October-November 2023

October 2023

Dear Friends,

The theme for my recent trip: CP (church planting) Progress!

I was in Europe from Oct. 9-24, with stops in Madrid, Athens, Rome, Athens again, and Belfast.

City to City Europe Catalyst Team.

Highlights:

1. Madrid- I was in Madrid for 2 days for our Church Planter Intensive training, to observe, and visit with church planter candidates from a few of my cities. One  evening we hosted 18 interested Madrid pastors to discuss the possibilities of a new church planting network in Madrid. Madrid has been a difficult city to break into with evangelical church plants, but this was encouraging.

2. Athens - This was a City to City Balkans gathering, the 2nd such gathering since its inception in 2022. I met - for the first time - pastors from Bulgaria, Serbia, and North Macedonia, and  will plan to visit them in 2024, in their cities, to pursue church planting development and training.

3. Rome - I was in Rome to strengthen partnerships between 2 U.S. churches and 2 churches newly-planted in Rome.  I also met with the Rome Church Planting Network, speaking to them about church planting activity across Europe, and that they are a part of a wider movement of the gospel in the cities of Europe.

4. I returned to Athens for 2 days for a meeting of the City to City Catalysts, of whom I am the longest tenured, so to speak. It was actually the first ever meeting of a Catalyst Team for Europe. We catalysts seek to work with church planters, develop CP networks in cities in our regions, and encourage the development of planters through internships and Intensive training. We are led by Tim Coomar who is a long-time and also  Associate Director for City to City Europe.

5. From Athens I made the long east-to-west flight to Belfast, Northern Ireland to attend a Church Planting "Taster," sponsored by the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. I was invited by several PCI pastors and their Mission in Ireland Director, to hear their strategy for a new emphasis on church planting across the island. There is great interest in our CP Training, and in forming a CP Network in Belfast. My hope is that in 2024 we can see an emergence of a cross denominational CP network started there.

So, I was much encouraged with the progress of the gospel in all these cities. Though in a distinct minority in Europe, the evangelical church is growing. God is doing some great things in the lives of pastors and their churches: 10 planters trained in Madrid, 2 new plants and partnerships in Rome, a new network for the Balkans, and a new strategy and emphasis on church planting in Ireland.

Jesus' Great Commission (Matt. 28) was about making disciples in all nations, which translates into making new churches who will make new disciples. That's why Paul planted churches all across Europe, and why we continue that divinely sanctioned work. It's exciting to walk in the steps of Paul in Athens and Rome, and see revival of the work he started there long ago. Jesus said "I will build my Church,"  and He is.

Warmly,

Walter

Madrid Church Planting Intensive

November 2023 Update

Dear Friends,

My last trip for 2023 concluded just before Thanksgiving. I was in Zagreb, Belgrade, Tirana, and London. The cities of the Balkans, outside Athens, are emerging cities for church planting and church planting network activity.

Belgrade Evangelical Pastors

Backdrop: My goals in these cities are twofold: 1. To recruit church planting candidates to our Church Planting Intensive Training, a 2 week learning cohort that  gives them gospel-centered theology, philosophy of ministry, and practical tools to be successful church planters. 2. To help form church planting networks in their cities. A Church Planting Network is a group of like minded pastors who love the gospel, love their city, and want to see more churches planted in their cities. They meet regularly to pray, learn, share best practices, and encourage one another. Church planting in Europe is challenging and lonely work, and a network provides great encouragement and resources to these church planters.

Highlights:

1. Zagreb, Croatia - I met with pastor Mihal, whose church is planting a daughter church in West Zagreb, a city of over 1 million. Mihal is desirous of attending our church planting training intensive. My hope is that we can see 2 Croat church planters at our training next year. Mihal is an exprienced church planter who could lead a network inZagreb.

2. Belgrade, Serbia  - A city of 3 million with 15 evangelical (protestant) churches, and approximately 1000 evangelical believers. I met with a small group of pastors who are interested in learning more about City to City and  Europe City Partners. I hope to see 2 Serbian pastors also attend our Intensive training next year.

3. Tirana, Albania - The Evangelical Church of Tirana hosted a conference for City to City network leaders from across Europe. There  were about 50 men and women, sharing best practices and how the gospel is making  progress in their cities. There is a growing network of church planters in Tirana and throughout Albania, a country that is largely Muslim, with evangelicals comprising .3 % of the population.

4. London - I attended the U.K. Partnership gathering, a group of U.S. churches supporting church planting in the United Kingdom. Church planters from several U.K. cities presented plans for new churches, in hopes that the U.S. churches represented would decide to get behind their new works. With Belfast being one of my cities, I'm seeking to facilitate partnerships with new churches in Belfast and U.S. church leaders involved in the U.K. partnership.

City to City Conference in Tirana for City Network Leaders.

It's been a good year of travel, health, and observing the progress of the gospel in the cities of Europe. I am encouraged with potential of new churches and new leaders in several cities across my area of Europe, from Belfast to the Balkans.

I'm grateful for your prayers and support. I could not do what I do, and see what I'm seeing without your partnership in the gospel. I'm looking forward to building on these developments in 2024. My next trip will be in January.

I hope you have a wonderful advent and Christmas season , as we celebrate the coming of the One whose name was Jesus, for "he shall save his people from their sins." Matt. 5:21