Hi, everyone:

      Marty is back from Poland. Thank you for praying. Adventures were relatively few--one delayed flight and one sidetracked bag  (containing all the conference materials) which caught up before the conference. More than one hundred BCM missionaries from Eastern Europe, Western Europe and the UK came together in Ulstron, Poland for the bi-annual BCM Europe conference.  

      A real answer to prayer was the arrival of the Ukranian team. Some 18 BCM Ukraine missionaries were stuck at the border because the Poland border guards were on strike. This was an especial disappointment because two years ago their visas had been denied to come to the BCM Europe conference. We sent out an urgent request for prayer; after two days at the border, by which point the team was facing the decision whether to return home, the border opened, and they were able to arrive. The Polish elections also happened during the conference, but despite contentious politics, all was peaceful where they were.

      This one week every two years is the only time the BCM Europe leadership can come together as a group, and it was a great interchange of fellowship, teaching and discussion of ministry, along with the presentation by each field of their ministries. Hearing the stories of what God is doing in all these different countries is a highlight of the conference (more on these when we get pictures up and in upcoming issue of the BCM World magazine). The theme was Standing Together, the focus developing and strengthening teamwork among the fields. This theme was carried on into the followup LEADS conference for leadership development. Marty had some ill health during the conference, but made it through. Please pray for his health, stamina, and wisdom in decision making. 

       Tomorrow the BCM international board meetings begin, followed by the Canada board meetings, to which Marty will be traveling, then a trip to Denver, Colorado, to meet with a foundation, all in the next week or so. Please pray especially for the international board meetings during these coming days and God's wisdom and blessings as plans and decisions are made for the future of BCM ministries around the world.

 

   In the service of the King,