EEA Newsletter October 2013 - General Assembly
- NEWSLETTERS
- October 18, 2013
How is the weather where you live? Not the physical weather, but the spiritual weather? Is it like a beautiful Spring Day, is there a storm building, or are you right in the middle of a storm? No matter what the weather, we know from experience that it will change. And no matter what the change or the challenge, we need a strong place to dwell, to stand and to be safe.
Our theme these next 6 months is: “A house on the rock,” from Matthew 7:24–27. In Jesus’ parable, there are a few things that Jesus presupposes but doesn’t mention. Four things that anyone who is planning to build a solid house needs to do. These four things are true if we build a physical house, and especially true when it’s our lives.
During a brainstorming meeting we had with some of the EEA staff members I, Jan, spoke about an image that had I had been working on in my mind and heart. It seemed to be the right narrative for this time that we are moving away from lockdowns and we also have a new leadership team. It is the image of a sailboat embarking on a fresh journey.
READ MOREHope is more than an event or experience, it is a fundamental part of who we are as followers of Jesus Christ. Hope needs to be lived, shared, encouraged, built up and treasured, and it is the best thing we can offer to the communities where we live.
READ MOREWhere are you from? The answer to the question “Where are you from?” comes in flawless Zurich German: “Vo Züri” (from Zurich). Even when I ask again, I get the same slightly irritated answer. Has that ever happened to you? Irritating! But have you ever thought about how, for example, a second or third generation black Swiss feels, when a white person asks him this question?
READ MOREYears ago, an international team of young Christians were able to, quite freely, share the Gospel in a Muslim country. While at the same time, the national believers did not enjoy the same liberty. The reason for much more freedom for the international team seems to be the fact that the authorities had no concept of a cross cultural team working in unity. And what they didn’t think was possible kept them from persecuting them.
READ MORERaising one’s voice in a discussion or a confrontation in Switzerland can be interpreted as insecurity or not having self-control. This is not the done thing. In many Eastern European countries, it is the other way around. It is interpreted as insecurity when one does not raise one’s voice. Not speaking up strongly shows that I am not really convinced of my point of view.
READ MOREThe Evangelical Alliance was originally created in London in 1846. A number of founding members were representing European countries. The European Evangelical Alliance (EEA) was founded in 1951. The EEA exists to foster unity and evangelical identity and provide a voice and platform to 23 million European evangelical Christians. The mission of the EEA is to CONNECT for com-mon purpose, EQUIP for integral mission and REPRESENT with a united voice. It is a grassroots movement from all Protestant traditions present in 36 European countries. The Brussels office of the EEA promotes active citizenship of its constituency and represents it to the European Institutions. The EEA is part of the World Evangelical Alliance (www.worldea.org)
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