Lisbon – Since 2002, a mission programme sponsored by the European Baptist Federation (EBF) has helped indigenous missionaries plant roughly 100 congregations in 25 primarily East European countries. At sessions of the EBF’s General Council meeting in Lisbon/Portugal from 24 – 27 September, Daniel Trusiewicz (Wroclaw, Poland), Coordinator of the “Indigenous Mission Project” (IMP), concluded: “We are experiencing success.” Hundreds of people have found a spiritual home in these congregations. In addition, thousands have heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Yet Trusiewicz conceded that a major programme objective has not been achieved. One goal states that IMP-congregations need to stand on their own feet financially after the first five years. Following a period of full sponsorship lasting two-and-a-half years, funding is decreased every year. But no congregation has yet achieved complete financial independence. Support has terminated for 20 congregations, but fortunately, all of them have survived. In order to continue serving their congregations, pastors have found positions in the secular realm or taken on a position with their own national Baptist Union. Trusiewicz notes that the IMP-missions programme is financially extremely efficient: depending on the country in question, missionaries cost only 250 to 400 euros per month. Trusiewicz is delighted that most pastors retain contact with him even after the cessation of financial support.

At the meeting in Portugal, Trusiewicz called on mission partners to continue their support – roughly 200.000 euros is needed annually. He is very pleased by the fact that some partners pay into the EBF account regularly without any kind of written agreement. The largest supporter has been the Baptist Convention of Texas, which supports 14 missionaries. Yet it remains a primary concern that additional supporters be found. Presently, 16 agencies or groups – usually national Baptist Unions – are supporting the work.

Jakab Sallai, an IMP-church planter among the Hungarian-speaking minority in northern Romania, described the daily problems confronting his work. He regards it of vital importance to build up trust within the largely secular populace. For two years he has been working primarily among young people and meets with them regularly. He has made initial contact with parents through their children and youth. Yet the numbers present at worship services remain very modest: at the moment the church-planting team comprises of Jakab, his wife and one other couple residing in that city. Yet Sallai remains convinced that a missions breakthrough will occur in the coming months.