Support Missions in Austria
My name is Matthew, and I'm currently working as an Assistant Pastor at Christus Gemeinde Wien (Christ's Church Vienna) in Vienna, Austria. I hope that this page will explain how you or your church can be a part of building churches in Austria!
Donors will need my associate code with MEI which is ML3774
My Background
I grew up in a broadly Christian context in the Upstate of South Carolina, and while I professed faith in the Lord Jesus at an early age, and was baptized at 16 years of age, I did not experience much growth in the Christian life until I moved abroad. In Austria, I became deeply involved in a local church and began serving in various parachurch ministries - at first as a volunteer and later as an employee. I thank God for these years. During that time, I also met my wife, Lina, and we had our first child, Jonathan in 2019.
I grew up in a broadly Christian context in the Upstate of South Carolina, and while I professed faith in the Lord Jesus at an early age, and was baptized at 16 years of age, I did not experience much growth in the Christian life until I moved abroad. In Austria, I became deeply involved in a local church and began serving in various parachurch ministries - at first as a volunteer and later as an employee. I thank God for these years. During that time, I also met my wife, Lina, and we had our first child, Jonathan in 2019.
The Need
While I loved serving in parachurch ministry, I noticed some severe needs in the church in Austria. Most churches here do not have theologically trained pastors, and many Christians are severely under-churched - attempting to live the life of faith in Jesus apart from a local church. This is why I joined my church, Christus Gemeinde Wien, which was a young church plant at the time. Christus Gemeinde aims to resource churches, plant new ones, and catalyze healthy church life in our setting. We believe that a gospel-driven, Christ-exalting, and Bible-based Christian witness is the means that God uses to convert sinners.
While I loved serving in parachurch ministry, I noticed some severe needs in the church in Austria. Most churches here do not have theologically trained pastors, and many Christians are severely under-churched - attempting to live the life of faith in Jesus apart from a local church. This is why I joined my church, Christus Gemeinde Wien, which was a young church plant at the time. Christus Gemeinde aims to resource churches, plant new ones, and catalyze healthy church life in our setting. We believe that a gospel-driven, Christ-exalting, and Bible-based Christian witness is the means that God uses to convert sinners.
My Training
When I worked in parachurch ministry, I concluded that I was in desperate need of further theological training. That train of thought would lead me to complete my Master of Divinity at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2021. However, I count the affirmation of my church above all of that. Over the course of about 2 years, Christus Gemeinde Wien and her elders raised me up to be one of the church's elders. In early 2023, I was also confirmed in my qualifications and aspiration for pastoral ministry and installed as a full-time vocational pastor.
When I worked in parachurch ministry, I concluded that I was in desperate need of further theological training. That train of thought would lead me to complete my Master of Divinity at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2021. However, I count the affirmation of my church above all of that. Over the course of about 2 years, Christus Gemeinde Wien and her elders raised me up to be one of the church's elders. In early 2023, I was also confirmed in my qualifications and aspiration for pastoral ministry and installed as a full-time vocational pastor.
Our Plan
My fellow pastor Kai and I see how the Lord is already using our congregation in our context as a means to establish churches through training qualified elders. That starts right in our church where we are training two trainees to raise up as elders, and Lord willing, send them out as bivocational church planters. That's also happening through our relationships with other churches. We've established a network under the auspices of E21 where Kai serves as a board member to create connections between pastors and churches. To that end, three initiatives - (an Elder's College, a Pastoral Networking Day, and an Apprenticeship Program) serve as our means to serve wider Austrian church planting.
My fellow pastor Kai and I see how the Lord is already using our congregation in our context as a means to establish churches through training qualified elders. That starts right in our church where we are training two trainees to raise up as elders, and Lord willing, send them out as bivocational church planters. That's also happening through our relationships with other churches. We've established a network under the auspices of E21 where Kai serves as a board member to create connections between pastors and churches. To that end, three initiatives - (an Elder's College, a Pastoral Networking Day, and an Apprenticeship Program) serve as our means to serve wider Austrian church planting.
Here's where we need you. Christus Gemeinde is a German-language church plant in a missional setting with very few churches like us. Staying on mission is financed by Christians like you and local churches like yours. Would you prayerfully consider being a part of financing our initiative to plant churches and proclaim the gospel? If you have any questions regarding our work, I'm happy to speak with you at any time through the contact information provided below. I'm in this because I believe in the mission of the local church, so please consider financially supporting our church plant only after first faithfully supporting the work of your own local church. I pray that the Lord Jesus may richly dwell in your heart as you devote your lives to His kingdom and the spread of His gospel.
Your brother in Christ,
Your brother in Christ,
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