Lee's Lines

A photo of our team . . .

Just a brief entry today to publish a fuzzy (but fun) picture of our Budapest team. The occasion of our being together (which is somewhat rare) was to say goodbye to our colleague Maria Tsalyuk. For the past year, Maria (center standing) has been our bookkeeper, but with her graduation with an MBA from the Central European University, she will be moving on to greener pastures . . . like becoming a millionare in the Russian mafia!

We'll miss you, Maria!

That revolution called love . . .

Normally I think of graffiti as an eyesore . . . don't you? Of course it's a regular part of the urban landscape here in Budapest, but on the whole, I find it has little redeeming value.

But the following is an exception, I think. The graffiti captured in the photo below is quite profound . . .

In our fallenness we humans are constantly seeking the revolution of love. I'm guessing that in every struggle of my life . . . especially areas of sin and selfish ambition . . . I'm missing the revolution. If I could develop any skill in my life (in addition to improving my lame golf swing), it would be to learn to let God love me the way he wants. More fully experiencing the love of Christ is the revolution I need . . .

Ephesians 3
Paul's Prayer for Spiritual Empowering

17And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. 18And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. 19May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God. 20Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. 21May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen.

Missions history sounds boring, right? Not when you live it!

I'm really thankful to Brooke for putting together these blog sites for us (with a jump start from Tom and Scott). It's especially nice to be able to show you what I'm reading. The two books shown on the right are for a "History of Missions" class I'm taking at Grace Seminary (Winona Lake, IN) in May.

A lot of what I'm reading is a bit dry and overly detailed . . . lots of names and dates. You know . . . history. But despite the trappings of studying a sometimes dry subject, I appreciate the insights of Stephen Neill, author of A History of Christian Missions. Here's a quote from that book that struck me . . . "Missionary activity is always a sign of vitality in the Church."

That's a simple yet profound statement. From the context, there's no doubt Neill is speaking of the "church universal". But I wonder if this is also the case with local churches, as well as our own lives. I think it is, and I experienced that truth this week while visiting Ukraine.

At a meeting Tuesday in Kiev . . . (here's a picture of a cool communist-era stature there) . . .

. . . I personally heard the missions vision of three leaders representing three of the largest evangelical denominations in Ukraine. It was fascinating and encouraging to learn of their commitment to send Ukrainian missionaries around the world (more than 500 have been sent already!). These leaders not only have vision but they also have strategies and structures in place to send hundreds more.

Stephen Neill's statement is true of the church in Ukraine, and I want it to continue to be true in my life . . . mission is a measure of vitality! Maybe someday a statue like this will commemorate brave but humble Ukraine Christians who have a passion to see the world won for Christ not communism.

PS> Despite the note below, this was posted by Lee (using Brooke's computer)

March ministry update

During March I visited church planting conferneces in Czech Republic, Slovakia and one (sponsored by our team) here in Budapest . . .

This photo is with Dani. After attempting to take his own life at age 16, Dani became a believer with unquenchable passion for the Gospel. Upon returning to his home town from the hospital, Dani led several of his family and friends to Christ. Despite his handicap, he is the father of three and now an elder in the church he planted. I want Dani's kind of joy!

In Slovakia I was able to share stories of church planters and church planting initiatives to a conference of former cp trainees . . . 75 people in all. I shared stories from Norway, Estonia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Czech Republic.

This is a group of Alliance related missionaries praying for Drago, one of just a handful of church planting minded nationals in Slovenia. Slovenia (part of the former Yugoslavia) has a population of 2 million and fewer than 1000 evangelical Christians . . . an unreached people group by any definition!

During the month of April, I will be traveling to Ukraine to participate in a meeting of people who desire to be more strategic in sending Ukrainians as missionaries to the whole Russian speaking world. Ukraine is already the largest missionary sending nation of the former communist countries of Europe and Asia, and it's potential contribution to world evangelization is still largely untapped.

Please check back for regular updates on my travels and ministry with the Alliance! I'd love your comments too and your prayer for men like Dani and Drago.