Here is a recent article that Ian Green (founder of NLI) wrote to put in our local churches bulletin. Please enjoy.
Are we insane, maybe... but its worth it.
Bedworth may seem like an unlikely spot for the headquarters of an international organisation. But it is just that. You may not be aware but in Dovedale House on Bulkington Road, next door to King Community Church, houses the offices of Next Level International and the Proton Foundation. The extraordinary people that make up the team of NLI and Proton are passionate, visionary, ordinary, sporty, whacky, conservative, shockingly funny, skeptical, radical, post-modern and modernists, local and international. They are indeed hard to define as they are a coalition of unique individuals. It takes all kinds to make up the powerful team that has helped churches go from struggling to strong in the post-communist continent of eastern and central europe.
You may spot them at church and then not see them for weeks or months but let me tell you they are not slacking off. No, most of them split their time between Bedworth/Nuneaton and the nations they work in. Lucky them, you say. Well absolutely. There are incredible blessings but equally there are intense sacrifices they must make as well. Take Steve & Michelle Melnichuk, heading up the Leadership development team, Steve splits his time between home and the road. He spends a great deal of time investing into young, emerging and senior leaders in the nations of Europe and raising funds and support from western churches and sacrifices precious time with Michelle and the kids.
But my question to you, is have you ever wondered what causes these guys to make the sacrifices. What about the ever-optimistic Missions Pastor Kev, who is forever trying to recruit anyone and everyone. What about Ronnie and Janelle, having their first baby in a strange land without their family and friends close by. What about Scott and Daniel Thomson, you may recognise them as father and son playing bass and guitar in the worship team, what made them leave Australia for the sun-starved county of Warwickshire. And the Swinamers, what caused them to bring their kids so far away from home, grandparents and friends to England. And not only that, but what makes them stay... These people make daily sacrifices with amazing passion and excitement. Are they insane? Do you ever wonder what makes them tick? I mean, it’s a good cause we all agree that. But is it worth it?
As founders of Next Level International and the Proton Foundation, Judith and I know first hand that everyone involved in the ministry whether out on the road or our operations team are essential to our success and are a constant inspiration and encouragement to us. Without each person the work just wouldn’t get done. And the work is not just to achieve goals or to raise money, the goals, the funds, the work is all about people, our friends and comrades in Christ.
Take our recently launched project in Romania which had its official kick off recently with a Church Planter Training Seminar in the City of Constanta. This project began in January 2007 and will be ongoing for the next 4 to 5 years. During the first year, we lay a solid foundation of training and casting vision building into the potential Romanian Church Planter. We also begin to identify and release some local staff from Romania who are instrumental in the success of the project. By the end of this year we will have a Romanian Project Director, Short Term Missions Coordinator and Administrator. They help to coordinate with us in the UK office and support the church planters in Romania. Then from January 2008 until December 2010 we will be helping the Romanian Church in this region plant churches through the partnership of Western Churches working with NLI. We are excited about this project and know that God is going to do great things in and through each person involved in reaching the people of this region. For us, it is not about “planting another church” but the people of this region are incredibly destitute economically, socially and spiritually. Our heart breaks for them and we hope to be able to bring them back to life again. Our focus is that this region would see an insurgence of light, faith and hope and all that they have lost to political regimes would be regained and replenished until they are overflowing and able to minister to others.
But no matter where our work takes place, our aim is the same. To see people grow in all aspects of their lives and become a stronger, more passionate, more God-inspired version of themselves and ultimately we will see the strong force that the church in Europe is destined to be, take shape.
For more information on the work of Next Level or the Proton Foundation, check out our websites at www.nlieurope.com and www.protonfoundation.com or talk to one of the team.
Ian Green
