New-Reformation in English

One thing that won't change despite of my new role is leading a group of about 15 students here in Gothenburg that are being trained as leaders and pastors at one of Sweden's leading Bible academy. My role here is preparing them for their life as leaders and pastors, whereas the courses train them academically. A great chance to invest in their lives and to shape the future of future leaders. Beginning of a new semester: Every September Swedish students gather from all over the country. I'll also teach some lessons in missiology, theology and culture.

The " Watchword of the Year " is a German phenomena. Started by the Moravians, a Bible verse is drawn like a motto for each year (by the way, for each month, week, and day as well). I guess this week you'll hear a lot a lot about 2013's watchword in German churches, which is Hebr 13:14: For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.  Outside German territory you don't hear anything about it. So I took my Bible and meditated a while on Hebr 13. I found this particular verse compellingly missional, for in its contexts Hebr 13:14 sounds to me like this: Out, church folks! What are you waiting for inside your temple buildings? Are you polishing your halos? Are you still waiting for the world coming to you and your nice Jerusalem? Don't you know where your master is? He's outside in the midst of fallen life and brokenness, where loneliness is ruling and man is desperately looking for love and appreciation. So...

It's interesting how Jesus starts talking about the false prophets immediately after naming the broad and the narrow path, isn't it? "Be careful!" he says. As if it were those false prophets that would keep people from wandering on the narrow road. We recently discussed that passage at "impressions", our bi-weekly gathering, and we noticed that "prophets" always want to talk on God's behalf. After all, prophets make God's voice known or speak in His name. And immediately we got all the stories. Stories about Swedish pastors in recent times that have exploited people or misused their position. Stories about (non-Swedisch, in that case) catholic nuns who behaved like maniac. I remembered stories of my friends wehen we still lived in Bavaria, a still pretty catholic state of Germany, how they got ringing slaps in the face by the priest because the children couldn't sit as still as they were supposed to in an completely non-understan...

"The broad and the narrow road", a German painting from 1866 seems to appear a little spooky nowadays, but it was a presentation about that very painting that led me to start following Christ in February 1982. "Narrow is the road that leads to to life, and ony a few find it" (Mt 7:14). One could say a lot about how to interpret this statement of Jesus - for instance how his original hearers up there in the mountain must have heard it. But one thing is for sure: In a post-Christian Europe there will be only a few indeed who'll find the road to life. Reason number one for this fact: disinterest. "Church? I've been there. I don't need it." "Jesus? Oh, yes, I know. No, thanks!" "Resurrection? I remember. That was this religious talk from former times. Nowadays we have different topics." For everyone that finds the small road in Sweden there are many, many more who leave it again - plus all these old, faithful believers who...

Serve the City Sweden has applied for a grant of 20,000 kr that will be given by a bigger company to a project of "sustainable social work". We literally applied last minute, but we got in. The bad news is that the jury will pick the "winner" by looking at the popularity of their application in the social media. The good news is however that Serve the City Sweden placed 13 out of all projects within only a couple of hours. But we still need more clicks. Would you PLEASE help us? Simply go to http://stipendium.weleda.se/ansokningar/tjana-stan and "like" it! THANKS!