Greetings! I hope you are all having a wonderful entry to this special time of year.
As the year is beginning to come to a close, we have been hard at work creating the different communications pieces that we have to send out every year. This includes a year-end recap video for 2022, holiday updates, a scholarship fundraising campaign, and lots of smaller supporting elements. This strategic time is when we reflect back on all that has happened and share the direction God is leading us in looking to the future. A lot of this weight falls on my shoulders to oversee and ensure we are serving all those to whom we are connected as a ministry with this information in addition to our regular updates. I find it all very exciting and a refreshing departure from the normal rhythm.
Following up on my last update, the Kingdom Come event was a huge success! Due to the change in weather, this one was held indoors at a church in a light industrial area near the city center. The focus for the night was reaching the youth and inspiring them to dig deeper into their relationship with God. It was a spectacular evening with worship, fellowship, performing arts, testimonies, a short message, and a time of response. We could feel a shift in the spiritual atmosphere and people’s lives were changed. The swiss are normally very reserved and withdrawn but at the event, they were wholeheartedly engaged. I want to thank all of you who lifted this night up in your prayers, it truly made an impact. This one was the final one for the year, but there are already plans underway to resume them in the new year. Here are a collection of photos from the evening:
One of the big things in 2023, I am waiting for with much anticipation is the launch of the Create & Communicate Course (CCC) in January. One of the major challenges of working in a specialized skill field like communications within a missional context is the shortage of people. Generally, people who have invested in building up a technical skillset aren’t interested in becoming missionaries. So, the alternative is to train people who are already in missions. This is where the communications course comes in. I am excited to get to invest in more young up-and-coming communicators, and I am also hopeful that a couple of them will stay on and become members of my team. We are offering a residency after the course where they can stay for a few months to experience what it is like to be a part of my team while also getting further input and developing their real-world skills.
In Switzerland, there is a large missions conference each year called “The One.” All of the YWAM locations in the French-speaking part of the country go together and are represented at the conference with a trade-show-style booth. While I didn’t personally go to man the booth (my French is still quite a ways off from being conversational), I did do the design of the banners & printed materials. The project was a bit outside of my normal range but was rewarding and enjoyable. Here is what it looked like when it was all put together:
As we are coming up to American Thanksgiving, I have taken some time to reflect on all the wonderful things I have to be thankful for. This year, more than any before it, God has really opened doors and expanded my circle of influence beyond what I could have ever foreseen. I am very grateful for this and don’t take it for granted. At the same time, I have been awe-struck by the generosity and support from all of you. It is hard to even put into words how reassuring and anchoring it is to know so many of you are standing with me and praying for what is happening over here. Thank you! I feel truly blessed and my heart is full of thankfulness. I pray the same is true for each one of you as well!
As always, thank you for coming along with me in this adventure of faith,
Ben