Ministry Update
Christmas 2024
Dear Ministry Partners,
Grace to you and Merry Christmas! It's my pleasure to share what's been going on the last quarter in Vienna.
Grace to you and Merry Christmas! It's my pleasure to share what's been going on the last quarter in Vienna.
Teaching Ministry
Acts
The bulk of my teaching in the past 3 months has been from my efforts in preaching. At this point, our congregation has walked through the end of chapter 5 of the book of Acts. Under Kai's preaching, we will examine the Tower of Babel this Lord's Day. Acts has not failed to disappoint so far. Please pray that my efforts in study would pay dividends for the wider church, and that I would succeed to communicate the deep things of God and rightly divide the Word of truth.
Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
Recently, we began adapting a Sunday school curriculum from Capitol Hill Baptist Church on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. It has been good for our congregation to meditate on how to obey the Bible and navigate our consciences in our place and time. Biblical manhood and womanhood and Christ's Lordship over both are a significant point of friction in our setting. Thank you for your prayers that we would remain faithful, build generational Christianity by God's grace, and embrace God's wonderful design to display Christ's love for the Church and headship over her.
Membership Class and Evangelism
We had some discouragements in recent membership movements. One family where we invested much effort into onboarding decided very heartbreakingly to go elsewhere. It was difficult for the church and taxing for Kai and myself. Please pray that this couple with their
young son would commit to a congregation that preaches a true gospel.
However, we have experienced other potential transfers from Germany and the US. I look forward to how some new members might bless the church with their gifts.
Just today actually, one middle-aged man confessed Jesus Christ as Lord. That was a special encouragement for me and one brother from church who have been laboring for this man's soul. Join us in praising God for His work, and ask Him that this man's confession would be genuine.
Depression
For a while, I have been leading a small book study on Depression by Ed Welch. It has been a good book for these four ladies from our church. It has provided excellent biblical meditational material for some sisters who have battled depression in recent years. Pray that this teaching, discussion, and reading would serve to equip these four sisters to endure temptation and bless the Name of the Lord even in the midst of spiritual depression.
1 on 1 Discipling
1 on 1 Discipling is definitely an area where Kai and I are praying for growth in the church. We are elated that some brothers and sisters get together to discuss spiritual things, but there is also room for development in this regard for all of us (myself included). One brother and I have started reading a book on mentoring. Pray that our church in the big city would not be overcome with busyness, but that we would regard others more highly than ourselves and seek to practice hospitality. (Even in a season where many have small children)
The bulk of my teaching in the past 3 months has been from my efforts in preaching. At this point, our congregation has walked through the end of chapter 5 of the book of Acts. Under Kai's preaching, we will examine the Tower of Babel this Lord's Day. Acts has not failed to disappoint so far. Please pray that my efforts in study would pay dividends for the wider church, and that I would succeed to communicate the deep things of God and rightly divide the Word of truth.
Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
Recently, we began adapting a Sunday school curriculum from Capitol Hill Baptist Church on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. It has been good for our congregation to meditate on how to obey the Bible and navigate our consciences in our place and time. Biblical manhood and womanhood and Christ's Lordship over both are a significant point of friction in our setting. Thank you for your prayers that we would remain faithful, build generational Christianity by God's grace, and embrace God's wonderful design to display Christ's love for the Church and headship over her.
Membership Class and Evangelism
We had some discouragements in recent membership movements. One family where we invested much effort into onboarding decided very heartbreakingly to go elsewhere. It was difficult for the church and taxing for Kai and myself. Please pray that this couple with their
young son would commit to a congregation that preaches a true gospel.
However, we have experienced other potential transfers from Germany and the US. I look forward to how some new members might bless the church with their gifts.
Just today actually, one middle-aged man confessed Jesus Christ as Lord. That was a special encouragement for me and one brother from church who have been laboring for this man's soul. Join us in praising God for His work, and ask Him that this man's confession would be genuine.
Depression
For a while, I have been leading a small book study on Depression by Ed Welch. It has been a good book for these four ladies from our church. It has provided excellent biblical meditational material for some sisters who have battled depression in recent years. Pray that this teaching, discussion, and reading would serve to equip these four sisters to endure temptation and bless the Name of the Lord even in the midst of spiritual depression.
1 on 1 Discipling
1 on 1 Discipling is definitely an area where Kai and I are praying for growth in the church. We are elated that some brothers and sisters get together to discuss spiritual things, but there is also room for development in this regard for all of us (myself included). One brother and I have started reading a book on mentoring. Pray that our church in the big city would not be overcome with busyness, but that we would regard others more highly than ourselves and seek to practice hospitality. (Even in a season where many have small children)
End of year giving
I am especially thankful for you sacrificial saints who financially support the work of the ministry here in Vienna. Our goal is for the church to employ me full time through support from the US in 2025 and take over more and more of our support every year. We are well on the way to enabling that, and your gifts make it all happen. If anyone is led to give, you can find out how to do that here.
Church Retreat!
My exhausted daughter on the way home from the church retreat.
In my last update, I mentioned that we recently celebrated our 5-year anniversary as a church. Not long after that, our church got on the road toward the Czech border.
In a small Austrian town near the Czech city of Znojmo, we had our church retreat. Kai and I taught on the relationship between Bible reading, meditation, and prayer.
This was a unique opportunity for our church to enjoy fellowship in God's Word, over meals, and touring an ancient medieval city.
I provided a brief video below which showcases how we celebrated St. Martin's Day - a holiday in Austria that commemorates the selfless care of a christian Knight named St. Martin.
In a small Austrian town near the Czech city of Znojmo, we had our church retreat. Kai and I taught on the relationship between Bible reading, meditation, and prayer.
This was a unique opportunity for our church to enjoy fellowship in God's Word, over meals, and touring an ancient medieval city.
I provided a brief video below which showcases how we celebrated St. Martin's Day - a holiday in Austria that commemorates the selfless care of a christian Knight named St. Martin.
Plans in 2025
Here is a photo of the rental space.
E21
I am delighted to continue doing some parachurch work with E21 again this year. Currently on the docket, I am scheduled to oversee a book review program for elders in training and deliver some lectures at the Elders' College.
Book Reviews
The Book reviews cover 3 volumes until the Summer of this year. While I am not yet sure how many pupils I will have, we will examine 40 Questions about Biblical Interpretation, Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands, and The Baptist Story. I look forward to seeing how the students respond to these books full of biblical wisdom in exegesis, counseling, and church history.
Elders' College
Our Elders' College will cover two main topics this year. Feel free to write me your thoughts on Preaching and Preachers which we will cover in the summer. Or write me on church liturgy and organizing Christ-centered church services, which we will cover in the Spring. I am blessed to exhort and encourage the brethren on both occasions.
New Meeting Space
Our church is considering a new rental space for 2025. It is a significant increase in capacity for our growing congregation. Our current space is truly running at the maximum of its capacity as we recently saw a service with 53 people! Please pray that the Lord would go before us and help us to navigate our relationship with our landlords.
Church Calendar
As our church grows, our processes need to grow with it. Whenever I visit large churches in the US, I am always impressed by how gifted some brothers are with administration. Kai and I have deemed it to be necessary to plan out our entire church calendar for 2025 in advance. That might seem mundane to some readers, but to those who have done it, it is a time consuming task. Please pray that we would keep the main thing the main thing in 2025, and that the church calendar would be a helpful trellis for the vine of the church.
I am delighted to continue doing some parachurch work with E21 again this year. Currently on the docket, I am scheduled to oversee a book review program for elders in training and deliver some lectures at the Elders' College.
Book Reviews
The Book reviews cover 3 volumes until the Summer of this year. While I am not yet sure how many pupils I will have, we will examine 40 Questions about Biblical Interpretation, Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands, and The Baptist Story. I look forward to seeing how the students respond to these books full of biblical wisdom in exegesis, counseling, and church history.
Elders' College
Our Elders' College will cover two main topics this year. Feel free to write me your thoughts on Preaching and Preachers which we will cover in the summer. Or write me on church liturgy and organizing Christ-centered church services, which we will cover in the Spring. I am blessed to exhort and encourage the brethren on both occasions.
New Meeting Space
Our church is considering a new rental space for 2025. It is a significant increase in capacity for our growing congregation. Our current space is truly running at the maximum of its capacity as we recently saw a service with 53 people! Please pray that the Lord would go before us and help us to navigate our relationship with our landlords.
Church Calendar
As our church grows, our processes need to grow with it. Whenever I visit large churches in the US, I am always impressed by how gifted some brothers are with administration. Kai and I have deemed it to be necessary to plan out our entire church calendar for 2025 in advance. That might seem mundane to some readers, but to those who have done it, it is a time consuming task. Please pray that we would keep the main thing the main thing in 2025, and that the church calendar would be a helpful trellis for the vine of the church.
"Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.""
Luke 2,10-11
Peace and joy unto you,
Matthew
Luke 2,10-11
Peace and joy unto you,
Matthew
