Ministry Update
October 2024
Dear Ministry Partners,
Grace to you! It's my pleasure to share what's been going on the last quarter in Vienna.
Grace to you! It's my pleasure to share what's been going on the last quarter in Vienna.
The Acts of the Risen Lord Jesus
This quarter, Kai and have started some really meaty expository series. Kai is preaching through Genesis. I am preaching through Acts.
So far, I've preached 5 sermons through the end of chapter 2, and Acts has not disappointed! We have really seen how the risen, ascended, and enthroned Lord Jesus has blessed his church and equipped her with everything necessary for her ministry. I think that our folks have profitted in meditating upon the necessity of gospel proclamation. The Lordship of Jesus Christ entails a command to the whole earth and every inhabitant: repent, believe, be baptized, and be added to the church.
Our study of Acts is a great testimony to the boldness of our evangelistic ministry and the power at work in the early church and in us.
So far, I've preached 5 sermons through the end of chapter 2, and Acts has not disappointed! We have really seen how the risen, ascended, and enthroned Lord Jesus has blessed his church and equipped her with everything necessary for her ministry. I think that our folks have profitted in meditating upon the necessity of gospel proclamation. The Lordship of Jesus Christ entails a command to the whole earth and every inhabitant: repent, believe, be baptized, and be added to the church.
Our study of Acts is a great testimony to the boldness of our evangelistic ministry and the power at work in the early church and in us.
5-year Church Anniversary
During our Jubilee Cookout, I read from Acts 13:26-32 to remember how the conviction of the gospel compelled us all to covenant as a church 5 years ago and in the years since.
This September, our church celebrated our 5th anniversary since it was covenanted in September of 2019. (Lina and I attended first in October of 2019 and joined in January of 2020) As we were sitting in the office, these were some of the thoughts I shared with Kai about the past 5 years.
One of my favorite scenes from the movie, Interstellar, is one where Matthew McConaughey's character has to dock his spacecraft to a spinning space station. If you want it spoiled, see here. The thrust of the scene is that his character is attempting to do something impossible, but it is necessary. In a day and age that abhors so-called toxic masculinity, that scene shows a kind of parallel to what the Apostle Paul exhorts the Corinthians to in 1 Corinthians 16:13. He writes, “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”
Looking back on my own involvement at CGW, and also the church's history, I think that I can identify its melodic line. Throughout all the ups and downs of the ministry of CGW in the past 5 years, there is a certain conviction shared by many of the members until now. The church was neither started nor sustained by inordinately gifted people. The church also did not possess a tremendous amount of human or financial resources when it was planted with 4 families. But the church was started with a conviction shared among many that such a church was necessary. My wife and I, as well as other members of CGW didn't covenant at CGW because we thought it was cool or the new fad. Rather, we did so because our souls needed it. And they still do.
One of my favorite scenes from the movie, Interstellar, is one where Matthew McConaughey's character has to dock his spacecraft to a spinning space station. If you want it spoiled, see here. The thrust of the scene is that his character is attempting to do something impossible, but it is necessary. In a day and age that abhors so-called toxic masculinity, that scene shows a kind of parallel to what the Apostle Paul exhorts the Corinthians to in 1 Corinthians 16:13. He writes, “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”
Looking back on my own involvement at CGW, and also the church's history, I think that I can identify its melodic line. Throughout all the ups and downs of the ministry of CGW in the past 5 years, there is a certain conviction shared by many of the members until now. The church was neither started nor sustained by inordinately gifted people. The church also did not possess a tremendous amount of human or financial resources when it was planted with 4 families. But the church was started with a conviction shared among many that such a church was necessary. My wife and I, as well as other members of CGW didn't covenant at CGW because we thought it was cool or the new fad. Rather, we did so because our souls needed it. And they still do.
E21 Salzburg
The theme of this year's conference was, "Weakness is our Strength."
This September we also saw Evangelium21's second regional conference in Salzburg. E21 is a German-speaking parachurch organization that serves to resource churches like us in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. As I mentioned in my previous update, my role there is primarily to just support Kai who serves as one of the organization's trustees.
This year's conference had a visiting guest preacher from Northwestern England named John Hindley. John delivered 3 addresses and did one Q&A regarding his new book with Union Press. It was a timely message for the fledgling church in Austria, which is neither great nor large by any standards. John exhorted us to see the power of the risen lamb in the midst of our finitude, weakness, and suffering.
It was a pleasure to get to meet many brothers and sisters from across Austria who were encountering gospel-centered preaching for the first time. I spent much of my time selling books at our church book table, so it was also a joy to see many folks resourced with books on parenting, counseling, reformational history, and bible interpretation.
This year's conference had a visiting guest preacher from Northwestern England named John Hindley. John delivered 3 addresses and did one Q&A regarding his new book with Union Press. It was a timely message for the fledgling church in Austria, which is neither great nor large by any standards. John exhorted us to see the power of the risen lamb in the midst of our finitude, weakness, and suffering.
It was a pleasure to get to meet many brothers and sisters from across Austria who were encountering gospel-centered preaching for the first time. I spent much of my time selling books at our church book table, so it was also a joy to see many folks resourced with books on parenting, counseling, reformational history, and bible interpretation.
Some pictures from life in Vienna
These 4 photos include:
1) A prayer for our children at the start of a new school year. We beefed up a few aspects of our children's ministry this year.
2) A photo of some flooding experienced recently by one of our church members. Our house was also slightly damaged by heavy rains.
3) A photo from March for Life Vienna. A couple thousand confessing evangelicals, catholics, and others gathered to protest against the tyranny of unborn child sacrifice in Austria.
4) A snapshot from our new church confession of faith. It was brought into effect by an act of the congregation in September. If you want a copy, send me an email. (only available in German)
1) A prayer for our children at the start of a new school year. We beefed up a few aspects of our children's ministry this year.
2) A photo of some flooding experienced recently by one of our church members. Our house was also slightly damaged by heavy rains.
3) A photo from March for Life Vienna. A couple thousand confessing evangelicals, catholics, and others gathered to protest against the tyranny of unborn child sacrifice in Austria.
4) A snapshot from our new church confession of faith. It was brought into effect by an act of the congregation in September. If you want a copy, send me an email. (only available in German)
May the grace of the Lord Jesus, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Your brother in Christ,
Matthew
Your brother in Christ,
Matthew
