2020 European Pioneering Area Updates

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus from all brethren in Europe to all the True Jesus Churches in the world. Since the beginning of this year, we all have had difficulties keeping the Sabbath in the church. In March, the governments of the European countries issued exit orders to fight the coronavirus pandemic. 

For our brethren in the European pioneering area, it is particularly difficult, especially in Spain and Italy. On one hand, they had to close their shops and stop working for a minimum of two months without any income. On the other hand, the European Coordination Center (ECC) is also not able to support the holy work onsite. Before, ECC sent regular care-team workers and volunteers to Madrid, Albacete, Empoli, Prato, Budapest, and Athens. But since the beginning of March, we cannot visit them because of the entry ban and the ban on assembly.

Thank God, the faith of our brethren is so strong that they still find good solutions to keep the Sabbath and hold Bible studies together. Everyone was very quick to adapt to this difficult situation so that we changed from “meeting in the church” to “online services.” For example, in Italy, the brethren have a “QQ-chat group” for Bible study and Sabbath Service. ECC started on 21 March with the regularly-held online Sabbath services. Thanks to the possibilities of Mannheim Church and the availability of Preacher Ko and his family, we can provide a full Sabbath including hymn singing, Bible study, and prayer sessions on YouTube in Chinese and German languages. More than 200 brethren from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Hungary, Georgia, Poland, Belgium, and the Netherlands take part.

Although it is difficult to preach the gospel at this time, our brethren in the European Pioneering Area search for new ways to bring the word of God to other people. For example, in Empoli, our brethren collected money to buy face masks from China and offered them to the local hospital. To Georgia, our newest pioneering area, we had our first visit at the beginning of this year. There are around 40 brethren. Preacher Ko visited the families who all live in different areas in Georgia. We encouraged them to look for a place in the capital of Tbilisi and have Sabbath Services together. Then it will be easier to invite truth-seekers to the services. In the meanwhile, the ECC started to support the brethren with the registration of True Jesus Church in Georgia.

During this pandemic time, we still continue searching for a suitable place for our church in Italy and Budapest. With the grace of God, the brethren in Prato have already found a new place to rent. The brethren had a hard time after they had to leave the previously rented place at the end of 2019. There were always cancellations when looking for new places. But according to Ecclesiastes 3:1, everything has its time. Now the space of the new place in Prato is more than doubled of the old place and has its own entry with the possibility to put our church name on. After the pandemic, they can enjoy the Sabbath together and can easily invite friends and truth-seekers. The brethren in Budapest also found a very suitable place for a chapel. Currently, we are designing the floor plans to start very soon with the applications at the Hungarian authorities. In the future, we could use that place even for bigger church events like convocations or trainings. Please pray for that matter that Jesus supports and guides us.

May God keep you safe and in peace. All glory and honour to our Lord Jesus.

 
ECC Online Service

Empoli support the local hospital with face masks