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From June 14th to 16th of this year, the 35th Mission Conference took place at the FECG Speyer. It was attended by guests from 18 different countries, all of whom had followed the call in Galatians 2:10: “We should remember the poor, and indeed I have tried hard to do so.”
Friday – As long as it's called today
With the call from Galatians 2:10 and the encouragement to participate in this work and to remember the poor, the 35th Missions Conference of the BFECG began on June 14th at the FECG Speyer. Guests from 18 foreign countries were welcomed with a greeting of peace by Brother Nikolai Wall at the beginning of the Friday service.
It is always a joy and an enrichment to experience that people from different nations are united in Christ. This is especially true when, in times of unrest and war, different groups of people begin to hate one another. We know that the world today does not have, nor can it offer, lasting peace. Only Jesus offers us lasting peace and is also the center of our ministry (cf. John 20:26).
Anyone can be a missionary.
It happens gradually, sometimes almost unnoticed, that the reason for our service is no longer our Lord, but other things. It's even easier to go to a missions conference with dishonest intentions, because it's sometimes the most important event for our brotherhood. That's why Brother Michael Formusal turned our attention to Jesus with the crucial question: "What do you want to see? Jesus or the guests?"
It is absolutely essential to have eyes that are spiritually attuned. Only then can we see the Lord, hear Him, and develop the readiness to go. The account of Isaiah's vision (see Isaiah chapter 6) is one of many biblical examples that illustrate this. However, a missionary is not only someone who sets out to go to a distant land. It also includes the hidden prayers and donations that support the work in this no less important way.
The Day of the Lord is approaching.
Because Jesus gave himself completely for us, we too carry out our missionary work with devotion (cf. Gal 2:20). A life with Jesus and service to Him are always oriented toward eternity. This perspective of eternity was powerfully emphasized later in the mission conference by Brother Georgi Babii and Brother Daniel Bullert.
Looking towards eternity is also connected with expecting the coming of Christ. It is a wonderful hope and prospect for us, but it also obligates us to prepare ourselves appropriately for it according to Scripture. This is done especially through sanctification.
We see the necessity of our own personal sanctification when we become aware of how much we actually sin. But by coming to Jesus Christ, our High Priest, and confessing our sins, the "bowl of our guilt" is emptied. For His blood cleanses us from all sin. A holy state is a state of preparation in view of the Lord's coming. We do not know when it will be, but we know that the Day of the Lord is at hand. We have recognized that the Day of the Lord is near; therefore, let us act today. Today we have the opportunity to be a blessing through missionary work (cf. John 9:4). This call was emphasized at the end of the service by Brother Peter Fast and Brother Anatoly Malashuk.
Saturday morning – Because Jesus loves us
- 134 transports,
- 55 trips to 21 countries, involving 740 people,
- Providing food for 3,000 families during the Christmas season,
- new church planting in Uganda,
- a missionary couple in Israel,
- a newly opened school for the blind in India.
Brother Michael Akulenko opened the informational service on Saturday morning with these facts. We cannot take credit for this abundance of assistance we have provided. It is Christ who has granted us the grace to carry out this work. Not doing it is not an option for us. We must do it because Jesus loved us first.
What does the Lord require of us?
Those who want to help look for ways to do so. Others, who don't want to help, look for reasons. This principle is particularly evident in the parable of the Good Samaritan. Brother Andrej Bashmakov referred to this when he gave the following testimony:
"It was the first few days of September. We had been getting our children ready for school. I needed to quickly buy a few things for them. Since I barely had any time, I ran through the underpass to the other side of the street. As I ran past, I saw a homeless man and a woman. The voice inside me urged me: 'Go back. Tell them that they have hope and that their lives can be changed because I love them.'"
I ignored the voice and kept running. By the time I finished my errands, the voice was so loud I could no longer ignore it. On my way back, I spoke to the homeless people about God's love, and the woman agreed to come to our House of Mercy. "Only what we have seen, heard, and known will the Lord require of us."
Children's Conference
When Jesus calls…
Christian Hensel also felt God's call to go into full-time missionary service and be a living witness during a mission trip to India in 2019. However, he admitted to himself during the journey that he couldn't let go of everything. The promising job prospects, his children's future, and the opportunity to build a decent life in Germany initially led him to put the thought aside. But God had something else in store for him and opened doors and paths through the church in Cloppenburg to send him to India.
Because our missionaries and their families face difficult circumstances in developing countries, one of our greatest services is to intercede for them in prayer. Brother Waldemar Maier fulfilled this obligation later in the service by specifically expressing the prayer intention: “May they not grow weary in their service.”
Saturday afternoon – Do good
"First, I'd like to thank my mom." These words were spoken by a young man during a trip to Uganda. The impoverished conditions there had deeply affected him.
Often, missionary journeys give us a glimpse into just how vast the difference between Germany and the developing world truly is. These experiences fill us with deep gratitude and open our eyes to how much God has blessed us.
Brother Albert Hiller, the head of the Uganda project, went on to explain what God had made possible in 2023. Fourteen groups of travelers, comprising 210 participants, transported a total of five tons of aid supplies to Uganda in their suitcases. A new congregation belonging to our brotherhood has since been established in Uganda, and a pastor and a deacon were ordained.
God is a God of miracles
A spiritual ministry cannot grow without prayer. The two are inextricably linked. The necessity of prayer was also emphasized by Theo Volland, Managing Director of INTER-Mission. Currently, the pressure on Christians under the new government in India is steadily increasing. Large organizations are therefore ceasing their operations there. Despite persecution, ministry in India is growing. Currently, 6,000 people in need are being supported. In addition, 40 children in Mumbai were rescued from prostitution, and a new church was established in Delhi.
When you sit in the pews yourself, you are repeatedly overwhelmed by what God does through devoted people. But this inevitably raises the question: "How great is my contribution to the missionary work?" Brother Joseph Len encouraged this self-examination (see 2 Corinthians 13:5). It involves, among other things, considering whether there have been situations in which we knew how to do good but failed to do so.
With this very attitude of actively doing good, Brother Roman Jawdyk and several young people traveled to Ethiopia and witnessed God's incredible work. For example, an unconscious woman in labor survived the birth of her child with God's help. Furthermore, the group witnessed how a vital spring in a village, which had been dry for four months, began to flow again after a heartfelt prayer.
Furthermore, 20 churches were established in Ethiopia. One of them was located just under 100 meters from a shaman's house. Such miracles, and many others, occur in the name of Jesus and clearly demonstrate that Jesus is greater than any other power.
The highest goal
“For him it is worth giving up my life so that I may gain it again. My goal is to be a sacrifice for Jesus!” Who has ever had such a desire or set themselves this goal? Paul could write freely to the Philippians: “Even if I am poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and priestly service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all” (Philippians 2:17).
Because Paul recognized the great sacrifice Jesus had made for him, he also wanted to be a sacrifice for Jesus. Brother Igor Azanov emphasized the idea of "sacrificing oneself for Jesus." A Christian does not find true joy in the pleasure of earthly things. Rather, true joy is hidden in our sacrifice for Jesus.
How good it is to know that we don't have to walk alone. Jesus is with us, among us, and within us. Brother Johann Schott concluded the afternoon service on Saturday with these precious thoughts.
Sunday morning – keeping God's grace in mind
The beautiful sounds of the hymn "От погибели спасла меня милость Божия" filled the prayer house in Speyer on Sunday morning. They also ushered in the final service of the 35th Missions Conference and directed our thoughts toward the wonderful grace of God. Being reminded of this is essential. It shows us the hardship from which we have been delivered and the blessings we have received through Christ.
Brother Viktor Barleben addressed this topic in his introduction to the blessing prayer with the following question: “Why was the Apostle Paul reminded to remember the poor?” The answer was as follows: “Because remembering the poor leads to recognizing how one has been graced by God.”
Mission board, project managers and leading brothers from home and abroad
What counts is obedience.
Scripture tells us about the life example of two men. Both had the opportunity to receive the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. They both possessed great wealth, but had different positions in society.
One was a hated tax collector, the other a respected young scribe. Both encountered Jesus, but only in the life of the tax collector Zacchaeus did a profound transformation occur. Brother Ivan Mokan explored the differences between these two biblical figures in his thematic sermon, focusing on the following main point:
- It doesn't matter how you came to Jesus.
- What matters is how you behave after the encounter.
- What matters is obedience to God. Disobedience will cost us dearly.
The history of Israel shows us what a deviation from God's will means. At least twice, Jerusalem was destroyed because of disobedience, and the Jewish people were scattered in all directions. Despite all the failures, transgressions, and disobedience, the following word of God for Israel still holds true: “But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine’” (Isaiah 43:1). Israel remains God's people. Therefore, the land holds special significance not only for the political world but also for us Christians. Brother Rischat emphasized this special status in his report. He also mentioned the successes of the rehabilitation program and the opening of a new Bible school.
Evangelization has the higher priority
Wherever Christians gather in the name of Jesus, the desire for shared Bible study and a longing for deeper understanding arise. This was also true of the disciples. They thirsted for more knowledge, and Jesus helped them understand the mysteries of the Kingdom of God (cf. Mt 13:11). Nevertheless, Jesus led them into a situation they did not immediately understand. Before Passover, they entered the home of a family who had experienced a great miracle just days before. Their beloved brother Lazarus had been raised from the dead. Out of deep gratitude, Mary anointed Jesus with precious nard oil. To those who knew the heart of God and were close to Him, an important mystery was revealed: “For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me” (Jn 12:8). Brother Viktor Altukhov explained the spiritual truth from this story in his thematic sermon on the mysteries of the Kingdom of God as follows: “Social welfare is only a side effect of missionary work. The highest priority is the proclamation of salvation in Jesus Christ.”
This work is by and for God
In 35 years of missionary work, CDH-Stephanus has not only helped countless people with food, clothing, and other essential goods. God alone knows how many souls surrendered their lives to Jesus through this important ministry and how their names are now written in heaven.
Brother Viktor Folz also looked to the past in his closing sermon. Despite many doubts from outsiders, false prophecies, and serious misfortunes, the work continued with deep trust and faith in God. Today, Mission Stephanus is a worldwide aid organization that grows year by year with God's help. The journey so far has not been in vain and will continue to be carried on by a new, young generation.
May the Lord grant us the grace to continue living with Jesus and to show in our faith the works that are pleasing to Him.
Philipp Diwold
Municipality of Speyer
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