Editorial by Connie Duarte
John 1:14 – “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood” (Msg, Eugene Peterson)
When theology has feet and hands, we are at the beginning of responding to human need by loving service. This is the third mark of mission – “TEND”. There is much tending that needs to happen on our Continent. We live in a time, not of less need, but more. While many Europeans may be financially prosperous, many others are having difficulty making ends meet and still others live in poverty. Human trafficking is still a problem as is homelessness, mental illness, families in crisis, and a constant flow of migrants and refugees who need support and care.
Encouragement from around Europe through our NEAs
While the needs may seem endless, many National Evangelical Alliances and their Churches are making a difference. As Jan and I travel around the Continent we have been encouraged as we’ve heard story after story of people tending to the needs of others. Several countries are working hard to reach out to new immigrants and help them adapt to a new culture and language. Several groups are working with the homeless community offering food, shelter and even showers in their church buildings. We know of several countries who have received refugees fleeing from danger and giving them a home, and a listening ear. It has been a testimony to the world how our European Churches opened their homes to those affected by war, and provided food, clothing and other goods to those in Ukraine and to Turkey when it was shaken to the ground. We have been moved by young couples who have decided to wait to begin their own families so they can tend to the needs of children at risk.
Encouragement from our Affiliates and Networks
While we “progress” in society, especially in technology, we are still desperate for the most basic needs: for care, love, compassion and support. Our Affiliate members and our Networks are on the front lines of “tending” in Europe. Each day they set up camps, counsel, feed, clothe, open their homes, speak to governments, provide safe places, and lobby on behalf of other people of different ages, and have different backgrounds and ethnicities. They work with churches and NEAs to help teach and train a holistic gospel that “gives sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, a tongue to the mute, and feet to the lame; people who are on the forefront, in Jesus’ name, of setting captive free.
It remains a great honour and privilege to work beside such dedicated people from across Europe – from East to West. May we continue the work Jesus gave us and go into our neighbourhoods and tend to those in need.
