What is Groupe Biblique Universitaire?

Of the three primary areas of ministry with which I am engaged in Compiegne, I am most passionate about Groupe Biblique Universitaire. I often liken it to Intervarsity Christian Fellowship back in the states, which isn't helpful if you are not familiar with IVCF. So, let us begin afresh. I will start at the macro level of International Fellowship of Evangelical Students and work down to the micro level of GBU in Compiegne (Universite de Technologie de Compiegne).

GBU is a student ministry movement in France occurring in the context of IFES, an international networking community of national-led student ministries. IFES began in 1947 with ten international groups convening at Harvard to commit to growing as Christians and bearing witness to Christ in their university contexts. Today IFES is comprised of approximately 136 countries on every continent, except Antarctica, representing their various student movements. IFES holds as goals 1) evangelism, 2) formation/discipleship, 3) and world mission. (I commend you to their website for more specifics, especially their distinctives.) Student movements represented within the network as well ascribe to these goals in particular ways, as we will see shortly with GBU. IFES is global and inter-denominational, particularly evangelical in their outworking of doctrine and disciplines. In a nutshell, IFES exists to link similarly-minded Christian student groups around the world with one another. As one finds in any local, national, or international mission or ministry, being a part of something bigger than yourself (ya know, that thing called The Kingdom) is key for growth and vision.

GBU exists in similar forms on many French campuses. Believing that Scriptures are foundational for moving Christians forward in faithfulness to Christ and outward in witness to those not in the Church, GBU focuses primarily on engaging students in Bible study, equipping students to encounter Scripture through personal and corporate study. GBU also serves to encourage Christian students in developing and speaking openly of their relationship with Christ. While Christians make up a majority of the GBU participants, from what I can pick up on, it is also presented as a group open to anyone wanting to study the Bible. France is after all a skeptical yet intellectual land. At camp this summer and in various training sessions, GBU equips students with the OIA (pronounced in French "O-ee--ah", slurred together) method of study, also known as inductive Bible study--Observation, Interpretation, Application. (have no worries, another blog will focus on OIA). This method particularly challenges students to dig into Biblical texts for themselves and alongside others, asking particular questions along the way and concluding in the end various ways in which the Scripture may practically be used. OIA is a particularly helpful method in a land where solid and accessible Bible teaching can rarely be found. I honestly do not think many Americans can identify with the true absence of Biblical exegesis as is the norm here. Feel free to correct me. Depending on the size, staffing, and location of a GBU organization, outreach events may also be organized. For larger GBU's such as in Paris, several casual events are organized throughout the semester. For smaller GBU's such as in Compiegne, one to two a year may be organized. By size I do not mean to compare the number in attendance at Bible studies, although this is a factor. I speak of the aggregate affects of student participation and leadership, staffing, particular inception/history of GBU, university size, and "sites" so to speak. GBU operates at national, regional, and local levels, with various gatherings such as camps, trainings, Bible studies, discussions and debates, outreach events, etc. occurring at each level in various ways.

GBU-UTC in the past has gathered weekly in a nearby Catholic church for Bible study, prayer, and worship. However, last year Armel, the student leader, and Dave Hemmerle applied for GBU to become a recognized student organization at UTC. Because it is a group which focuses on Bible study and is open to anyone, they did not foresee a problem. However, administration at the college did not quite understand the group's intent and were afraid of proselytizing. They refused to grant GBU-UTC official status which severely limits how we can make announcements and be a public group presence. Along with this action, however, they also de-officialized a Catholic student group which had been in existence at UTC for 34 years. Their church happened to be GBU's meeting place. Needless to say, the Catholic group's association with GBU and its fall-out sadly and actually unexpectedly left us without a meeting place for this year. At this time we have met in a faculty member's apartment (which he made very clear he is not to be considered "leading" or being "officially associated" with GBU) and a UTC classroom. In the classroom we will remain, gathering for Bible study but unable to worship and pray.

Two students, Nari (bottom left in picture above) and Armel, attended GBU camp at the end of August to prepare for the coming year. Armel however is in the south of France for an internship this semester. His leadership has been key in the past, and we are praying for mature student leadership to be developed in his absence. Already Nari has been an energetic, encouraging, and engaged presence for the others; and I see how the encouragement of camp is at work in her spirit. We are comprised at this time of six female students, 4 male students, and Dave and me who lend support and encouragement to the students while carefully trying not to lead. Since we are just getting going, I'll give you a personal spin on the group and will throughout the year keep you updated.

We need prayer. One, leadership. Two, Bible study--it does not appear at this time that a book will be chosen to study together but rather sections of texts will be selected. Dave and I are unsure of how this will play out in the long-term as we were expecting to study a book, as in the past. Consistency is key for engagement and study so lift this up. Three, coming together for more than Bible study. Suddenly all that Bonhoeffer wrote in Life Together has hit home on new levels, and I am grieved that for our regular meetings we cannot pray and worship together. Pray for us that we will seek out creative ways to come together over the course of this year. Four, the GBU women. I spent the last two weeks connecting with four and need to connect with two more and however many more God brings along. They are receptive to my being here and seem eager and willing to spend time together. (An aside: GBU does not focus on discipleship as it believes this should occur in the context of churches and thus does not want to usurp that role. However, discipleship doesn't seem to be happening much here. Thus, my time with women, I believe to appropriately and rightly serve in this context, needs to be aligned with GBU's vision as well as alongside broader Biblical invitations to discipleship. Pray for my wisdom in this.) We have been engaging in spiritual temperature readings and determining where we are collectively desirous of growth as well as what are specific areas in which to encourage the women. Some ideas discussed have been--prayer group, a women's issues discussion night, sleep-over, worship, Bible reading and study, learning basics of Christianity. At the outset of ministry, there can always be a plethora of ideas, suggestions, and energy, and I am all too familiar with the realities impressed on students with studies and other commitments. However, pray for hunger on the part of both the women and men to prioritize not GBU but their relationship with Christ and others, and that GBU is a means to this end.

We meet Tuesday nights at 8pm, that's 1pm CST. Women will gather sporadically throughout the months. I envision at this time one-on-one's bi-weekly and two casual gatherings, one for the purpose of encouraging one another as sisters and another as an open invite to their friends and other female students I may meet on campus. As well, one student in our midst does not seem to be a Christian but she plans to attend and is asking questions. Pray that we all may bear a witness of love and grace as we speak with boldness of our dear Jesus for such as herself throughout this year.

This Just In...

If you read or watched the news this week at all, you know the Fed cut interest rates more than was expected to 4.75%. It's supposed to aid those applying for mortgages in the dismal housing market. It was a move as well to improve the spirits and daily activities of Wall Street.

On the other side of the ocean, the decision further increased the dollar-euro exchange, a painful fall-out for Americans here. The rate change isn't the only cause but it sure didn't help. While things could return to normal, i.e., still not good, as US and world markets adjust, for every 1 euro you spend, it equals $1.40. That's quite a chunk o' change.

*Next entry to watch for: "What is Groupe Biblique Universitaire?"

A France-centric media outlet sends young missionary into minor cardiac arrest.

Bernard Kouchner--"A-warring we shall go, a-warring we shall go..."

So Monday I was reading www.france24.com (the newly created French CNN) as I try to do once each day or sometimes every other. This was the headline, and I thought "what is 'pire'?" as I frantically clawed for my dictionary. "Pire" means worst. Having identified a few other key words like "Iran," "guerre," (war) and understanding most of the content, I thought, oh, no, meltdown in the Middle East is happening (or did it already?) and I have no clue about it. As the media told me to do, I fell into a disorienting tizzy realizing I am very far away from home as another war begins. I flipped over to the New York Times to find out, what is going on? in English. There was nothing--not a word about Iran, about France, about nuclear anything. And they don't even know, I thought, about my home country and citizens.

Apparently, here is what happened. Foreign Minister of France Bernard Kouchner made some hawkish comments about Iran that not everyone agreed with, not even within his own government. In a nutshell he said, If Iran can't get its act together, the world will have to take hard and decisive action beyond sanctions. Great! Fantastic! Here we go again. However, I kept checking the New York Times and thankfully found this. Under pressure from France and oh, everyone else, Kouchner toned down his comments sometime on Monday. He deferred to the always useful tactic of negotiating rather than waging war. I for one appreciated that France will talk before they go in guns blazing.

Here's the funny aspect of this. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, fearless leader of Iran, made a statement Tuesday that he "did not take seriously" Kouchner's comments. And I quote, "The prescribed actions are different from the real positions/reality." So, was it because France was making the statement or because Ahmadinejad knew no one would go for another war at this time? I'm not sure, but rest easy, citizens of the U.S., there is no war with Iran as of yet. I just thought you should know.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad--"Really? Seriously? Nah, I don't believe it."

While I'm Waiting

I'm anxiously waiting to hear where and when I can begin serving at L'Arche after spending three days last week in "discovery," as they termed it. Hopefully, I will help out in the mornings 9-12 with their adult activities, since activity is my speciality. :) I had hoped to begin this morning, but since the French clock runs differently from the American clock, it may be a little later in the day or tomorrow before I am confirmed. This afternoon I need to run around town and take care of a few business items, such as banking, bill-paying, and French course enrollment. As with L'Arche, all of these tasks have been repeatedly pursued within the last couple of weeks, and I am learning to have patience with the cultural differences in how to go about things, both in terms of time and process. I'm excited for this evening, as I will attend a L'Oise Valley "Pastorale" with Dave and Thad to connect with area pastors and churches.

While I wait, however, am doing a little Bible study and also thought I would post this below. I wrote this in one of my graduate school applications and have decided to adopt it as my life theme. I've always clung to various Scriptures in different seasons but have never alighted on a verse as this that seems to be the overarching principle and promise of my life. The phrases written before the verse came in one of those great moments of clarity when a brief life can be assessed and what is to be lived can be dreamed in the context of what I pray captures the essence of my earthly life.

Speaking Truth. Loving Lavishly. Serving Fully. Living Boldly.

“But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.”

II Timothy 1:12

What is Church Planting?: Ivies, Oaks, Cacti, and Everything in Between

*This is one in a yet-to-be-determined multi-part series entitled, "What Is...?" This series seeks to answer your "what is" questions about different ministry forms in France and Europe as well as define terms I pick up and use along the way. To better access this series in its entirety, click the label on the right side of your screen.

From August 4 through 10, I participated in Greater Europe Mission’s Annual Conference held in Sopron, Hungary, a little east of Vienna, Austria. While there are many items to highlight from the conference, I want to take a little bit of time to discuss six church-planting initiatives as presented in various conference sessions. This is not meant to be exhaustive nor conclusive. I am learning just as you are. My prayer is that you and I will be more informed of what God is doing in Europe through this work.

An Introduction
The mission statement of Greater Europe Mission reads as this: "The purpose of Greater Europe Mission is to assist the peoples of Greater Europe in building up the Body of Christ so that every person is within reach of a witnessing fellowship." But what is a "witnessing fellowship?" At conference, it was defined as "a community of believers who love and worship a Triune God and who, through words and deeds, are proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world." Our presenter very clearly pointed out that GEM does not pursue establishing or partnering with a specific model. Witnessing fellowship is a fluid model and below you will read more about a few practices on the European table.

Redeemer Presbyterian, NYC Philosophy
A significant player in church-planting movements, Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City facilitates a Church Planting Center to equip and train up church-planters from around the world. Tied to its mission, Redeemer believes the Church must be at the center of Gospel-driven personal, social, and cultural changes; thus, there must exist more churches to initiate the changes Redeemer envisions. Redeemer does not bill itself as a model or as a planter of churches internationally but proposes a philosophy and offers a training center in the context of its own life and ministries. The church not only facilitates training for missionaries and international church-planters but is active in NYC planting churches. A relatively young church as history goes (1989), Redeemer itself seeks to have communities that serve local neighborhoods as well as reach out to those unsure of church life and the Gospel.

I pick up on two distinctives through presentations at conference and through some reading. One—those schooled in Redeemer’s philosophy plant churches which take into account those who are unchurched, specific populations, specific cultures, and/or diverse ways of “doing church.” What does this mean? Here’s an example as was shared—you want to start a church in a young, artistic community? You probably won’t be sitting in pews singing from hymnals. Instead, you might begin with a mix and mingle coffee hour, have dancers as part of worship, and the general style will be relaxed, come-as-you-are. Or, you want to start a church for young professionals? You might meet on a Saturday night or weekday night and you might host Christians in business luncheons during the week or corporate prayer breakfasts. In a layperson’s terms, the philosophy might read as “to meet them, be them.” As far as Christian lingo goes, a shift from “seeker-friendly” to “missional” has occurred which overarches this church-planting vision. Second distinctive—this movement and means are Gospel-driven. What does this mean? It means those who come to church will have to deal with the cross, that Jesus will be encountered as a means to living fully and faithfully, and that hard topics aren’t going to be glossed over for anyone. This will be a come-as-you-are and encounter Jesus and His people kind of place that wouldn’t exist if the Gospel didn’t.

Romanian Torch Project
At conference, a Romanian pastor shared with us an exciting work that he and others have initiated as a church-planting movement in Romania and beyond. Click here to read more, in Romanian (sorry, don't have an English link). The Romanian Torch Project seeks to ignite a passion for missions in individual churches that pushes people and churches outside of themselves and into their communities and world. The initial aim has been and continues to be to focus on the Romanian church. However, as fires for church-planting and sharing the Gospel have been lit, this vision has been carried across the continent of Europe. This pastor along with others travels to major cities in European countries challenging pastors and congregations to place at their functioning center a passion for missions. Each church is then called to be a “torch,” responsible for spreading the light to other churches in their vicinity. As each church prays and pursues sincerely being a light of Christ in their community and for other churches, some are then asked to step out and continue the ministry of building up the church by planting a church.

The Torch Project takes its motivations from two core ideas. One, a church-planting movement is inherently born out of a mission-driven church. For example, if a Romanian church is to involve itself with church-planting, it must have a larger vision of the world than itself and its needs. It must be impassioned by taking the Gospel out into its own land and into the larger world. The pastor spoke specifically of North America in the 1700/1800s, Britain in the 1600-1900s, and South Korea today as places on the globe historically known for mission fire and action. (Plenty of critique exists today on methods and motivations back in the day, but let us recognize where and what God uses for his good rather than always taking a critical eye to them—note to myself more than anyone.) Such passion and action must be reborn today if the Church in Europe is to continue its existence. Secondly, a national church planting other national churches because people have a passion for their people is usually more helpful and more authentic than outsiders coming in to do the work. For one practical reason alone, financing, this is true. For many years, rich North Americans have financed church plants all over the world. While this is not necessarily wrong to do, it is not always helpful as it leads to less ownership in the hands of nationals. As well, nationals are better equipped because they share culture, language, and history to reach other nationals. Again, while North American church plants are not wrong, as the Torch Project demonstrates, they are not the best nor most effective in the long-term.

Pub Church in Sweden
Forrest Hendrix, GEM long-term appointee to Sweden, shared at conference about an unusual but impacting location for church—a pub. I don’t want to get details wrong so since I didn’t take very good notes, this will be short; but let me say this. What Forrest and others who work with him are doing is WAY cool. Out of necessity more than anything else, the church relocated to a pub where Forrest is friends with the owner. Pubs normally attract rough crowds (really?!) and this one is no different, situated in a heavy-immigrant area of town. But since the church has started meeting there as well as facilitating coffee tables in the wee hours of the morning to calm the drunken crowds, police have remarked to Forrest that they have less crime and in general are called on fewer times. Without saying as much, they have seen the presence of Christ which brings peace at work in their midst.

Now, here’s a little commentary on the Pub Church. It might be controversial to many church-goers--stateside and elsewhere, older generations, and fundamentalists. Drinking facilities and church don’t mix. “But it’s not a church building!” Fill in other negative responses here. But, the beauty of the Pub is it’s a place many go that wouldn’t darken the door of a church, especially in Sweden. It’s a local pit stop and while the man in the corner is seeping in his beer, he might overhear the Gospel. And it’s an admission from the church, that hey, we have needs—a meeting facility—that others, i.e., those outside the church like the pub-owner, can meet. While the Pub Church is not a movement, it’s definitely a new and different way of doing church, of being in a local community in a very unique way, and it’s food for thought. As Forrest presented, he never advocated that everyone in Europe needs to start a Pub Church. Rather, he gently and humorously presented a way God is working to be present in otherwise dark places.

Polish National Church
I have to admit--I did not take very good notes during this session so what I have to share will be brief. Here's the main idea: A Polish pastor talked to us about a Polish church plant which is funded by Polish people, staffed (I use that term loosely as I doubt it's a full-time/paid position) by Polish people, training Polish people. He came to share with us about the exciting work of a new and young church in Poland being by and for its people, with resources in their language. When asked, what's the most helpful thing we can do to support this work? he replied jokingly yet sincerely, "Stop giving us money." For a national church to truly thrive, it must be funded from within, his testimony suggested.

Traditional Church Plant Model
A current GEM missionary shared about his history and work in Austria, citing what he has been a part of, having no fancy name other than "traditional church plant." What does this mean? A team is assembled to plant a church in a particular city, country, etc. A pastor is identified as well as other roles pertinent to a new church--outreach, discipleship, finances...This team may or may not be comprised of nationals and, for the most part, North Americans. It depends on what relationships have been built in the specific country or city, what language acquisition is still needed, missionary networking, along with a few other aspects. Ideally, a church planting team goes in 1) with significant language ability, 2) having relationships with national Christians in place, 3) aware and sensitive to cultural and social issues, 4) educated on the history of the Church and Christianity, any sore spots, any bright points that will need to be taken into account for ministry. As the missionary presented, he did mention working with nationals and this is really quite key--have a base of Christian nationals leading and attending the church, who are committed to the church plant because they know of it before it is planted.

Two points I would like to stress here: gender in church planting; singles/married in church planting. The missionary, while not suggesting it be required, highlighted that church plants in general have relied on a married pastoral team. The pastor will bear most of the responsibility for the church in the early stages, and it is important that this load be shared. As well, he suggested it is just a generally better idea to have a married pastor than a single pastor. I stress again, he did NOT make it a necessity but a suggestion. The missionary was asked a question from the crowd, by his wife, about what role women play in church planting and could he discuss his experience with the audience. He said, as North Americans, we must demonstrate and model the significant role women have to play in beginning and supporting the work of a church plant. He admitted, there are places women can go, relationships women can build, leadership roles they can take, teaching to be given, that I (said missionary) or whoever is filling the pastor's role cannot do or take on for a variety of reasons. Gender roles in the Church are still tricky business in Europe in general (as if they're not in the states), and there is a lot of work to do for women to be seen and recognized as equal ministry partners. He suggested that if a team of North Americans is planting a church, they can help teach and model this to a variety of European cultures in a way that allows for church plant leadership to be shared between men and women.

The House Church Movement
Our last presenters discussed the house church movement, also known as simple or organic church. As exemplified in its name, a house church typically meets in a home. Typically, a small community of Christians share facilitating this way of doing church through teaching, music, discipleship, prayer ministries and more. In North America, many choose this form of church as a means to pursue authentic relationships in the wake of mega-church and seeker-friendly phenomenon. In other areas of the world, such as in Quito, Ecuador, where my sister served with a house church youth group, it is simply a means of coming together around a shared faith when culture and/or finances do not allow for the establishing of a church building. Christians living in closed countries who fear persecution have long been known to practice gathering for "house church."

Critiques and encouragements of this movement abound. What impetuses, opinions, and experiences you will find depends on who you talk to and WHERE you talk to them, i.e., USA, Indonesia, Spain, etc. I am not an expert on this movement, plus there is no one set way of "doing" house church. Thus, to speak of it specifically is not particularly helpful. The main take away point is that churches are established in homes for a variety of reasons. When it comes to missions, younger church-goers in the states, and the persecuted church, it's a thriving form and lively topic about which you should be aware.