Kingdom Idea

Thoughts on Europe

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Our Latest Contact Info

Please use the following info to contact us anytime (within reason)

Home mailing address:
2 Willowfields Rd.
Nuneaton, Warwickshire
UK
CV11 6PR

Home phone: +44 2476 641162
Steve mobile: +44 7515 519932
Michelle mobile: +44 7709 644237
michelle@kingdomidea.com

Office mailing address:
17 Bulkington Rd.
Bedworth, Warwickshire
UK
CV12 9DG

Office phone: +44 2476 643415 ext.222

Canadian Mailing address:
339696 Presquile Rd.
Kemble, Ontario, Canada
N0H 1S0

To partner with us please click here

Thanks for the Support

Christmas is always a busy time for everyone. This year has proved to be a unique Christmas for us as a family and for Michelle's family particularly. Michelle's mom, Anne passed away Friday, December 7. Some of you have joined with us in prayer for her over the last two years as she battled cancer and other related illnesses. The physical pain is over for Anne but the emotional pain for Michelle, her brother and sister will linger for a bit longer. We as a family had some small miracles as we were able to get on a plane the next day and fly to Canada to be with Michelle's other siblings. Please pray for Michelle.

On another note we are thankful for your partnership with us over this last year, it is true partnership that helps us do what we do in the different nations of Europe. Helping establish leaders and churches for the coming revolution of the church in Europe. More to follow shortly.
Talk to you soon.

Romania, Slovakia, Macedonia, Ukraine

Things have been going forward here in Europe, not like we can speak for the whole continent but we are trying to do our part. Over the past few weeks just over 180 leaders met in Slovakia, Romania, Ukraine and Macedonia to be challenged, stretched and continue their leadership/spiritual growth at leadership conferences. Senior leaders, church planters, children's leaders and emerging leaders continue to take new ground for the Kingdom in these nations as they are encouraged not only to grow themselves but to grow the people around them so that the Kingdom work is shared. Europe has had many revolutions over the centuries, the latest being the fall of communism just over 15 years ago. Today, Europe still needs revolution, a revolution of leaders rising up that might not necessarily be called pastors but are equipped in their personal leadership to influence their sphere of life with the 'Goodness' of the Kingdom. A book that is greatly influencing our thinking besides the Bible is called "The Shaping of Things to Come". Many great principals are shaping some new thinking which will influence new actions so that people of all sorts truly embrace the 'incarnational' nature of Jesus and His Kingdom in their communities. The book is posted over to the left of the page under the books list, check it out.

We as a family are facing a few struggles at the moment. The kids are great and love life which we are thankful for. Michelle's mom though continues to suffer with cancer and other related issues and we are working through some difficulties with our UK immigration visa which has created alot of hassles. So we are asking that you pray specifically that these two situations will have quick resolve.

Finances are a constant in all our lives. We are continually trusting God for our monthly support in order to do the work we do with the church in Europe. We are thankful for those that have contributed to projects and our monthly support over this past year and the entire time we have been here. As this is the time of the year when we are trying to shore up our 2007 budget, we find ourselves with certain financial commitments unmet, therefore we are asking you to consider a tax-deductible gift towards our living budget. As long as it is received before the end of December it will count towards your 2007 charitable giving.

Thanks for your thoughts, prayers and friendship

PS. Please click here to get our latest mailing address and home phone number

Thoughts on Europe

Providing a perspective on Europe that most are unfamiliar with...please watch

The above video is ©2007 Next Level International
Any copy, download or use of link is not permitted

An International Affair

We have just returned from Krakow, Poland after 7 days of prayer, connection, learning, strategizing and planning for the future, it was a total blast. Connecting with people from Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand and from many different nations of Europe was very effective for the Kingdom going forward in Europe over the next few years. Our theme at NLI is 'Open Source' where we have stated our vision and values and declared that we are open to input and help into pushing this vision forward. Our personal belief is that we are a piece of the puzzle that God is using in Europe to build the church. Today there is still a great need to raise up leaders and plant churches all across Europe. We heard from many of our European friends about how they are pushing forward. Hearing stories from places like Macedonia, Serbia, Estonia and Spain among many others was exciting and desperate at the same time. The huge need for people hearing the gospel which in turns means strategies for planting many churches is the greatest need at present so that the European church can respond effectively to many of the social needs facing society. Would you continue to believe that God is going to transform the face of Europe by using effective leaders and strategic relationships so that HIS Kingdom can go forward.

On a personal note we want to put forward a couple of prayer requests:
1. Michelle's mom is quite ill fighting cancer, Michelle and her family need prayer for wisdom and healing
2. We are continually on a journey to raise the required resources to do what Jesus is asking us to do in
Europe...please pray that more partnerships come on board and we raise the required funds.

Thanks for your continued prayer and partnership in seeing the Kingdom advance across Europe, things are going forward.

Steve & Michelle

New House Address & Phone Number

Our new house address and phone number is below:

2 Willowfields Rd.
Nuneaton, Warwickshire, UK
CV116PR

+44 2476 641162

The Beat Goes On.....

We haven't put a post up in a couple of months which we apologize for...
The heartbeat of life though has continued to be full since June, lets get caught up.

June - Steve in Spain bringing leadership to a training conference with the Salem church leaders and spouses. It is great to be working with a group of motivated leaders who are preparing themselves and their younger leaders for future church planting efforts.

July - The kids finish their schooling year near the end of July and were able to experience a great kids camp in the UK. This provided opportunity for Steve and Michelle to celebrate their 15th anniversary in Rome. Seeing that Michelle loves Italian food this was a real highlight personally and for Michelle to see another nation that we are building relationships in so that leaders will be developed and churches built up and planted.

August - This month ended up being one that had planned and unplanned events. The unplanned event that landed was having to move house. As some might remember we are trying to have a Base of Operation, this process has proved more difficult than first expected and we are still believing God that the needed funds will continue to come in. We are very grateful to those of you that have contributed so far. Since we have been unable to purchase something as of yet we thought that we might be able to stay in our present location but it was sold and we had to move quick so that our planned events for the last two weeks of August would not be hindered. We had two weeks vacation planned, so we worked really hard to move and get the house settled asap so that we wouldn't come back to boxes.

September - The kids are back at school, Michelle is in the UK and Steve is in Canada connecting with churches and making plans for the fall and next year. Into October and November different nations like Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Macedonia will be on the schedule.

Thanks for your continued prayers and remember to check back here over the fall for more updates and pictures of our Kingdom friends in Europe and hear what God is doing. For now click here to see some pics taken over the summer....talk to you soon.

House project

Please see if there is a way you can help us establish a 'base of operation' in the UK

Download the original project letter by clicking here

Download the latest info by clicking update

Thanks

"So how about that weather"

For the last 5 days there have been unusual amounts of rain and it doesn't seem to be letting up for the next few days. In a conversation yesterday with a couple of English 'chaps' we came to find out that they were even getting bothered by the amounts of rain that have fallen. The thought is that a seasoned Brit would be used to this weather, but everyone has their breaking point. It has been almost 4 years since we have lived in the UK and I guess we kinda thought that we would be used to the sometimes nasty weather by now but this past week is proving otherwise. So...over the last few days we have been able to reflect about why we are here and take stock of some of the sights and sounds.

In The Middle of Nowhere
Back in the month of April Steve had the chance to visit the little village of Veliky Zahitz, located in central Ukraine. The significance of the visit is that this little place in the middle of nowhere is where Vasil Melnichuk, Steve's grandfather escaped from to find peace and safety in Western Canada. You might think that escape is to strong of a word so let me tell you a little story that will possibly bring understanding to one family's saga that still continues in many families today throughout Eastern and Central Europe when someone moves away from cultural faith. The picture you see to the right is the road leading into the village so you get the idea that this is a place not threatened by the outside world. For generations the Melnichuks worked the surrounding land and went to the Orthodox church. Steve's grandfather, Vasil or William in english became a true believer in Jesus when he was in his 20s and from that moment on his life became very difficult. In most of the nations of Europe to be of a particular nationality means that you are directly tied to a religion so to be Ukrainian, you are Orthodox, to be Polish, you are Catholic. So when you choose to leave this church the majority, your family included look at you as an outsider now, you have actually abandoned your culture. This is what happened to my grandfather. His father challenged him, threatened him and eventually kicked him out of the home saying that he never wanted to see him again. My grandfather was labeled a "Schtunda" which in rough translation means an outcast and had to escape the village and surrounding community because his life was now being threatened. My grandfather was presented with a huge choice, either give up on Jesus and stay or keep trusting Jesus and leave all things familiar behind. As I look back on what could have been if my grandfather choice to stay many questions come to my mind like, what would my father turned out to be like, would I ever have existed and many other thoughts of what could have been. I think about William Melnichuk alot, when I was a young guy and he couldn't speak any english but would lay his hand on my head and pray for me hoping that I would be able to make the same brave decisions that he made as a young man brings alot of inspiration to my life. I think I can still here him cheering me on to make a difference in this world. To view some pics of the village click here

The Future and Beyond
The above story is a personal one but hopefully brings some perspective of why Michelle and I have moved to Europe to try and help the church go forward. Many in the nations of Europe face the same criticism as my grandfather did for trusting in Jesus, they are considered to be part of a sect or cult. Many others though have simply abandoned the pursuit of spiritual things all together. Our goal in being here, working with leaders, seeing dreams become realities is that the believers living in these cultures that have experienced decades of oppression and centuries of cultural religion might gain greater influence so that they can make a difference for Jesus among people groups that see Jesus as just an icon, not a living Saviour. Your partnerships continue to help us go forward and we are thankful for that. Please pray for Steve as he travels to Bulgaria and Spain to work with pastors over the next few weeks and please keep believing with us personally as we endeavour to create a more stable base of operation by purchasing a house, $20000 CDN is still needed to see this goal happen. Talk to you soon.