Dale McClellan, Missionary Pastor .

As is often true, there have already been alot of surprises … so many in fact that we can easily say that the greatest lesson to be learned so far is to …

Expect The Unexpected!

From the very beginning we have seen uxexpected losers and winners … being a USA & Italy supporter I won’t linger here … but you get the point …

Expect The Unexpected!

We have had several unexpected calls by the officials … really unexpected … ridiculously unexpected … but I digress … my point is …

Expect The Unexpected!

We have the unusual World Cup ball named, “JABULANI” which means “to celebrate” in isiZulu. The new Adidas ball will be the only one used during the tournament and it is quite … well unexpected! It created alot of controversy early on and goalkeepers & strikers alike were all learning the lesson …

Expect The Unexpected!

Perhaps the most unexpected thing has been the fanatic acceptance of the vuvuzela! This is that plastic horn that produces a loud, distinctive, deafening (many would add annoying) monotone sound. This phenomenon will certainly be a permanent part of World Cup folklore …

Expect The Unexpected!

I am glad that there is another, much deeper application for this phrase …

Expect The Unexpected!

The fact is that in our relationship with Christ we can …

Expect The Unexpected!

Paul reminds us of this reality in Ephesians 3:20, ‘Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.’

With God we can …

Expect The Unexpected!

He will always surprise us with good things!

His provision for us is abundant, His plan for us is perfect and His presence abides with us in all things and at all times!

The World Cup will soon be history and we will be left to analyze just how much the unexpected impacted the games.

Our walk with Christ endures, so we will always need to anticipate the unexpected …

Forget the vuvuzela … our call is to lift up a voice of praise!!

Let’s go for it!!

The fascination with family trees, family genes & family roots has actually created quite an impressive market response.

After our identical twin grandsons were born 18 months ago we surprisingly discovered that we actually have several sets of twins in our family history.

Genetic Connections – a thing of great interest to many these days!

Recently we have had an extended time with family and I found out that my ‘habit’ of randomly singing one phrase of the same song over and over and over again seems to be a ‘genetic connection’! My sister apparently does the very same thing!

Ruthanne has an ‘itchy back’ issue and has sought many solutions – change of bath soap, different detergent, special creams – all to no avail. Recently she found out that her mother and her maternal grandfather both had … ‘itchy back’ issues!!

From eye color to gimpy knees, from a touch of humor to a tender heart … I can thank ‘genetic connection’!

Genetic Connections – a thing of great interest to many these days!

I do find all of this fascinating really!

The family link can not be forgotten nor can the DNA be dismissed!

There is however a much deeper ‘genetic connection’ that challenges me!

My spiritual genetic connection!

The Bible says that we are ‘born of God’, rightfully called His sons & daughters, created to be like Him so that others can see Him in us.

I so much want to be like Him, to do what He does and to live like He wants me to live.

Amy Grant captured this reality so well in her song, ‘Father’s Eyes’. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmOEJXNtF0E

I am my Father’s son and that ‘genetic connection’ is mine to develop and nurture – starting today … and lasting a lifetime!

So eyes on Him … day by day … I am working on that genetic connection!

Genetic Connections – a thing of great interest to many these days!

1. Tell me a little about the history of the camp, its origination, when and how you got involved.
The European Youth Camp began in August 2000 under the leadership of Missionary Chad Phillips. Parker Christian Center joined Phillips in this outreach to the international youth. The first camp was held in Fiesch, Switzerland. This year will mark a decade of the camp’s existence. The goal of the camp is to provide a place for international youth and missionary kids to come together once a year for fun, a chance to meet new friends and spiritual renewal. My husband David and I have been a part of this camp since it began in 2000.

2. Why are you so passionate about this camp?
My best friend in college was a missionary kid. I spent one summer on a short term mission in East Africa and other short term missions. During that time, I developed a passion to minister to and encourage missionary kids.

I desire to equip the international youth of Europe, to help them reach their area of influence for Christ.

3. How has it evolved/changed over the years?
Dave and I joined Chad in 2000 by working as counselors at this camp. In 2003, we started facilitating the camp from the U.S. side.

We broadened the scope of the camp to also reach out to the international youth. When we first started the camp there was a high ratio of MK’s versus international youth. We still have MK’s who attend, but we have a larger number of international youth attending the camp now.

Our vision is to help encourage youth in their daily walk with Christ and equip them with leadership skills that will allow them to impact their community and friends for Christ.

We conducted the camp in French and in English. Last year we had an Italian interpreter. We have hosted the camp in Switzerland, France, Belgium and Austria. We will be returning this year to Austria.

Throughout this decade of reaching out to the international youth, we have made many new lifelong friends.

4. Tell me what’s happening this year at the camp?
This year the camp’s theme is Love Revolution. There will be teaching that will encourage the youth concerning the two greatest commandments from Matt 22:37 Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38. This is the first and greatest commandment. 39. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

As the youth come together for this year’s camp in Gutenstein, we are believing for God to do great things in each of their lives and encourage them in their own love walk with Christ.

The youth compete in various competitions promoting team-building and provides an environment to meet many new friends.

We will train and equip the youth to start a love revolution in their local schools and community.

5. Tell me about the place in Vienna where the camp is?
The camp will be hosted in Gutenstein, Austria this year, just one hour away from Vienna. The facility has a place for hiking, swimming, playing soccer, and playing volleyball. There will be various team building competitions as well.

6. Camp cost?
If a camper registers by June 18th, the cost of the camp is 130 euros. A camper can still attend and pay 140 euros the day of the camp, July 18th. For the sake of meal planning and sleeping arrangements, please let us know when you have committed to the camp by emailing info@iyouthcamp.org. Please fill out the camp form which is available for download at www.iyouthcamp.org.

7. Tell us about the I-Pod contest.
This year we will be giving away an iPod touch to one of the campers. The way it works is everyone’s name will be put in a drawing that attends the camp. If you bring a visitor (someone that doesn’t normally attend your youth group or church) to the camp, your name will get entered into the drawing additional times for each camper brought. We will work with your local youth leaders to help qualify the camp first-time visitors.

8. Tell us about the team coming?
I am excited about the team God has brought together for this summer youth camp mission. We will be bringing 24 from the United States to help facilitate the camp. Of the 24 coming, fourteen of the team are 20 and under. We have a great team from 5 different US cities. One of our team members actually attended the France camp in 2007. It’s great to see how God has used someone who was once a camper and will now be part of the leadership facilitating this camp.

This year we’ll have more in-depth drama and dance classes with the addition of a new team member gifted in this area of interest. We will also add new classes in photography, puppetry, and cooking.

9. Anything else?
If you are still undecided about attending this camp, please come. We have invested many months in preparing to come be with the international youth of Europe. We pray that you will not be disappointed with the things we are planning for you.

Pastors, if you have international youth in your church (who may or may not be involved right now in your normal church activities), please consider making a personal invitation to them for us. We have invested thousands of hours and dollars to come be a part of this amazing Spirit filled event. Can you help us get the word out to all international youth? Thanks in advance for allowing God to use you to help communicate this event to all international youth.

The founder, Chad Phillips, and family will be joining us this year at camp. Come have a great time with us in Gutenstein, Austria 18-23 July. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at info@iyouthcamp.org.

www.iyouthcamp.org

The train from Koln to Mainz went thru Koblenz and traveled right alongside the famous Rhine River.

This mighty river continues to be both strategic and significant in every way.

The hills are dotted with magnificent castles from another time and the valleys are filled with vineyards and crops.

Because it is beautiful in every season, it is an enduring attraction!

The lush green it produces in the spring, the refreshing cool it provides in summer, the spectacular colors it presents in the fall and the majesty of winter that you can so powerfully see, are all irresistible!

Every expression is amazing in it’s own way!

However, the most obvious thing you notice is that it is a … ‘life-giving presence’.

Everything thrives in the river’s presence … crops, animals, businesses and people!

The Rhine River above all else is a … life-giving presence!

In my case, the Rhine brought me to … life-giving friends as well as a life-giving church … and because of that I felt spiritually refreshed and personally renewed.

I was reminded of what Jesus promised in John 7:38, ‘He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water’.

In reality, we are called to be a ‘life-giving presence’!

To allow the ‘river of God’ to flow into us and out from us so that others can feel spiritually refreshed and personally renewed in our presence!

Let the river flow … both the Rhine in all it’s beauty and the river of God in all it’s power!

This is the cry of my heart … let the ‘life-giving presence’ of the river flow!!

As a relational network we understand how important it is to encourage connections and establish covenant that will serve our leaders well and provide them with the support they need.

Standing together and staying together are powerful initiatives that we want to honor!

Our great desire for this retreat was to create an opportunity for these things to happen and to bring renewed relational strength & a fresh touch of His presence … for every person, at every level.

We have seen the faithful hand of God at work among us & we are very grateful!

Already thinking about next year!

Blessings,
Terry

It was everything that we could have hoped for … and more!

Lots of sun (thanks God), incredible food (thanks Yuri) , exceptional cappuccino (thanks Bruno), life-giving conversations (thanks everyone) and … even more!

We ended our night listening to sweet music (thanks Chris), sharing amazing stories like only international church leaders can and simply enjoying being together!

Photos will soon follow (thanks Mike)!

We have found our home … this is going to be a fun addition to our FEIC network!!

“This is an incredible opportunity, as it will open more doors to build relationships with the women in the district,” said Jerry and April Foster, directors of the ministry. “This will enable us to invite the women to a safe and private place and will help facilitate more openness in conversation and avenues of ministry.”

April Foster and her team of women volunteers want to have girls over for tea, Bible studies, English and computer skills classes, counseling, dinner parties and other events.

“The apartment is large for a European apartment, with a kitchen, bathroom, dining room, living area, and two large bedrooms” said Jerry. “However, it does need a lot of work including new floors, a fresh paint job, and some door and tiling replacements. We have small work teams coming every weekend through the second week of May to help us get the apartment up and running.”

For more information about Breaking Chains Network see:
www.breakingchainsnetwork.com or contact: jerr@breakingchainsnetwork.com or april@breakingchainsnetwork.com

Reijo’s honesty proved to be pivotal moment for the church. After a meaningful time of prayer, Reijo surrendered the project to God. “Peace followed confusion,” explained Reijo. “It was not my project anymore, but God’s. Now, He was in charge… And when I look back, It was from that moment onward that good things started to happen.”

What started to happen was actually a new work in downtown Antwerp called ‘Lighthouse Cafe’, a joint venture between Lighthouse Community Church and another Christian worker in the city who had started a kindergarten.

The seeker sensitive cafe is a monthly outreach, which produces new contacts in the city. The group has grown from a handful to an average of 30. “In January, five people came forward for prayer, something that does not often happen here,” says Reijo.

In addition to the monthly event, the Lighthouse continues to have a weekly small group meeting at home.

“I am really encouraged to see how God’s work in the lives of people moves forward,” concludes Reijo. “People have started to open up, take more active role and commit to the group. And they are open and hungry to learn more about God. We sense this year will be year of growth. Not only in quality, but also in quantity. We want to lead the group deeper into the presence of God and experience the good things He has for each of them. A glimpse of this we have already seen, but we are thirsty for more!”

Although All Nations Together in Antwerp (ANTIA) has ceased to exist as a church planting project, the group is now in a transition and building phase to become The Lighthouse, a community church. Lighthouse Cafe Antwerp is a monthly outreach and Lighthouse Fellowship is currently a weekly small group meeting.

“If ANTIA was the cocoon, then Lighthouse will be the beautiful butterfly,” says Reijo today, with renewed hope. “The time we invested in developing ANTIA wasn’t wasted, but serves as a solid foundation for future development.”

For more info see:

http://antia-online.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Antwerpen-Belgium/LightHouse-Cafe-Antwerpen/52649684966

I remember as a kid that Easter meant getting dressed up (putting on the dreaded tie that my mom loved and I despised), wearing new shoes, going to church, eating a wonderful meal, having an Easter egg hunt and, believe it or not, getting a baby chick (it was legal then … in fact, sometimes they even dyed them so they looked more Eastery)!

‘Traditional’ Easter … I do love that!

Years later, my Easter traditions remain largely unchanged! I still get dressed up (no more new Easter shoes but I do put on the dreaded tie … in memory of you mom!), always go to church, still enjoy a special Easter meal (preferably centered around lamb prepared by Valerie Evangelides), look for an Easter egg hunt (Thousand Hills Church in the Netherlands & The Hague have a big one) and wish for the chick!

‘Traditional’ Easter … I do love that!

I also love the ‘traditional’ truth that we celebrate at Easter!

God, because of His great love for us, sent His Son to live among us and then to die for us, so that thru Him we could have abundant, eternal life!

That message is more than ‘traditional’ … it is eternal!

Recently, I was thinking about an old ‘traditional’ song entitled, The Love Of God’. This great song, which was written by Frederick M. Lehman in 1917, is rich in meaning and it’s message still has great significance in our world today.

“The Love Of God”

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell
It goes beyond the highest star
And reaches to the lowest hell
The guilty pair, bowed down with care
God gave His Son to win
His erring child He reconciled
And pardoned from his sin

(Chorus) O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints’ and angels’ song

Could we with ink the ocean fill
And were the skies of parchment made
Were every stalk on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade

To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Though stretched from sky to sky

(Chorus)

Actually, I found this song with classic video clips from past Billy Graham Crusades! If you have time, enjoy this ‘traditional’ moment!

‘Traditional’ Easter … I do love that!

Hope you do enjoy all your favorite ‘traditions’ and greater still … glory in the Eternal truth that forever remains our hope and salvation!

He Is Risen … He Is Risen Indeed!!