Here is a trustworthy saying, “If anyone set his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task” – I Timothy 3:1.

Over the last few years, elder training has increased all over Europe. The desire and need to develop all roles of leadership in the church has increased significantly. When there is a shortage of something we all feel it in some way.

Elder training in Western Europe

 Here is a trustworthy saying, “If anyone set his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task”

I Timothy 3:1

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Over the last few years, Elder training has increased all over Europe.  The desire and need to develop all roles of leadership in the church has increased significantly.  When there is a shortage of something we all feel it in some way.  This can be practically anything from food, utilities and even people.  In Western Europe, we have, at this point, not appointed elders.  The European Bible School (EBS) began an Elder training track 4 years ago, this effort planted seeds and these seeds have grown!  The need arose for more specific and focused training for the candidates who could be appointed relatively soon.  We are thankful for our partnership with Wyndham and Jeanie Shaw and Valdur and Irene Koha in Boston.  The Shaws and Kohas, over the last 2 years, have met with couples in various churches all over Europe.

At the end of April it was amazing to have our first ever Euro Elder training retreat here in Milan, Italy!  We had 4 couples from Paris, 3 from Milan, 2 from Lyon, 2 from Munich, 1 from Berlin, and of course, the Shaws and Kohas.  The teaching and fellowship were amazing.  Sunday all the couples were able to worship with the Milan church.  Each church represented that morning shared good news, Franck and Fabienne Descotes (Lyon) did the communion, and while John McGuirk (Paris) preached the Word.  These relationships (ligaments) will really help with the building of the churches in Western Europe! We do believe there will be Elder appointments in the near future.  It is so encouraging to work together to build God’s church.   We appreciate your prayers for the work in Western Europe!

This can be practically anything from food, utilities and even people.  In Western Europe, we have, at this point, not appointed elders.  The European Bible School (EBS) began an elder training track four years ago, this effort planted seeds and these seeds have grown!  The need arose for more specific and focused training for the candidates who could be appointed relatively soon.  We are thankful for our partnership with Wyndham and Jeanie Shaw and Valdur and Irene Koha in Boston.  The Shaws and Kohas, over the last two years, have met with couples in various churches all over Europe.

At the end of April it was amazing to have our first ever Euro Elder training retreat here in Milan, Italy!  We had four couples from Paris, three from Milan, two from Lyon, two from Munich, one from Berlin, and of course, the Shaws and Kohas.  The teaching and fellowship were amazing. Sunday all the couples were able to worship with the Milan church.  Each church represented that morning shared good news, Franck and Fabienne Descotes (Lyon) did the communion, and while John McGuirk (Paris) preached the Word.  These relationships (ligaments) will really help with the building of the churches in Western Europe! We do believe there will be Elder appointments in the near future.  It is so encouraging to work together to build God’s church.   We appreciate your prayers for the work in Western Europe!