Bringing the Reformation Back to Europe
This week we organized the 4th annual retreat for Reformed and Presbyterian church planters in Europe. We were blessed with the fellowship of 16 men from Germany, Italy, Turkey, Hungary, Romania, Poland and Scotland meeting together for a few days in the city of Sighisoara (Transylvania, Romania).
We are thankful not only for the fellowship we had during the retreat, but also for the plans we were able to make for our cooperation. This year we have made significant progress in our planning concerning three areas:
A. Ecumenical Relations Between our Churches
Our purpose is not to create an organization or denominational superstructure, but to foster ecumenical relations and cooperation between our existing churches. Our fellowship started as an informal alliance of church pastors, but moving forward we will plan several projects on an European level that will involve not only the pastors but also other groups of people from our churches: young people, wives of pastors, as well as the church plants themselves.
B. Theological Education for the Next Generation of Pastors
We need more church planters in Europe and for their formation we need a school that would provide adequate training. Church planters on difficult mission fields do not require a lesser education that pastors serving in established churches. However, sending seminary students to study in the United States is not always feasible and that is why we are exploring the options we have in Europe for quality theological education. We have identified one such option and we are further exploring how each of our local churches could integrate practical training with that school’s theological curriculum.
C. Reformed Book Publishing
Translating and publishing Reformed books has been an important part of our work as church planters. We need to do this in different languages, but we can consolidate a part of this operation with one central European publishing house for all of us that would work with national translators in the publishing process. This way we would be more efficient and productive.
I am encouraged to see the progress we have made in our cooperation since the first retreat we organized in 2017. We ask for your continued prayers and support as we seek to bring these projects to life. We pray that our unworthy efforts will be used by our Lord for the progress of His Kingdom.
Warmly in Christ,
Rev. Mihai Corcea