Beau[ni]ty

For those unfamiliar with the Church of God Reformation Movement (Anderson, Ind), let me give a brief overview of our history.

In the 1880s in the Midwest (USA), a preacher by the name of Daniel Sydney ("D.S.") Warner discerned the voice of God leading him to reform an established Church movement through promotion of Holiness (Ref.: Wesleyan Holiness Movement) and Unity.

The clarion call became: "It's not Luther's Church, or Wesley's Church, or ....Church, It's God's Church!" Hence the name, The Church of God (1 Corinthians 1:2).

In the 125 years that have since passed, though, The Church of God has not always demonstrated and practiced Unity all that well. I think any honest Church of God man or woman would confess that we have failed. Don't get me wrong: We can probably all recite some examples of Unity from our collective past and from our own experiences. But unfortunately that has all too often been the exception rather than the norm.

In our desire to fulfill the words of Jesus' prayer (John 17:11), we have allowed selfish motives, stubborn pride, and little 'petty' differences to get between us. This has resulted in separate congregations choosing to do their own thing, rather than come together under the banner of the Holy One in whom we are reconciled (Colossians 1:20). [If I was preaching, at this point I would say 'Amen?']

The reality is: Unity is a beautiful thing. I first experienced the beauty of unity ("Beau[ni]ty") as a 12-year-old boy in Wanblee, South Dakota, as my youth group came together as one to work at putting a new roof on a Church building on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. I learned this again a few years later at Brownsea Junior Leading Training as a dozen random Boy Scouts were paired together to function as one cohesive unit for the week, determining amongst ourselves who would fill each of the needed positions to guide us, and to take care of building and maintaining life at camp.

I have since learned this lesson over and over, whenever Christy and I have led a short-term missions trip, or whenever our congregation has partnered with other area congregations even just for times of fellowship or worship.

It is a BEAUTIFUL thing to see God's Church UNITED!!!

In the hymn, "The Bond of Perfectness," D. S. Warner penned these words:

Oh, mystery of heaven’s peace!

Oh, bond of heaven’s union!

Our souls in fellowship embrace,

And live in sweet communion.

It is a BEAUTIFUL thing to see God's Church UNITED!!!

Over the years I've been in ministry, people have apologized to me for having to deal with unpleasant issues/situations, to which I have responded: "That's OK. It's par for the course. The Church is supposed to be messy because the Church is comprised of people."

And yet, we do ourselves and our Lord a disservice when we allow differences to get in the way of the Unity that we are mutually called to through our shared faith in Christ.

The Netherlands is no exception to this common practice (dis-unity).

And yet, when we were there for our site visit (READ HERE), the Church came together as one.

And it was indeed a beautiful thing.

Such holy moments are not only a foretaste of eternity. They are also a sample of the beauty and joy that can be ours here on earth.

Here are a few questions for us all to chew on:

How can the LORD use our gifts to fill our brother's weaknesses?

How can the LORD use our sister's talents to overcome our shortfalls?


How can we better draw together with other believers in Unity?

Missionary to EUROPE?!?

In October, I was on a riverboat in Cincinnati, OH, celebrating at the wedding reception of my childhood best friend, "Bucky." I voiced a prayer of blessing over the meal and the newly-married couple. A lady (whom I didn't know) asked my friend who I was. He responded that I was his friend, I was a minister, and I was a new missionary going to the Netherlands.

This lady came over to me and introduced herself. She wanted to know more about what we were going to be doing, and she was really taken aback that we were commissioned to serve as missionaries to the Netherlands. "You normally think of people going as missionaries to Africa or South America. I've never thought of someone going as a missionary to Europe..."

This wasn't the first time I had heard such a comment.

Why the Netherlands?? When I present our ministry to congregations, I tell them that we are only going to the Netherlands because that is where the Lord has directed us to go. Clearly, we've got nothing against missionaries being sent to other parts of the world, or ministers staying in their home culture and ministering there (wherever "there" is). However, that is not what the Lord has directed us to do.

A second question to confront is "Why Europe? Is that necessary?!?"

As I have written previously (HERE), the very nature of what we will be doing in Holland is obviously quite different from the stereotypical missionary to sub-Saharan Africa, i.e. However, it is of equal importance in the Kingdom of God.

Consider this quote I just came upon:

"In reality, Europe is a mission field today, and should be regarded as such. There are pockets of vital Christian life and work, leavening centers. But that is about all, for most of Europe has been de-Christianized to an alarming degree.

And what about America? Are we traveling the same road? Is our Christianity becoming too superficial to deserve the name? Is secularism in the saddle? Will genuine revival come, or are we destined also to become a mission field, perhaps one served by the more fervent and younger churches of Asia and Africa?"

---Harold L. Phillips (1913-2006), published in The Gospel Trumpet on November 19, 1955.

1955...

Harold Phillips was a long-time editor of Warner Press, and specifically The Gospel Trumpet, a publication of the Church of God (Anderson, IN). While I never knew Harold, I attended his funeral in 2006 at Park Place Church of God along with many others who in some way are who we are partially because of the way his life was lived as a Follower of Christ.

He wrote those words (quoted above) in 1955, almost 60 years ago. And yet, they still ring loudly true today.

"There are pockets of vital Christian life and work....[but] most of Europe has been de-Christianized to an alarming degree."

In 2013, in Three Worlds, we use the term "Post-Christendom," not "de-Christianized." But Harold Phillips hit the nail on the head with his assessment. He prophetically saw the hand writing on the wall when it was maybe the 7 o'clock hour (1900 hrs). Now, 6 decades later, the spiritual status of Europe is more or less at the 11 o'clock hour (2300 hrs).

That is why it is not just good, but necessary and vitally important that we serve the Church as missionaries in Europe. Physical needs may not be lacking, but spiritual needs certainly are.

In the diverse worlds of Europe, one thing is almost universally true: Secularism.

For the congregations of believers who have remained faithful down through the ages, they are majorly swimming against the stream, proclaiming Faith in Christ in the midst of an overwhelmingly secular society.

One of our primary responsibilities is simply to strengthen these congregations and help them as they strive to be the Light of Christ in a very dark world (Matthew 5:14-16).

Additionally, one of the reasons why this is so important is referenced in the second paragraph of Harold Phillips' quote: "And what about America? Are we traveling the same road?"

It is pretty easy to see that the cultural shifts occurring in North America are leading these countries evermore towards Secularism as well. The Post-Christendom World of Europe today is the Post-Christendom World of the US tomorrow.

The experience we will soon gain navigating ministry in secular Europe will serve as guidance for Church leaders in North America in the coming years (Read prior blog post HERE).

O, may Harold Phillips' quote from 1955

be laughingly irrelevant in 2055.

We're Famous! Round Two!

We were interviewed for Church of God Ministries, along with many other new missionaries.

Check it out HERE!

An American Preachin' to Africans in Europe. Huh?

Part of our site visit included a Sunday. As a minister, not to mention the nature of our visit to the Netherlands, the obvious assumption I made is that I would be asked or expected to preach somewhere. This did not disappoint. In any way.

I was asked to preach at the Congolese Church. This, as I understand, is a congregation that grafted into the Church of God within the past year or so. (See press releases HERE and HERE.)

Furthermore, while being in the Netherlands, this is a truly Non-Western congregation. It is made up largely of immigrants (or children of immigrants) from the Congo, Angola, and Ivory Coast.

One more thing. While being comprised of Dutch citizens/residents, the primary language for most of these people, and therefore the language they worship in, is Français!

The reality of Europe is that the whole continent is so multi-cultural and international in residential makeup. This could be expected, but is still an initial shock to the system for a midwesterner.

Here are a few pictures of our time together.

The pastor's wife and children and others leading in worship!
The spirit of worship was so enthusiastic and upbeat! Not to mention LOUD! :-)
Okay, okay, I'm getting old. In all seriousness, the Spirit of the Lord was present
with the people of God, and I was drawn into a holy experience of bringing
praises unto the King. And I can only imagine how great it would have
been if I knew Français!!!

I began by sharing the good news with them: My sister, Jolie, is fluent in Français!!!
Then I shared the bad news: I am not. :-)
One of the pastor's daughters is hiding behind me in this picture--She served as my interpreter.
You can see a little of her in the next picture.

Regardless of language, some things are universally known and understood. I preached on John 8:1-11 and the
Grace of God that is so lavishly poured out upon us, even when we are wholly undeserving.
As the Church, our job should be to mimic our Lord.This plays out through sharing Love and Grace with people before we attempt to speak correction into their lives.
Jesus rescued the adulterous woman from the crowd's anger and rage. Then he too pardoned her. Then, He told her:
"Go, and from now on, sin no more."
Holy living is important, and Truth needs to be shared.
BUT first we must establish loving relationships which earn us the right to be heard.

Regional Coordinator Jamie Nachtigall and I standing with Pastor Jacques Zola on L. Gathered with us are many members of this congregation, Eglise La Lumiere du Christ. Unfortunately, Sofie was hungry. So Christy was preoccupied, feeding the future playmate of some of these children!

After this picture was taken, we had to say Au Revoir to these saints! We genuinely look forward to serving alongside them in the future!

We're Famous! Round One

In addition to writing for this blog, we have been doing some other writing recently. Don't get too excited. We're not big-time authors...yet.

But if you'd like a glimpse of our work (so that someday when we are famous, you can feel as if you got in on the ground floor...), check out this link to the November/December 2012 issue of Communion, a publication of the Church of God.

Communion *

Pages 3 and 4 highlight an article Daniel was asked to write speaking doctrinally about "Family." As Family is an important element in our lives, and we have been blessed with (generally) positive families and family experiences, this was a writing opportunity that came quite easily for him. Especially going into the holiday season, may our positive experiences with "family" be yours as well.

Pages 6 and 7 include us in a broader interview by Kathi Sellers, along with fellow Missionaries-Elect.

Page 8 includes an invitation to think of us and God's Church in the Netherlands during this Christmas season!

In all seriousness, the ministry awaiting us in the Netherlands is dependent upon financial support from individuals and congregations who support us. If you are able to support us, we genuinely appreciate every red cent. No gift is too small or too large if given cheerfully and with good intentions. For proof that I'm not just trying to smooth-talk you, but rather echoing the words of Jesus and the Apostle Paul, read these stories:

The Widow's Mite

The Cheerful Giver

If you are able to support our ministry financially (as a One-time gift, or a Recurring gift) and feel impressed to do so, please click HERE and/or contact us for more information.

May this day find you doing well, and tasting and seeing that the Lord is indeed good.

* If for some reason, the Communion link doesn't work, go to www.chog.org, and click on "Publications" under the "Resources" tab on the right side.

"Your Face....We've Met Before."

Before our site visit to the Netherlands, we were mildly unclear as to how many congregations there actually were in the Church of God in the Netherlands, and how many we would be working with.

For a variety of reasons, a question we had before this site visit was this: How much involvement and partnership will we have with one particular congregation, in Landgraaf? This congregation easily fits the mold of the Traditional Church, and we just didn't know if they were going to be receptive to our ministry with them.

That question was quickly and decidedly answered upon arrival in Holland.

Not only did we learn that this congregation had volunteered to host the Unity Service on Saturday evening, but they had also volunteered to host the Fellowship "Bbq" on Friday for pastors and spouses.

The pastor of this congregation is a young man named Bert. His father was this congregation's pastor before him.

L-R: Bert, Dan, Jaap

The bbq was held at Bert's house, where his wife showed off her amazingly-gifted culinary skills. But that's beside the point of this story. The point of this story is what occurred during Bert and my first (second?) meeting.

Upon entry to his house, I made my way through the room meeting everyone and introducing ourselves.

What happened that evening was so anointed and Spirit-filled that, in truth, I don't remember the specific order of these events.

At some point after the initial greeting time, Bert pulled me aside and this conversation ensued...

*                *                *

Bert: "Your face, when you came in our door, I told my wife I know you. We've met before."

Me: (Stunned) "Huh, No, I don't think so."

Bert: "No, really, I remember you. We've met before. I heard you speak."

Me: (Thoroughly Perplexed) "Huh?!? Are you serious? When? Where? I really think you're thinking of someone else."

Bert: "No, it was you. I heard you speak one morning. We've met. I know you. When I saw your face, I remembered."

Me: (Shocked) "Uh....how is that possible? Where did we meet? When was this?!?"

Bert: "In Anderson--"

Me: "--You've been to Anderson!??"

Bert: "Yes, for Walter Froese's....(something that I didn't catch because I was so shocked and trying to piece together the impossibility of what he was saying)"

Me: "Why were you in Anderson??"

Bert: "I was there for Walter Froese's celebration. I was on my way to Edmonton (Canada)."

Me: (Absolutely Shocked, spinning the wheels of my brain 100 MPH or 160 KPH trying to figure out if this really could have happened) "Where was this? Where did we meet? Where was I speaking?"

Bert: "At the school. At the seminary."

Me: (Thinking 'Oh my gosh...Could this really have happened? I did speak at the School of Theology Chapel once. But that was only one time and that was in the spring of 2010') "Bert, when was this? When did we meet?"

Bert: "It was in 2010. In February or March."

Me: (Absolutely stunned) "Oh my gosh---I remember that. I preached one time in the Seminary Chapel, and it was in March of 2010. I can't believe this..."

Bert turned to his father, Jaap, and excitedly relayed this conversation in Dutch. The look on his father's face was absolutely priceless as he, too, sought to accept the absolute impossibility of this true "coincidence."

*                *                *

What is absolutely amazing is that this happened, that these series of past circumstances compounded to spark a connection and partnership in the present and into the future.

In 2010, two months before I went to Berlin with a class led by MaryAnn Hawkins (which in a very real sense got this whole thing started), I was asked to preach in the School of Theology Chapel by the Dean of the Chapel, MaryAnn Hawkins. On this one particular day, a random young man from the Netherlands (related to Gustav Jeeninga) named Bert Hage happened to be in the congregation as he was visiting retiring Church History Professor Walter Froese in Anderson, on his way to Edmonton, Alberta.

Two and a half years later, that young pastor of a Church in the Netherlands would remember the other young pastor who spoke in that chapel service in Anderson as being the same young missionary who walked through the door of his home in Landgraaf.

The two young ministers would instantly bond, recognizing that  God  was very much a part of their meeting.

Christy and I (and Sofie, of course) left the Netherlands believing that we are going to have as strong of a partnership with this congregation as we are any of the other congregations we are going to be working with in the Netherlands.

Thanks be to God for his creativity, his imagination, and his timing (which always seems to amaze...).



For those interested in hearing that SOT Chapel Sermon, here's a link.

For those interested in supporting our ministry in the Netherlands, here's a link.

You're Up for Europe? We were.

From October 15 to October 25, we were in Germany and The Netherlands for our "site visit."

This was an amazing experience for us.

a.) It gave us some more good experience traveling with an infant.

Sofie passed out with exhaustion, even before we crossed this bridge into old Cologne, Germany. We stayed in Cologne en route to Holland!

2.) It allowed us invaluable time to plan and process life and ministry, and future life and ministry, with our Regional Coordinators (Jamie & Patrick Nachtigall), Fellow Three Worlds Teammates (Dave & Kathy Simpson, and Rhonda Philips), and friend/supporter (Andrew Gale).

Left-Right (Rhonda, Kathy, Christian P., Dave, Patrick, Jamie, Marco N., Christy, Dan, and Sofie!)
Photo Courtesy of Photographer Extraordinaire, Andrew Gale

c.) It gave us ridiculous amounts of Confirmation, Affirmation, Inspiration, Encouragement, and Excitement for what the LORD is doing in the Netherlands!

SIX congregations + 1 RC + 3 Missionaries + 1 Supporting Pastor = Fellowship before Worship!
Note the precious pink balloon.

COMING SOON: You will hear many stories of our experiences, with pictures. :-)

But for now, let me say THANK YOU to those who have already supported us and for all who have kept us in your prayers. Safe travels accompanied us, and things couldn't have gone any better all across the board.

In the meantime, Here's a link to the Three Worlds blog, where our bosses wrote about our visit.