18-21 September, 2023Cuidad Real, Spain
Joining Hands for Mission in Europe 2023
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Our goal

Our goal is to encourage church planting and to equip church planters in Europe within the IFFEC network.

To realize this goal, we will address the following topics:

  • good models
  • new models
  • mistakes we have made
  • learning from national movements
  • recruiting and training
  • cooperation with mission organizations
  • the importance of diaspora churches
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View schedule

You are welcome!

Our conference is designed for people from different areas of church planting and mission, such as:

Mission leaders

Leaders for church planting

National church planters

Missionaries

Important Partner Organizations

Young leaders/ future church planters

English will be the main language of the conference. We will seek additional interpreter options if needed.

Our schedule

On this event schedule you find what expects you at the conference.

Schedule overview (PDF)
Resumen del programa (PDF)

Monday, September 18

2:30pm
Arrival/Registration
6:30pm
Thomas Schech Torben Joswig
Opening Thomas Schech & Torben Joswig
8:00pm
Dinner

Tuesday, September 19

Vision for Europe​

9:00am
Katherine Choi-Lee
Small groups: Mission to Europe in the bible Katherine Choi-Lee
  • Katherine Choi-Lee
    Katherine Choi-Lee
    Church Development and Children's Ministry/Outreach in France with Covenant Church, US

In 12-16 small groups you will read and discuss the bible together.

10:00am
Worship
11:00am
Prof Matthias Ehmann, PhD
The state and the future of congregational mission in Europe Prof Matthias Ehmann, PhD
  • Prof Matthias Ehmann, PhD
    Prof Matthias Ehmann, PhD
    Professor of Mission Studies and Intercultural Theologie at Theologische Hochschule Ewersbach – University of Applied Sciences

Matthias Ehmann is ordained in the Federation of Free Evangelical Churches in Germany. Before becoming Professor of Mission Studies and Intercultural Theology in 2022, he led a congregation in Würzburg, planted a branch congregation among young people and graduated with a PhD in Missiology from University of South Africa. He lives in Marburg, is married to Tamara, and has one daughter.

The state and the future of congregational mission in Europe

Church planting and holistic mission are not new concepts for our network in Europe. Matthias Ehmann presents the current state of our mission in Europe based on a survey by IFFEC/MIFFEC and with a view to current mission-theological discourses and empirical data. He further asks what strategic decisions we should make. The discussion of current initiatives, empirical data and our experiences thus complements the biblical-theological view of mission in Europe given in the other talk this morning.

1:00pm
Lunch & free time
2:30pm
Elorm Nick Ahialey-Mawusi
Church Planting Movement in Europe from a Diaspora Churches Perspective: Towards an Integral Vision for a Church Planting Movement Elorm Nick Ahialey-Mawusi
  • Elorm Nick Ahialey-Mawusi
    Elorm Nick Ahialey-Mawusi
    PhD Research Fellow in the Department of Religion Theory, Intercultural and Ecumenical Dialogue, and in the Department of Practical Theology at the University of Bonn (Germany)

Nick is the founder and the Lead-Pastor of the Living Generation Church; a post-migration church in Germany and the director of the LGC-Academy in Hamburg. He is also a member of the Global Network for Excellence in Theology. His area of expertise is (post)migration mission and Global Christianity.

Church Planting Movement in Europe from a Diaspora Churches Perspective: Towards an Integral Vision for a Church Planting Movement.

Notions of Diaspora and Diasporic existence have been very important to the expansion of the Church in the New Testament. It can also be observed that mission in the early church was inextricably linked to migration. Nick Elorm Ahialey-Mawusi presents the mission of (African) immigrants in Europe and their impact on the ecclesiological landscapes and the Christian demography of Europe.

He advocates for an Integral vision of church planting movement that involves Diapora churches; and is transcultural in nature. He argues that mission is the raison d'être of the church in the world. And for the church planting movement in Europe to be effective in its mission in Europe in all its diversity, it must actively involve Diaspora churches. He shares some best practice models and methods of engagement for a transcultural church planting movement.

4:00pm
Connection time

Connect with other visitors on the pool, down town, while hiking, enjoying a cup of coffee, tasting wine, sightseeing, playing basketball, volleyball, soccer, tennis, etc.

6:00pm
Snack break
6:30pm
Thomas Schech
Heart talk Thomas Schech

At the end of the day, you'll get a chance to reflect on your takeaway from the day.

8:00pm
Dinner

Wednesday, September 20

Implementing the Vision

9:00am
Katherine Choi-Lee
Small groups: Mission to Europe in the bible Katherine Choi-Lee
  • Katherine Choi-Lee
    Katherine Choi-Lee
    Church Development and Children's Ministry/Outreach in France with Covenant Church, US

In 12-16 small groups you will read and discuss the bible together.

10:00am
Worship & Prayer Stations
11:00am
Martin Jakobsen
A Beautiful Gospel and an Attractive Church Martin Jakobsen
  • Martin Jakobsen
    Martin Jakobsen
    Associate Professor of systematic theology at Ansgar University College

Martin Jakobsen teaches theology at a seminary south in Norway. He specializes in ethics, dogmatics, and apologetics. Martin loves educating and equipping coming pastors, growing tomatoes, photography, and not least his wife and two daughters.

A Beautiful Gospel and an Attractive Church

My evangelical upbringing thought me that God is true, and that God is good. But God is also beautiful. And beauty is something that attracts us. The idea that the church should be attractive is not new, but how God is beautiful and the Gospel is beautiful might teach us something about in what sense the church ought to be attractive.

The private faith of students in Norway

I am leading a research project together with the Norwegian branch of International Fellowship of Evangelical Students to map how non-Christian students consider Christianity, how the faith of Christian students impacts their life, and how Christians share their faith. We will pay particular attention to the student’s openness to talk about religious and existential topics but unwillingness to initiate such conversations. This openness but unwillingness could make us consider different methods and goals for evangelization.

 

1:00pm
Lunch & free time
2:30pm
Torben Joswig Rudi Schott
My city & My country Torben Joswig & Rudi Schott
  • Torben Joswig
    Torben Joswig
    Misjonskirken, Norway
  • Rudi Schott
    Rudi Schott
    BEG Team Leader for “Church Planting & Evangelism”, Initiator and Co-Founder of "Think Tank for Church Planting" in Austria

Rudi Schott planted his first church in Germany in 2002, he was catched  by the passion and found his calling. Since then he has planted more churches in Europe. Today, he is a coach and trainer for various church planting projects and church planters in Austria and Europe. He lives with his family in Austria, near Vienna, for 10 years.

My City:
We want to sharpen the view of our city and its possibilities.
Small group coaching will broaden perspectives, confirm strengths and resources.

My Country:
Where should a church planting movement start in your country?
We want to dream together and see what God is already doing in your country and where he still wants to do something.

4:00pm
Connection time

Connect with other visitors on the pool, down town, while hiking, enjoying a cup of coffee, tasting wine, sightseeing, playing basketball, volleyball, soccer, tennis, etc.

6:00pm
Snack break
6:30pm
Thomas Schech
IFFEC Movement Thomas Schech

At the end of the day, you'll get a chance to reflect on your takeaway from the day.

8:00pm
BBQ

Thursday, September 21

Sending for Vision

9:00am
Katherine Choi-Lee
Small groups: Mission to Europe in the bible Katherine Choi-Lee
  • Katherine Choi-Lee
    Katherine Choi-Lee
    Church Development and Children's Ministry/Outreach in France with Covenant Church, US

In 12-16 small groups you will read and discuss the bible together.

10:00am
Worship
11:00am
Siri Iversen
Final session Siri Iversen
  • Siri Iversen
    Siri Iversen

In the last session with Siri Iversen, we will end the conference with the Lord's Supper.

1:00pm
Lunch & free time
2:30pm
Departure

Prices

You can choose from the following accommodation options. For smaller federations, scholarship is possible.

Category 1

€ 160
  • BetaniaGuest Center
  • shared roomwith bunk bed
  • material costsincluded
  • costs for speakersincluded
  • excursion with a guided city tourincluded
  • meals & coffee breakincluded
Register now

Category 2

€ 180
  • BetaniaGuest Center
  • bungalowdouble or triple room
  • material costsincluded
  • costs for speakersincluded
  • excursion with a guided city tourincluded
  • meals & coffee breakincluded
Register now

Category 3

€ 320
  • HotelParque Real
  • double roomwith breakfast
  • material costsincluded
  • costs for speakersincluded
  • excursion with a guided city tourincluded
  • meals & coffee breakincluded
Register now

Category 1

€ 390
  • HotelParque Real
  • single roomwith breakfast
  • material costsincluded
  • costs for speakersincluded
  • excursion with a guided city tourincluded
  • meals & coffee breakincluded
Register now

Register now

We would love you to be a part of the conference.

Online registration form

English will be the main language of the conference. We will seek additional interpreter options if needed.

Our location

The conference will be held at the Bethania Christian Retreat Center.

Important notice for public transportation:
  • Public Transportation from Madrid Airport to Ciudad Real Train Station: PDF
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