Some 40 theologian and pastors from various traditions met together to discuss power. Various participants shared their research and perspective on power. Although the perspectives differed, it was a very fruitful time of sharing research and learning about how power affects our relationships, for good or evil. In fact, it is impossible to live without power, since power enables us to get things done. Yet, very often, Christians experience power as something negative, since we contrast it with humility.

I was reminded of God’s omnipotence, and how He uses it to direct all of history towards its God-given destiny. And how Jesus used his power to give Himself over for our salvation. Power and humility can go hand in hand. This conference was a great encouragement to teach ETF students about leadership and power, to learn how to avoid the abuse of power, and how to use it to serve others.

Thanks for praying for this and other prayer requests.

Check our prayer page for updated requests.

Just baptized ...

It was the first Sunday of advent. Although the Dutch don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, it was a special service of thanksgiving, since two people were baptized. One was a young lady, daughter of good friends of ours, who is in her last year of high school. The other one was an older man, recently saved after years of turmoil in his life.

After some time of turmoil in the Maastricht church, with quite a number of people leaving, it renewed our joy to celebrate the Lord’s grace through these baptisms. Keep on praying, since we are definitely involved in a spiritual battle!

For more prayer requests, please check our prayer page.

I was a bit nervous as I drove to Brussels for the second time in a month. It was the day of the workshop, where I would speak on Christian Identity to a group of Christian CEO’s, large and small, directing Christian relief and development organisations all over world.

Workshop on Christian leadership and identity

Would my study on leadership and Christian identity connect meaningfully with their world?

I arrived a bit early, and sat in the back of the meeting room, tasting the atmosphere of the business meeting with about 28 people. After a coffee break and meeting some people it was my turn. Although the talk had a bit of theory about leadership, I could tell it began to make sense when our discussion turned to a study of Ephesians. Fascinating to see how Paul’s theology in Eph. 1-3 is in some ways very strong anti-empire rhetoric, while in Eph. 4-6 Paul encourages Christians to live their lives in the Roman empire as Christians, modelling Christ in their daily lives and relationships.

We ended with lively discussion about the Christian identity of these organisations, and the tension that the sometimes experienced in interacting with the European Union for their subsidies. It turned out to be a very fruitful meeting together. Thanks for praying.

Click here for more prayer requests.

Relaxing after a stimulating presentation in the chapel

The first week of September is always a highlight of the year. All the doctoral profs and students meet together to share their research. It’s a great learning environment.

This year, we had presentations about church growth movements in Sierra Leone and Brasil, spirituality, leadership and missionary effectiveness, to mention just some of the themes.

This year was Jack’s first time as ‘doctoral faculty’ instead of as student, an interesting switch of roles. He also presented a workshop on ‘becoming a fluent writer’ to help other students in developing good argumentation in their research and writing.

In these busy weeks, we are sustained by your prayers. Thanks so much for upholding us. Here’s our prayer page for up-to-date prayer fuel.

Jack’s book on leadership has been published and the first few copies have sold. We’re praying that it will be a ministry to many who will read it, and that the Lord will use it to open new ways of service.

Curious? Check it out at the publisher’s website Wipf & Stock or on Amazon.com (for Europe, also available thru Amazon.uk.co or Amazon.de).

Why not let people know you like it on Facebook, LinkedIn or on your blog!?

Here’s a basic description:

Where did Paul find leaders for his new churches? How did he instruct and develop them? What processes took place to stabilize the churches and institute their new leadership? This book carves a fresh trail in leadership studies by looking at leadership development from a group-dynamic, social identity perspective. Paul engages the cultural leadership patterns of his key local leaders, publicly affirming, correcting, and improving those patterns to conform to a Christ-like pattern of sacrificial service. Paul’s own life and ministry offer a motivational and authoritative model for his followers, because he embodies the leadership style he teaches. As a practical theologian avant la lettre, Paul contextualizes key theological themes to strengthen community and leadership formation, and equips his church leaders as entrepreneurs of Christian identity. A careful comparison of the Corinthian and Ephesian churches demonstrates a similar overall pattern of development. This study engages Pauline scholarship on church office in depth and offers alternative readings of five Pauline epistles, generating new insights to enrich dogmatic and practical theological reflection. In a society where many churches reflect on their missional calling, such input from the NT for contemporary Christian leadership formation is direly needed.

Our family on Father's Day this year

After a long and full summer, it’s time for blogging again …

Empty nest, that’s not a new experience for us. And yet it is. Laura has now finished college, except for a few more weeks of writing on her thesis (on how leaders handle disagreement and dissent). She found a part-time job with Youth for Christ, Netherlands, and is taking some leadership training with the Navigators (Naventure).

Rebecca started advanced nursing studies, and moved away to Ede, where she will attend Christian University Ede. She will probably travel home many weekends, so we’ll see her regularly yet. She’s making new friends through the Navigators, and will be starting a research project with 3 other students to assist a care institutions in various managements functions. Her minor for this semester is Family Relationships.

Pat left for Easton, PA on Sept 6, spending 4 weeks with her parents, who are in their late 80′s and are increasingly in need of help. Pray for time to make good memories, and wisdom to focus on the right things. Also, pray for provision for the plane tickets (more needed in the near future) and other expenses.

Jack holds down the fort, fending for himself … well, that’s debatable, since he gets many invitations for dinner from (church) friends. But he hopes to finish some writing projects before classes start again.

Still don’t know what to pray for us? Check our prayer page, which is regularly updated.

I returned from a very interesting and intense conference in Amsterdam. Some 120 theologians from all over the world gathered to share their research in practical theology. I met some very interesting people who are also working on leadership, often in very different contexts so that you can learn a lot from one another.

At the Amsterdam Conference in Practical Theology

We’re now getting ready to leave for another conference, our annual field conference with our mission Biblical Ministries Worldwide. This one takes place in southern Germany, near Stuttgart. It is a new place for us all, and looks to be very beautiful. This conferences focuses on recharging our spiritual batteries, and we’re very much looking forward to the time of fellowship, singing and being refreshed in the Word.

Thanks for praying.

Steven had just returned from Kenya. His internship in a large church was quite an experience. He preached and did Bible studies as planned, but many other things were added African style, such a attending several funerals and weddings, and speaking at one wedding (but not as the main speaker!). He discussed theology with the pastor during the various long trips on the road. An unforgettable experience and worthwhile exposure to ministry in another culture.

Jack with Steven after he returned from Kenya

Not every internship offers such challenges, of course. Others served in churches or in church-planting situations, in youth work or Bible translation. One student completed a research project on how the small groups functioned in the church where he interned, using the skills he had learned in Jack’s course on “Christian Education and Discipleship” last fall.

Most students returned with renewed zeal for serving the Lord and using further studies to that end. We keep praying that the Lord will thrust them out into the ministry of His choosing when the time is right.

What is to pray for? Check this page.

A response to a discussion about when a church is too small in a Dutch newspaper. Perhaps you can consult it online at ND.NL:

Barentsen – Wijkgemeente Korinte gesloten

Listening to testimonies from our younger staff members

Monasteries are numerous in Belgium. They reflect a time when the Roman Catholic church was powerful and influential in this country. Now, many monasteries are in decline, focusing on a ministry of hospitality, so that these monasteries become conference centers of sorts.

It is in just such a monastery that the ETF seminary held their annual retreat. It was refreshing to look over the accomplishments of the past year, to realize how much had been done, and how the Lord had provided. We also spent time discussing the challenges that future graduates would face in a quickly changing world. ET’s aim is to equip leaders who are biblically grounded and culturally alert, so that they are able to lead believers in these changing times. What does that require of our teaching and our curriculum? Searching questions that keep our hearts focused on our main task.

We also spent time considering the financial challenges that the ETF is facing these months.

Please pray for us to keep our focus clear and for the Lord’s daily provision.