LEADERSHIP LETTER ARCHIVES

 

A MONTHLY READING

FOR ALL ARC LEADERS
June 2007

 

Invitation to the 2007 International ARC Conference

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

I want to invite you to consider coming with us to the upcoming International ARC Conference in Poland in October.  As a backdrop, let me share about our experiences with the International ARC Conferences in Brazil.  Over the last five years we’ve had a wider international presence at the Brazil conferences especially from the Lamb of God Fellowship in New Jersey.  It has been transformative to that congregation.  Scott Pursley and others give a VERY COMPELLING testimony!  Last year along with Scott and Troy Rhodes, Marek Kiewra and his son Paul from Poland attended the conference and then went on the Amazon outreach with Tom and Kathy Padley.  Brazil loved Poland and New Jersey and vice versa.  I loved watching Paul Kiewra play his saxophone with the Brazilian worship team and having Marek share his vision at the conference.  They loved Marek and I loved Brazil for loving Poland.  And I loved it when leaders from New Jersey, Minnesota, Ohio and Poland laid hands on three new Brazilian elders that were ordained.

 

Here’s what I loved—the grace of God so evident in the cross-pollination of gifts and cultures.  I think Jesus is so present in these places where we express a wider unity.  It is so rooted in Jesus’ plea in John 17 –“that they may be one.”  Beyond that good theology, however, is the tremendous encouragement for a host country to be blessed and visited by brethren from other nations.  Something happens.  God reveals Himself more fully and hearts are widened into His passion for the world.  But you must go and stand on the ground and worship with brethren from another culture and wash their feet.

This will be my 10th trip to Poland.  We have been so enriched by their profound evangelistic efforts to the poor and addicts and prisoners.  And Marek’s gifting has moved them into wider spheres of influence not only in Poland, but to Germany and the Czech Republic.

 

My great hope is to get many ARC leaders to Poland to pray for them, bless them, encourage them and stand with them for the work God is calling them to fulfill in Europe.  The renovated conference center near Gryfow (Karlowice) is beautiful, the setting is bucolic, the food is great and the people are wonderfully hospitable and . . . compelling!

 

So, here is the itinerary:

 

Monday, October 15 – Leave for Poland

 

Tuesday, October 16 – Arrive in the morning in Dresden, Germany and be picked up for a 1 ½ hour ride to the conference center and a day of relaxation, walks along the lake and a ride on one of their seven horses.

 

Wednesday, October 17 – The ARC Ministry and Missions Council will meet.  Everyone else will either relax at the center or go to a beautiful European city about 15 miles away (Jelenia Gura).

 

Thursday, October 18 – After the noon meal the ARC Conference with the theme, “God’s Heart for His Broken World,” will begin.  We hope to have a worship group composed of Brazilians, Poles, Koreans, Americans and Germans.

 

Friday, October 19 – Conference continues.

 

Saturday, October 20 – Conference ends with the noon meal.  Saturday afternoon we will travel one hour to Herrnhut, the locale where the Moravians launched their great worldwide mission movement.  This group prayed for 100 years—24 hours a day and 7 days a week.  We too will take an hour and pray together on that ground for the Lord’s heart and work in Europe.

 

Sunday, October 21 – Visiting elders will be sent throughout the area to preach in Polish churches.  This will be a great opportunity to witness the work of our Polish brethren and to come alongside them and encourage them.

 

Monday, October 22 – We will travel 2 ½ hours to Auschwitz and take a 3 hour tour of this incredible Nazi death camp.  It’s important to do so, although no one will be forced to go.  My experience there was unforgettable.    We’ll spend the first of two nights in Krakow.

 

Tuesday, October 23 – We’ll tour Krakow.  This may be my favorite beautiful city, even beyond Prague and Budapest.  A very charming place.

 

Wednesday, October 24 – Leave Krakow airport for home.

 

So there it is.  To me, utterly compelling!  So come and be with us, together with our European brethren and before the Lord, receiving the cross-pollination of His Spirit and the Father’s heart for His broken world.

 

The absolute cut off date for this trip is August 1.  Mary Lou will help to coordinate and communicate, BUT YOU WILL BE IN CHARGE OF GETTING YOUR TICKET.   Please call Menno Travel at 1-800-635-2032 and ask for Jim and mention the ARC Poland Mission Trip.  The ticket will be around $1000 and they will give a discount because it is a mission trip.  Remember that your destination airport is Dresden, Germany and your return trip will originate from Krakow, Poland. 

 

Marek has estimated that the other costs will add up to around $800 (high end estimate) for the 9 days.  This includes stay at conference center, meals, side trips and two nights in Krakow.

 

So please come and pray together with us for Poland and Europe and the world.

 

In Jesus,

 

Ned

 

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