More than a Few Good Laborers!

“When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Matthew 9:36-38 (NIV)

Current Mission Opportunities

1. Long-term cross-cultural ministry - for more mature and experienced worker(s) who are catalytic and 'apostolic' in nature; church planting, evangelism and disciple making; equipping in a broader context across churches, cultures and geographical boundaries. In time, if God so leads, could be a 'settler' who equips new cross-cultural workers and catalyzes ministry to new people groups and sub-cultures.
2. One-Year - a cross-cultural program allowing those interested in exploring whether or not long-term cross-cultural missions is God's call for their life. Typically, joining and co-laboring with an existing church or team.
3. Internships - paid and unpaid internships for young men and women during longer school breaks or in between jobs. For those who would like to explore and experience cross-cultural ministry with an existing church or new church plant in Europe for a semester, usually two to four months in length.
4. Study abroad - students who would like to combine their academics with a cross-cultural ministry experience; coordinated directly with the local church in Europe.
5. Short-term missions - one to two week mission trips that come alongside an existing church or team (a few examples of possible STMs: evangelistic - survey and initiative evangelism, English clubs and camps, service projects, outreach events, etc.; service - childcare during GCE's Awaken conference or Missionary retreat; equipping - seminary, workshops, discussions at churches in areas of ministry or professional aptitude; or exploratory trips for church planting in a new city or country).
6. Itinerate ministry - one to six week trips to equip in areas of proven giftedness; coordinated directly with a local church and/or with the GCE team.
7. United for Europe 2014

Over the last eight years, the GCE team, and more recently with the GCC team, has been asking ourselves, “If we are going to reach the countries and continent of Europe, what has to be true? What has to be different? Who do we need to make this happen?”

We fully recognize that it is primarily the role of the believers in Europe to reach their cities, countries and continent. We also recognize that to fulfill the Great Commission and ‘Go… to the ends of the earth…,’ God will be leading people and teams to take the gospel, disciple making and church planting to other parts of the world. The latter beckons a response: ‘How do we go effectively without taking the responsibility and incentive from the believers in Europe? What principles will guide and what practices do we need to develop that allow for cross-cultural workers to honor indigenous people and accomplish the task of reaching the nations for Christ?’

This journey has led GCE to be very intentional about why we are in Europe, what we are to be doing and conversely not doing, and what our role is in local and extra-local leadership, finances, equipping and partnerships. These latter four areas, combined with GCE’s mission, vision, values and beliefs, form what we affectionately call our ‘Eight Big Rocks’ (see the GCE web-site for more explanation). These Eight Big Rocks, one of which includes our Roundtable Model, guide our decisions when potential laborers from the States who sense they are being led by God inquire about taking the gospel cross-culturally to Europe.

As potential laborers are considering whether God is leading them to join with GCE, we have provided a cursory description of the cross-cultural worker(s) GCE is currently considering and the ways those workers may be able to serve with us in Europe.

If you are sensing that God may be leading you to further explore cross-cultural ministry in Europe, in addition to contacting GCE about opportunities, please seek the counsel of your family and church pastor(s).

We need more than a few good laborers! Is God leading you to be one of them?

GCE Cross-Cultural Worker(s) Profile

1. Pastors/Elders – tested and proven church planting skills (multiplying small groups), evangelism skills, disciple-making skills, and team-building skills. Willing to learn a new language and use translators. Willing to network with indigenous churches, ministries and believers. Willing to empower and release indigenous believers to do the work through training, equipping and coaching behind the scenes. Able to travel (for pastors with families, able to travel locally, within an hour or two.)
2. Singles and younger couples – young people with foundational evangelism and disciple-making habits and skills. Willing to join an existing team to be equipped, or to join or co-lead a new church planting team in a different city or country in Europe. Willing to learn a new language. Able to travel.
3. Couples – couples without children and empty-nesters that have a proven level of maturity in evangelism, disciple making, and multiplying small groups. Willing to join an existing team or co-lead a new church planting team in a new city or country. Willing to learn a new language. Able to travel.
4. Families – who have a proven level of maturity in evangelism, disciple making, and multiplying small groups. Willing to join an existing team or co-lead a new church planting team in a new city or country. Willing to learn a new language. Able to travel locally.
5. Itinerate laborers – Willing and able to adapt to a variety of cultures, and to equip in areas of proven giftedness. Able to travel, to work with existing pastors, churches and teams to equip laborers to do the work of ministry, and to work closely with GCE team.

For more information and general inquires about laboring with GCE in Europe, contact us at info@gceweb.org.

For specific inquires about the United for Europe 2014 campaign, contact us at u4e14@gceweb.org.