Back together in Málaga
After many years without an in-person Pioneer Europe conference, we were so excited to be returning again to Spain to be together. Over 100 delegates from Relational Mission, Newground and beyond came together for three days of teaching, worship and warm weather, and left inspired by an in-depth plunge into the book of Philippians and a renewed desire to take pioneering risks for the gospel.
We reached out to a few delegates to find out more about the conference.
Challenge and refreshment
Lloyd van Vuuren is the founder of Concert of Prayer in Scotland:
“I attended the Pioneer Europe conference as the team leader of the Concert of Prayer for Scotland, an organisation which seeks to stimulate corporate prayer and hence revitalise local churches across Scotland and more widely in Europe.
“Some of the personal insights that stuck out for me included:
The remarkable tension between clinging to what we have (building) and alternatively investing into other people or situations (sowing). Building is very rewarding, and you can easily see the progress made, whilst sowing feels like you are losing something or even throwing it away, requiring faith to tell the difference.
When starting a new work of God, and we encounter the great need around us, along with even well-intentioned individuals who can reason or ‘manipulate’ us with apparent ‘needs’; it is vital to stay in our lane joyfully, guilt free, knowing we are called to it by God and must remain in faith for what we are called to, sometimes only having a promise from God.
It was refreshing to consider afresh what Godly leadership looks like and how humble servant leaders are so different to the model of leadership offered constantly by the world and yet, ironically, so powerful in gospel advance. Have I died to personal selfish ambition?
“I would recommend this conference (and the recorded content from previous conferences) to anyone who senses that God is changing the seasons in their life in some significant way. In particular, a call to go or to stay and start something new right there. It can be a daunting task and a lonely road to tread, and the questions discussed, along with the powerful apostolic teaching will help to stir fresh faith and affections to respond and move with God without getting ahead of him or keeping him waiting.”
Many delegates were greatly encouraged through the prophetic words they received during the conference
During interview slots we heard inspiring stories from pioneers minstering and church planting all over Europe
Encouraged and reinspired
Nynke Zaal, originally from the Netherlands, is now pioneering in Ogre, Latvia:
“It was the first time for me as a missionary and pioneer in Latvia to be part of the Pioneer Europe Conference. It was wonderful to be together with Christians from different nationalities but with the same values. It felt like coming home and spending time with a family. For me the highlights were the moments when we could spend time together sharing, encouraging and praying for and with each other. It was such a blessed time with a mix of inspiration, equipping and challenges!
“I came home with a heart set on fire again, with some new insights and many thoughts. For sure God has spoken to me during the conference, especially after our last prayer meeting together, it touched me deeply. I received some answers so when returning from Malaga I knew what next steps I can take. Before the pandemic we had a monthly Christian fellowship for English-speaking foreigners in Latvia with a team of five, in Ogre. In the week after the conference I called them and shared that I felt it was time to restart these meetings. Recently we have had our first Christian fellowship and the next one is planned. Our desire is to build relationships, reach out to the unbelievers and make disciples. In the team I am the only one with a Newfrontiers background and for sure my hope and prayer is next time more of us will be at the Pioneer weekend!”
It was an honour to have David Devenish help us journey through the letter to the Philippians and explore the pioneering heart of Paul
We were greatly served by an amazing team working behind-the-scenes to plan and carry the conference through from start to finish
Encouraged back on track
Jayne Warin was a member of the team. When not at their base in the UK, she travels around Europe supporting churches with her husband Jeff:
“The prophetic words Jeff and I received at Pioneer Europe put us back on the course that we started in 2019. We’d been distracted by Covid and steps of that course had been stolen from us through the pandemic - we’re now pursuing this course again with much more zeal and excitement.
“A paricular highlight was being part of many nations worshipping God and seeing what he is doing in other parts of Europe!
“I would highly recommend the conference - and I would love to see many more of the 20-30 year old age bracket join our silver-haired group, to catch the vision of what's happening in Europe and brin their vitality of youth with it!”
So much encouragement was found in our times together inbetween main sessions over coffees, meals and ice cream!
Encouraging connections and hand-raising testimonies
Three months before the conference, Mikka Parker moved to Nijmegen, the Netherlands with husband Ben and young son to join a church planting team:
“It was great to enjoy worshipping together in a familiar setting/expression but with family from all over - hearing different people pray out and read the Bible in different languages was a definite highlight. I also loved hearing stories from people in contexts that are completely different to what I’ve experienced, e.g. the father and son from the Roma church in Serbia, and the Ukrainian family who had to flee when war broke out; they really do lift your eyes to how big our God is and how he is at work all over the world.
“I really enjoyed getting to know another young couple from a New Ground church in London - we met on the first night, went to dinner in a big group and talked all night, and had a couple more conversations throughout the conference. Katherine and I both work for Christian Student Work organisations and were able to bond/encourage one another in our work which was great.
“I would definitely recommend it - particularly to anyone who might have an inkling that God might use you elsewhere, outside of your current context. Just taking a step to allow God to speak to you and be open to him will do you good.”