SPOTLIGHT Central Europe

Buddy Barrel Visits Assembly of God Church in Cresco, Pennsylvania

    Sherry and I were speaking at at Light House World Prayer Center, an Assemblies of God Church in Cresco, Pennsylvania, when a surprise visitor showed up in the service. Buddy Barrel walk into the service with the welcoming applause of adults and children alike. Pastor Charles and Pastor Dawn greeted Buddy Barrel and shared about how the children in the church have been giving by filling up there barrels with coins.
      Most Assemblies of God people know who Buddy Barrel is but for those of you who may not be a part of the Assemblies of God or who don't know Buddy Barrel let me give you some background. Buddy Barrel is the mascot of BGMC which stands for Boy and Girls Missionary Challenge. BGMC is the missions education emphasis program for children in the Assemblies of God. It provides resources to help teach kids about missions. It supports our missionaries in their fields of ministry in America and around the world.
      Why a Barrel? When BGMC started in 1949, supplies were shipped by boat to the missionaries in barrels. Barrels were used because they could be sealed tight and made waterproof. This way the supplies would not get wet or ruined. As a result, Buddy Barrel was created. Small wooden barrels were designed for the children to save their coins in. These barrels have now changed to larger yellow plastic barrels. Kids are encouraged to save their money in these barrels and turn their money in once a month.
      BGMC has sent thousands of dollars to Central Europe missionaries to help purchase ministry supplies that relate directly to evangelism and discipleship.
      It was great to see Buddy and the response of the kids. Thank you Buddy Barrel, BGMC and all the kids for helping us share the Good News in Central Europe.

Valley Forge Christian Collage Missions Chapel

    This past week Sherry and I had the honor of being at Valley Forge Christian College, in Phoenixville, PA. I spoke in the morning missions chapel and both Sherry and I spoke in 2 missions classes. We also had lunch with Dr. Meyer, President of VFCC, and his cabinet members.
   It was a special day for Sherry and me, not only because VFCC is our al ma mater but our son Philip is attending VFCC. It was a thrill for me to stand behind the pulpit and look down at the student body and see seated among them was our son Philip. He is a senior at VFCC and will be graduating in the Spring of 2009. For more info about VFCC visit: www.vfcc.edu

Fox Valley Christian Fellowship Sends Construction Team to Vienna, Austria

    Yesterday evening I had the privilege of speaking at the Fox Valley Christian Fellowship in Kimberly, Wisconsin. Making the evening even more meaningful was the fact that they are sending a building construction team to help with the new church building at Vienna Christian Center in Vienna Austria. We took a moment at the end of the service to pray for the team members. See photos.

   My thanks to Pastor Steve Nickel and his wife Jeanne for the invitation and their heart for missions. Our thanks for all the team members for the heart and desire to serve.

Swiss Pentecostal Chruch's Pastors' Conference

   

I am attending the Swiss Pentecostal Church's pastors' conference in Lucerne, Switzerland. They just accepted 6 new young pastors into the leadership of the movement, this is the first step toward ordination.
   Later today will be signing a partnership document whereby we (Assemblies of God World Missions) and they (Swiss Pentecostal Mission) publicly and officially signify our growing relationship and desire to partner together to impact Switzerland with the Gospel.

South Hills Assembly-Bethel Park, PA-Construction Team in Vienna

    Just returned from the construction site of the new building of the Vienna Christian Center. There was a construction team there from our home state of Pennsylvania--South Hills Assembly Church (Bethel Park, Pennsylvania). A team of 25 people from the church, along with Pastors Jack and Kay Step (pictured with Sherry and me) are a part of the team.
    The building is in phase one of construction. The majority of the construction at this stage is being completed with the help of construction teams from Assembly of God churches in the United States. South Hills Assembly have been a long time supporter of our ministry here in Central Europe. We are honored to have them here.

Bratislava, Slovakia: Home to a Growing Vibrant Church

    This past Sunday I spoke at the Pentecostal Church in Bratislava, Slovakia. The church is a growing and vibrant church of close to 500 people. The pastor and people are warm and friendly, and the services are exciting. Here is a link to a brief clip of the worship service.

 

And here are a couple of photos from the service.

 

First Assembly of God Griffin, Georgia Construction Team in Vienna, Austria

     This past week, I had the honor of spending a day working with the construction team from First Assembly of God in Griffin, Georgia. The team was lead by Rev. George Jacobs, Executive Pastor of Evangelism and Outreach (bottom right). The team came to Vienna to help with the construction of the new Vienna Christian Center building.

    Pictured with Sherry and me are the team and Central Europe Construction Coordinators John & Karen Baich.

Vienna Christian Center and Ramstien Air Base: Post, Post Factum!

    As I was walking out the door my wife said to me, "do you have the camera?" "Of course," I replied. We got in the car and drove the 10 hours back to Vienna. As I was unpacking I found myself faced with the cold reality that....OK you get the picture--no pun intended--and no camera. Still don't have the camera, didn't want to send it thorough the postal system. But Ed & Faith Ferguson with were kind enough to copy the photos to a CD and send them to me. Received the CD yesterday; so here is a post...post factum!

January 29, 2008

   
   Met with A/G missionaries serving at Vienna Christian Center in Vienna, Austria. VCC is a growing International church reaching both Austrian and international people. Here is a link to their website: http://www.viennachristiancenter.at

Pictured in the photo are: (Front) Robin & Randy Knechtel; Tom & Candie Manning (Lead Pastors); Gloria Young; Sherry & Jim Sabella. (Second Row) Charissa Mcpherison; Angela Ocasio; Kerry Brammier; Chuck Hill. (Third Row) Becca Ray, Natalie O'donnell.

February 2, 2008

   Visited A/G Military Ministries at Ramstein Air Base. A/G Missionaries Ed & Faith Ferguson are pastoring a military church on base. They also have a coffee house, in town, where they serve free coffee and offer free internet access. This gives them a great opportunity to minister to both military personnel and local people.

Pictured in the photo are: Ed & Faith Ferguson and Jim & Sherry Sabella.

Chruch Planting Meeting Furth, Germany

    This past week I attended a church planting meeting in Furth Germany. It's interesting and exciting to see what God is doing in Central Europe, especially in the area of planting new churches. Steve Walent, Rob Schroeder and James Ros are working together with a unique church planting project in Germany. The main thrust of their church planting strategy is regionally focused development, training and encouraging of national church planters.
    Steve, an A/G Missionary, is the church planting leader in the Saxony area of Germany. Michael McNamee, also an A/G Missionary, is the Europe Coordinator for Church Planting as well as the European Director for Convoy of Hope. Rob is the church planting leader in northern Bavaria and on the leadership team in Thuringia. James is also a church planting leader on the national church planting team and a pastor in the town of Hemmingen, Germany.   
    God is doing great things in Central Europe through dedicated and committed missionaries, national leaders and workers. It's an honor to serve together with these men.

Pictured in the photo are: Standing: Jim Sabella, Michael McNamee, Steve Walent, Rob Schroeder and kneeling: James Ros.

Happy Thanksgiving!

      In about an hour Sherry, Jon and I will be heading out the door to celebrate Thanksgiving with our friends. We are thankful for good friends, family and all of God blessings. Sherry, Philip, Jonathan and I would like to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and a blessed time with your family and friends.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!