Pleasant Fall Greetings from Mannheim,
Germany! 27
November 2008
We have been so full of the events in our life that
we have been negligent to inform all of you of our progress in the church
planting ministry which we are involved. To that end, we endeavor to
bring you up to date.
The church in Schonau, a suburb of Mannheim, is
very healthy and vibrant. The church is now almost 3 years old and
we have been actively involved in searching for a pastor to take over the
reigns of leadership and go forward with the church. From the very
beginning of the church planting effort, Jim has kept the future pastor in
the forefront of the church's mind. Our goal has always been to
start the church and do all those things that cannot be done by others,
then slowly transfer those leadership positions to the members of the
church. Jim has started the youth group and an evening Bible
study which have been taken over by the members of the church. Now
we are seriously anticipating the calling of a German pastor to fill that
role. To that end, we had a meeting with the prospective pastoral
candidate on November 14th. The meeting went exceptionally well and
most were in agreement to choose this man as the new pastor. We
decided to give the church a month to think and pray about this momentous
decision. We are to meet again December 12th to make the decision
final. Please pray for this evening. When this occurs, we will
feel free to move to our next church planting project.
Since our last communiqué, we
have orchestrated a tremendous amount of ministry activities for both
our church and others in our area. On April 19 - 28 we hosted a
group of 25 people who Jim took to Poland to help a mission work there
with renovations on a 16th century castle that used to be part of Germany.
Just the logistics of the event were a great learning opportunity for
Jim. They worked there for 5 days and accomplished a tremendous
amount for them. The team departed on the 28 of April filled with a
new perspective on life outside of the USA.
Two weeks later a young lady of 22 came to visit
Germany through a short term mission project with our Global Outreach
Mission. She stayed 2 weeks and was a sorely needed help to us as we
were recuperating from the previous few months. Her time was well
spent learning German, helping in the ministries, and seeing the
historical and cultural sites of the area.
The end of May brought a visit from Jim's
parents. They stayed with us for a week. Unbeknownst to all of
us, Jim's father had pneumonia before he left the USA and the illness
progressed to the point where he was not allowed to return to the US the
planned day of departure. He was rejected by the airline for his
health and Jim's mother left him in Mannheim with us. The next
day he almost died in our house from complications due to the
pneumonia. Theresa called the medics who took him by ambulance to a
hospital in Mannheim. He spent 2 days in intensive care then was
transferred to a regular room for the next 10 days. Jim's father was
mostly frustrated with his inability to speak to the staff. The
doctors spoke English well enough for him to understand but he spoke with
his heavy Baltimore accent which confused the doctors and gave no chance
for the nurses to understand him. The whole ordeal was extremely
draining but the Lord carried us through. After he left, Jim was
tasked with the chore of sorting out the payment for the medical
care. Though the bill came to approximately $5500, the insurance
companies in the States took their time and the billing offices wanted
their money. Jim was in between with few answers. After 3
months and 4 insurance companies, the hospital and doctors were all paid
and the ordeal was past. Jim's father was "healthier than he had
been in years" and was happy to be back in Baltimore.
The summer months provided a break from schooling
activities. The children participated in 2 vacation bible
schools. The youth group had a treasure hunt through the inner city
of Mannheim as well as a weekend camping/bike trip. Theresa had her
birthday in August and wanted a couple of days alone to work on her
crafts. Jim took the children away to visit Theresa's brother and
wife who live south of Munich. Josiah who is now 9 was baptized in
July. He is a boy that loves life and follows the Lord in his
heart. Like all of us, he does not always act right but he has been
quick to feel sorrow and repent of his sin. For that we are
encouraged and joyful he is a child of the Lord!
It is Thanksgiving and we are preparing for our
afternoon meal with an American couple that we are getting to know.
Jim will be part of a small group that will be starting a Bible
study. He will be leading the group with the plan to start a church
in the area of Waldorf which is near Mannheim. For the present we
are working on the preparation for the Christmas Market in Schonau.
The church annually has a booth at the market for the 2 days that it is
held. We use the exposure to give books and materials to those we
have contact with at the Market. We are there to show the people we
are normal members of the community that participate in the events the
community holds. We are still viewed as a sect by the majority
because we are not part of the state church. Please pray for the
people we meet and the church members as they have the opportunity to
spread the Good News. This year the dates are November 29 &
30. The German people start Christmas early!
We want you to be informed of our activities as you
are the people God uses to keep us here in Mannheim. Your prayers on
behalf of the church and us are for us the Energizer Batteries that
keep us going. Our amazing God has blessed our work and now that
church is ready to stand on it's own! Pray for us!
- The Christmas Market outreach in Schonau this
coming weekend.
- The meeting of December 12th regarding the
pastor in Schonau.- The transition into a fully supported pastor
for the church in Schonau.
- The beginning of the Bible
study in Waldorf that is the basis for a new
church.
- Our exit from the Schonau church when it is time.
(We love these people. It will be hard.)
Writing this letter is always a means to remember
the blessings of God on us and to focus our goals to His will. You
pray and give. We work, pray, and receive. God blesses the endeavor
as He wills and causes those to be saved that are His. Thanksgiving
is always a time for us to think on how God deals with us and the human
race. Romans chapter 1 verse 21 is so powerful. "Although they
knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful." For 2
simple reasons humankind will be judged by God. Please glorify God
as He tells us in His Word and not only on this day of Thanksgiving but
every day, be thankful to Him.
Thank you for being there to write to.
Jim & Theresa Byron
Hannah, Josiah, Sarah, Micah, Noah,
Zachariah
