Hey Friends,

Here’s our latest update concerning Relational Mission in Europe. Like patient farmers, one sows while another waters, and we long for God to bring the growth. Read on to learn of encouraging shoots of growth in many contexts across this mighty continent.

Thank you so much for taking an informed interest in what God is doing in the nations of Europe, and for your ongoing commitment in prayer and generous support.

With every blessing,

Maurice and Rachel

INTRODUCTION

Together. Everyone. Achieves. Much. Success.

One of the striking features of missional growth in the first century church is the operation of mobile ministry teams. In the New Testament, ministry teams were not static entities but rather fluid and dynamic communities. These teams were characterised by their ability to adapt and evolve in response to the changing needs of their mission. They were not bound by rigid structures or fixed roles, but instead embraced a flexible approach that allowed for the diverse gifts and talents of its members, both men and women, to be utilised effectively. This fluidity enabled ministry teams to navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and grow in their impact. By remaining open to the leading of the Holy Spirit and embracing the ever-changing landscape of ministry, these teams were able to thrive and make a lasting difference in the lives of those they served.

In this past year for Relational Mission, we have continued to see the development of such teams serving the mission of God across Europe. We are very encouraged to see the apostolic teams in Germany and the Netherlands taking increasing responsibility for the strengthening and planting of churches in their respective nations, gathering leaders and visiting churches to offer care and support and collective vision. There have been teams of ministry from the UK serving the Dutch and German family camps, as well as serving churches and events in Croatia, Ukraine, the European Leadership Forum, and much more besides. One key dynamic is the vital synergy between apostolic thinkers and senior prophetic ministry, and it has been significant to see the emergence of prophetic men and women in these nations, serving and illuminating the apostolic mandate for the expansion of God’s Kingdom across Europe. Let’s pray for increased and intentional creativity in mobilising effective teams of ministry wherever God gives us opportunity across Europe.

Mission update: Breaking the Brexit blockage

Whatever your politics, there can be no doubt that Brexit has had a significant impact on the dynamics of mission between the UK and the rest of Europe. Whether visiting the UK from an EU nation or vice versa, restrictions on visit durations has created limitations and frustrations for flexible and sustained mission.

This has been particularly the case for Maurice and Rachel, so it is a huge relief that they have finally been able to secure their residency permits for the Netherlands. This does not entail a wholesale relocation to the Netherlands, but rather opens up a second apostolic base for them from which they can more readily and flexibly serve nations across Europe without the previous obstacles.

We are deeply grateful to all who have worked so hard and generously to make this possible.

In the photo: Maurice and Rachel visiting the stone that marks the centre of the Netherlands

The Vision: Europe 20:50

Imagine us... establishing networks of 20 locally-led churches in each of the other 50 European nations by 2050

We have often said that our goal in Europe is to restore the church to Ephesians 4 maturity, bringing to mind the breathtaking vision Paul describes for a mature, activated and united church, served by the ministries gifted by the risen Jesus himself.

One way to measure this is to see a viable, self-sustaining and self-reproducing family of locally-led vibrant churches built upon simple New Testament values in each of the nations of Europe.

The vision is huge, our influence in Europe is as yet quite small, but our God is very great and we are laser focused on doing all we can to bring about these great and holy ambitions for the glory of God.

• Awareness raising of our mission to Europe to 1,500+ people across 17+ Nations in Europe

• 220+ Individuals encouraged and coached across Europe

• 25+ Churches/plants directly invested in over the year.

Key Statistics for March 23-April 24

Key for Pioneer Europe map (below)

• Presence (with established team): Nations we have presence in at least with one plant or a church established

• Presence (no team yet)

• Prospects: Nations where we have contacts on the ground exploring church planting or that could be a bridge into that nation.

• Promptings: Nations where we have prophetic encouragement or some initial conversations are taking place.

(Map correct for the March 23 - April 24 period)

The Vision: Mission Progress

The power of persuasion

So are we making progress? Inevitably this is a patient and long-term work. Doctrine and practice in the church in Europe has drifted far from biblical norms in many cases, and developing the trust and influence to be able to counter this takes time. Key to this is raising up mature local language disciples of ministry, particularly the five-fold ministries of Ephesians 4. Again, this takes time, coaching, nurturing, creating opportunities for ministries to be recognised and not imposed.

And in all this we see encouraging signs of progress.

On a recent prayer team visit to Denmark, we stumbled across an enormous tree that had been cut down to a stump, yet was beginning to sprout multiple green shoots. It was of course a powerful picture to us of the church in Europe; brutally cut back in its influence and strength, yet throwing out fresh shoots of hope and growth for the future.

Restoring simple New Testament values inevitably gives rise to the need to correct and align to a reliable apostolic plumbline. As our reach and influence in Europe grows, we find increased requirement to speak into such matters, including philosophies of church government, culture of leadership, operation of spiritual ministry, the practice of baptism, and more besides.

Please pray for grace, humility and boldness to contend for simple biblical truth and practice; godly persuasion is a powerful weapon (Acts 13:43, 18:4)!

Mission Story

Innovation and Creativity in the Kingdom

Mature church community is the longed-for fruit and consequence of extensive and intensive Kingdom labour outworked by every member of the body of Christ. Everyone of us is a missionary, a sent one, sent on apostolic mission to our families, neighbours, friends and colleagues; each one of us has the opportunity to reach some people that no-one else may be able to reach. Kingdom work can take countless forms, and in Brussels and Lille we see outstanding examples of Kingdom-minded mission seeking to spread the aroma of Christ and demonstrate the culture and values of Christ in creative and innovative ways:

A pop-up gallery, cafe and prayer space in the heart of Brussels: www.316.be

A shared work space for businesses, with a difference: www.goodspace.work/la-maillerie

Mission Resourcing

Update

Mission Resourcing

Figures presented are for the April 2023 - March 2024 period. They represent the resources channelled and invested through the UK Charity ‘Pioneer Mission’, which was established with the main focus to facilitate mission into Europe for the Relational Mission Family of Churches.

Alongside this investment there is considerable other investment directly made by churches from the Relational Mission family.

Further information on the Pioneer Mission Charity financial details on the Charities Commission website.

Income

Total: £180,735

Outgoing

Total: -£144,303

Looking forward

A Teaser

From our early days as a movement, we have always known that we can ‘do more together than apart’. We applaud mission in all its forms, whether the obedient initiative of a few people or an individual church, but also we look forward to what we can do when we put our energies together as a family of churches in a nation, pooling resources and committing ourselves together to collective apostolic and prophetic mission objectives.

Now this is a bit of a teaser, but in both the Netherlands and Germany the apostolic teams have been working towards identifying a key strategic next target for church planting in their respective nations that we can all own and contribute towards getting established. It’s too early to announce where, but we pray and hope that within the next short season we will be launching these initiatives and inviting everyone to play their part. Watch this space!

Join the mission

Go

Has God spoken to you in any way about being part of God’s community in another nation or locality?. It may just have been the name of a nation that has captured your heart or you feel stirred to plant a church.

We run the Called to Go programme to help people explore and begin to outwork this calling.

Learn more and register at relationalmission.org/calledtogo

If we are to see 20 churches in each nation of Europe by 2050 then we need many to step forward and get involved. Here is how you can:

Pray

Standing with us in prayer is like standing shoulder to shoulder next to us on the ground in a nation.

Please pray for the next steps mentioned and join our Whatsapp Channel to learn more.

Give

Over the next 5 years we are looking to raise in excess of £1 million to specifically invest in the mission in Europe. Will you stand with us and help?

Directly support the wider mission to Europe

Support via the Call Campaign

Share

If you know someone who you feel will be interested in this update then please pass it on, the more people we can keep informed the more momentum we can build.

Questions?

Simply email pioneer@relationalmission.com

Look out for the next update coming your way in Spring 2025

Thank you for your support