June 6, 2019 - Last week the church governing board met to evaluate and plan for the coming months. We are transitioning more and more of the oversight of the church work to the governing board. It used to be I would pose a question and then give them a suggested answer and get their reaction. Now, I pose a question with no suggested answer and wait to see what the response is.
(Pastor Любен Илиев our regional leader)
God is working and the national leadership is stepping up and figuring out how to make this work for their own people here in the Balkans. They get to where they need to be, it just takes a bit longer – but we want them to own what is happening. If they make the decision, then they own it and it was not just imposed on them by the missionaries.
Diane and I know that we will not be here forever, we have said from the beginning that we wanted to be a catalyst of what God was doing! (A catalyst speeds up the process without changing the outcome) To see the nationals stepping up, setting the agenda and owning what is happening, is what we have been praying for!
We are moving toward becoming a “Provisional Annual Conference” within the Free Methodist Church which is the next step for us. Please pray as this is going to be an oversight group that encompasses several countries. That means within each country there are governing laws and guidelines that we need to be aware of. And there are Church governing rules that come into play as well. Pray for us as we navigate all the different expectations and rules in the different countries we are working in.
Additionally, pray for…
One of our churches is struggling in the town to find a neutral place to rent to meet – Pray that God would provide a place for the group to meet.
Another church is talking to the mayor of the town who has said he would help them find a place to meet, but as yet has not – pray that he would follow through on his promise.
Another church where we now own the space needs around $4000 to set up the foundation account and get the services turned back on (Water and Electric). This is required as we are a new group by the government.
Finally, pray for the planning happening this summer as location and leaders are selected and chosen for the next round of church plants! Pray also that we would get partners to help us connect churches with church plants to help us fund these projects!
Thanks for all your prayer and support all year long!