Herford – European Baptist Mission International (EBM) is broadening its field of ministry. Active in the past in Africa, Latin America and India, Turkey is now being added. The go-ahead came from the EBM’s Mission Council during its gathering in Herford/Germany from 19 to 21 May. During that event, Ertan and Marlene Cevik were commissioned as missionaries. The couple has been active as church planters in Izmir/Turkey since 1999. Their congregation, which grew out of a private cell group, presently has 35 members. Until now, Cevik had been employed directly by the German Federation of Evangelical-Free Churches, which consists of Baptist and Brethren congregations. Yet the Federation felt this mission effort would be in better hands under the umbrella of a mission society. From the outset, Cevik’s work has been supported by the interconfessional support group Aktion Smyrna in Singen/Germany. The city of Smyrna in the book of Revelation is now known as Izmir.

Another missionary couple, Julio Chafér and Damaris Juárez Baldrés from Spain, were commissioned to serve in Malabo in the African country of Equatorial Guinea. The couple will head a school with 700 pupils as well as a congregation of 50. A highlight of the conference, which was entitled Sharing Life - Giving Hope, was a party in Herford’s pedestrian zone. Guests from across the globe spoke about their countries, sang, and served more than 500 passers-by national dishes.

The Mission Council also approved a plan intended to increase contact between Baptist congregations in Europe and mission churches. Direct partnerships between a European congregation and one in India, Africa or Latin America will now be possible. EBM General-Secretary Christoph Haus (Elstal near Berlin) stressed: ‘Contact in both directions will be important because our congregations in Europe can learn a great deal from those in the southern hemisphere regarding spirituality, church life, evangelisation and the charity work of the local congregation.’

It was noted that the mission’s financial situation is serious. Compared with the previous year, donations during the first quarter of 2011 were down by 300.000 euros. The total annual budget amounts to four million euros. Haus hopes that new partnerships will lead to increased donations. EBM presently employs 55 European and indigenous missionaries. Despite the deficit, Haus appeared optimistic: ‘A mission through which God is doing great things and through which so many people have been won for Christ will not go under. If God has given us our tasks, then he will also make clear how we can finance them.’

A farewell celebration was held for Volker Bohle, the EBM’s Mission Secretary for Africa. After ten years with the EBM, he has been named pastor of a congregation in Berlin Lichterfelde-Ost. In the EBM he was known for having installed a successful volunteer programme. Since 2003, more than 160 usually younger persons have spent six months or a year gathering mission experience in the countries of Africa and Latin America. 

The European Baptist Federation (EBF) was represented at the Council by its Vice-President, Hans Guderian (Berlin).