Germany – Church Renewal School
AGWM Personnel, Steve and China Walent, are church planting missionaries in Germany. They relate the news concerning the starting of a Church Renewal School. It is necessary to strengthen the base of existing churches in order to establish new ones.
The plan is to help the existing churches take inventory of their present position, assess how they got there, and to discover what they need in order to move ahead in becoming the church God has called them to be. The themes of focus are personal renewal/spiritual dynamics, the church, relationships, leadership, teams, discipleship, structures and the dynamics and process of change.
The Church Renewal School (CRS) had a very good start in the spring. Teams from 10 churches signed up to take part. There were about 65 participants on the first day. The goal is to have at least three people from each church leadership team present,. It is the combined leadership of a church that needs to realize the need for change and then move together in the process. Most of those 10 churches do not have their own pastors; therefore the Walents are working with lay leadership, many of whom have had very little training.
The first presentation was “Personal Renewal/Spiritual Dynamic. This subject touches the foundation of who we are and what we are called to be – both as an individual and a church. The response of those participating was very positive. There were sessions of teaching, and time together in teams to apply what was heard to our situation on the home front for this is where everyone is confronted with the reality of their need, and then is challenged to seek ways to move forward.
Lastly, but most importantly, the participants spent time together in prayer, asking God to grant grace and direction to move ahead with His plan for the respective churches. The Walents are continuing the CRS with great anticipation as to what the Lord will do among the churches in Saxony, Germany.
From Spring 2008 Newsletter of
AGWM Personnel, Steve and Christina Walent