EMM Retreat Belgium

October 2015

Awesome

Benedictus

Comforting

Divine

Eternal

Faithful

Goodness

Holy

Incredible

Just

King

Lamb Alphabet Worship Challenge:

Mighty What words can you come up with for God?

Near

Omnipotent

Patient

Quick to hear

Righteous

Spirit

Terrifying

Unique

Victorious

Wise

eXellent

Yahweh

Zealous

Eastern Mennonite Retreat in Zaventem, Belgium 2015

We are being challenged during this retreat to let the Bible be what it was meant to be: the mouth of Jesus. To not just read words to fill the mind, but let the words transform our hearts.

"Inside we are more sinful than we can know

We are loved more than we dare to believe."

~Dr. Stephen Beck (missionary professor in Germany and speaker at the retreat) quoting Tim Keller

This retreat has been full of challenges, prayer, joy, fun, and worship. The missionaries around Europe were able to gather together for an extended weekend to refuel, and to share the joys and struggles of being a missionary in Europe. We gather for prayer and worship every morning, and then Stephen Beck gives a message.

Eating together for meals.

ZavCentre

Sunday was a free day and we could go to church where we wanted. A group of us when to Phil and Linda's old church, ICEL, (International Church of Evangelicals in Leuven). It was a crowded church, which was a big encouragement. It is mainly made up of students who go to the local college.

Ice Cream Social

Ladies day out

The missionaries in Europe seemed to need this time to be encouraged. They are tired, and discouraged by the coldness, the spiritual darkness. While giving testimonies, they were able to encourage each other with stories of success. Even if it feels like nothing is being done, God is using the small moments of success, even if we cannot see the fruit in this generation. Stephen gave an encouraging session, talking of his father and how he did not see the fruit of his labors until he was ready to go home to the Lord.

This is a very unique time to be in Europe. The refugees are coming...they are flooding in, every tongue, tribe, and nation. There is hope that the hearts of the Europeans will be softened by the culture mix. We may not get to see the reward of laboring, but people will be able to see God's kingdom because the missionaries are here...because they stayed and did not run from the hard times; they endured.

Your Spirit, Lord, is working, even though the ground in Europe is hard.