GOD IS NOT FINISHED WITH THE 72 NATIONS OF THE EUROPE/MIDDLE EAST REGION!

Holy Ghost Outpouring!

By Robert K. Rodenbush, Regional Director
 

The Europe and Middle East Region plays a very strategic role in world affairs and almost daily world attention is focused there as war, terrorism, fear of mass destruction, struggles for power and economic control is decided and carried out. All of this has made missionary work in these 72 nations very unique, often dangerous and certainly challenging.

It was in the Middle East where Jesus was born and where the Pentecostal experience was first poured out.  It was Europeans that for centuries diligently took the gospel around the world and courageous missionaries spilled their blood to spread Christianity across a hundred borders, including North America.  But it is a different story today!

Though Europe can boast of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world and quaint church buildings dot every European village, they are only historic showpieces and remain mostly empty.  Europeans are often apathetic about religion, content to have their name on a church membership role and use their cathedrals and churches for baptism of babies, weddings and funerals. To the north and east in the region, former Soviet Union countries under the still strong communist influence struggle to accept the concept of God whom they were told for decades did not exist. It is difficult for them to trust anyone, especially the many religious groups and cults that have penetrated their countries to attract their attention and try to influence them. Entire countries of the Middle East declare themselves as Muslim nations and will not tolerate propagation of Christianity.  They worship Allah and dedicate themselves to propagating the doctrines of Islam throughout the region. All of this presents a tremendous challenge to our missionaries and national workers.

Additionally, some have declared that revival will not happen in this part of world because of past atrocities and sins.  Others have felt that we are wasting our time, accepting the difficulty of the task as an impossible one.  But is God finished with Europe and the Middle East?  NO!   Although for years this part of the world has definitely been one of the most difficult areas to penetrate with the True Gospel of Jesus Christ, we believe that God wants Europe and the Middle East back!   He is not finished in this vast region with its 72 nations and 1.2 billion people.  Wherever there is a lost soul, the mercy and love of God reaches for them. There is nothing impossible with God!

Faithful missionaries, national pastors and believers have prayed, fasted, witnessed and worked hard for many years in this part of the world, sometimes with very little results. But their labor has not been in vain.  Now revival is happening like never before!

Twenty-nine brand new countries have been opened in the region in the past few years!  These countries now have an evangelistic outreach and churches or preaching points. Reports reveal that 2000 were filled with the Holy Ghost in local churches, conferences and crusades last year.  Forty-eight new churches and preaching points were opened last year in the region and in the sub-regional conference in Madrid, Spain, 106 received the Holy Ghost in just two nights!  Reports like this have been unheard of in the Europe/Middle East Region until now.

Ninety-four missionaries, more than 60 Associates In Missions volunteers and a host of national pastors and believers work together to evangelize the region.   Unity and prayer evangelism has been a major focus among us. Prayer teams and evangelistic teams from North America have joined with us in prayer walks, literature crusades and street evangelism in many major cities throughout the region.  Recently a special prayer team did prayer walks in three major cities in North Africa where the people are predominately Muslim. God is answering our prayers and miracles of healing and deliverance are happening! 

We believe that the Lord is quickly bringing to pass fulfillment of prophecy for His soon coming. Every event suddenly takes on new meaning when looked at in the context of God’s plan being fulfilled.  We believe that the Lord is giving this part of the world one more chance and is bringing revival in fulfillment of the prophecy recorded in Joel 2:28,  “I will pour my spirit upon ALL flesh.”  Watch for revival reports from the part of the world that many predicted would never experience revival.  God is not finished with Europe and the Middle East!

Thank you for your faithful prayer and support for Europe and the Middle East.  Rejoice with us!