Donnerstag, Juni 03, 2021

June Update

 Dear Friends,

I’ve had some little visitors at the Pastorenatelier lately. I’ve noticed that one of the barbers next door has recently been bringing his kids to work with him. They play in the shop, in the car and out on the sidewalk. So I invited them in to color and play. Awiwan (8) said that their mother hasn't left them, she just wanted to take their baby brother and live in another house. They are very cute and well behaved. Schirach (4) doesn’t speak German very well but that doesn’t keep him from babbling on and on to me. Please pray for this immigrant family in crisis. They fled Aleppo, Syria 5 years ago and have suffered so much loss already in their lives. May the Lord have mercy on them and draw them to Himself. 

What a joy it is to celebrate Pentecost at the end of  the Easter season - the coming of the Holy Spirit (Emanuel, God with us, 2.0) and the birth of the Church.  This is the underlying theme of the diversity training and workshops that Sue leads.  Through the Spirit we are united, although not the same, and through the Spirit our differences our reconciled.

When the day of Pentecost came they were all together in one place … All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.  Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under Heaven … each one heard them [the Apostles] speaking in his own language.  Utterly amazed, they asked:  “how is it that each of us hears them in his native language?  Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the part of Libya near Cyrene; victors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs – we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”  Acts 2: 5 - 11.  

Many thanks to those who prayed for the Intercultural Team Building workshop in May.  As Greater Europe Mission staff, not only do we work interculturally, but we are increasingly becoming intercultural in our membership.  Within the Frankfurt staff there are about 8 broad cultures represented.  It was an intense, lively, and constructive conversation.  Please continue to pray for Sue’s involvement in these workshops.  Pray that as GEM staff we would be models of the  Spirit’s unifying and reconciling work.

Considering diversity, we want to share a video interview with our close colleagues, Dan and Elly. They have been working alongside of us and also within our church, primarily with refugees.  Please pray for their many contacts, relationships and conversations.  They will be returning to their sending country for a one-year home ministry assignment.  We will sorely miss them.  Pray that they would be refreshed and blessed during this time. Video interview link.

Praise God with us that E. has begun a solid long-term job.   Many of you have prayed for him in the past, and this is truly an answer to prayer.  Because of his immigrant background, past failures, and struggles with depression, it has been many years since he was able to obtain a solid job.  Pray that God would grant him success and draw E. ever more closely to himself. 

Blessings!
Jason and Sue