Following the example of others - we've decided to Blog our updates - it makes sense.
Anyway lots of things are happening here and it's about time to let you know. We are thankful for every single prayer that you offer for the ministry here in St.Gallen, and we want to let you know what's going on.
We are doing fine as a family. Caro who's working for the school in the city of St. Gallen - has been offered a new work contract and the possibilty to get a degree as a caretaker. So it looks like she's going for the opportunity - it will bring one day of school per week for the next year ending with exams. Our adult children are doing fine - as they still live with us (at least on the weekends) we desire to stay salt an light in their lifes. My work situation is more or less the same still working 70%. The drastic change in the exchange rate to the Euro is a great challenge for the company I work for - and acutally is a threat to its existance. So there is some pressure there...
As shared with you in our last update we really felt that a better location is needed, because we could only rent the facilities at the train station for hours. We were looking for a place where we could hang out and have fellowship since we are so spread out and come from all over the place - actually coming over the border from Germany and Austria. Also we were seeking for a core team in ministry... well the last couple of weeks in February, after I came back from the Pastor's conference things started to happen.
Another church in town started contacting us - their Pastor felt called to serve at another place - and they were praying for another Pastor to come in for the last two years. Now the time for Pastor Tyrell had come to finally leave and they congregants were seeking for places to go after he left, scouting different churches in town. We knew it meant that a facility would become available but we felt we should wait... and then they contacted us, asking us if we would take over their facilities. We met and looked at the place and it's perfect:
The Accts Church - a bilingual (english/german) a slightly charismatic indipendent group - is about the same size as your group (30-40persons). They actually said that if Calvary Chapel would take over the facilities they would leave all inventory there for our use, the tables, chairs, Air Conitioning, PA-System ect. Wow!
So now many of the Accts church want to merge with our fellowship - and this will be a wonderful challenge. I've talked to the core group about how the bible admonishes us to seek the spiritual gifts and to exercise them in order. But it will be a piece of work and we will need a lot of grace while standing firm on the Word of God to have something like this happen. So needless to say - we covet your prayers.
We decided to have joyened meetings for the next four Sundays - at their place - taking turns in leading the worship. Just to get to knwo each other... and then... if all goes well a handing over of the facilities and the leadership to us. My understanding truly tells me that this could end up in a lot of trouble, just from what I've observed and experienced in the past - but at the same time I'm fully at peace. So thank you so much for praying for us and with us in this time of transition.
Remember that we asked for prayer concerning the "Life on Stage" crusade meetings - well thousands came and hundereds commited or recommited their lifes to Jesus. Prais the Lord!
I would also want to especially ask you for prayer for our Hungarian couple: Sandor and Regina with their dauhgter Rebecca. They have been coming to our fellowship for the last year and are a blessing to us all. They asked the Lord if they should go backt to Hungary or stay in Switzerland - it seems to them that it would be Switzerland. Sandor is working on his PhD in water hydraulics at the ETH in Zürich. His one year work permit is coming to an end - He talked to his supperior about a opening position to be able to stay. So on Tuesday they will meet again to discuss further options - could you mension that to our Father? Thanks! Well that's about it for now - I will try to let you know a littel more frequently about the things here in St. Gallen.
