VISION & STRENGTH By Alex Pettett, World Witness Executive Director


Rock Hill and Columbia ARP churches in SC held their second annual, area-wide conferences which work to pool resources and finances to produce excellent mission conferences. Rock Hill churches have been successfully doing this for 3 years. If you’re a small or large ARP church, please consider reaching out to your neighbor ARP church to plan a joint mission conference. You have no idea how encouraging it will be! For more ideas, contact Rev. Neal Mathias, Director of World Missions, First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, SC, or Rev. Matt Joldersma, Senior Pastor at Neely’s Creek ARP Church, Rock Hill, SC. Here’s an excerpt from Neal’s report.


STRENGTH IN NUMBERS By Rev. Neal Mathias


We are grateful for the ways in which the Lord used the Columbia-area ARP World Missions Conference this year. Rev. Tat Stewart was our featured speaker. The first conference was held in April 2019, with Frank Van Dalen as the main speaker.


Four churches hosted events over a 5-day period, and members from 8 ARP churches attended at least one event. The idea of a shared conference was something new last year, so it was wonderful to see greater “buy in” this second time around, with an increase in individuals attending and the number of churches participating. Some special outcomes –


• Folks were challenged and encouraged by hearing stories of His amazing work— in 2019, Lithuania, and this year, Iran and among Persians.


• Church leaders were encouraged to be involved in world missions.


• Those involved in cross-cultural, world/international ministries were heartened.


Columbia-area World Missions Conference 2020


• There was good interaction among participating ARP church members in Columbia, WW missionaries and WW staff.


I hope you will find Erik Meberg’s insights on vision and testing, regarding ministry among Muslims, a helpful tool in your own outreach to those about you.


Outreach event for International students in France


VISION TESTED By Erik Meberg, World Witness Missionary


“The thing about a bridge is you are pulled in 2 different directions and walked all over.”


That was a realization I had at our Bridge Europe (BE) team meeting. It strikes me that the vision God has given us requires great humility and sacrifice. Our desire is to see the Muslim Diaspora peoples in Europe come to faith in Christ and be established in Gospel-centered churches. Yet, this vision is tested every day. Every time there is another wave of refugees streaming into Europe or yet another violent attack – either by radical Islamic terrorists or right-wing nationalists – it threatens to broaden the breech between the local communities. Our desire is to bridge the gap through the power of the Gospel at work in and through us.


Please pray, as we continue to persevere in reaching into the Muslim communities of Europe while, at the same time, casting a vision to like- minded, local Reformed churches to care for their own neighbors. Pray also as we take steps towards starting a training center to help mobilize and mentor the next generation of Gospel laborers among the Muslims.


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