A WORD FROM OUR MISSIONARY

This letter is from Debbie Poore, Director of Global Outreach 

for TCM (Training Christians for Ministry) in Austria

 I have just returned from Haus Edelweiss, where Gary Johnson “hit it out of the park” with his graduation sermon for our 18^th graduating class (32 grads from 13 different nations). I think you will enjoy our photos from that weekend. They can be found at:

https://picasaweb.google.com/hausedelweiss/2012GraduationWEB?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJ_T483su9-KhgE&feat=directlink

The picture below paragraph was taken during the graduation worship. Those seated are the graduates and those standing are the TCM National Directors, faculty, support staff and partners. 

 As I reflect back on the last couple of weeks, it is truly easy to see the hand of God in the ministry of TCM. The subtle yet definite ways He illustrates He is in control amaze me. I find myself telling people how amazed I am with God’s ways. I give examples and sometimes wonder, why be amazed. He is faithful and true and He has promised He is with us always. Still, I am amazed.

Here are some reflections from my recent trip to Haus Edelweiss:

•  God is continuing to use TCM to develop international disciple makers in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and beyond.  The graduation punctuated this for me as I saw prepared men and women armed and ready to continue the battle for the Lord in the students’ countries.  Each one is a powerful servant of the Lord and a maturing disciple maker for Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Timothy 2:2).  I wish you could meet them.
•  The challenges facing believers in that part of the world are staggering.  They face financial and political challenges.  Communism has fallen, but is not forgotten.  During the communist days, people were private, closed, because they were afraid to open up.  Many remain closed…even to the gospel.  I wish you could meet them.
• The professors I have met (from the US and from the Eastern European and Central Asian countries) are mighty servants of the Lord.  These men and women are strong and excellent teachers, but even stronger in their faith.   You’d love them and understand what I am saying.  It’s a privilege to serve with them.  I wish you could meet them.
• The students are awesome.  I know “awesome” is an overused word, but it still is the best word to describe them.  Ages range from 30’s to 60’s.  They are not kids, but rather seasoned veterans of life.  They all are deeply grateful for the education provided for them.  I love these students, who teach me so much about commitment.  I wish you could meet them.
• The National Directors for TCM are powerful servant-leaders.  For example, Ukraine’s National Director reported on baptisms, church plants, thousands in church, and meeting needs of the homeless and hungry.  Most touching was his tribute to his wife, who died of cancer this year.  He loved her and misses her, but rejoices that she is with Jesus.  He was leaving Haus Edelweiss to be in America for a month ministering to Ukrainian people here.  I wish you could meet him. 
• “God is up to something.” We say this quite a lot at TCM. We look back over 55 years of ministry and ask, “Who would have dreamed that a church planting organization in Ontario Canada begun by a young preacher from Brownstown, Indiana would subsequently reach thousands of people in the former Soviet Union with the saving knowledge and grace of Jesus Christ and then become the premier equipping ministry of  indigenous missionaries in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and beyond. A ministry blessed by God to reach at least 50,000 people annually with the Gospel of Christ?  God did not dream it, He did it. And He continues to be up to something!   Amazing………..!

 I would ask that you share this e-mail with your mission team as a way of our saying thank you for your partnership with TCM. Also, please share it with the high school group that I spoke to a few weeks ago. They were an impressive group of young people and I would like to keep them updated on TCM.