Old Friends

Received a call this afternoon that Brad and Janna Liebe were in Scotland with their kids and on their way to see us. I knew he was coming over at some point, but had no idea it was this afternoon. It was surreal having them stop by for the evening. Kate and I think the world of Brad and Janna. Brad was the Missionary I was under in Copenhagen back in '01, and is currently the Senior Associate down at First Assembly, in Fort Myers. His church is exploding these days, and now has 4 multi-site locations throughout the city. Brad is a guest speaker at the Master's Conference in England, so he made a special trip to be able to see us in Edinburgh. His church is one of the largest missions-giving church's in the AOG. They received over 4.5 million in pledges this year! Incredible. I love having grown up in a local church that had such a focus on missions, it's been a catalyst for where Kate and I are today.

Brad and Janna were there when Kate and I were going through some difficult times down in Florida. He was also there when I was a love-sick puppy in Denmark because I was away from Kate. It remains a source of continuous mocking for us, but I guess we have the last laugh; we're married now :)

Historic Day for NI

It was an historic day for Northern Ireland. Ian Paisley, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, a staunchly Protestant political party that supports British rule in Northern Ireland; and Jerry Adams, the leader of the political wing of the IRA, Sinn Fein (calls for a united Ireland) have finally agreed to form a joint executive as of May 8. This is a big moment for Northern Ireland, who has remained under British rule since 2002 following the suspension of the NI Executive after accusations were made of Sinn Fein spying at Stormont.

I had the opportunity to intern at the Northern Ireland Bureau in Washington DC for a semester. They are on a public relations feast these days in Washington. This truly is an historic time for Northern Ireland. They have been in an intense bitter conflict since the 1970s, reached a peace agreement in 1998 which soon fell apart and are now on the road to home rule.

Excited to be over here for the event.

campus ministry?

Kate and I met with Joe Zickafoos (Campus Ministries Director in Aberdeen), and John Koschell (European Chi Alpha Director) for lunch today. John and his wife Anita have been supported by Calvary since 1979, and recalls many stories of my Uncle Bob on a missions trip to Munich years back. He even reminded me of a time he was in Minier, Illinois to raise missions support. Many of my father's relatives live in the central illinois area. Obviously, my familial connections run deep with John, so it was really nice spending the afternoon with him.

There is the potential for Kate and I developing a campus ministry here in Edinburgh, with the mentoring of Joe. It would be in relation to Eikon's ministry throughout this city, so it's an incredibly exciting opportunity. We both have such a passion for building bridges with students. I'm not going to dive into too much because it's still very much in the brainstorming process. Kate and I will begin going up to Aberdeen to spend time with Joe and another missionary Sara to start learning, praying, and developing the conceptual framework for what a campus ministry in Edinburgh will involve. Obviously, Tony and Yvonne would be an integral part as well because both have a gift for reaching students (Yvonne being a professor and Tony teaching in previous years).

Please put that on the prayer list for us both.

Orange Parade

Here's some Scottish culture for you.
orangemen

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Kate and I were hanging out in our flat when we heard a mob of drumming getting louder. It ended up being a really long parade along the Mile, so I shot down and got some footage. It's the parade of the Orange men.

I received a quick education from my scottish friends that the parade is highly controversial. I still wanted to show the video, but people are very passionate about this issue. I don't support this march, but it's worth showing to people back home in the States.

Is that ok tony? Apparently my blogging is ruffling feathers on all continents :)

Ohio MC

The European Master's Commission Conference is being held down in England next week. 26 Master's Commission's throughout Europe and a few MC's from the states are getting together. It's exciting to think that I was blessed to be apart of the first Master's Commission in Europe (Copenhagen) back in 2000, and to see it flourish over the past 7 years.

Mike, the director of Edinburgh MC is playing host to a team from Ohio. I had the chance to spend the afternoon with the crew, and they're some cool cats. I found out the head of the program, Drew, grew up as a pastor's kid at Stone Church (south side of chicago), which happens to be where my Uncle Dave has been going to church for 20 years. Their current Youth Pastor is Eric Scotberg, who's a product of Calvary Church.

It's amazing how we're all somehow connected in the world of the Assemblies of God in the US. The team will be in Edinburgh all weekend, so look forward to spending some time with them.

transatlantic conference call

As a start-up church, we've wanted to start having different churches and leaders on the cutting edge of creative and high-impact ministries invest in us as leaders of Eikon. It's always going to be a benefit to us to keep ideas coming that are fresh, and breathe new vision and inspiration into being the most effective team within our relatively small means. In some ways its been to our benefit to be on a shoestring budget because it's forced us to really make well-thought decisions on how best to use our resources.
Mark Batterson, Dave Clark and Joel Schmidgall video-conferenced with our team: from washington DC to Edinburgh. With some minor glitches in the beginning, we worked it out and spent some time bouncing questions off each other and gleaning wisdom from these guys who really have one of the coolest Church-concepts around. They hate the publicity about it, but National Community Church is doing it. I video-taped the entire conference, so I'll get that onto the blog soon, you'll definetely want to check it out, it was really good.

Thanks to the NCC (National Community Church) team for your time, wisdom and partnership to us. Love you guys.

outside perspective

We had a few college students from a University an hour away come to film and interview people at Eikon. They are doing a documentary. We had a great time with the guys.

As they were leaving, Tony let them know that we'd value their perspective on Eikon or Christianity in Scotland in general if they were willing to comment for Eikon's blog.

He responded with this email to be posted to the site within a few hours. Here are his thoughts: His name is Richard Mooney.

"Going into Edinburgh today, I was sceptical about this project that my good friend and colleague Fraser had suggested to me.

A documentary about a new ‘kind’ of church. I was almost certain I was going to be preached at by some all knowing priest. Telling me how I’m going to Hell and how I should live my own life.

Let me give you an insight into the project and myself before I go on any further. The project aims to produce a 20-30 minute documentary about Christianity in today’s society. How we as people accept it and how various churches differ in their approach.

Now looking at Eikon, we see a newly established church that offers a different approach to God and being, whereas we will be comparing this to another Anglican church and its traditional methods in their approach to Christianity. Despite the differences we hope to show that there is the same message from both churches, that there is a God and that he loves you.

I am at a funny place in my life, I don’t know where I’m going, I don’t know what I am going to do once I finish college and I haven’t seriously attended Church in about ten years.

I do consider myself a Christian. A Christian who believes in God, but who doesn’t want to be preached at by priests. I’ve not lost my way or anything, I just didn’t believe that there was a place of worship that I could worship God in my own way and have that way appreciated. Every Church I have ever been too in my entire life has told me this is how we worship God and this is how you should too. I lost faith in Churches, but not in God.

At Eikon, my mind was blown away today. I wasn’t told how to worship God, I didn’t even have to worship God to be there. The idea of ‘come as you are’ and you will not be judged is brilliant. This is how God should be worshipped. In your own way and as you are.

Everyone who is there is open and honest. We’re actually allowed to ask questions. We’re even allowed to disagree and not be judged upon. Your views are respected at Eikon. It’s genuine and real.

I am thankful for my experience today. I hope to come back again soon and I hope that more people come to Eikon.

Eikon is a church with a difference. It’s what society needs."

Good stuff.

Church? no thanks

Joe Zickafous, a campus ministry missionary from Aberdeen and originally from about 7 states in the US came down with the Missouri team this past week. He's got 20 years of campus ministry experience: Ohio State and Missouri State to name a few. He's currently flagshipping a ministry across Europe called "Radiate", a culturally refined version of Chi Alpha.
Joe and I walked around campus the other day to do some interviews. We ended up getting like 20 people to respond to a basic 2-part question: What do you find most interesting about God and where do you go to find it?

The students were really brave, honestly. We're putting together the video for that, but I did find their responses quite interesting.

Of the 20 people interviewed, not one single person said that they would look to Church for responses to their curiosities about God. Not one. Some said books, family, friends, prayer, library, and conversations at pubs. I thought for sure some would consider Church an option, but to no avail.

In the area of statistical research and valid data collection, asking 20 people doesn't really yield compelling results. However, it remains a fascinating observation that at least alludes to some level of truth.

Church isn't even on young people's radar screens.

Most importantly, however, was the response to the first question. It was filled with curiosity, frustration, angst, excitement, anger. Each response had clearly been thought out at some point. Strong emotional responses certainly suggest the issue remains an important issue in their lives. At least the many questions and doubts that have produced unfruitful results.

People may not go to Church anymore, but it doesn't mean they're not any more curious about God.

stylin

I worked with Jeff the first day the team was here and really hit it off with him. He's the real deal and one of the most sarcasticly fun guys I've met in recent times. Come to find out, he's been a stylist for 20 years, and happens to cut hair for the entire Pitt family, including Brad. He doesn't wear it as a badge of honor, but it was interesting to hear him tell stories of knowing Brad before he did any movies, and how he's always been able to connect with him through the years.

Needless to say, Kate jumped on the opportunity to get her hair cut by Jeff, she's in heaven. I asked, but he said my hair was hopeless. I can't stand Jeff now.

Eikon Intern

It's great to have Eikon's intern in, all the way from Plainfield, IL. Sarah Penrod has been attending Calvary since she was zero, and we know her entire family well. She comes from very good stock and she'll be an important part of Eikon while she is here.

She's 18 (though she says she's often mistaken as a 14 yr-old), hates to wear anything that matches, loves muscle cars, country music, and is a talented artist. It's a pretty sweet little deal she's got goin on: she's living at a hostel, in the city-center, for free. She only works 15 hours/week to cover the housing cost. She'll be doing it pretty cheap for the next few months. Sarah is also volunteering at The Forest, which she loves and fits right in with her bright red glasses:), and hugely helping this week with the missions team that's over.

It really is great to have someone make the decision to spend money and time before heading to college to build on an experience like this. This is how the Lord really really opened my eyes to the world and expanded my understanding of the Church and it's limitless capacities to share and experience Christ. What a valuable experience this will be for her and the Eikon team is excited to have her here.

missouri team

A missions team from Springfield, MO came over yesterday. 19 people, ranging from 21 to 72 came to help the ministry of Eikon through a number of areas, including construction, prayer walks, and videos. The leader of the team, Barry Chole, is husband to the writer, Alicia Chole ("Anonymous"), so it's been fun to connect with him because we both really liked that book.

This is a GREAT team. Kate has been the catalyst behind setting everything up and she's been amazing. This is where she thrives, being able to organize and serve this team in so many ways. They are so willing and able to do whatever we've asked of them. There was a group that worked at The Forest today. They are going to be soundproofing a recording studio, painting, dry-walling, reframing windows and a lot of cleaning in general. The people in The Forest have been really excited, interested, and skeptical of a team paying their way to help fix up their facilities. It's become the essence of what Eikon has emphasized: "Church is a verb." Doing, not telling is a simple yet powerful way of connecting with a cynical and exhausted Christian culture.

We also met with Zaheer, the guy who owns the grocer where we live. The team will be doing a number of construction projects on flats that he owns throughout the city. Zaheer will donate all the unpaid labor to Eikon. He's really excited about all the help this team has offered. We're just so excited to see how much an impact a team can make for Eikon and most importantly for the service to the people of Edinburgh.

Pray for the remainder of the week, that the team continues to enjoy their time and sense the impact they are making.

sabbath gathering

Here's the video for this week. Service went really well. It had a great feel to it and we had a healthy number turn out. There were some pastors from Toledo, OH who came out with Michael McNamee to build a bridge between Eikon and their church. We had a great night with them last night, and then shared the service and early afternoon with them today. Everyone really seemed to be excited about the partnership. Beyond a financial committment, they will be sending missions teams over to assist us in any way they can, which is part of what it's all about: Their church is in the process, like so many others these days, of investing in project-oriented missions. It's the smartest way to rebuild the disconnect people have with missions.

It's always a joy to share the ministry with others and be encouraged by their excitment for what Eikon is and will be. We've been getting nothing but incredible feedback for where this early ministry is at.

24

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Europe's High-Priced Life

Read an article in the Economist that showed the newest report on the world's most expensive cities. Western Europe is the most expensive place in the world to live, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit's latest annual Worldwide Cost of Living survey. Europe is home to eight of the 10 most expensive cities in the world, and 14 of the top 20. Oslo, which remains in the top spot, is 32% more expensive than New York—the benchmark for all comparisons. Paris, Copenhagen and London (Edinburgh 2nd most expensive int he UK) have in the last year overtaken Tokyo and Osaka for the next three positions, and most other major EU cities have risen in the rankings over the previous year. The main reason for this has been the relative strength of the euro and sterling against the US dollar and the Yen, although many of the big European cities experienced lower year on year price rises in the EIU-selected basket of goods. New York is the 26th most expensive city to live, which is by far the most expensive in the US.

I asked one of the missionaries the other day what the dollar was when they had arrived roughly 5 years ago. It was $1.40 to 1 pound sterling. It is now over $2 to 1 pound sterling. That means that $2000 5 years ago was roughly 1428 pound sterling. Today, $2000 is 1000 pound sterling. A 428 pound loss/month is enough to make this the most difficult place to raise support in. (Granted I'm aware of gross currency inflation in other parts of the world. Right now, Zimbabwe's currency has gone up 2000%. People could see bread increase several hundred Zimbabwe dollars in a few hours.) In other words, I'm not complaining, but it's reality.

Not only that, but the most challenging to build a church. Post-Christian societies are such unique mission fields. This is not a "woe to us". It's a thankfulness that the Lord has provided and we have so many of you supporting and trusting in the potential of this ministry.

With great cost comes great reward:)

whoops

I worked at The Forest today. It's amazing the amount of people you meet through a five-hour shift, it's really been a good time getting to know this place and the people who love it so much. I'll see people come in two or three times during my shift.

Videos kind of play on the wall most of the day, and our manager put on a totally 80's exercise video for a while. People were loving it, I wished I had my video camera.

One of the girls I had met during the shift told me she had a 7 year-old. So later in the day, the 7 year-old came and in and she had long, blonde hair, and looked like she could have been on the sigur ros video. She was this gorgeous little scandinavian girl. So I approached "mom" and mentioned in front of her fiance, herself and the little girl that she was really beautiful. It was going really well, when "mom" told me she was a he.

whoops.

TGIF

Greg Mundis, the Director of European Assemblies of God, also known as the big whig, and the Northern Europe regional director, Tim Southerland came to Edinburgh to say hello to all the missionaries here in Scotland. 14 of us met at TGI Fridays, of all places we could have chosen as American missionaries:). A little taste of home never hurt anybody. That was the first time Kate and I had been there, we're proud to say. The food was good and we didn't have to look at the cost of anything, Greg covered the bill:)

Greg and Tim are great guys. They've been in Europe as missionaries for decades and really have a heart for connecting with us, as missionaries, and the many ministries we all respectively have.

Europe is by far the most challenging and expensive place to send missionaries to in the world, Greg and Tim have a very tough job, so it was a nice evening to be together and encourage one another.

LifeChurch

Spent the afternoon with Mike and Andrea Saunders. They rescued us when we had just arrived back in early August by letting us stay with them in Glasgow (1 hour west) for a few days. Pathetically, Kate and I haven't really seen them since. They're such a fun couple to be around.

We were able to share some stories over the last six months of starting churches here in Scotland. We both concluded unanimously that it's been much more challenging than we ever thought. You're told in advance, and you prepare as much as possible, but nothing can compare to the reality of it all. We've been blessed to have a team with us: Tony and Yvonne, Mike and Claire. They have had nobody but themselves and came from a large Church in Arkansas where all was well, but they felt the call to Scotland. Kate and I appreciate this family so much.

They started a church this past summer in a community center. This past January, a pastor in the area was retiring and gave them his church. This place was beautiful, valued at over $2 million.

24

We've decided to do our newest series on 24 hours in the life of Jesus. It's obviously related to the hit tv-series, 24. We had a fun day of filming. We're creating a storyline, and each episode takes place in real time, roughly 3 minutes. Should be pretty funny. When we were shooting, the guys thought the video was going to be lame. I thought to myself, that's exactly what they must have thought while shooting "Napolean Dynamite".