ASI Abroad: ASI Europe (edit, back)
07/15/2010
ASI Europe is an umbrella organization to national ASI chapters in fifteen different European countries across two separate divisions—the Trans-European Division and the Euro-Africa Division. Altogether, ASI Europe has more than 800 members representing a wide variety of cultures and speaking many different languages. The diversity within ASI Europe is both challenging and encouraging.
In recent years, we have concentrated our efforts on three major areas: education, youth evangelism (including Youth for Jesus) and small group lay evangelism using the New Beginnings DVD series as our main tool.
In education, we have active training programs in Portugal, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Spain and the United Kingdom. Some of the schools are run by AFCOE, Mission College and OCI. Many are supported both by ASI Europe and local ASI national chapters.
Youth evangelism programs are very successful throughout Europe. We’ve come to realize that positive synergy develops when we work in conjunction with church youth leaders. Currently, we’re sponsoring two programs in the United Kingdom, two in Spain, and one each in France, Hungary, Holland and Slovakia. The national ASI chapters are very active in supporting these programs. For instance, the national chapter in the Czech Republic is supporting 24 projects in conjunction with Maranatha Volunteers International this year. We encourage our members not only to be donors but also to be active participants in such programs. A great blessing is reserved for those who take an active roll in youth evangelism.
Involvement in small group ministries is important for any layperson interested in evangelism. We have concentrated on training leaders and providing them with copies of the New Beginnings DVD series in their own languages. We’re thankful for additional support in this area from It Is Written. Numerous sessions have been carried out in the United Kingdom, Italy, Hungary, Spain, the Czech Republic and Romania. ASI Portugal has also worked closely with the Portuguese Union to train more than 350 families all over the country. Their goal is to train 1,000 families by the end of 2010. Ruben Dias, president of ASI Portugal and ASI Europe’s vice president for marketing and growth, says, “Thank the Lord that we are working hand-in-hand, and the Holy Spirit is shaking our church.”
This is the spirit of commitment and eager anticipation that we wish to see burning across the entire “old continent.” We want our church members to be conscious of the times in which we are living and of the mission entrusted to us. Evangelism is not only possible, it is happening in Europe. We want to be on the front lines, working hand-in-hand with church leadership, conferences, unions and divisions to do our part as disciples of Christ. I have no doubt that the Lord through the Holy Spirit will exceed our expectations.
