Nontraditional ministry opportunities abound in Europe

KRAKOW, Poland—Central and Eastern Europe offers fertile ground for nontraditional churches to work in partnership with conventional missionaries to share the gos-pel, Pastor Rick White of City View Church in Keller discovered on a recent trip to Poland.

Ed Stetzer, president of LifeWay Research, led a group of pastors to Krakow, Poland, to explore how nontraditional churches can put their faith into action alongside Inter-national Mission Board workers in the region.

“The opportunity for partnering here is great in Krakow and other cities across urban Europe, for churches to engage in God’s global mission through church planting and evangelism,” Stetzer said. “We can reach (people) together … through partnership.”

Pastors met with missionaries based in Poland, Hun-gary and Czech Republic to learn about ministry strategies and how their stateside churches can be involved.

“We want (American Christians) to meet people where they are and share Christ with them,” said Steve Brown, who serves in the eastern Czech Republic.

“We want people to hang out at pubs … to go to cafes and spend time together.

“That’s what means a lot to Czech people, and that’s where they hang out.”

Many of the missionaries emphasized partners can serve through alternate routes—not just through IMB channels.

“We’re looking for churches that are like-minded, have a heart for missions, and that want to trust God’s plan … to come and work with us,” Brown said.

Trey Shaw, who helps organize ministries in Buda-pest, Hungary, noted the simplicity of stateside churches getting involved.

“Call me, and we’ll work it out,” he said. “Seriously, it’s that easy.”

White accepted the challenge. Europe “is kind-of a forgotten continent” when it comes to missions, he observed.

“I would tell pastors: ‘Get in the game. Stop talking and get involved.’ The first step … is just getting on a plane.”