Dear Partners,
We have some interesting and exciting developments to tell you about.
For several years we have had the vision of starting a different kind of church in Cologne. For lack of a better term we call it a "high church-free church"; a church with liturgical elements providing a flexible structure to worship and allow for creative forms of expression but at the same time be
centered on and filled with the Gospel. We dream of being able to better reach many of our friends (and a sizeable segment of Cologne!) who are well educated, traditional Catholics and Lutherans, have a high regard for asthetics and the arts but have distanced themselves from the church.God has led us to begin taking concrete steps to make this dream a reality. Please pray for us as we begin meeting with potential launch team members and start a new small group in our home. We are energized but also well aware of the amount of work it is going to take in addition to the other church plants we are mentoring and the responsibilities of being field director. Please also pray that God would provide us with German leadership early in the process.
The church plant in Hennef is growing! On Feb. 24 Paul & Anna Klassen had their first child - Thea. Please pray for them as well as Wolfgang, Petra and their four kids. Pray that God would protect their kids and bless their marriages.Also pray for the city wide "Worship Night" they are planning in Hennef this spring. Pray that the launch team would grow and that they might begin planning "test services" soon. We are thankful to see how unified they are as a team.
Continue to remember Sascha & Anke Ruetzenhof and the church plant in Moenchengladbach. Pray that the launch team would grow and reach a critical mass so that they can move into planning concrete outreach events.
Pray for the Cologne in Motion team in Cologne as they wrestle with the issue of renting facilities. It is difficult to find the type of space they need for a price they can afford. Pray that God would lead them to just the right building. Thank the Lord for the unity that they have on their team. Pray for them as they strive toward multiplication. It would be great if they could have a few leaders selected yet this year to lead a first daughter church plant.
Please pray for the next Consultation for Church Planting on April 14 in Frankfurt. Pray for concrete collaborative, cross-denominational efforts that result in exponential growth in church planting in Germany! If we were to look at that which divides us - we probably would have already given up hope and yet when we focus on the important points that unify us - we see great potential for the Kingdom of God in Germany. Please pray for unity and discipline as we meet. Pray that God would help us to focus on the big picture and the immense need in this great country. May His will be done and His kingdom come to Germany!
Roy has decided to take a break next year from his studies to live and work in Alaska. Ah to be young again! Please pray that he would finish his sophomore year well and be able to earn enough money this summer for his travel and settling costs. Pray that God would use this next year in his life. Roy's desire is to have a clearer understanding of where God is leading him in the future.
The last we heard from Sam he was in Colorado Springs looking for work. Please pray for a good job and that God would protect him and reveal Himself to him (and Heidi) in new and unexpected ways.
Your missionaries to Germany,
Jason and Sue
