‘God sent them to us’
VIENNA, Austria — “It was not our choice to come here.…
Around the World: Evangelizing refugees in Austria and English students in the Ivory Coast, and more quick takes
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Around the World is our monthly rundown of news briefs, links and quotes from Churches of Christ all over the globe. Got an idea for this column? Email Erik Tryggestad at [email protected].
Featured photo (above): Bill Warren baptizes Victor Kouakouble in Abidjan.
AUSTRIA
SEEFELD — Nine Muslims, who came to Europe as part of a wave of refugees from the Middle East, traveled from this small village in western Austria to Salzburg to meet with a Church of Christ there. They made the three-hour trip regularly for three months. Recently Bill and Marie-Claire McDonough, who work with the Salzburg congregation, went to Seefeld to launch a Bible study group there.
“We are hoping to show them how they can meet together, using study guides we provide, and continue their study even when we can’t go to be with them,” the McDonoughs said in a recent newsletter for their nonprofit, Partners in Progress. “Please pray for this new effort.” See partnersinprogress.org.
COLOMBIA
MEDELLÍN — A church-planting team in Colombia’s second-largest city recently celebrated its fourth anniversary with songs of praise and baptisms. The four-family team, assembled by Great Cities Missions, moved into a facility near apartments that serve as shelters for people recovering from drug addiction and refugees from neighboring Venezuela.
“By the grace of God, it has been four years of blessing and victories,” church members said in a social media post. See greatcities.org.
Christians worship during a fourth anniversary celebration in Medellín, Colombia.
CÔTE D’IVOIRE (IVORY COAST)
ABIDJAN — Eight workers with Church of Christ Plants traveled to this French-speaking West African nation to work with students in the World English Institute program, which teaches English using Scripture.
About 200 students signed up for a reception with the teachers, but only 51 were able to attend. “The students who did show up traveled for many hours within the city limits just to get to the hotel conference room,” team members said. “All future receptions will be conducted in big city central locations so our students will have easier access to us.”
The team conducted 71 hours of Bible studies, which resulted in two baptisms. The team worked with the II Plateaux Church of Christ, which will conduct follow-up ministry. The Wynne Church of Christ in Arkansas oversees Church of Christ Plants. See churchofchristplants.net.
Bill Warren baptizes Victor Kouakouble in Abidjan.
SWEDEN
STOCKHOLM — A recent community event, “Sweden Proclaims the Name of Jesus,” brought hundreds of Christ-followers to a downtown park in this Scandinavian capital and gave members of the country’s Churches of Christ the chance to talk about “the Lord’s church, the only true church known to mankind,” said church member Gabrielle Opoku.
“There were a lot of interesting encounters, discussions and debates,” said Opoku, who serves alongside her husband, George, in a small Church of Christ in the Stockholm suburb of Åkersberga. “Prayers and participation are appreciated as we continue. … The work is plentiful but the workers are few.”
George Opoku talks about the Gospel during the “Sweden Proclaims the Name of Jesus” event.
