Edinburgh 2010 Study Guide in English and German

A study guide for churches and congregations dedicated to the centenary of the World Missionary Conference has been published in English and German.

New Directions for Church in Mission (Neue Perspektiven einer missionarischen Kirche), written by Ken Ross, is now available as free PDF download here: http://www.edinburgh2010.org/fileadmin/files/edinburgh2010/files/Resources/Edinburgh2010_New%20Directions.pdf.
The German version here: http://www.edinburgh2010.org/fileadmin/files/edinburgh2010/files/Resources/Ross_German.pdf
The publication summarises the results of the Edinburgh 2010 study process, which will be discussed at the June conference. Each chapter is dedicated to one of the nine study themes. Key biblical texts and examplary questions for discussion in bible study groups are also included.

The translation of New Directions has been funded by the World Council of Churches.

Edinburgh 2010 -- Sunday Celebrations

On 6 June 2010 the Edinburgh Conference reaches its culmination. Delegates will be joined by local and international visitors to commemorate all that we have received from God through many different expressions of faith down the centuries - and to commit ourselves to witness to Christ today.

Christians all over the world are invited to watch the celebrations online, or to set up an event in their local community to express joy, thanksgiving and commitment in mission. Read more:
http://www.edinburgh2010.org/en/participate/sunday-celebrations.html

The Parable of the Bamboo Tree

Have you heard or read this story before? It’s an African parable by Emmaus-Katigamu. I first heard it in 1978 at a large mission conference in the Netherlands, specifically focusing on the call to mission. Especially nowadays, I can’t think of my ministry without this story popping to the forefront of my mind.

Bitter-sweet – but I can’t see another path, and no example in the Bible affords one. Whether Joseph (13 years in slavery and prison), Moses (40 years on the backside of the desert), David (14 years on the run, living in caves) or Paul (sent home to cool off for a couple years before going out on his first missionary journey)… All were processed.

The Apostle was able to write:

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us… Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. – 2 Corinthians 4:7, 16

Read more: http://www.scribd.com/full/32089869?access_key=key-20t3wck5a9ialsjxyp2u

Hungary: blogger's photo and video reports on floods

The floods of the past weeks affecting Central and Eastern Europe are not over yet. MTI, a Hungarian news agency, reported that since May 15 temporary flood protection arrangements had to be implemented on 930 km of riverbanks, using 3.6 million sandbags and asking for more from EU civil protection mechanism. Hungary has been offered 2.12 million sandbags by Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands.

Bloggers took photos around their homes in areas affected by the natural disaster. One of them was Basesoft from Szikszó, a town in northern Hungary. He wrote in a comment (HUN) on his blog (HUN) that the photos did not show the worst situation since they didn't have the time to take photos then.

Read more: http://globalvoicesonline.org/2010/05/27/hungary-bloggers-photo-and-video-reports-on-the-flood/

Edinburgh 2010 Resources

Edinburgh 2010 Online Documents

Edinburgh 1910 Online Documents

Edinburgh 2010 Resources --Books

Pályázati Felhívás -- Együtt bizonyságot tenni Krisztusról ma

Az Edinburgh 1910-es világ missziói konferencia centenáriumának megemlékezése alkalmából a KRE Közép- és Kelet-Európai Missziói Tanulmányi Intézet pályázatot hirdet tudományos dolgozat megírására.

Palyazat2010_magyar_végleges_2010_5_29

Academic Essay Competition -- Together Witnessing to Christ Today

On the occasion of the centenary celebrations of the Edinburgh 1910 World Mission Conference the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies (CIMS) of the Károli Gaspar Reformed University in Budapest (Hungary) launches an academic essay competition on relevant mission related topics in Central and Eastern Europe.

Together Witnessing to Christ_final_2010!5!29

Mentoring young people - Wybe Bijlsma

Dear Anne-Marie,

Visiting you was a delightful experience. Jean and I very much enjoyed meeting you, especially since you are such an enthusiastic and vibrant ambassador for our Lord. As you know, I amd very eager to mentor young people, particularly in the area of resilient relationship-formation and Christian worldview development.
Today I read the following commentary:

The vice-president of a large Christian university recently observed: "Students come here with a love for God in their hearts but their minds think like pagans!" Christian college students thinking like pagans? What would cause this administrator to make such a statement?
To answer this question, the Nehemiah Institute surveyed high school students nationwide to determine their worldview. Students were asked a number of questions relating to important issues of the day. How they responded would help researchers discover whether the young people viewed the issues of the day from a Biblical perspective or from a humanistic perspective.
The results revealed something that should be a wake-up call to Christian parents everywhere. The average score placed most of our Christian teens squarely within the secular humanist camp! Now keep in mind these young people were all members of evangelical churches. Most of them would tell you that they love Jesus. But when it comes to important cultural issues, they think like, well, pagans.

This is what I have observed many times: young Christians who want to serve God but whose mind has been inundated with a humanistic mentality, so they do not have a way of evaluating life from a Christian perspective. Getting young people to attend church is not good enough. We must find ways of captivating their hearts and minds fully for the Lord's service and instilling in them a Spirit-filled imagination and a will eagerly devoted to making our Lord's Kingdom of shalom become more visible in this world.
Anne-Marie, how can we fire up young Hungarians to become socially and culturally more relevant for multi-faceted Kingdom service? I'd like to think along with you in this regard. We need to mentor many talented young people who are willing to foster a robust Kingdom vision for the nations in many of their peers. There may be a cloud of despondency hanging over Hungary, but God's people must not sit down and lament by "the rivers of Babylon," but ought to ignite their Spirit-filled imagination to stir up the new life in Christ in the young people of Hungary and neighbouring countries.

May God keep on encouraging you, Anne-Marie.

Warm regards,
Wybe

There is hope!

Late afternoon it turned absolutely dark as heavy thunderstorms with gusting winds, rains, and hail hit the western part of Budapest where I live. It was frightening. I was not surpised to hear that the weather alarm was turned to red. And then, after an hour or so, out of the darkness a beautiful rainbow turned up, and shortly after the sun was shining again. Sometimes nature speaks so powerful! I was very encouraged, singing, trusting my Lord, that God will make a way... out of whatever difficulties we face!

Floods in Hungary - Call for Help

Floods in Hungary -- Tomor