Mission-Possible: Life in Nürnberg!

Pastors praying and sending me out from Innsbruck

It occurred to me recently . . . as I was preparing to come back to the States for several weeks--part of which included gathering pictures and updates to be able to share with family, friends, and partners what my new life in Germany is like . . . that, well, I wonder if anyone really knows and experiences the fact that I am indeed, in Nürnberg now. Of course, when I say 'knows and experiences' I do not mean that you are right there with me, walking the streets and meeting the people--although that would be amazing! However, I consider it not only my job and my goal, but my desire, to enable you to feel as much a part of the things that are going on in Germany as possible. Otherwise, how can I accurately testify to all that God is doing there?!?

So, now that my 'wilderness season' in terms of limited-to-no-internet-access is over, and even though I am now back in Dallas and will have the joy of sharing with many of you in person in the coming days . . . well, I simply cannot wait any longer! Thus, this blog! Of course much much more will come in regards to Nürnberg overtime, but I thought I could at least write a few impressions that I have right now and share some pictures . . . . all leading to the fact that I am indeed living in Nürnberg and loving it!

Sooooo . . . . . here goes . . .

1st Impression: Family--The more that I am on the mission field the more I am convinced that none of us were meant to walk alone. Just as God intentionally placed us into our biological families, He also creates within us a spiritual need for spiritual family--those people that we are called to walk with and serve God together. We were created, afterall, with a need for relationship. Not only that, the work that God has called us to do extends far beyond our own personal lives . . . it's just too huge . . . and to accompish it all, we need others.

Of course, in the great scheme of things, we are all one family--the Body of Christ--His Bride--however for practical purposes, He sets us within nuclear spiritual families. The question is, then, with so many great familes out there, how is it that we know which one is indeed, our family?

For me, in regards to our Every Nation Nürnberg Church . . . there was and is a continuing sense of recognition. I have seen in the leadership the same pioneering spirit that God has so deeply placed within me--to build His church in Germany and beyond, paving a road that is as of yet, unpaved. . . bringing reformation. I have seen the same passion and drive not only to see God glorified but to give Him everything--our lives. There is the same call to worship Him in spirit and in truth. The same focus on the building of character. The same longing to encounter Jesus everyday, face-to-face. The same heart to touch and change life after life with God's very presence. I have also even recognized, somehow, similar past experiences and life-lessons in our own individual walks with God--as if He has been grooming and preparing us for the things to come as we journey down this road together.

Thus, over the past three months, as I have been in Nürnberg, whether in a leadership meeting or talking with one other person, or simply hanging out with our youth group, I have had the thought repeatedly pop up . . . 'Thank you Lord, this is the place where I am supposed to be!'

2nd Impression: Life--Another thing that continually strikes me about life in Nürnberg, about being a part of the church there, is how much, well, life there is . . . God-life. It's not just that there are a lot of things going on . . . that true everywhere. Meetings. Gatherings. Conversations. Work constantly in progress. That's normal. But in every one of those meetings and gatherings, and conversations, and the work that's in progress, there is always something not-so-normal about it. God shows up.

We've had leadership meetings where we could sense God taking the different strains of each person's input and weaving them together so that we could see, at the end, 'ok, this is where we are going, this is what God is saying.' At prayer meetings I am always astounded by how God literally arrives with His agenda, and His Word--and it's an agenda and a Word that, every single time, strikes to the very heart of each person there. I never leave a prayer meeting unchanged. In fact, I have learned to go with a bit of holy fear . . . 'oh gosh, what's He going to do this time?' And it is always amazing.

God made it clear to us recently that He was going to take our group into a season of deep work, bringing issues up, healing, setting people free. He has absolutely been true to His Word . . . bringing something that can only be described as life to us . . .

. . . which can be seen in our weekly Sunday evening youth meetings where students and youth have ended up sharing their testimonies each time, of what God did in their lives the last time (the meeting the week before) . . . telling us how they have been changed. At our last monthly outreach meeting, U-NITE, to which a record 65 people came, we had prayed beforehand that God would lead us into conversations where He Himself would show up and speak. Well, after the meeting, those of us on the leadership team all ended up in incredible conversations. I myself remained half-amazed the entire night as I was literally led from one girl to the next . . . God giving me the opportunity as they voluntarily opened up to me to pray with them about some very deep things. And as we prayed, you could literally see God moving in their lives.

Meeting God and sharing Him . . . that's the life I see in our church in Nürnberg . . . it's a life that makes one hungry for more . . . a life that ushers the miracle of His Presence into our midst.

3rd Impression: Fun--What can I say? Living in Nürnberg is just fun! Hard? Yes . . . absolutely, in the sense that there is an incredible amount of work to be done to build His Kingdom . . . and there is a lot of darkness resisting it. We, all of us, are in a spiritual battle, and there's a major one raging over Nürnberg in particular. But, even with the waring and the battling and the praying and the working . . . every single ounce of it being worth it . . . Nürnberg is fun.

The place itself is fun. First mentioned in the year 1050, the old city center, is, as you can imagine, beautiful with its old old streets and buildings. It has lakes and a river running right in the middle of the city where you can go paddle-boating. Parks are all around. And of course, shopping. And, well, Nürnberg boasts of having the largest Cinema in Europe--and I am telling you, this thing is huge! Outside of the city, the surrounding areas are equally as lovely. Some days while driving to this or that place, the rolling hills covered in the greenest of grass literally call to me, tempting me to pull the car over so I can go and, well, leap and play and cavort in the fields. Perhaps that sounds too 'Maria'ish' as in Maria from the Sound of Music, but it just seems so fun to think of joining in on all of that beauty.

The people, too, are fun. Literally every weekend our youth group gets together to, well, enjoy being together! From taking our bi-weekly trip to Burger King (once we ended up spending five hours there just laughing at and with each other), to cramming into my small but great apartment to watch a movie, to grilling out and ending up in soccer tournaments in the backyard of someone's house, there is no lack for activity and the fellowship is rich. And it's not just our youth group. The church as a whole loves, well, fun! Whether for a week away in some other country, or just a day out at some park or lake, or at someone's birthday party, as long as there is food and fellowship involved, everyone's happy. Acts 2:42, in The Message, says that the early church commited themselves to 'life together,' and that is certainly a reflection of our church in Nürnberg.

So, family, life, and fun . . . . all impressions from my past three months in Nürnberg! I hope this brings you nearer to the reality we get to experience everyday with what God is doing in Germany. You are, afterall, an incredible part of this journey that we are on . . . thank you! (pics below)