ECM New Zealand

The Triumph of the Cross

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:23:00 +0200

As we approach Easter, we remember the Cross — the moment that changed eternity — and give thanks to Jesus, the King of kings.

In a world weighed down by uncertainty, brokenness, and injustice, Easter declares a truth that cannot be shaken: Jesus Christ reigns. On the Cross, He bore the weight of our sin and the world’s brokenness, defeating death and opening the way to eternal life.

This sacred moment calls us to awe and gratitude. It is the very reason we exist as a people of faith: because of His sacrifice, His love, and His victory. Even amid chaos and crisis, He is sovereign — the King of kings, seated on His throne, guiding history and holding all things in His hands.

As we remember the Cross and the empty tomb, let our hearts overflow with worship. Let our lives reflect the courage, joy, and gratitude that flow from knowing the One who triumphed over sin and death. Easter is not just a day; it is the heartbeat of our faith, a vivid reminder that the glory of Jesus surpasses all darkness.

This Easter, we give Him all glory, rejoicing that He reigns forever and that in Him, we are made alive.

Claremorris Church Opens Its Doors

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 11:42:40 +0100

What began as a small gathering in a town hall has become something far greater. On 21 March 2026, the growing church in Claremorris, County Mayo, celebrated the official opening of its very first building — a powerful milestone and a testament to God’s faithfulness.

Church planting in small towns can often seem impossible — especially in Europe. But where there is faith, obedience, and generosity, God continues to surprise us beyond expectations.

When ECMI workers Jonathan and Nicola first sensed God’s call to Claremorris, a town with no evangelical church, they began simply. A small group met in the town hall. It was humble, but it was a beginning.

And God began to move.

Through outreach and discipleship, people from different nationalities and backgrounds gathered, united by a shared desire to know Jesus. Slowly but surely, the group grew — until the town hall was no longer big enough to hold them.

The idea of buying a building felt overwhelming. But they were not alone.

Supporters came alongside them — praying, giving, and believing with them. In time, over €400,000 was given, making it possible not only to purchase a building but to establish a lasting presence for the gospel in the town.

Then came a moment to celebrate.

On 21 March 2026, the church officially opened the doors of its new building. It was more than just a ribbon-cutting — it was a joyful declaration of all that God has done. A space once imagined is now filled with worship, community, and hope.

Today, the church in Claremorris stands as a lighthouse in County Mayo — a visible sign of God’s faithfulness and the fruit of generosity. And this is just the beginning.

Your Generosity Matters

The story of Claremorris is a reminder that generosity truly makes a difference. Through your giving, missionaries are sent, churches are planted, and communities encounter the hope of Jesus. When we give, we become part of what God is doing far beyond what we can see. Thank you!

Give to the mission and join us in bringing the gospel to Europe.

Step Into Mission: Opportunities Across Europe

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 11:20:32 +0100

What could your next step in mission look like? Across Europe, doors are open for you to serve, grow, and make a meaningful impact. Whether you’re exploring a short-term experience or sensing a longer-term call, there are opportunities waiting where your gifts can make a real difference.

Here are a few of the exciting opportunities waiting for you.

SPAIN: Welcome pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago 👣
GERMANY: Work short-term in a high immigrant neighbourhood 👳🏾‍♂️🧕🏽👱🏼‍♀️👨🏿‍🦱
ROMANIA: Train and equip youth and children’s workers 👧🏻👦🏽
IRELAND: Use relational discipleship to help draw people to Jesus ✝️
SPAIN: Lead music both inside and outside church 🎵
SCOTLAND: Get hands-on internship church planting experience ⛪
KOSOVO: Help run events for children, young people and disabled men 🧑🏽‍🦽‍➡️
EUROPE: Many other short and long term opportunities 🌍

Each of these roles is part of a bigger story—seeing lives changed and communities reached with the hope of Jesus.

If something here sparks your interest, we’d love to start a conversation with you. Together, we can explore how your passions, skills, and calling might connect with what God is doing across Europe.

👉🏼 Find out more here!

Women of Faith

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:34:55 +0100

This March, we celebrate the incredible women serving in mission — women who lift God’s name high, shine His light, and make a difference across Europe.

Across Europe, women are stepping out in faith every day — single or married, with children or without — bringing the love of Jesus to communities, schools, workplaces, and neighbourhoods. They preach the Gospel, serve the vulnerable, and mentor the next generation.

International Women’s Month is a moment to honour these women, recognising the courage, creativity, and resilience they bring to mission. Every act of service, every word of encouragement, every prayer offered is part of God’s work in the world.

To all women serving in mission: keep going. Keep trusting, keep stepping out in faith, and keep shining the light of Jesus wherever you are. Your service matters. Your obedience honours God. And through you, lives are being transformed.

This month, we celebrate you — the women who carry the hope, love, and light of Christ across Europe.

A Church Takes Root

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:03:23 +0100

In the fast-paced rhythm of Budapest, a new church is taking root. Through patient relationship-building and creative outreach, Tamás and Virág are seeing lives changed and a vibrant community begin to grow.

Budapest moves quickly—trams rattling across bridges, students filling cafés, conversations spilling onto pavements late into the night. On the Buda side of the Danube, ECMI workers Tamás and Virág are part of that movement—planting a new church.

In the beginning, relationships grew slowly as trust takes time in a city where many have never been part of a church before. That’s why Tamás and Virág created the ‘Waymaker Café’, a welcoming space where people could feel comfortable and explore faith at their own rhythm.

As those relationships deepened, fruit began to grow. Just three years in, and their programmes for women, youth and families are already thriving. Their youth weekly gathering, TTT (Time To Talk), now has more than 30 regular attendees, and their initiative and energy are bringing fresh life to the community… and a whole lot of creative ideas!

Today, a vibrant church is emerging in Budapest with a vision for multiplication — reaching students, discipling the next generation, and welcoming seekers into the hope of Christ. ECMI longs to see this happening not only in Budapest, but in every city in Europe.

Relationships grew slowly, but fruit began to grow as trust was built.

Discover more about Tamás and Virág's ministry in Budapest!

Encouraging Growth in Portugal

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:16:31 +0100

There are hopeful signs of growth in Portugal, as new data reveals a significant rise in church planting across the country — a reminder that God is at work, often in ways we may not immediately see. Read on to see what God is doing!

In 2023, the Portuguese Evangelical Alliance shared encouraging news about church planting in their country.

According to Evangelicals Now, recently published data highlights a remarkable increase in new churches. Around 44% of evangelical churches in Portugal have been planted since 2001, and more than 60% already have clear plans and locations to plant additional churches within the next five years. Many also report that their congregations are growing, with churches ranging in size from small gatherings of fewer than ten people to communities of over 300.

These are powerful signs of God at work — quietly, steadily, and often beyond the spotlight.

We praise God for this growth and for the many faithful believers serving across Portugal. Stories like these remind us that, even when we don’t always hear about it, God is building His church.

🔗 To find out more about ECM’s work in Portugal, click here

🔗 Read the full article on church planting in Portugal here

The Heavens Declare

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 13:17:00 +0100

Berlin Psalm Project’s second album is here! Experience the Psalms like never before, with jazz-inspired arrangements that stir the soul.

The Berlin Psalm Project, led by pastors and musicians Ali and Richard, has just released their highly anticipated second album, The Heavens Declare (Psalm 19). Following the success of their first album, Whom Have I in Heaven But You, this new release brings the beauty and life-changing power of the Psalms to listeners across Berlin, Germany, and beyond.

Featuring a seven-piece contemporary jazz ensemble, The Heavens Declare offers a fresh and immersive take on the timeless words of the Psalms, capturing a deep sense of longing for true worship.

"Our desire is that the beauty and life changing power of God’s word in the Psalms be heard by many here in Berlin and Germany.”

Alongside the album, the project has also released a short film, expanding the experience of the music through visual storytelling. The Berlin Psalm Project is continuing to raise funds to support future albums, performances, and a potential Germany tour in the coming year.

Discover the music, watch the film, and let the Psalms stir your heart: www.berlinpsalmproject.com.

Album Download:

https://laedybaem.de/cartsearch/index.html?sortOrderBy=relevance&q=LBR2601&categories=m730xe6i|korviu36|33s1g9g9|sgruyegt

Streaming-Links:

https://links.feiyr.com/x/BW3YL/

New Neighbours

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 13:05:28 +0100

What does it mean to leave a familiar, supportive Christian environment and move to a place where the gospel is rarely heard? Last August, Edward and Trix Landman took that step together with their children. Now, a year later, they look back on their first experiences.

Moving Missionally—In Your Own Country

A Completely Different World

Last year, Edward and Trix Landaman left the town of Bodegraven and moved to Maastricht to join PROEF!, a missional neighbourhood project. Even though they moved within the same country, the Netherlands, the contrast was clear from the very beginning.

“Almost everything is different here,” Trix explains. “Bodegraven is a village; Maastricht has the character and atmosphere of a southern city. Life feels more relaxed, people live more for the day. In Bodegraven, you would meet Christians on almost every street corner. Here, that is rare. Many people feel they are finished with the church, and that took some getting used to for us.”

Edward notes that there are also deeper attitudes that shape the spiritual climate. “Some people feel that, compared to other parts of the country, they don’t really count. That can lead to a certain scepticism towards authority. Spiritually, you see something similar: many still take part in traditions like communion or confirmation, but often out of custom rather than a personal, heartfelt faith.”

Putting Down Roots

For the Landman family, the first year has been about settling in—both as a family and as part of the PROEF! team. Building relationships, learning the rhythms of the neighbourhood, and simply being present have all been important steps.

“I really enjoy the encounters we have,” says Trix. “Reading the Bible together with people from the neighbourhood and seeing how God is at work in their lives—that is so special.”

Edward finds his place mostly in practical tasks. “I enjoy helping and organising alongside my work. Through practical service, relationships naturally form—and from those relationships, I can share the gospel. That fits me well.”

A Simple Prayer

As they continue their ministry, Edward and Trix carry a clear longing in their hearts: that God would be given more space in Maastricht, and that more people would come to know Him personally.

Their journey is a reminder that mission is not only about crossing borders. Sometimes it means moving within your own country—stepping out of what feels safe, trusting God, and patiently investing in people, one relationship at a time.

Join God’s Story in Europe

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:22:35 +0100

At ECM, our work is more than programmes and projects—it’s about people, and ultimately, it’s about God, at work in and through us. Every time a believer is equipped, a community is connected, or a disciple is multiplied, it is His Spirit moving, using us as instruments for His glory.

Often, the impact isn’t dramatic. It’s in the quiet prayer shared with a neighbour, the patience extended in a difficult conversation, the encouragement sent to a colleague halfway across the continent. These everyday acts of faithfulness reflect His love and advance His mission.

And it’s not just those on the frontlines who participate. Every prayer you lift, every gift you give, every time you engage with this work strengthens what God is doing. Your support equips those He calls, connects communities, and multiplies hope—always for His glory, often in ways you may never see but can trust Him to accomplish.

As we step into a new season, let’s remember that multiplying disciples isn’t about doing everything at once—it’s about faithfully participating in what God is already doing, wherever we are. Every connection matters. Every act of equipping plants seeds. Every moment of courage multiplies hope.

Together, we rejoice in being part of His greater story, seeing His Kingdom grow, one faithful act at a time.

A New Beginning in Frankfurt

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 11:31:04 +0100

In one of Germany’s largest cities, a new church-plant is emerging through prayer, presence, and trust in God’s leading—bringing hope to the Oberrad community.

In the heart of Frankfurt, where a rich Christian heritage now meets a deeply post-Christian culture, a new story of hope is beginning.

In November, Bodo and Moon-Sook Park stepped into a fresh season of church planting in the Oberrad district—responding to God’s call to help form a worshipping community where few currently follow Jesus. With years of experience in church planting and a deep connection to the city, they begin this work with both faith and familiarity.

Frankfurt is one of Germany’s largest cities, yet only a small percentage of people identify as evangelical believers. Oberrad, a riverside neighbourhood of around 13,500 residents, reflects this wider reality. It is a place full of life, history, and opportunity—and a place where the gospel is still waiting to be heard by many.

Together with a small team, Bodo and Moon-Sook are devoting these early months to prayer, listening, and building genuine relationships in the community. Rather than starting with programmes, they are seeking to be present—to notice where God is already at work and to join Him there.

Please pray for the Park family and their team as they walk alongside the people of Oberrad. May God bring new life, lasting relationships, and a growing community of faith—and may His Church take root in Oberrad and beyond.

Hope, Healing, and Growth in Barcelona

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 11:22:00 +0100

Something is happening in a church in Barcelona—something gentle, hopeful, and hard to ignore. Andy and Andrea Warner have been watching how quiet healing, honest searching, and unexpected growth are transforming people's lives.

In Spanish terms, our church, La Vinya Barcelona, is big! On a typical Sunday morning we’re about 400 people, mainly native Spanish (or Catalan!), with a few internationals like us. For several years we’ve been functioning primarily as a ‘hospital’ church, caring for many—mainly believers—who have arrived at our doorstep, and watching the Holy Spirit bring transformation and healing to broken lives.

Alongside our Sunday meetings we have about 30 home groups scattered across the wider Barcelona area where people meet, eat, and get to know Jesus and His Family more. We also run a wide variety of ministries, such as a clothes and shower service for people in vulnerable conditions, a homework club for children at risk of social exclusion, and a street evangelism team that shares Jesus and invites people to experience Him and His Kingdom in real and relevant ways.

With awe and excitement at what we’re seeing Jesus do among us, our church is preparing to transition into a multi-site church—one church with two sites. In 2026 we plan to open the second site in a town called Sant Feliu, sharing resources with the current site while creating space for newcomers, opportunities for new leadership, and a localised expression of the church.

Our senior pastor openly recognises that the church in Spain struggles to connect with native Spaniards. But, as we believe is happening in other places around the world, the younger generation in particular is looking for meaning and identity, and we are excited to equip younger people, including many raised here in Catalunya.

—Andy and Andrea Warner, ECM workers in Spain

There’s no Plan B...

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 11:09:00 +0100

“The church is God’s plan for the salvation of the world. There’s no Plan B… God is putting all his eggs in the church basket.” (Stephen Foster) Thank you for being part of God’s great Plan A!

“The church is God’s plan for the salvation of the world. There’s no Plan B… God is putting all his eggs in the church basket.”

Stephen Foster, Rector at St Aldates Church, Oxford

I love that quote. It sums up exactly why the Church isn’t just one of God’s ideas — it’s the way He’s chosen to show His love to the world.

At ECM, we plant and grow churches because that’s what God has been doing since the book of Acts. But churches don’t all look the same. The believers in Corinth in 55 AD would have worshipped very differently to a church in Athens today. And a small congregation in a Spanish village faces different challenges from one in the middle of Berlin. Yet each is part of the same story — God’s Church, sharing His love in its own way.

Each story is a glimpse of God at work — building His Church, one community at a time. Our missionaries may be the feet on the ground, but they couldn’t be there without you. Your prayers and giving make it possible for churches to share the love of Jesus in Slovenia, Ukraine, Portugal, France and beyond.

Thank you for being part of God’s great Plan A.

Because of you, churches are sharing the love of Jesus in Slovenia, Ukraine, Portugal, France and beyond. Thank you!

—Kent Anderson, Director of ECM Britain

Happy New Year from ECM!

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 10:58:44 +0100

May 2026 be a year of hope, growth, and renewed courage to share Christ in every community. Together, one disciple, one church, one soul at a time, we can see Europe transformed.

As we step into a new year, we celebrate God’s faithfulness and the ways He is at work across Europe. Thank you to everyone who prays, gives, and goes—your support makes discipleship, church planting, and transformation possible.

Happy New Year from all of us at ECM!

Merry Christmas from ECM!

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 11:15:00 +0100

As Christmas approaches, we pause to celebrate the greatest gift the world has ever received: Jesus Christ, God with us. His birth reminds us that hope shines brightest in the darkest places—just as your partnership helps the gospel reach communities across Europe where hope is needed most. THANK YOU!

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supports this mission—those who pray, give, and go; those who stand with us; and those who make this mission their own. Your faithfulness allows lives to be transformed, disciples to be made, and churches to be planted in places where the light of Christ is most needed.

Christmas is a reminder that God is at work in Europe. Every gift, every prayer, every step taken in obedience contributes to the ongoing story of His love reaching the continent. Because of you, the mission continues to flourish—one disciple, one church, one soul at a time.

From all of us at ECM, we wish you a joyful and hope-filled Christmas, and a New Year filled with God’s peace and presence. Thank you for being part of God’s work across Europe.

Standing with Bitaj

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 11:03:00 +0100

As Christmas approaches, many of us are preparing to gather in warm, familiar places — churches filled with carols, candlelight, and the joy of Christ’s coming. In Bitaj, Albania, the Way of Peace Church has long been such a place: a simple building where families come to worship, to learn, and to find compassion in Jesus. And now they need our help.

For more than a decade, this church has quietly served its community in one of Albania's poorer villages with faithful love. It has welcomed the poor, discipled new believers, supported broken families, and shared the good news of Christ’s peace in an area marked by deep need. But this year, as winter settles in, the church family is facing a challenge far greater than the cold.

Years of damp, wear, and structural damage have left the building unsafe. Cracks in the walls and ceiling have worsened, and during heavy rain parts of the structure have begun to fall. Without urgent repairs, the church would have been forced to close its doors — leaving a whole community without a place to gather, pray, or celebrate the birth of Christ.

The believers in Bitaj have done everything they can. Members from both the Bitaj church and its sister church in Lushnje have volunteered long hours of manual labour. Local believers completed all the interior restoration themselves, and the church council has committed 80% of all offerings for as long as needed. But the cost of stabilising the walls and foundations is far beyond what this small, impoverished community can carry alone.

A local construction company stepped in and agreed to complete the critical work in November, even knowing the church could not yet pay the full €20,000 cost. Repairs are now underway — but the debt remains.

And so, in this season when we remember the One who took on flesh to dwell among us, we have an opportunity to come alongside a church that longs to keep its doors open, its light shining, and its message of peace alive in Bitaj.

This December, we invite you to pray for the believers in Bitaj as they rebuild their place of worship. And if you feel led, you can also partner financially to help them meet the €20,000 needed to complete the work. Together, we can ensure that this church continues to be a place where the good news of Jesus is proclaimed — at Christmas and throughout the year.

Click here to learn more and stand with Bitaj in this season.

Join the Team

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 10:23:00 +0100

Remedy International Wesleyan Church in Poděbrady is seeing remarkable growth among students and is praying for new English-speaking missionaries to join their team. This opportunity invites you to invest in relationships, strengthen a vibrant church community, and share the hope of the gospel in the Czech Rep.

Remedy International Wesleyan Church in Poděbrady, Czech Republic, is an open and welcoming church for all generations—families, singles, believers, faith seekers, and anyone looking for encouragement or friendship. Their mission is simple but powerful: to know Christ, live for Him, and share the good news of the gospel.

Under the leadership of Tomáš, whose own testimony has inspired many, the church is seeing students come to faith, grow in their relationship with Jesus, disciple others, lead worship, and even step into eldership. God is at work in the city, and the team is excited to see even more lives transformed.

Now, Tomáš and his team are praying for English-speaking missionaries—singles or families—willing to relocate to Poděbrady to work particularly with students. This role is ideal for those who are:

Outgoing and relational
Passionate about building community
Dedicated to developing future church leaders
Fluent in English
Team players, ready to serve alongside a local ministry team

As part of the church’s local team, missionaries will help students grow in faith, plan outreach events, lead worship, and share the gospel. While growth takes time in the Czech context, Tomáš is encouraged that many more will follow the path to Christ, just as he did.

Could God be calling you to join this team? This is a special opportunity to live out your faith, build meaningful relationships, and shine Christ’s light in a city hungry for hope.

Learn more

A Continent in Need of Hope

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 17:35:27 +0100

Europe is a continent in need of hope. Many places are spiritually dark, and the gospel struggles to take root in the hearts of people. Yet God is already at work, and we—the Church, those who follow Christ—have a crucial role to play. That is our mission.

See how this mission takes shape in ECM. Since 1904, we have been responding to the need in Europe by obeying the simple command of Jesus: "Go and make disciples." That is our goal, and our focus: discipleship—one soul at a time. We walk alongside people, helping them grow in their faith and equipping them to disciple others, creating a ripple effect that reaches far beyond one life.

We are also committed to planting churches where they are needed the most—communities where the gospel is not yet established or where hope feels distant. These churches are more than buildings; they are living communities of faith, shining God’s light in the midst of thick darkness.

This vision gives rise to our mission and the work we do across Europe. We equip local churches and leaders by providing the training, encouragement, and resources they need to be a powerful witness. We connect churches and mission workers, fostering collaboration that goes beyond simple togetherness to spiritual unity in Christ, so that we can work in partnership for greater impact across Europe. We multiply disciples, seeing transformed lives inspire and shape more transformed lives. Every disciple trained, every church planted, and every soul reached contributes to the renewal of Europe.

Europe faces many challenges, but God is the One can transform it. And ECM's passion is to be part of that mission—one disciple, one church, one soul at a time.

Love looks like Jesus

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 17:02:39 +0100

A walk. A shared coffee. A listening ear. So often, love is shown not in grand gestures, but in simple acts of presence.

We see this so beautifully in Jesus. He didn’t just talk about love – He embodied it. He came to be with us, healed the sick, comforted the broken, and fed the hungry. His love was practical, powerful, and personal.

Today, in a Europe that deeply needs love, ECM workers are continuing this mission by showing God’s love in creative, courageous, and compassionate ways. They walk alongside survivors of trauma and war, offering presence where words alone cannot heal. In Portugal, university ministries bring the gospel to life through drama, crafting spaces where hearts feel safe to explore faith. In Germany, church planters step into communities yet untouched, planting seeds that blossom into new congregations. And countless other stories of love and hope are unfolding across the continent.

Behind each of these stories is someone like you. Your prayers, giving, and encouragement make this ministry possible. Thank you for being part of showing Jesus’ love in Europe.

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” 1 John 4:9

Your help means that we can keep showing the love of Jesus in Spain, Austria, Ukraine, Albania, and beyond. And the love of Jesus transforms lives. Thank you!

Walking with God, Walking with Others

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 14:15:55 +0100

Ionel never imagined that his love for the Bible would one day lead him into a ministry of teaching, counseling, mentoring, and publishing. But step by step, God has been shaping his story in ways Ionel never expected.

It started with a hunger to understand God’s Word. That desire took Ionel through a master’s program and eventually a PhD in theology. His path seemed clear: study, teach, and write about Scripture. But as he began serving people in his local church, he discovered something that changed his direction entirely.

“Without planning for it,” Ionel says, “I found myself needing to be equipped in biblical counseling to meet the needs of the people I serve.” What began as a pursuit of knowledge became a calling to walk alongside others, listening and guiding them toward Jesus and His truth.

Before joining ECMI, Ionel helped plant a church in his hometown of Timisoara with a close friend who now pastors that congregation. A few years later, another pastor in the city invited him to join his team and strengthen and equip the church through preaching, studying the Bible, counseling, and mentoring. Ionel accepted, and soon he discovered that this was exactly where God wanted him to be.

His desire is simple but profound: to see the church in Romania grow spiritually healthy, biblically grounded, and equipped to fulfill its divine calling. That vision has shaped everything Ionel does.

Along the way, he recognized another pressing need: access to solid, biblical resources in Romanian. Many pastors and believers had little to draw from in their original language. So Ionel and his wife, Simona, launched a small publishing house dedicated to translating and producing Christian books that build up the Body of Christ. Through it, they hope to provide quality materials for churches, families, and ministry leaders across the country.

And their vision doesn’t stop there. With God’s help, they plan to open a biblical seminar next year to train pastors and Christian leaders in biblical interpretation, counseling, evangelism, and how to meet contemporary challenges with wisdom and grace.

“We want to see leaders equipped to guide others faithfully,” Ionel says. ‘That’s how transformation will spread.”

Through every season, Simona has been a steady and faithful partner in ministry, encouraging, praying, and serving alongside Ionel. Together, they ask for prayers for wisdom to manage their time well, for spiritual strength amid opposition, and for God’s provision to sustain their ministry.

Your support helps make work like this possible—equipping leaders, strengthening churches, and advancing the gospel in Romania. But there is still much to do. Only 2.5% of people across Europe identify as evangelical followers of Jesus. If Jesus leads you to support our ministry, we would be deeply grateful. We are in this mission together. Thank you!

Joining Forces

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 11:35:00 +0100

ECM is excited to partner with the Federation of Free Evangelical Churches (FeG) to launch new church plants across Germany. By combining resources, networks, and local expertise, this collaboration will strengthen existing efforts and open doors for future growth.

Starting this Autumn in greater Frankfurt, ECM and FeG are working together to support cooperative church planting projects. German church planters will receive primary coaching and leadership from FeG, while ECM offers a secondary layer of care—connecting planters with our wider European network and enabling supporters from across the continent to participate.

Sharing theological and missiological commitments and believing more can be accomplished together, ECM—through our USA office—and FeG will direct resources to support cooperative church planting projects across the country. The first of these efforts is scheduled to begin this fall in greater Frankfurt.

This partnership not only strengthens church planting in Germany but could also serve as a model for similar collaborations across Europe, leveraging combined resources to reach new communities with the gospel.

Please join us in prayer:

For encouragement and strength for both organisations and their teams
For financial support for the first joint venture church planting project in Frankfurt
For the identification of church planters and locations for future projects

Thank you for supporting ECM’s mission as we work together to see new generations across Europe encounter the gospel.

What Is In Your Hands?

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 11:05:00 +0100

Sometimes God uses the simplest things to accomplish His greatest purposes. A Lego brick, a shared meal, or time spent with children of missionaries—these ordinary moments can become powerful instruments in His Kingdom. What is in your hands today?

In 2005, at our Eastern Europe Prayer Days retreat in Hungary, a young Dutch girl named Estera came forward with her mother to thank me for playing Lego with her when she was six. Her parents had answered God’s call to move to Romania after the fall of Communism in 1990 and later had three children. That moment reminded me how vital children—especially missionary kids—are in God’s work.

When my wife Ellsye and I sensed God calling us to leave our settled life in Northern Ireland and move to Austria, we knew the cost for our three children. They left friends and security behind without choice. That experience shaped my approach to missionary kids: playing games, reading, chatting, and just spending time together over the years has been a way to tangibly show God’s love.

I’ve often reflected on Moses at the Burning Bush. In Exodus 4:2, God asks, “What is in your hand?” Moses replies, “a staff”—an ordinary shepherd’s tool. Yet God transforms it into a mighty instrument in His plan. Similarly, God delights in taking ordinary gifts—time, attention, care—and using them in extraordinary ways for His Kingdom.

In 1990, ECM invited me to serve as Eastern Europe Director. I had been a pastor for only two years, led a building project at Castlewellan Castle, and run a small business—but had never led a team of missionaries across Central and Eastern Europe. Few would have called me an administrator. Yet through small acts of care—playing with children like Estera, taking them for bike rides, meals, or treats—I’ve been able to show love and support for missionary families.

Leadership can be lonely, and caring for missionary kids is a vital part of pastoral care for Gospel workers. Over the past thirty-five years, I’ve travelled thousands of miles with my staff, spent hundreds of hours at kitchen tables, and shared tea, coffee, magazines, and books with pastors and their families. And Estera? She’s now a qualified radiologist in Holland and a godly young woman—a living testament to God’s faithfulness and the power of ordinary acts of love.

Faith Takes Root

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 11:58:00 +0200

Gerrit and Jorine van Dijk are seeing their dream come to life in Rostock Evershagen. Through early-morning Bible studies, growing community involvement, and partnerships with local churches, faith is taking root—and lives are being transformed by the gospel.

"It’s a Tuesday morning at Haltepunkt E. Our team gathers to discuss our work and the tasks ahead, but before that, we always take an hour to read the Bible and pray together. Today, we read from Hebrews 11, exploring together how faith and trust work."

The beauty of these moments is that what began as a small core of believers at Haltepunkt E. is steadily growing. More people are joining in, cautiously at first, but with increasing openness. This changes the conversation about faith and trust.

A man in the group, who has been part of Haltepunkt E. for many years, shares his struggles: “Truly trusting God isn’t easy. It’s hard to trust someone I’ve never seen and cannot touch.”

Across from him, a woman further along in her faith journey reflects on her own experience. She describes how she became more open to faith and then encountered a deeply personal, transformative experience. Since then, she is certain: “I want to follow Jesus.”

The conversation unfolds naturally as the team discusses the faith of biblical heroes and how they trusted God through their challenges. At the end of the study, the group sings a song together—a modified version of a Johannes Oerding tune, akin to a German Guus Meeuwis song. They sing about going “all in” in faith: giving everything—even oneself—so that, in the end, victory is found in following Jesus.

The van Dijk family is grateful to see their dream for Evershagen becoming reality. This summer, two women hope to be baptized, ready for a fresh start with Jesus and open to letting Him transform every part of their lives.

The family also appreciates the wider team supporting this work. Delegating tasks and empowering neighbours to take responsibility is a slow process, requiring many years of patient investment. Yet, a strong local team—including two German Christian couples—shares responsibility for the work, giving space for growth and sustainability.

One of ECM’s core values is partnering with local churches. In this spirit, ECM collaborates with the Freie Evangelische Gemeinde in Germany. Together, in Rostock, Schwerin, Hagenow, and Ribnitz-Damgarten, we are exploring new ways for the gospel to take root in the hearts of East Germans.

Don’t Overestimate What You Can Do in a Year

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 11:54:53 +0100

“Don’t overestimate what you can do in a year, don’t underestimate what you can achieve in ten.” In church planting, progress often takes time. The Landman family has just completed their first year in Maastricht, and already they’re seeing God at work.

"How the first year in Maastricht flew by!" reflects Trix Landman. "We look back on an intense, yet beautiful year. So much has happened—saying goodbye, moving, settling in, and adjusting to a culture quite different from what we knew. It’s a constant balance between maintaining connections with family and friends and building new relationships here. Life in mission resembles our life in Bodegraven, yet it is so different. Joining the ECM mission community Proef! makes you more aware of your words and actions, reshapes how you spend your time, and shifts your focus from your own family and desires to the needs of the community. We ask ourselves: What is needed in our team? Where can we make a difference in the neighbourhood? Where is God at work, and how can we connect with it? It’s a wonderful desire, but a process that sometimes demands a lot from us. We’re learning how vital it is to build in rest and take time for each other."

Despite the challenges of a first year, Edward and Trix have already been actively sharing the Gospel. A small group of women now gathers regularly to read the Bible together, led by Trix.

Reading the Bible Together

Trix reads the Bible with a few women every other Thursday morning. It’s wonderful to see how much this is appreciated and how eagerly the women look forward to it. They began with the Passion stories in Luke before Easter and are now continuing in Acts, exploring the origins of the early church. One participant clearly recognised how the Holy Spirit ensures the Gospel spreads worldwide, even in the midst of adversity.

The women ask questions freely and share openly about their lives. Time and again, God’s Word speaks into their daily realities, showing its continued relevance. The regular rhythm of the meetings fosters a sense of community—praying for one another and supporting each other in tangible ways. Initially, they hoped for a larger group, but recently they agreed that the current size is perfect. Growth is welcome, but not required. While Proef! activities pause during school holidays, the Bible study continues, and participants are grateful for that consistency.

European Christian Mission is committed to a long-term presence in Maastricht. If you feel called to be part of this local mission and help build community around the Gospel, consider moving to Maastricht and joining this growing work!

“Someone Has to Slay the Dragon!”

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 17:45:50 +0200

Between knights, princesses, crafts, and games, a medieval-themed camp in Sulzberg, Austria, brought the Bible to life for children. Faith, friendship, and fun came together in a week that the children—and leaders—will never forget.

“Someone Has to Slay the Dragon!” – and so Eline shares the Gospel with children

A camp full of knights, princesses, games, and stories—but above all, a week where faith, friendship, and fun came together.

It’s been a little while since I, Eline, returned from the Jungschar camp in Sulzberg, but the memories are still vivid. I’d love to share some highlights from this special week.

A Medieval Theme
Upon arrival, the children were welcomed by the leaders dressed as knights, princesses, and dragons. This year’s theme was, “Someone Has to Slay the Dragon!” The children were also encouraged to come in costume, and the campgrounds quickly resembled a fairytale medieval village.

Bringing Bible Stories to Life
Each morning, a Bible story was at the heart of the day. On one occasion, I acted out the story of Simeon and Anna with others—without words but full of expression. The moment they finally held baby Jesus in their arms left a strong impression. Later, I stepped into the role of a poor woman from Jericho, telling the story of Zacchaeus from her perspective—first my disappointment that Jesus didn’t come to eat with me, then my amazement that Zacchaeus returned four times what he had stolen. The stories came alive for the children in a very personal way.

Games, Crafts, and Fun
There was plenty of time for play and creativity. Using 35 kilograms of clay, the children made beautiful figures and tableware. Baking over the campfire often turned out surprisingly well! Medieval games and sports activities brought laughter, excitement, and a sense of togetherness.

Rain? No Problem!
Even when the weather didn’t cooperate, no one let it dampen their spirits. Under the large tent, we could eat, sing, and continue sharing stories. One highlight was the treasure hunt in Sulzberg. Dressed in costume, we explored the village, drawing lots of attention—which was exactly the point, as it allowed us to invite villagers to the farewell celebration. And yes, some of the locals actually came!

Campfire Moment
On the final evening, we reflected on the heart of our theme: Jesus defeating the dragon—the devil—through His death and resurrection. Around the campfire, I shared my personal testimony, describing a time of sadness and believing lies, and how Jesus set me free. That moment was very meaningful: anyone who is freed by Jesus is truly free.

A Grateful Reflection
What made this camp so special was the combination of faith, creativity, games, and friendship. Even though I initially knew few of the leaders, I immediately felt welcome. Everyone was kind, engaged, and sincere. It was wonderful to see God’s Word, prayer, and testimonies take a central place alongside all the activities. I look back on this week with deep gratitude. It was a camp to remember—and if possible, I hope to return next year!

—Klaas and Eline Rozema serve with ECM in Austria

Unhindered

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 17:24:00 +0200

Amid the devastation of war, God’s love is transforming lives in Ukraine. What began as a relief effort in Irpin—providing food, clothing, and care—has grown into a powerful movement of spiritual renewal, with new church communities emerging and local leaders stepping forward to shepherd them.

The power of the gospel is often highlighted in times of distress, as trouble can move people toward Jesus. In effect, our need becomes a means of connecting us to God. This is remarkably evident in today’s Ukraine.

At the outset of the war, Irpin was a focal point of the Russian invasion and Ukrainian resistance. Located just outside Kyiv, Irpin endured intense urban fighting and the unimaginable horrors of a monthlong occupation. After Ukraine’s forces eventually recaptured the city, 70% of Irpin had been heavily damaged or destroyed. At the height of desperation, Irpin Bible Church launched a community relief effort to provide food, clothing, and spiritual care to those in need. Four distribution centers were established to facilitate this project, which provided a daily supply of freshbaked bread, funded by our ECM Ukraine Crisis Fund.

Something wonderfully unforeseen occurred at the distribution sites. As people encountered God’s love through the kindness of His people, spiritual transformation became increasingly evident. Many decided to follow Jesus, while others renewed prior spiritual commitments. In time, the seeds of new church communities sprang up in the relief centers, a wonderful reminder of divine restoration in the turmoil. Eventually, ECM was invited to participate in the start of three new churches near Irpin.

This Autumn, ECM welcomes three Ukrainian couples serving in the resulting church plants in the towns of Borodianka, Hostomel, and Nemishaieve. Already, these churches have begun ministries to children, students, seniors, veterans, and those displaced by the war. One of the congregations launched a program using art as a connection point for young mothers.

Please pray for Anatolii and Olena, Andrii & Luda, and Illia and Iryna as they serve these three churches. A fourth couple, Roman and Yaroslava, has joined our New Hope Ukraine ministry team in Lviv, and they also need your prayers.

God’s redemptive purposes in Ukraine continue unabated, come what may.

Perspective

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 17:24:28 +0200

In times of crisis, faith takes on new depth and meaning. Across Ukraine, amid ongoing conflict and uncertainty, ECM workers, new and old, are discovering afresh that Jesus is present even in the darkest valleys—bringing hope, endurance, and glimpses of His redemptive work.

Following Jesus brings perspective in times of trouble, leading us to believe that our “help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:2). While God’s provision may not bring deliverance from our distress, we rely on His palpable presence in it. No wonder “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me” (Psalm 23:4) is among the most beloved biblical passages.

Experience with Jesus allows us to observe divine patterns during trying times. I have seen Him repeatedly bring about good in the wake of terrible circumstances. I have the same questions common to all who suffer, but Jesus specializes in redeeming spaces where pain once dominated.

Such is the experience of our colleagues in Ukraine. Words cannot describe the pain, fear, and disillusionment experienced daily by ECM workers over the past forty-two months and counting. Yet, this fall, we begin a partnership with four new first-culture Ukrainian couples in this beleaguered country; three of these couples will pursue new church planting efforts near Kyiv, and the fourth will support an existing church in L’viv. Jesus has been there all along, building his Kingdom amid the chaos.

As I write this, Ukraine’s Independence Day is days away. Followers of Jesus around the world are calling for a Global Day of Prayer for Ukraine on that special day. While you will read this after the fact, please pause to pray for peace, protection, and continuing advancement of God’s glorious Kingdom during these challenging days.

Your interest in our people and projects is a terrific encouragement to all of us. Our vision is to see new generations in Europe accessing the gospel, and I thank you all for your generous support as we pursue this magnificent goal.

—Written by Doug Gotcher, Director of our ECMI USA office

A New Witness in Croatia

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 16:17:39 +0200

Across Europe, entire towns exist without a living church. Novi Marof, Croatia, was one of them—until Jonathan and Danijela Vukov followed God’s call. Their journey shows both the challenges and the hope of national church planting.

Jonathan Vukov never planned on going into ministry. Though he grew up believing in God, he had no intention of following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, both pastors. Like many young Croatian men, Jonathan dreamed of moving abroad to work and make money.

Meanwhile, Danijela came to faith as a teenager, a decision that cost her the support of family and friends. Still, she prayed faithfully that God would one day give her a husband who shared her passion for Jesus and for ministry.

As Jonathan prepared to leave Croatia for Germany, a member of his father’s church suggested he consider seminary. At first, he dismissed the idea—but as he prayed, he realised the peace he felt about moving to Germany was gone. Instead, he found peace when he prayed about theological study. He stayed. Seminary eventually led him into pastoral ministry, and there he met Danijela. They married and, following God’s call, moved to the town of Novi Marof to plant a church with a vision: to see a vibrant, biblically grounded, caring community where people truly know Christ and make Him known.

But the road was not easy. For decades, in the 51 miles between Zagreb and Varaždin, there had been no evangelical church. In a culture where many identify as “Christian” only by tradition, the idea of a personal relationship with Jesus felt strange—even unnecessary. Jonathan and Danijela felt the weight of loneliness. Yet, they persevered, building friendships, serving their neighbours, and trusting God to bring fruit.

And He has. Today, a growing fellowship meets in Novi Marof—a witness where there was none before. From Sunday gatherings to youth camps, from street outreach to mentoring teens leaving the foster system, the gospel is touching lives and changing futures.

The Vukovs’ story is just one glimpse of what God is doing across Europe through national church planters. Only 2.5% of Europeans identify as evangelical followers of Jesus—less than one-tenth the rate in the United States. In towns and cities across the continent, there are countless “Novi Marofs”: places with no living witness of Christ.

That is why ECM exists: to equip, connect, and multiply disciples of Jesus through church planting. Jonathan and Danijela remind us that when ordinary believers respond to God’s call, communities can be transformed.

Your partnership in prayer and giving makes this possible. As the Vukovs search for a permanent meeting place and face resistance from local authorities, would you stand with them? Pray for open doors, perseverance, and joy. Pray that many more Croatians would come to know the hope of Jesus.

This is the relevance and urgency of church planting in Europe: where there was once loneliness and silence, a living church now stands as a beacon of hope.

A New Church in the Heart of Budapest

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 10:28:02 +0200

On the Buda side of the Danube, a new church is taking root in one of Europe’s most strategic centres—a place filled with university students, cultural influence, and tomorrow’s leaders.

On the Buda side of the Danube River, in the heart of Hungary’s capital city, a new church is taking root. This is more than just another Christian gathering—it is a vision to see lives transformed at one of Europe’s most strategic crossroads. Buda, home to a vibrant university community and Hungary’s future leaders, is also a hub of culture and influence across Europe. What happens here echoes far beyond its city limits.

At the centre of this work are Tamás and Virág Győri, faithful Hungarian believers who embody the strength of national leadership. With a heritage of faith stretching back ten generations, Tamás carries the legacy of pastors who persevered under the weight of Communist oppression. His ministry experience spans Bible publishing, large-scale Christian events, and decades of discipling others. Virág, with her editorial leadership and gifts in communication, brings warmth and relational depth that draws women, youth, and families into genuine community.

Together, they are leading this new faith community with a vision for multiplication—reaching students, discipling the next generation, and welcoming seekers into the hope of Christ. Already, fruitful ministries are emerging, with programmes that nurture women, inspire young people, and grow discipleship at every stage of life.

This work, though rooted in local leadership, is strengthened by strategic partnership. Training, financial support, and prayer from ECMI-USA are what make it possible for Tamás and Virág to dedicate themselves fully to this mission. It is a beautiful picture of the body of Christ—nations standing together for the sake of the Gospel in Europe.

The growth of this new church plant is already something to celebrate. In a city known as a cultural centre of Europe, God is raising up a community of hope. Tamás and Virág are faithfully leading, the Spirit is moving, and the future is bright for the church in Budapest.

Sharing love in so many ways! (part 2 of 2)

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 13:55:01 +0200

We are hearing from our workers all the time about the ways in which they are showing God’s love to those around them. Here are a few short excerpts from their update letters.

Last week we had our church plant’s first ever weekend away! Pedro gave the talks, and Ana prepared a prayer time centred in Colossians, as well as a Bible study session. It was a rich time of fellowship, prayer, and feeding on God’s Word.

Pedro and Ana Fonseca, Portugal

We have been accepted to be the pastoral couple of a church in Saint Brieuc. The church has around 95 members and has been growing in recent years. Jack will mostly focus on preaching, training preachers and leading the church councils, whilst Sarah will focus more on youth, ecumenical relations and some preaching/teaching.

Jack and Sarah Winterburn, France

As Lithuanians, we are famous for our summer pink soup festival at the end of May. We invited our neighbours and friends from around to taste the soup and meet Shalom House folk. We had over 30 people, and what a feast it was! We had some good conversations about faith.

Rita and Vidas Rimkus, UK

Our recent trip to Spain included:Three days of journeying in the car to get there / Two days in a hotel near Valencia where Lausanne Europe will hold a gathering for over 200 people from around Europe this October / Three days of meetings with key European leaders in our local town / Jim preaching in our local church / Catching up with a few friends (but not as many as we would have liked) / More sorting and packing up things in our house / Early arrival in Roquetas de Mar, Almeria, for ECM leadership meetings and conference preparation / A week at ECM’s international conference with over 500 ECM missionaries, staff, and supporters / 24 hours back in our house to pack the car / Two intense travel days back to Northampton.

Jim and Christine Memory, UK

We had our Spiritual Transformation Retreat in English with people flying in from Norway and the Netherlands to attend. It was an amazing privilege to see God move in the lives of these people and we all left the week transformed in one way or another.

Jules Mercer-Wilson, Spain

To read more stories like this, come here .

Sharing love in so many ways! (part 1 of 2)

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 17:21:57 +0200

We are hearing from our workers all the time about the ways in which they are showing God’s love to those around them. Here are a few short excerpts from their update letters.

I asked a (university) friend if he wanted to continue reading through John (we’d done one session already). My friend couldn’t, but another friend happened to say: “I’ve been meaning to read that book!” So he and I began to look through the first bit of John. And from there, I suggested we make it a regular thing. I think we’ve had three sessions so far.

Jacob in Warwick, son of Andy and Andrea Warner in Spain

I am now running a support group for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. There is a huge need for this ministry. Sadly, abuse can happen anywhere, but I’m particularly noting the need for many of the immigrants who are coming from Latin America.

Rachel Feliciano, Spain

At our youth away day we had 24 young people from four different churches. We split them into five groups and each had to recreate at least one scene from Mark’s Gospel. It was amazing to see how creative they all were. One group used Lego, another used playing cards and yet another drew a comic strip.

Sarah Deacon, Slovenia

We will travel to Ukraine to meet and encourage the existing ECMers, and very excitingly, to interview four new couples for membership of ECM. Three of these couples lead the church plants that have grown up from the volunteer centres that ECM has been supporting for almost three years.

David and Linda James, Austria

I have linked up as a buddy to a Kurdish family from Turkey. The parents do not speak Dutch, and I do not speak Kurdish nor Turkish. I have started introducing the father to Psalms in Kurdish on YouTube. We communicate using a phone translation app. I use this method at the local asylum seekers’ centre for Arabic, Turkish and Vietnamese.

Roland Smith, the Netherlands

To read more stories like this, come here.

God's own words of love

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 10:26:14 +0200

It was love at first sight for Ana; it was …interesting for me! I’m not talking about the day we met – that was love at first sight for me. I’m referring to The Mark Drama. The Mark Drama is the Gospel of Mark performed with all the events registered by Mark and all of Jesus’ words in 90 minutes, “no props, no costumes, no professionals, just Gospel.”

By Carlos and Ana Freitas in Portugal

The Mark Drama is an evangelistic tool that churches and other Christian ministries can use and it is used a lot throughout Europe in a Christian Union environment at universities. It has a lot of advantages as it drives the group (church or GBU/IFES/ CU) to have conversations with institutions to try and get a more neutral space. Of course, the performances can happen in a church, but it might be easier to invite someone to a public school, to a university canteen or a city council space. It’s also an easier invite when you ask a friend to come and see a play for free and one where you’re taking part!

The Mark Drama is also a discipleship tool. The team that performs it must memorise the order of events in Mark’s Gospel. It takes Christians to the Bible to wrestle with memorising events, but also thinking more profoundly about the Jesus that Mark wanted us to see; the Son of God. We had a team of 14 young Christians and today, two are in ministry and most of the others are committed Christians serving their local churches.

In 2013, Portugal had the first set of performances in Coimbra, with GBU (IFES, Christian university students). At the time Matt George was the GBU secretary and he invited Andrew Page, the author of The Mark Drama, to Coimbra to direct a performance.

Also in 2013, Ana and I were in our first year in full time ministry with the church in Eiras, Coimbra and with the GBU in partnership with Matt and Louise. Ana translated Andrew Page whilst he directed the first team of Christians in Coimbra performing The Mark Drama.

Ana has coordinated a few more performances, always with GBU students. That is until 2023 when our church, Eiras Coimbra, went ahead to start a church plant in the city. In March 2024 we had the first performance of The Mark Drama by a church group, the mother church Eiras and the church plant, Comunidade da Graça Coimbra.

“ECM has provided the network and the missionaries for the work of the gospel in Coimbra...”

Tina Turner sang “what’s love got to do with it?” and you’re reading an ECM magazine and might think what part did ECM have? Well, Matt and Louise George were ECM Australia missionaries in Coimbra. Matt had attended the ECM Biennial where Andrew Page was invited to come and share The Mark Drama. Ana and I are now ECM Ireland missionaries in Coimbra. ECM has provided the network and the missionaries for the work of the gospel in Coimbra. It’s amazing to think that all who support ECM and its missionaries through prayer and giving are part of what God is doing through His people for His glory.

To find out more about what is going on in Portugal, click here.

Another new worker for Portugal!

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 08:56:00 +0200

Meet Rui Cadima and his family, who will be heading back to Portugal to minister in their hometown.

Rui is from Coimbra, a city in the central region of Portugal. It was there that, at the age of 23, he turned from atheism to Christ during his nursing degree. He is married to Raquel and they have two daughters: Miriam (3) and Ester (1). Rui and Raquel moved to the UK in 2019 where Rui attended the Cornhill Training Course, receiving ministry training to serve the Lord in Portugal. During this time, Raquel started her career as a nurse at St. George’s Hospital. They were at Emmanuel Church Wimbledon where Rui first served as a ministry trainee and later as the youth worker. In September 2025, they return to Coimbra to join the church they were originally attending where Rui will serve as a church worker while Raquel continues her nursing career.

“I dream of a future where people all over Coimbra call upon the name of the Lord Jesus and are saved.”

As a whole, Portugal is a Roman Catholic country with many people not knowing what the actual gospel is. Many hold to a belief that God exists but can’t articulate their views from the Bible due to a widespread biblical illiteracy. When it comes to evangelical churches, there aren’t many of them and they tend to be small and lacking in people trained to teach and preach the Bible. This is why there is a big need for full-time gospel workers who can also train others to do Bible-based ministry. To that end, Rui will seek to serve the local church through word ministry and discipleship, while also looking to cooperate with others in Coimbra and further afield to offer training on how to handle and teach the Bible.

Find out more about Rui or connect with him here.

Think God might be calling you to ministry in Europe? Contact us and find out more!

One Answered Prayer at a Time

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 08:54:56 +0200

Jeroen and Marieke Baks have lived in Romania for 15 years. Over the years, they have seen God work in many different ways. It is exciting to see how he is working in the lives around them right now, with many prayers being answered.

Recently, Marieke started a women’s group focused on sharing what’s going on in life, and praying for those things. A number of the women have seen family members come to follow Jesus.

It is interesting for the Baks to observe the change and fruit that has results from the prayers in the group. For example, one woman invited her sister and brother–in–law to a church service. “It was the perfect moment,” Jeroen said. She gave her life to Christ after that.

“It’s really special to see how it is their own decision and how God moved in their lives. You can see how it was not just to please their sister,” Jeroen explained.

One man was recently diagnosed with a serious medical condition – there was nothing else the doctors could do, so they sent him home, near death. In this crisis, he realised that he needed to make things right, and gave his life to Christ.

The church continued to pray for his condition. His condition affected mostly his lungs and breathing, so he needed an oxygen tank. After getting baptised, he was able to quickly stop smoking and began to walk. He became motivated to make changes in a helpless situation.

“He is still weak, but he is improving. It is a miracle; he is a changed man,” Jeroen said.

As the Baks family moves into the summer, they are optimistic that God will continue to work and answer prayers in their community.

Together with their church, they are planning two summer camps – one for church kids and their schoolmates and another for gypsy (Roma?) children from the surrounding areas.

Already, there is a lot of enthusiasm from the parents in the Baks’ son’s class. One father is particularly excited about the church’s programs and encourages the other parents to send their kids.

The other camp for Roma children is a special event in addition to their weekly kids club program. Every week, they host a kids program in one of the four surrounding communities. During the summer camp, all the children will come together. They are expecting about 100 children.

“We want to show them God’s love because they are a rejected group,” Jeroen said. “And that’s what they need. God’s love.”

It is exciting to see how involved their church is in all of these things, from prayer to discipleship to evangelism. They are actively

training young people and are seeing encouraging results in involvement.

“The church is active. It’s not hard to find helpers,” Jeroen said.

Praise God for the changing lives in this Romanian community and many answered prayers. May the Baks family see many more prayers get answered this summer! And thank God for this church that is so eager to serve and reach out to their family members, community and beyond.

"They may be broken, but God sees the potential”

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 15:38:00 +0200

"Everyone told us not to live in the Plattenbau flats. There was crime and no other Christians. But we thought, ‘If no one else wants to live there, then that’s the place for us,’” Kseniya said.

A little more than 15 years ago, Kseniya and Christiaan Kooiman, young and fresh out of Bible school, arrived in Schwerin, Germany. Like for most students and recent graduates, searching for a budget–friendly flat presented a challenge.

“Everyone told us not to live in the Plattenbau flats. There was crime and no other Christians. But we thought, ‘If no one else wants to live there, then that’s the place for us,’” Kseniya said.

From the start, the Kooimans were intentional in getting to know their neighbours. They began by having parties and events, especially for kids, outside and in the streets. But eventually, they, along with their teammates and neighbours, realised that they needed a building to serve the neighbourhood better and in more ways.

“So we bought a building. But it was very broken, and even needed a new roof. The renovations took three years,” Kseniya said. “But we saw this as a symbol for the people around us. They may be broken, but God sees the potential.”

And the Patchwork Center was born. Fast forward some years later, and the community center is now established. The Kooimans are able to pass on the torch of their work. It is now being run by two new Christian workers, two new local believers and one person from the Ukrainian church that meets in the building.

For the last few years, as they realised that their time in Schwerin was coming to a close, Kseniya and Christiaan have spent much time in preparing the new leadership team, making sure that the transition goes smoothly. And now that the transition phase is coming to an end, they are beginning to focus more on their new neighbourhood.

Nearly a year ago, the family moved to a new city in Eastern Germany. Again, they went to God with open hands, letting Him lead them to where He wanted them to be. Again, the Kooimans have settled in a place people warn about, but they are not without hope.

“We did not want to move here, to Hagenow, but it stayed in our thoughts,” Kseniya said. “But one day we came for a walk, and we saw all of the people on the streets. We knew this was the next place for us.”

Unlike their start in Schwerin, they moved to this town knowing no one. Leaving a community where they were known and trusted and arriving in another place as strangers has proved challenging, to say the least.

But they are looking forward to what God has planned for this very compact neighbourhood.

“We have gotten to know a girl from a very troubled family. Everything seems to be going wrong for her. But our love and compassion for her keeps growing,” Kseniya said. “We know that if this one girl comes to faith and we see change in her life, then it is enough.”

They are still getting to know the culture, or rather, cultures–the ethnic dynamics here are different from their previous community. They are learning about the needs and hurts, as well as the hopes and desires of the people. They are asking God, “How do we bring all of these many nationalities together? What might a church look like in this place?”

Christiaan and Kseniya are praying for a team to join them. With their experience, knowledge and wisdom gained from their time in Schwerin, they are hoping to find new workers to disciple and teach in this kind of pioneering ministry.

Let us pray with them, that the Lord will bring new workers and other believers to this neighbourhood. Let us also pray for the Kooiman family, that they be encouraged, strengthened and begin to see what a church might look like among their neighbours.

Prague: From the Giant Peach to the Hobbit House.

Sat, 23 Aug 2025 17:27:18 +0200

After leaving Prague 20 years ago, I am returning, this time as a missionary with ECM NZ. And it will be a little different. We went there as a family. But now my kids have all moved out and mostly live in Wellington. My wife passed away from the same malaria that almost took my life. And so I return alone.

However, I return to a very creative community of missional people, many of whom live together in the forest, where they have built a tiny house for me. It’s actually a round hobbit house, built of love and stone by Ukrainians, embedded into the hillside.

I am excited about living in it and reconnecting to the community and participating in the ecosystem of ministries that have arisen in my absence, including a number of businesses in printing, hospitality, and catering, currently employing about 100 people, a quarter of whom are recent Ukrainian refugees.

Our four years of ministry in Prague were an exciting time for us. People flew from around the world to join us and when our little communist-era “panelaky” apartment could no longer accommodate the 13 people who lived there, we rented a huge house we called the Giant Peach.

One of our events at the Giant Peach for networking global missionaries was called “Bohemian Rapture”. We launched it by renting a go-cart track so mission leaders could meet each other in a different way. First place was awarded to the Kiwi Mark Pierson from Cityside Baptist in Auckland.

The worship installation event we did that weekend at the Giant Peach was really quite memorable, including an opera singer from Germany, a VJ multi-media team from Switzerland and culminating in a surprise wedding in the backyard under a tree decorated with paper cranes. The couple who were married, Derek and Amy Chapman, actually lived in our panelaky as singles, got married in our back yard and are now considering moving into our community in the forest. Derek once co-wrote a book with his father called “The Five Love Languages for Children”.

Our Friday night pizza parties at the Giant Peach launched a number of churches. And the Giant Peach was able to host a Bible translator who we called “the Scribe in the Basement”. His name was Sasha and we started a church together in a heavy metal club in Prague that eventually moved from pub to pub and still exists today as a pub church.

Certain parts of the new Czech Bible were released as evangelistic events. The Pentateuch had its own release party in the Czech Parliament. The New Testament was read aloud by famous actors in downtown Prague, and by pedestrians who joined the queue to help the reading, which took about 19 hours. The Song of Solomon event I remember fondly, an event with actors in a lush bedroom and the book illustrated with the sensual paintings of Marc Chagall. (Including the one below).

I greatly value your prayers as I return. One of my goals will be to help Prague become a Europe-wide mission training base for micro-churches and also digital ministry. There is so much potential.

The words of the late Czech president Vaclav Havel, in his 1990 New Year's address to the nation, have inspired me.

“We are a small country, yet at one time we were the spiritual crossroads of Europe. Is there a reason why we could not again become one?

By Andrew Jones, New Zealand candidate for Prague

Originally published on Missions Interlink — May 8, 2025: https://hail.to/missions/publication/9n9qAXd/article/ET4b4Fi

Equipping God’s People: A Journey We’re Honoured to Share

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 13:42:00 +0200

Not just doing mission—but equipping others for it. Discover how one couple walks alongside ECM leaders, helping them grow and thrive in their calling across Europe.

As our ministry focus with ECM has evolved over the last ten years, we have generally found ourselves walking alongside others. God has made clear to us that our calling is not just to do mission, but to equip others for it. Over the years, that word has come to life in countless ways—and today, it shapes every part of what we do.

For a time, we worked in partnership with Navigators, and they introduced us to the term ‘Mobile Alongsider’, which captures well the essence of the roles we have within ECM. Through both Zoom and face to face visits, we can provide support, encouragement and counsel.

The pivotal role in ECM’s field ministry structure is the Cluster Leader. These leaders walk alongside field workers in their cluster, providing ministry guidance, accountability, helping them connect into networks, empowering & developing them, and ensuring there is good member care. Essentially, as mobile alongsiders themselves, they are equipping the workers in their cluster.

In her Field Ministries Director role, one of Kate’s responsibilities is to ensure that this equipping is also happening for the Cluster Leaders, and she works with a small team (including Andrew) to facilitate this. Our travel often involves visits to Cluster Leaders, such as our trip to Portugal, Spain and Ireland back in January, where we did a number of Personal Development Conversations with leaders there. This face to face time is so valuable.

At its core, equipping is about seeing what God is doing in a person’s life and joining him there—calling out gifts, nurturing growth, and cheering people on as they step into God’s bigger story. We count it a privilege to be part of that process every single day.

—Andrew & Kate, ECMers in Bulgaria

Sharing Jesus—and Growing Leaders—at Austria’s Summer Camps

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 13:35:00 +0200

Austria’s summer kids camps aren’t just for children—they’re shaping young leaders for a lifetime of serving Jesus. Discover how each camp becomes a mission training ground.

Every summer (July in Austria) kids camps are happening - one big highlight of the year. The main goal is to share God’s love with the kids in many different ways. But it’s not only about the kids who come along to camp. It’s a great way to equip believers to lead others closer to Jesus.

Prior to camp, we sit down with each leader to look over the goals and vision for the camp. This also sets and clarifies expectations and gives me (Georg) the chance to talk about their faith journey. This gives me insight into where they are currently at spiritually.

We also hold planning and training sessions to get ready for the program. We use this time to ensure that the leaders are well equipped for the task of leading on camp. We remind the team of the vision and the primary goal of sharing the hope of Christ Jesus. We aim to use this time to create unity within the team and create a sense of togetherness in God’s mission.

During camp, it takes a whole team to execute the planned program. There are whole group teaching times, small groups and activities which include craft and games. Camp is such a unique context of intense focus of running a program where kids and leaders spend a lot of time together. We see leaders grow personally and spiritually as they rise to the challenges of running such a camp. These challenges include extreme weather conditions, tiredness amongst both leaders and kids as the camp, pressure on team relationships and managing a range of camper behaviours.

Once camp is over and everyone has recovered, the leadership team comes back together 2 months later in September to reflect and debrief. This is a 2 day period of celebration and reflection as we give thanks to God for what he has accomplished in and through the leaders. We count it a privilege to be equipping our fellow Austrians to share the hope of Christ Jesus.

—Georg & Sandra Hammerle, ECMers in Austria

Reaching Romania’s Children with the Gospel of Grace

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 13:27:00 +0200

Many Romanian churches welcome children, but few are equipped to teach them the gospel. Discover how one couple is changing that—one training, one heart, one child at a time.

My husband Adi and I (Jennifer) serve in Timisoara, Romania, and whilst Romania is considered a very religious nation, with over 90% of the population of 20 million classifying themselves as Christian, to many this may mean little more than a cultural identity or simply attending a church, rather than an active relationship with the living Jesus Christ.

From our personal experience over many years, we saw that whilst Protestant Christians were keen to have children as a part of their church, many lacked the training and resources needed to effectively reach children in their communities with the gospel. We also saw that in many places children were only taught a moral gospel of being ‘good boys and girls’. We were struck with the need to encourage and equip local Christians to teach children the true gospel of grace, how to become followers of the Lord Jesus and to grow in their faith.

It is our aim to encourage and equip local Christians to share the gospel of Jesus with the children of Romania, so that all children through every part of Romania get to hear and respond to Jesus. Whilst we are based in the city of Timisoara, through our partnership with AMEC (Child Evangelism Fellowship) our ministry extends to other parts of Romania, even to Romanians living throughout Europe via online training. Most recently we were encouraged to be able to assist in three local AMEC conferences, over three Saturdays in three different counties. The theme was "Beyond Words", challenging and equipping children's workers to find ways to teach Biblical truths in engaging and interactive ways. Our prayer is that those who attended were encouraged and equipped to use new and creative methods to teach the Scriptures to the children in their churches and communities.

—Adi & Jennifer Grocott, ECMers in Romania

God’s Word on Campus: Training Bible Study Leaders in Portugal

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 13:13:00 +0200

What happens when students learn to lead others in God’s Word? In Coimbra, Portugal, 15 young leaders are now better equipped to serve on their campus—and in the church for years to come.

The University Bible Group (GBU) with which we work in Portugal, catches people in a very formative stage of their lives. For those who are not followers of Jesus, it is a time where they are often open to exploring faith as an adult, and for those who are followers of Jesus, it is a time where they are able to be matured in their Christian faith and witness as they receive Bible teaching and training through GBU activities.

One of these key GBU activities is weekly Bible study groups in faculty groups. In Coimbra, the city in which we work, several leaders of the GBU Bible studies expressed a lack of confidence in how to lead it, and how to read the bible with others. In response to this, last year, we ran a Bible study leaders training course over 5 x 2 hour sessions during the semester aimed at equipping students with tools to be able to read the Bible well, and be able to lead others in it.

Some key focuses of the training included helping students understand the historical and literary context of a bible passage, how a Bible passage fits within God’s big story of salvation centred around Jesus, and how to make Bible studies welcoming and inviting to non-Christians. These were new concepts to many of the students.

The take up of the training was more than we had anticipated, with 15 students (half of the GBU Coimbra group) taking part, most attending with eagerness to learn and apply what they had been learning.

These are now 15 students who are now better equipped to handle God’s word and love those they lead, not only in the context of GBU Bible studies, but more significantly, in their respective churches across Portugal and beyond, now and for their lifetime.

—Samuel & Emily Loa-Ferreira, ECMers in Portugal

Equipping for Abundant Life

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0200

Liz and Alex Preotesea-Wagner have a God-given vision of seeing the young people of their town transformed by God. They plan to reach young people through a social enterprise using wood-work and other creative opportunities, broadening their horizons, fostering creativity and teaching the reward of hard work!

None of us can disagree that our God is a God of transformed lives!

He is the healer, the one who brings hope in the darkest of places. As Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

In the small town of Cernavoda, Romania, a generation of young people are growing up with narrow horizons and little hope. For many young people, home is not a happy place, they struggle through school - if they attend at all - and have few trusted adults in their lives. Options for free-time activities are scarce, and future opportunities are limited. Human trafficking is a significant challenge in the area, with teenage boys and girls at-risk of involvement in this deceptively alluring activity.

God has given us a vision to play a role in equipping the young people of Cernavoda for a better life. We want to see them experience the joy of expressing themselves creatively. To know the pride of crafting something beautiful with their own hands. To train them with skills for honest work, to prepare them for their future.

We also want this social enterprise to offer young people a safe place with trustworthy people - a place they can see the witness of Jesus' followers. We would love to see this become a place where discipleship can begin. And, through God’s grace, for their lives to be transformed, for them to know the abundant life that Jesus promises.

Only God can bring this project to life. Only He can bring the hope that is so desperately needed in this town, and if transformation is to be seen, it is only through the Holy Spirit at work.

These young people are the present, and future of Cernavoda and they are the present and future of the local church. Pray with us for God’s work in their lives, His revelation of each next step in this project, and His light to be shone into the darkness.

—Liz and Alex Preotesea-Wagner, ECMers in Romania

Groninger Cake in the Court Garden

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 12:06:11 +0200

The best conversations are often the ones you didn’t plan. This is the story of how an open Bible—and a slice of Groninger cake—caught the attention of a young man in Austria.

It was Monday afternoon at 2:30 when I met a friend in the Hofgarten, the court garden of Innsbruck. She’s 31 and came to faith about a year and a half ago. At first, we met regularly to talk about the Bible and her questions about faith. Over time, we became friends. Now, when we meet, we catch up on life first—and deeper conversations naturally follow. With spring arriving, we’d taken to meeting outside in this beautiful garden.

We laid out a picnic blanket, brought some drinks and snacks—grapes, cocktail nuts, and slices of Groninger koek (a traditional spiced Dutch cake)—and settled into a sunny spot on the grass. “How was your month in the Netherlands?” she asked me. “And what’s new with you?” I asked in return. An hour passed easily in this way. Then she asked, “Wasn’t there a king who knew which woman was the mother of the baby?” That brought us to 1 Kings 3, the story where God tells Solomon he can ask for anything he wants.

As we read, I noticed a young man nearby watching us from a short distance. I confess, I felt a bit annoyed—distractions always seem to come when God's Word is opened. Still, I tried to stay focused on my friend, who was struck by Solomon’s humility. Instead of asking for something selfish, Solomon first praises God, then asks for wisdom to lead the people. God is pleased and promises to give him everything else as well. We recognised the connection with another verse we’d recently discussed: seek first God’s kingdom, and everything else will be added to you.

While we were talking, we hadn’t noticed the young man had come closer—he was now standing at the edge of our blanket. “What are you reading?” he asked. We glanced at each other. “The Bible,” we replied. He sat down cross-legged, leaning in. “Really? Is that the source of your joy?” We nodded. “Yes.” My friend added how much joy and fulfilment she had found since meeting Jesus and leaving her old life behind.

He pointed at the grapes. “May I have one?” We laughed. “Of course! And help yourself to more. Come sit with us.” He didn’t sit just yet, but told us he no longer had anything to do with the church. He’d been raised in it, but was now more into spirituality. My friend asked directly, “Does that make you happy?” He hesitated. “Sometimes,” he replied. Later, she said she sensed the question had unsettled him.

We talked for a while—about the spiritual world, about how God is the greatest, the Creator who made him and loves him. “Really?” he asked. It seemed to move him. We spoke about spiritual leaders like Buddha, and I explained that Jesus is different—He is the Son of God, risen from the dead. “That can’t be said of anyone else,” I said. “So shouldn’t we take His words seriously?” That seemed to catch his attention—he hadn’t thought of it that way before.

We moved on to talking about wisdom and truth. “Then you should read the book of Proverbs,” said my friend. “The king we just read about wrote an entire book full of life lessons.” She flipped through Proverbs, reading verses aloud here and there. Later, she said she’d been searching for one in particular but couldn’t find it. I had the sense I needed to “rescue” her and admitted, “I often find Proverbs a bit tricky.” She immediately passed me the Bible: “Then what should we read?”

I smiled and encouraged her—it wouldn’t surprise me if one of those verses had touched him deeply. He was so open, so hungry for what we had to share. Then he reached for the cocktail nuts. “May I have one of those too?” “Yes, come sit with us,” we said again. “You know,” I added, “there’s a story in the Bible about someone asking that same question: ‘What are you reading?’” As he finally sat down and helped himself to a snack, I turned to Acts 8 and read aloud the story of Philip and the Ethiopian official.

Oh, how I wished I had a children’s Bible with pictures—so I could point and say, “Look, there goes Philip,” and “See the chariot in the distance?” He sat there, leaning forward, deeply interested. I listened to the words myself as I read. What a powerful story: Philip spent his life telling people the good news of Jesus. It was so important to him that he spoke to this one man personally—and the Ethiopian went on his way full of joy, the same joy we had there on our picnic blanket. And that final verse: Philip continued on to other cities, proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus. So special.

We asked the young man, “Do you have a Bible yourself?” “Yes,” he said. “Some Christians gave me one in Vienna once.” We encouraged him to start reading it again—because that’s how you get to know God! He stood up, clearly encouraged and motivated. We stood too and held out our hands to say goodbye. But instead, he asked for a hug. And of course, we gladly gave him one.

We didn’t want him to go, really. But he did. He shared his name so we could pray for him. And if God wills, we’ll meet him again someday.

From DOS to the App Store: The Story of La Parola

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 15:40:46 +0200

Richard Wilson never imagined his software would reach 40,000 monthly users. Read how La Parola has grown to serve the Italian church for three decades.

In 1995, many of us were just barely thinking about getting our first desktop computer. Some were perhaps already fluid in word processing. And the more youthful of us were on the cusp of discovering Paint, and to our parents’ dismay, the color printer.

But Richard Wilson, having seen the potential of his computer to help with language learning and Bible study, had just released the first version of La Parola, an Italian Bible study software. Little did he know how God would use this humble idea to serve the church throughout Italy.

La Parola (originally named Bibbia) began by overcoming incredible memory challenges: The Bible alone needed 4 megabytes; DOS had only 640 kilobytes available. For the technologically challenged among us: The Bible required more than four times the memory, not to mention the programming and indexes needed to run such a program.

Today, after 30 years of additions, rewrites and updates, La Parola mobile apps serve 40,000 people every month! Everyday, 15,000 unique users access the site with 50,000 page views. The programs and apps include searchable Italian Bible translations, dictionaries and commentaries.

What a blessing such a tool (actually many tools in one!) is to Christians and church leaders today. To be able to have the Word of God in one’s own language and in Greek or to be able to get quick help in understanding tricky passages right in our pocket can easily be taken for granted these days.

But if you were to ask Richard Wilson, he could tell you how much effort, patience and grace was needed to make such technology available. Praise God for giving him the skills and diligence to maintain this software in a rapidly changing world.

Thank God for these 30 years of ministry behind the computer screen, bringing the Word of God into the hands, heads and hearts of thousands. Let’s pray that La Parola continues to develop according to ever-changing technological advances and that it grows in service to the Italian church.

Hope in the Post-Atheist Neighbourhood

Fri, 16 May 2025 12:20:38 +0200

In Germany’s post-atheist northeast, many have never met a Christian. Yet through everyday presence and simple faith, hope is taking root — one conversation, one life at a time. Read the full story and be inspired by God's power to save.

In the northeast of Germany, especially in the region of Mecklenburg, we regularly meet people who have never seen a Bible. Many have never even met a Christian. Christianity isn’t rejected here — it’s simply unknown. This is what we call a post-atheist context: generations growing up without any exposure to faith, church or Scripture. Religion has disappeared from everyday life, and people have simply stopped asking the big questions.

Especially among the poorer population, this has created a deep sense of disconnection — not just from the church, but from hope itself. Many people struggle with literacy, isolation and long-term unemployment. In this context, traditional forms of evangelism don’t work. Flyers, events, even preaching often miss the mark — they feel disconnected from daily life.

That’s why we take a different approach.

We live in the neighbourhoods we serve. Some of our church plants meet in small buildings, others meet wherever space is available. But the real community happens in everyday life — on the street, between apartment blocks, in conversations at the bus stop or over a shared meal.

We now have four active church plants, with hopes to start four more in close partnership with the Freie Evangelische Gemeinde in Northern Germany. Our approach is incarnational and contextual: we try to be present in people’s lives, to understand their world, and to let the gospel speak in ways that make sense in their reality.

And slowly, something is happening.

People are beginning to discover faith — many for the very first time. In our four existing church plants, we celebrate baptisms every year. These are not people coming back to church — they are people encountering Jesus for the first time in their lives.

What we see is incredibly encouraging: a faith that is warm, generous and deeply practical. It’s not shaped by religious tradition or theological jargon, but by real-life experience. This kind of faith — simple, honest, close to life — has something to teach us as mission workers. We are learning alongside the people we serve.

We’re looking for people who want to be part of this — through prayer, through encouragement, or maybe even by coming and joining the work. And we love to share stories of what God is doing here.

Even in the most secular corners of Europe, the gospel is alive. And that gives us hope.

— By Gerrit van Dijk, ECM worker in Germany

Growing a Church that will Last for Generations

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 11:30:00 +0200

“What an amazing impact ECM has had in this region with six local Austrian Christian leaders building on the foundations laid by ECM missionaries. Thank you – they couldn’t have been here without your support!”

Have you ever been to a Christmas market? They are extremely popular in countries like Austria. But while they have “Christ” in their title, they are mainly about shopping, eating, and drinking.

While most people in Austria still need to meet Jesus, God is at work there! Here’s an example of the long-term impact ECM has had there, thanks to the prayers and gifts of people like you.

The first ECM missionary arrived in Austria’s Vorarlberg province way back in 1965. Seven years later the first evangelical church was planted in the town of Dornbirn. Then, for 30 years, it was led by a series of ECM workers from the UK, the Netherlands and Australia. These were people sent, prayed for and funded by people like you.

In 2012 something really exciting happened. The church appointed its first Austrian pastor! Stephan Pohn was someone who had been discipled and trained by that string of ECMers, especially Ian Wooley from Australia.

And today? This church is now Austrian- led and self-sustaining. A thriving team of ECMers strives to train and disciple young Austrians into leadership. The church wants to both plant new churches and strengthen other churches so that they can reach out effectively within their own increasingly secularised and ethnically diverse society.

British ECM worker David James says,

“What an amazing impact ECM has had in this region with six local Austrian Christian leaders building on the foundations laid by ECM missionaries. Thank you – they couldn’t have been here without your support!”

But God isn’t only at work in Austria. ECM has more than 250 workers (increasingly ministering in their own nations) spread across some 25 European countries. Whoever they are, wherever they are from, they are there because of the generous support of people like you. Thank you

Find out more about ECM ministry in Austria