european-mission-symposium

21-25 JULY 2014

Invitation

Symposium on Church Planting in Europe

MISSION IN EUROPE:

Developing new and existing churches connected to society

MISSION IN EUROPE:

Developing new and existing churches connected to society All across Europe the population is rapidly changing. So is religious behavior. It was once safe to assume that a sizeable portion of the population attended church, but in these days, crowds stay away and we observe the planting of missional churches, emerging churches, simple churches, mission-shaped churches, virtual churches, network churches, fresh expressions of church, healthy churches, multiplying churches, mobilising churches, transformational churches, youth churches, night churches, motorway churches, and many others, not to mention the host of all the non-English language variants.

In our desire for the Gospel to make a difference in today’s society, we need to understand why so many people are out of touch with any Christian community. Will the Church embody hope and rise to the occasion in such a way that it will be given a new hearing in the current de-Christianization that Europe now experiences?

This exciting symposium is intended for both Europeans and non-Europeans who are engaged in church planting and church development in continental Europe, or who have the desire to become involved in such ministries - missionaries, church developers, leaders of church denominations and mission agencies, as well as students.

We welcome practitioners and visionaries alike who want to bring hope and transformation to the peoples of Europe by developing existing and new churches, as well as committed Christians in secular occupations who want to serve the development of the Church.

The symposium will be held in English and, depending on the need, translation is a possibility.

Johan Lukasse

Dr. Johannes Reimer

Dr. Dietrich Schindler

European Christian Mission, Vice President

University of South Africa, Theologische Hochschule Ewersbach, Professor of Missiology

Evangelical Free Church of Germany, Executive Director of Church Planting

Workable Ways to Start Healthy Reproducible Churches

Cultural Relevance, and Theologically Sound Church Planting

Church Planting Jesus’ Way (as a practice in FEG Germany)

Dr. Chris Wigram

European Christian Mission, International Director The Word of God in Church Planting Ministry

Joanne Appleton

Redcliffe College, Communications Manager; Vista Research, Co-editor Missional Spirituality and Taking New Initiatives in Church Development

Dr. Boris Paschke

ETF, Postdoctoral Researcher in New Testament Studies The Power and Influence of Prayer in the Life of the Church Planter and His Ministry

Stephen Bell

The Balkan Project, Director

CASE STUDY Balkan Project, Balkan region

Drs. Ishak Ghatis

The Arabic Church, Brussels, and Two Sister Churches, Founding Pastor Church Planting Among Islamic People, and Their Relation to National Churches

Eric Zander

Church Planter

CASE STUDY Experimental Church Plant, Belgium

Jim Memory

European Christian Mission, Redcliffe College The Variations of Church Planting Praxis in Europe Today, and the Success or Lack of it

CASE STUDY Cooperation Between Missions and Regional Churches, Cordoba Spain

Dr. Evert Van de Poll

ETF, Associate professor of Religious Studies and Missiology, Federation of Evangelical Baptist Churches of France, Teaching Pastor Typical Barriers and Bridges for Communicating the Gospel in Europe

Jeff Fountain

Schuman Center for European Studies, Director Is There Hope for Europe?

Understanding Europe Today and Christian Expectations for the Future

DATES 21-25 July 2014 LOCATION ETF in Leuven, Belgium COST* € 390 - if registered on or before

1 February 2014 € 445 - if registered after

1 February 2014 Costs include meals and accommodation.

Closing date for registration will be 1 June 2014. *Limited scholarship help is available to cover symposium costs for those who are financially not able to come otherwise. If this applies to you, please mention ‘scholarship help’ in your registration request.

REGISTER Visit www.missionineurope.be for more information, and to register.