July-August 2003 (Year 4, Number 6)
Click on "Read More" to view this issue.
News
Tidbits
1. West Med Youth Congress (Guadalajara, Spain) - 180 youth from France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain discovered together that they aren't too young to respond to God’s call on their lives. God has chosen them! God desires to use this generation of youth to powerfully impact their cities, southern Europe, and the world. New friendships were made, spiritual journeys were deepened, young people were inspired and encouraged, God was worshiped in five languages, and many youth responded to a call to ministry during the week. We can’t wait to see what God will do in across these nations through these youth! (You can read about more congress highlights at the very end of this newsletter.)
Over 200 congress photos
More congress photos and testimonies in 5 languages
2. Quizzing - A 4 nation (and 4 language!) Bible quiz tournament was held during the West Med Youth Congress. The youth studied memory verses from John 1 and 2 and had opportunities to practice together throughout the congress. Then, each country chose 5 youth to represent them in the tournament on the final day. To resolve the difficulties of multi-lingual quizzing, the reference to a memory verse was projected onto a screen. Once the reference appeared, the first person to jump could quote that verse in their own language. It kept the 4 judges (one from each country) on their toes!
After 2 very exciting opening rounds (Italy vs. Portugal and France vs. Spain), Italy and France advanced to the finals. In the end, the team from Italy was victorious. The quizzers had a very enjoyable time and learned several Bible verses in the process. Everyone at the congress received a Christian music CD for their team's participation.
3. Thank you to all who have been praying for Marco! We have talked with him several times since we returned to Palermo. We also went out with him one evening and met several of his friends. He has been reading his Bible and growing more curious about God this summer. He has admitted that he needs to make a change in his life. Pray that in the coming days as we continue this discussion with him that he would come to the point of accepting the free gift of grace that Christ is offering him. As we said before, he could be the key to a movement of God among our friends and neighbors. Don’t stop praying for him!
4. Friends - We have been able to connect with almost all of our friends and neighbors since we returned home to Palermo. It has been amazing to see how God has been at work in their hearts in our absence! We can feel the momentum growing as almost every conversation has led to spiritual matters. Some of our friends have experienced big changes in their lives, they feel that God is far away, and they are looking for answers and direction. Pray that God would give us wisdom and discernment as we continue to point them toward Him.
5. West Med Youth Council - This council met in Fuenlabrada, Spain last month just before the youth congress. Those present were Joel, Joy, and Ruben from Italy, Ali from France, and Zulema from Spain. This was a wonderful opportunity for these youth leaders to get to know each other better, to pray for the West Med youth, to discuss ideas and plans for youth activities over the coming year, and to explore together God’s vision for youth ministry in these nations.
Youth council photos
Answers to Prayer
1. We arrived safely back in Palermo on 12 August despite being told two days before we left the US that our overseas flight had been canceled. Eventually we were placed on another flight and arrived on schedule. Thank you for praying for our safe travel and arrival!
2. Our friends and neighbors here in Palermo have not grown distant in our absence. Instead, they have demonstrated an increased desire to seek us out in order to talk and spend time together. Continue to pray for significant spiritual conversations to occur in the next few weeks.
3. Every church from Scotland to California and from Michigan to Houston was an encouragement to us during our home assignment. Thank you! More than we know how to express, we appreciate this worldwide body of Christ.
4. Thank you to those of you who donated Christian music CDs in the last few months. We gave away over 600 of these CDs during the West Med Youth Congress! Not only will this encourage our Christian youth, but we believe it also has the potential to help them connect with their un-churched friends.
5. There are 6 youth from the West Med who will begin their studies at European Nazarene College in Germany this fall. Two of them are from Italy! Another youth leader from Italy will begin his masters studies this fall at Nazarene Theological College in England. This is a huge answer to prayer as we continue to raise up a new generation of leaders for the churches across southern Europe.
Photos of West Med students
Prayer Requests
1. Pray for Chris and Anndee Stringer as they finalize their preparations for volunteer service in Palermo. Pray especially for the granting of an Italian visa. By the end of the week, we will have submitted all the extra documents that were requested in July, and we will begin the wait for a decision to be made by the consulate. Pray that God would open this door for them. Pray also for us as we search for an apartment for the Stringers and make the final preparations for their arrival in Palermo.
2. Pray for our friends and neighbors here that their hearts would warm to the message of hope and grace in Christ. We feel we have turned a corner in our relationship with many of them and that now is the time to encourage them to discover Christ in their lives. Pray for God to grant us wisdom, words, and the opportunities to share with them!
3. Pray for us as we continue to dream about renting or purchasing a youth center building here in Palermo. Pray that God would enable us to make the right decisions and that he would provide the finances necessary for this large step.
4. Pray for the pastors, missionaries, lay people, and youth leaders who will gather in Schaffhausen, Switzerland for a Prayer Summit at the end of this month. Pray that God would refresh our spirits and grant us a fresh vision as we seek to serve him across southern Europe.
5. We can't wait to see the long-term results and the far-reaching effects that the West Med Youth Congress will have on the lives of youth, on churches, and on the lives of people across southern Europe. The Holy Spirit is moving....momentum is building....youth are responding....and God is going to use them to make a difference in Italy, France, Portugal, and Spain! Thank you for your continued prayers for youth in these countries.
Miscellaneous Notes
1. Nazarene Youth Congress in Houston was an awesome time for us to be fed spiritually and to meet a great group of missionary kids. Thank you to all the MKs for an unforgettable week!
2. Amazingly, there were over 26 different home countries represented at the West Med Youth Congress. Just imagine what God will do across the West Med through this multi-cultural generation of youth that is seeking to be obedient to him.
3. Our next home assignment in the US is scheduled for June 2007 - January 2008. We have already begun scheduling services for those months. If you are interested in having us visit your local church or your district, please contact us anytime by e-mail.
4. A special thank you to our families that so graciously hosted us, loved us, fed us, and let us borrow their vehicles during our time in the US! Thank you also to everyone who hosted us at some point during our travels. We truly appreciate your hospitality and generosity.
5. Pizza + Pasta = Pray for Palermo
With hearts full of expectation,
Joel and Sara Mullen
E-mail: jsmullen@interfree.it
Website: homepage.mac.com/joelmullen
Explanation of some other highlights from the West Med Youth Congress:
1. Prayer labyrinth - On Saturday evening, in place of an evening service, the youth could individually visit 30 different prayer stations set up around the campground. Each station had instructions for an activity such as journaling, writing a prayer, reading a Scripture, quiet reflection, listening to music, drawing a picture, putting together a puzzle, making a cross of nails, etc. It was a wonderful opportunity for everyone to reflect on what God has been doing in their lives through the week and to respond by touching, tasting, listening, observing, praying, writing, etc. It was a unique but meaningful way for everyone to focus on what God was really saying to us during the congress.
3. Ministry projects - One morning, we divided into groups to work alongside the camp staff on 12 different projects around the campground. These projects included painting, cleaning, weeding, digging (through very rocky soil!), sanding, leveling ground, etc. It was a chance for youth to grow together as a community as they offered their time and energy to others. The camp staff was very appreciative of the over 500 "human-hours" of donated labor.
4. Talent show - There was a talent show on the final evening which showcased songs and drama from each of the different countries. What a wonderful celebration of different cultures and different languages!
5. Finally, in our morning devotions, seminars, and evening services, God moved in mighty ways. There were times of praise and worship with songs in 6 different languages. There were inspiring and encouraging seminars on topics such as reflective Bible reading, the global NYI family, missions opportunities, youth leadership, and Bible quizzing ministry. And, Davide and Tanya Cantarella (Moscow, Russia) offered challenging evening messages centered on biblical stories of God calling youth to ministry.
1. West Med Youth Congress (Guadalajara, Spain) - 180 youth from France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain discovered together that they aren't too young to respond to God’s call on their lives. God has chosen them! God desires to use this generation of youth to powerfully impact their cities, southern Europe, and the world. New friendships were made, spiritual journeys were deepened, young people were inspired and encouraged, God was worshiped in five languages, and many youth responded to a call to ministry during the week. We can’t wait to see what God will do in across these nations through these youth! (You can read about more congress highlights at the very end of this newsletter.)
Over 200 congress photos
More congress photos and testimonies in 5 languages
2. Quizzing - A 4 nation (and 4 language!) Bible quiz tournament was held during the West Med Youth Congress. The youth studied memory verses from John 1 and 2 and had opportunities to practice together throughout the congress. Then, each country chose 5 youth to represent them in the tournament on the final day. To resolve the difficulties of multi-lingual quizzing, the reference to a memory verse was projected onto a screen. Once the reference appeared, the first person to jump could quote that verse in their own language. It kept the 4 judges (one from each country) on their toes!
After 2 very exciting opening rounds (Italy vs. Portugal and France vs. Spain), Italy and France advanced to the finals. In the end, the team from Italy was victorious. The quizzers had a very enjoyable time and learned several Bible verses in the process. Everyone at the congress received a Christian music CD for their team's participation.
3. Thank you to all who have been praying for Marco! We have talked with him several times since we returned to Palermo. We also went out with him one evening and met several of his friends. He has been reading his Bible and growing more curious about God this summer. He has admitted that he needs to make a change in his life. Pray that in the coming days as we continue this discussion with him that he would come to the point of accepting the free gift of grace that Christ is offering him. As we said before, he could be the key to a movement of God among our friends and neighbors. Don’t stop praying for him!
4. Friends - We have been able to connect with almost all of our friends and neighbors since we returned home to Palermo. It has been amazing to see how God has been at work in their hearts in our absence! We can feel the momentum growing as almost every conversation has led to spiritual matters. Some of our friends have experienced big changes in their lives, they feel that God is far away, and they are looking for answers and direction. Pray that God would give us wisdom and discernment as we continue to point them toward Him.
5. West Med Youth Council - This council met in Fuenlabrada, Spain last month just before the youth congress. Those present were Joel, Joy, and Ruben from Italy, Ali from France, and Zulema from Spain. This was a wonderful opportunity for these youth leaders to get to know each other better, to pray for the West Med youth, to discuss ideas and plans for youth activities over the coming year, and to explore together God’s vision for youth ministry in these nations.
Youth council photos
Answers to Prayer
1. We arrived safely back in Palermo on 12 August despite being told two days before we left the US that our overseas flight had been canceled. Eventually we were placed on another flight and arrived on schedule. Thank you for praying for our safe travel and arrival!
2. Our friends and neighbors here in Palermo have not grown distant in our absence. Instead, they have demonstrated an increased desire to seek us out in order to talk and spend time together. Continue to pray for significant spiritual conversations to occur in the next few weeks.
3. Every church from Scotland to California and from Michigan to Houston was an encouragement to us during our home assignment. Thank you! More than we know how to express, we appreciate this worldwide body of Christ.
4. Thank you to those of you who donated Christian music CDs in the last few months. We gave away over 600 of these CDs during the West Med Youth Congress! Not only will this encourage our Christian youth, but we believe it also has the potential to help them connect with their un-churched friends.
5. There are 6 youth from the West Med who will begin their studies at European Nazarene College in Germany this fall. Two of them are from Italy! Another youth leader from Italy will begin his masters studies this fall at Nazarene Theological College in England. This is a huge answer to prayer as we continue to raise up a new generation of leaders for the churches across southern Europe.
Photos of West Med students
Prayer Requests
1. Pray for Chris and Anndee Stringer as they finalize their preparations for volunteer service in Palermo. Pray especially for the granting of an Italian visa. By the end of the week, we will have submitted all the extra documents that were requested in July, and we will begin the wait for a decision to be made by the consulate. Pray that God would open this door for them. Pray also for us as we search for an apartment for the Stringers and make the final preparations for their arrival in Palermo.
2. Pray for our friends and neighbors here that their hearts would warm to the message of hope and grace in Christ. We feel we have turned a corner in our relationship with many of them and that now is the time to encourage them to discover Christ in their lives. Pray for God to grant us wisdom, words, and the opportunities to share with them!
3. Pray for us as we continue to dream about renting or purchasing a youth center building here in Palermo. Pray that God would enable us to make the right decisions and that he would provide the finances necessary for this large step.
4. Pray for the pastors, missionaries, lay people, and youth leaders who will gather in Schaffhausen, Switzerland for a Prayer Summit at the end of this month. Pray that God would refresh our spirits and grant us a fresh vision as we seek to serve him across southern Europe.
5. We can't wait to see the long-term results and the far-reaching effects that the West Med Youth Congress will have on the lives of youth, on churches, and on the lives of people across southern Europe. The Holy Spirit is moving....momentum is building....youth are responding....and God is going to use them to make a difference in Italy, France, Portugal, and Spain! Thank you for your continued prayers for youth in these countries.
Miscellaneous Notes
1. Nazarene Youth Congress in Houston was an awesome time for us to be fed spiritually and to meet a great group of missionary kids. Thank you to all the MKs for an unforgettable week!
2. Amazingly, there were over 26 different home countries represented at the West Med Youth Congress. Just imagine what God will do across the West Med through this multi-cultural generation of youth that is seeking to be obedient to him.
3. Our next home assignment in the US is scheduled for June 2007 - January 2008. We have already begun scheduling services for those months. If you are interested in having us visit your local church or your district, please contact us anytime by e-mail.
4. A special thank you to our families that so graciously hosted us, loved us, fed us, and let us borrow their vehicles during our time in the US! Thank you also to everyone who hosted us at some point during our travels. We truly appreciate your hospitality and generosity.
5. Pizza + Pasta = Pray for Palermo
With hearts full of expectation,
Joel and Sara Mullen
E-mail: jsmullen@interfree.it
Website: homepage.mac.com/joelmullen
Explanation of some other highlights from the West Med Youth Congress:
1. Prayer labyrinth - On Saturday evening, in place of an evening service, the youth could individually visit 30 different prayer stations set up around the campground. Each station had instructions for an activity such as journaling, writing a prayer, reading a Scripture, quiet reflection, listening to music, drawing a picture, putting together a puzzle, making a cross of nails, etc. It was a wonderful opportunity for everyone to reflect on what God has been doing in their lives through the week and to respond by touching, tasting, listening, observing, praying, writing, etc. It was a unique but meaningful way for everyone to focus on what God was really saying to us during the congress.
3. Ministry projects - One morning, we divided into groups to work alongside the camp staff on 12 different projects around the campground. These projects included painting, cleaning, weeding, digging (through very rocky soil!), sanding, leveling ground, etc. It was a chance for youth to grow together as a community as they offered their time and energy to others. The camp staff was very appreciative of the over 500 "human-hours" of donated labor.
4. Talent show - There was a talent show on the final evening which showcased songs and drama from each of the different countries. What a wonderful celebration of different cultures and different languages!
5. Finally, in our morning devotions, seminars, and evening services, God moved in mighty ways. There were times of praise and worship with songs in 6 different languages. There were inspiring and encouraging seminars on topics such as reflective Bible reading, the global NYI family, missions opportunities, youth leadership, and Bible quizzing ministry. And, Davide and Tanya Cantarella (Moscow, Russia) offered challenging evening messages centered on biblical stories of God calling youth to ministry.
Posted: Wed - September 3, 2003 at 08:51 PM
Quick Links
Extreme Tracking Web Counter
Statistics
Total entries in this blog:
Total entries in this category:
Published On: Jan 09, 2004 05:11 PM
Total entries in this category:
Published On: Jan 09, 2004 05:11 PM