Church of God in Europe and the Middle East Stands Together, Too
By Patrick Nachtigall
At the same time that the Global Gathering is taking place in Anderson, Indiana, five thousand miles away, the churches of Europe and the Middle East will be having their own special regional Global Gathering. This event, spearheaded by the German Church of God, is an effort to continue building on the region’s wonderful unity, cooperation, and love for each other.
On Saturday, June 22, and Sunday, June 23, people of the Church of God in Europe and the Middle East will be fanning out to different congregations within the region to worship with their brothers and sisters. Churches in London, Budapest, Paris, Rome, Beirut, as well as many other locations, will see visitors attend their Global Gathering services from throughout the region. This will include quite a number of young people helping to serve as a bridge from one Church of God country to another. Members of KHW Global-Care Team, as well as Fritzlar Bible College students, will be serving as regional connectors, visiting various sites. Members of the Three Worlds mission team from the United States will also be assisting in covering the region and bringing people together. Regional coordinators Patrick and Jamie Nachtigall will be visiting one of the new church plants in northern Italy, ensuring that they are a part of this global and regional celebration. Other Three Worlds mission team members will be assisting the national leaders in Europe and the Middle East as they attend the gathering in the United States.
The themes for the weekend are “Growing together in Christ,” “Growing together by serving together, “Being the church in a changing world,” and “Nurturing a sacred memory,” which will include the Lord’s Supper. Special videos have been collected that will air in each location over the weekend. Believers in India and Pakistan will share their testimonies and prayer requests via video. There will also be live Skype conversations in some places. While not all of the European and Middle Eastern believers can attend the Global Gathering in Anderson, the regional Global Gatherings will be linking us all together in unity to participate from afar.
