacks over the summer to do some building and maintenance work �
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EXECUTIVE TEAM
Stephen McQuoid
Mark Davies
Sam Gibson
smcquoid@glo-europe.org
mdavies@glo-europe.org
sgibson@glo-europe.org
01698 263483
07503 953259
028 9447 9411
Admin Office admin@glo-europe.org
01698 263483 College Office college@glo-europe.org
01698 266776 Allan McKinnon
Ian Smith
GLO Bookshop
amckinnon@glo-europe.org
ismith@glo-europe.org
books@globookshop.com
01698 266776
01698 263483
01698 275343/ 263483
GLO MAIN COMMITTEE Rupert Abbott Stephen Cracknell James Davies Mark Davies Judith Gibson
Sam Gibson Karen Macrae Allan McKinnon Stephen McQuoid Mike Packer
Philippe Perrilliat Ian Smith Patrizio Zucchetto
GLO EUROPE VISION STATEMENT
Our vision is to grow mission focused churches in Europe.
Our focus is to:
EVANGELISE:
to proclaim the gospel to as many people as possible in Europe
Tel 01698 263483 Fax 01698 253942 E-mail: admin@glo-europe.org Internet: www.glo-europe.org
Gospel Literature Outreach 78 Muir Street Motherwell ML1 1BN
using every method available
ESTABLISH: to ensure believers are established in their faith, strengthen existing local churches and plant new mission focused churches in Europe
TRAIN:
to prepare and equip people for mission, to evangelise and church plant and to serve God and his Kingdom with excellence in a wide variety of vocations
RESOURCE:
to provide resources that support mission activity through finance and literature, strategic input and pastoral care