The Business of Mission

Ukraine Update #25 – Kingdom Ministry Continues…

Ukraine Update #25 – Kingdom Ministry Continues…

Kevin Reilly on behalf of Edik & Liana - Uzhgorod, Ukraine Dear Friends, we would like to let you know that despite the fact that our newsletter is coming to an end and the Lighthouse Community is transitioning, the ministry of caring for the poor, preaching the...

I do it all for the Sake of the Gospel

I do it all for the Sake of the Gospel

Kevin Reilly - Gdańsk, Poland In 1 Corinthians chapter 9, Paul is stirring the church community to give into his mission and the ministry of the gospel: Is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his...

HIS WONDROUS DEEDS AND THOUGHTS, TO US – PART 2

HIS WONDROUS DEEDS AND THOUGHTS, TO US – PART 2

Kevin Reilly – Gdańsk, Poland Last month I shared with you some of what God was doing in me whilst we were in Australia, earlier this year (read it here); it gives context to all that will follow in this post. We had just landed in Australia when a few days later, a...

Ukraine Update #24 – Comfort in Affliction

Ukraine Update #24 – Comfort in Affliction

Kevin Reilly on behalf of Edik & Liana - Uzhgorod, Ukraine This month's news from Ukraine is a mixture of miracles, challenges and blessings. Stories of God's miraculous intervention in the life of a brother from the church who is drafted into the army sit...

…that they may be one, even as we are one

…that they may be one, even as we are one

Linda Gulbe - Smiltene, Latvia These past couple of years I have been really challenged about the way in which most churches are run, here in Latvia. I am / was so used to being part of a charismatic church - like those from my Newfrontiers experience - which in my...

Heart Connections – Albania & Tunbridge Wells, UK

Heart Connections – Albania & Tunbridge Wells, UK

Tony Darnell - Tunbridge Wells, UK At the end of May, eight of us from New Life Church in Tunbridge Wells had the amazing privilege of visiting Albania for a week to visit Colin & Elida’s church in Shkoder. We were primarily there to pray with them and support...

His Wondrous Deeds and Thoughts, to Us – Part 1

His Wondrous Deeds and Thoughts, to Us – Part 1

Kevin Reilly - Gdańsk, Poland For months now, I have begun my day with a meditation in a few verses of the psalms. I'm simply making my way through the book, a few verses at a time. I read, memorise and then just sit silently for 15 minutes before the Lord, chewing...

Ukraine Update #23 – Religion that is Pure…

Ukraine Update #23 – Religion that is Pure…

Kevin Reilly on behalf of Edik & Liana - Uzhgorod, Ukraine Pure religion - in the sense of a christian life that brings pleasure to God - is described by James in the following way: Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this; to visit...

RM Europe Leaders’ Retreat – Gdańsk, Poland

RM Europe Leaders’ Retreat – Gdańsk, Poland

Martin Lazenby - Malaga, Spain “When was the moment that you knew that you were all in for the Kingdom of God?”, Maurice Nightingale posed each of us that question as we sat in the living room of River House in the Polish countryside. What followed was story after...

Praying Paul’s Prayers for our Church

Praying Paul’s Prayers for our Church

Colin Stephen - Shkoder, Albania As some of you will know, our church here in Shkoder currently only has one church leader (myself); but we are moving toward appointing a new leadership team and I am about to finish teaching through 1 Timothy and then we plan to meet...

Ukraine Update #22 – Secure and Steadfast

Ukraine Update #22 – Secure and Steadfast

Kevin Reilly on behalf of Edik & Liana - Uzhgorod, Ukraine Psalm 31 is a wonderful expression of David's faith in God, despite the enormity of the circumstances he faces. He is in need of rescue and salvation (v2); he is painfully aware of his own inadequacies and...

I Come to you in Weakness

I Come to you in Weakness

Guna Shields - Tonbridge Wells, UK I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in...

Courage to Embrace Change

Courage to Embrace Change

Pete and Michelle Foster - Pardubice, Czechia We had led Cirkev u Dubu (Oaks Church) for five years. It was essentially a small family church of expats from around the globe - people who had arrived in our small city of Pardubice, in the heart of Europe, for study or...

Change – a Constant Companion

Change – a Constant Companion

Kevin Reilly - Gdansk, Poland Everything changes. Always. This is a condition common to all of creation. Everything that has roared into life at the command of God has been thrust into a journey of life-change and transformation. It never stops. Change never takes a...

The Remarkable Faith of Rahab

The Remarkable Faith of Rahab

Kevin Reilly - Gdansk, Poland Whilst sensing that a new chapter might be ahead of us, I’ve wondered about beginning a slow read through the book of Josuha. Then, whilst chatting over coffee with my friend Pawel, he casually mentioned that he was reading Joshua with...

Loving Jesus in Latvia. Love God and love others.

Loving Jesus in Latvia. Love God and love others.

Linda Gulbe & Dace Verdina LindaBeing back in Latvia without a church has been challenging for me and in these situations I think that we have a couple of choices. We can either lean more into God or drift away. It's easier to serve and love people if another 100...

Beware the Religious Rule Monster!

Beware the Religious Rule Monster!

Dustin Coombs - Slovakia Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. 2 And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3 And he said to the man with the withered hand,...

Zagreb to Samobor, Croatia

Zagreb to Samobor, Croatia

Faith Barton - Croatia Dear Friends, we’ve been living in the capital Zagreb for about twenty months, but we are now looking to move to a small town to the west of the city called Samobor, where the church group meets, and where most of the church community lives. The...

Loving People, Sharing the Gospel

Loving People, Sharing the Gospel

Karen Sexton - UK My work involves finding people who are receptive to the gospel in 'unlikely' places. I meet many people who are broken in one way or another, some more obvious than others. When I spot clues, I look for ways to respond to them. Often it starts with...

Croatia Trip

Croatia Trip

David King - Latvia Team members: Maurice Nightingale, John Putman, Marshall Schaitel, David King The purpose of the trip (3-10th November 2023), was to link up with Bernard and Nada Mikulic in Croatia and bring some apostolic and prophetic input to some of the...

Making the Most of Every Opportunity

Making the Most of Every Opportunity

Jan Lukl - Czech I would like to share with you a story that I experienced at a pre-Christmas party that my friend had invited me to. The party took place on Saturday, December 9. My friend Pavel has been meeting with a group of families for years, with whom he...

The Balkans – Dancing with the Prophets

The Balkans – Dancing with the Prophets

Bernard Mikulic - Croatia This is my first experience of traveling and serving with prophets - Maurice Nightingale, David King, John Putman and Marshall Schaitel. It was an unforgettable time, alright. I was sitting in a car with four Englishmen, mostly I didn't...

…And you shall be my Witnesses

…And you shall be my Witnesses

Marie Reavey - UK Jesus said: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (Matt 28:19-20) We are called to be witnesses and...

Christian Leadership – on your Knees, in the Dirt

Christian Leadership – on your Knees, in the Dirt

Kevin Reilly - Gdansk, Poland Since September 1st, I've been slowly journalling my way through Mark's Gospel - it's been a formative experience. Jesus is sat teaching in Jerusalem's Temple and in the main he's confronting, negotiating and reshaping the minds of...

A Journey into Uzhgorod, Ukraine

A Journey into Uzhgorod, Ukraine

Susie Voke - Medway, UK What would you do if you had 7 minutes to leave your home? What would you gather. Where would you go? It takes me ages to prepare for a trip, faffing about wondering what clothes I’ll need. I weigh up who will I travel with and any nerves I...

Ukraine Refugee Meal Appeal

Ukraine Refugee Meal Appeal

Kevin Reilly on behalf of Edik & Liana - Uzhgorod, Ukraine: Click the picture below to watch… In September 2023, Edik and Liana began a simple project in Uzhgorod. They wanted to bring together the refugees that they house in the hotel, for a regular meal. Five...

A Year in Croatia – Things I’m Learning

A Year in Croatia – Things I’m Learning

Faith Barton - Croatia Moving to Croatia, I knew that cultural differences would be real and so I’d had some teaching about contextualisation and cross cultural work, before leaving; but despite this, I can tell you that culture shock is REAL! British and Croatian...

Ukraine Video Update #2 – Can you help us?

Ukraine Video Update #2 – Can you help us?

Kevin Reilly - Uzhgorod, Ukraine This video request for help is sent from Uzhgorod, Ukraine. Click the picture below to watch... In Galatians 2, Paul describes the moment when his apostolic ministry comes into full-partnership with the elders and apostles of the...

Sacrifice Your Son

Sacrifice Your Son

Gert Hijkoop - Rotterdam, Netherlands After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!”, And he said, “Here am I”. He said: “Take your son, your only son Isaac , whom you love, go to the land Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of...

A Tale of Two Churches

A Tale of Two Churches

Rodney Sexton - Beccles, UK Two countries – Lithuania and Romania. Two places – the city of Plungė and the village of Bazna. Two churches – Plungė Evangelical Church and Christian Life Fellowship. One month – November. Heather and I had the privilege of being with...

The Power of Prayer, the Word and the Holy Spirit

The Power of Prayer, the Word and the Holy Spirit

Michelle Foster - Pardubice, Czechia: I have been reading the book Word Spirit Power by R.T.Kendall, Charles Carrin and Jack Taylor. Reading this book has been very inspiring. I haven’t finished it yet but R.T.Kendall talks about the fact that when Word, Spirit and...

The Faith of Abel and Cain

The Faith of Abel and Cain

Edgaras Untulis - Plunge, Lithuania: In order to understand what is happening in today's world, I as a Christian must return to the foundations of my faith. And so I recently started a series of sermons on this topic in our community. Why faith? As I mentioned, we...

Ukraine Update #21 – Steadfast Love

Ukraine Update #21 – Steadfast Love

Kevin on behalf of Edik and Liana - Ukraine At the time of this publication, the war in Ukraine is now 1 year, 8 months and 8 days old. On the morning of 24/02/2022 though, many of us didn't even think that war would actually break out, let alone that it would still...

Video Update – Can you help us?

Video Update – Can you help us?

Kevin Reilly - Lighthouse Community Before watching the video below, please take a moment to read this! In Galatians 2, Paul describes the moment when his apostolic ministry comes into full-partnership with the elders and apostles of the Jerusalem Church. The right...

A Slovakian Story

A Slovakian Story

Noah Johnson - Lučenec, Slovakia I still remember sitting in my church as they announced the short-term mission teams they were sending: "Let’s have all of the youth stand up." Everyone in the packed church auditorium clapped and cheered - They are going to such and...

Visiting Gdansk – a Reflection

Visiting Gdansk – a Reflection

Marie Reavey - UK In August, my friend Jacqui and I visited Gdansk for the first time, for our summer holiday. It was so lovely to be with Kevin and Emma, discover more about what they are doing in Gdansk and hear their hearts to make disciples there. We mixed our...

Order from Chaos

Order from Chaos

Sonja Stojanovic - Nis, Serbia It’s been really bothering me lately how the world has become such a chaotic place. I open my phone and see headlines about mass killings, political turmoil, poverty and war, and it’s so challenging to process all of that information. I...

Walking in the Spirit of Joshua and Caleb

Walking in the Spirit of Joshua and Caleb

Wouter van Muiswinkel & Onno Weststrate - Netherlands to Ukraine Early morning September 8th, Onno Weststrate and I left the Netherlands for a 1600km journey to Uzhgorod, Ukraine. Our mission was to bring Russian bibles to the Russian speaking refugees from east-...

Ukraine Update #20 – A Firm and Steady Heart

Ukraine Update #20 – A Firm and Steady Heart

Kevin on behalf of Edik and Liana - Ukraine Psalm 112 exhorts us to be men and women who fear God and delight in his commandments. The benefits and blessings that flow from this combination of fearing - in the sense of revering and honouring - and delighting are...

Ukraine Update #19: Good News – God is Good!

Ukraine Update #19: Good News – God is Good!

Kevin on behalf of Edik and Liana - Ukraine: The war in Ukraine continues and the news is often hard to read just now. We continue to pray as a community in our twice-weekly prayer meetings for an end to this war. But still the war grinds on... As we read this month's...

My Great Passion – Sharing the Good News of Jesus!

My Great Passion – Sharing the Good News of Jesus!

Tricia King - Tunbridge Wells, UK: Together with my husband, David, I am very involved in the work of New Life Church, Tunbridge Wells in Southern England, which we started about thirty years ago. My greatest passion is sharing the good news of Jesus. When I was about...

The Beguiling Beauty of Bulgaria

The Beguiling Beauty of Bulgaria

Toly - Bulgaria / UK: Every time we visit Bulgaria, our love for it rekindles. We’ve lived in the UK for over four years, and we love it. This is where we weathered the pandemic, had our daughter, went through a major surgery and overcame a disability. All with...

The People God is Looking for…

The People God is Looking for…

Colin Stephen - Shkoder, Albania: Recently I was preparing a study for the church on Jeremiah. In Jeremiah chapter one, God calls a young man, Jeremiah, to be His prophet. The reaction of Jeremiah is not an uncommon one in the bible. He questions God’s call. He does...

Ukraine Update #18 – Kyiv & Uzhgorod

Ukraine Update #18 – Kyiv & Uzhgorod

Kevin on behalf of Edik & Liana and Sasha - Ukraine: Kyiv: I recently had the privilege of being introduced to Sasha. Sasha is a long-standing friend of David King and someone I have recently got to know. He pastors a church in Kyiv and oversees 50 other...

Christianity – Faith on the Margins

Christianity – Faith on the Margins

Kevin Reilly - Gdansk, Poland: A slow study through Daniel this last month or so has both refreshed and challenged me. It's an unusual book for sure! Written in two parts and in two languages - Aramaic and Hebrew - with the Hebrew so poor that at times, even scholars...

Ukraine Update #17 – Trials & Trophies of Grace

Ukraine Update #17 – Trials & Trophies of Grace

Edik Malyshev - Ukraine: At the point of publishing, it is 498 days since the war in Ukraine began and enemies attacked our land with all their military might. The war has brought death, pain, destruction - many have lost everything that they had. All this time, our...

My Refugee Teachers

My Refugee Teachers

Phoebe Reilly - Derby, UK: Hi, I’m Phoebe and I am a criminology student, based in Derby. As a student, I always have a lot of time during the summer, so this year I put myself forward for a one-month volunteer placement with a Christian charity, Upbeat who work with...

Pilgrims to a Heavenly City

Pilgrims to a Heavenly City

Gert Hijkoop - NL: About 4000 years ago God called Abraham from his land, culture and religion to a destination he did not know, with the great promise of becoming the father of a great nation and a blessing to all the nations of the world. Because he responded in...

Ukraine Update #16 – How Long O Lord?

Ukraine Update #16 – How Long O Lord?

Kevin on behalf of Edik and Liana - Ukraine: How long O Lord? Occurring some 59 times in the Bible, this question expresses the desperation of the speaker's condition along with hope in a God, who - despite circumstances - is coming! There is, perhaps, no better...

To Slovakia, for the Gospel…

To Slovakia, for the Gospel…

Dustin Combs - Slovakia We are a family of five from Phoenix, Arizona. Our family serves by His grace in Slovakia. Through many years of evangelistic English camps in Czechia and Slovakia, the Lord put it on our hearts to join Him in His work of making Jesus' name...

LHC Weekend in Warsaw – 2023

LHC Weekend in Warsaw – 2023

Linda Gulbe - Latvia: As a community, we had another beautiful weekend together from Friday the 12th of May to Monday the 15th. We came from 8 different countries to learn, grow and most importantly build stronger relationships. It is so wonderful to see that we are...

Grace is Amazing

Grace is Amazing

Rodney Sexton - UK: The grace of God has reached for me, And pulled me from the raging sea, And I am safe on this solid ground. The LORD is my salvation. Keith and Kristyn Getty Grace – what an amazing word! Grace - the undeserved, unmerited, unearned, un-looked-for...

200 for Ten – Can you partner with us for two years?

200 for Ten – Can you partner with us for two years?

Kevin Reilly - on behalf of The Lighthouse Community The Lighthouse Community - part of the Relational Mission Family - has, since its conception in October 2017, sought to stand with pioneering people who serve within the nations of Central and Eastern Europe, once...

Prayer Teams Update – Albania & Poland

Prayer Teams Update – Albania & Poland

Tricia King - UK Albania Prayer Team Trip (14-20 February) Seven of us from New Life Church in Tunbridge Wells, UK, went to visit Colin and Elida and their church in Shkoder, Albania. We loved joining in with various church activities but our primary focus was prayer....

Abba, Father

Abba, Father

Edgaras Untulis - Plunge, Lithuania The letter to the Romans in the Bible is the faith-building letter of the apostle Paul. Right now, I'm digging into chapter 8 of this letter and I'm finding one of the axes for it, the Holy Spirit. From chapter one to chapter seven,...

Latvia in my Heart

Latvia in my Heart

Guna Shields - Latvia / UK I grew up in Latvia when it was part of the Soviet Union and knew almost nothing about God and was not particularly interested to know, because people around me largely rejected the existence of God. He was never spoken of so my...

Ukraine Update #13 – Soft Hearts. Open Hands.

Ukraine Update #13 – Soft Hearts. Open Hands.

Kevin on behalf of Edik and Liana - Ukraine If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother. (Dt 15:7) God...

Life in Moldova – War on our Doorstep

Life in Moldova – War on our Doorstep

Thomas Grässlin (Germany) and Ina & Ivan Vdovicenco (Moldova) Thomas writes: I asked Ina and Ivan to follow up on the article they had prepared for the LHC Newsletter, published on the 29th of May 2022. I am so proud of what they do, how they resist and fight for...

My Heart for Mission

My Heart for Mission

Nynke Zaal - Latvia In Mt 28:19 it is written: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations. This is the mission Jesus has given to all of us. We are all uniquely made by the Father and we can share the gospel in many different ways. My passion for Jesus and for...

Wartime Teenager

Wartime Teenager

Adam Malyshev (16) - Ukraine For 12 months, a full-scale war has been going on in my country. At its core, the conflict began long before - the events of February 24, 1991 can be considered as the starting point. The collapse of such a huge state as the Soviet Union...

Friends with God

Friends with God

Bernard Mikulic - Croatia When we think about our personal, intimate relationship with Jesus, sometimes our view on it can feel a little feminine - but don’t get me wrong! The Bible does describe our relationship with God as one of intimacy. It represents us as a...

Ukraine Update #12: Your Kingdom Come

Ukraine Update #12: Your Kingdom Come

Kevin on behalf of Edik and Liana - Ukraine It is February 2023 and when the war first started a year ago on 24/02/2022, I never thought that a year on, we would still be seeking God for peace. Since 25/02/22 we have been praying for justice and peace – wrestling with...

Esther and Mordecai

Esther and Mordecai

Emma Reilly - Gdansk, Poland The story of Esther and Mordecai in the Old Testament has some beautiful things to teach us about men and women partnering together for the advance of God's Kingdom. The story takes place around 500 years BC. Esther is a young Jewish girl,...

Five Months in Croatia

Five Months in Croatia

Faith and Ian Barton - Zagreb, Croatia What an incredible time this has been! We only visited Vodice in July 2021 and Zagreb and Split in 2022 and we did not know if the Croatian door was going to open up or not and we were not even sure where we might move to. Yet...

Hosting Ukrainian Refugees

Hosting Ukrainian Refugees

Steve & Sharon Barber - Suffolk, UK We were shocked when Russia invaded Ukraine and our hearts ached for the Ukrainian people. We prayed regularly for Ukraine, including joining the early morning prayer meeting hosted online by Kevin and Emma. God also spoke to us...

Ukraine Update #11 – 2023 Fundraising Appeal: €130k

Ukraine Update #11 – 2023 Fundraising Appeal: €130k

Will you partner us again this year? Last year, together with you, we raised in excess of €150k. Will you partner with us again and help us to raise a further 12 months of support and join us in our 2023 LHC Fundraising Appeal: €130k. Our financial support for the...

My Soul Waits in Silence (Ps 62)

My Soul Waits in Silence (Ps 62)

Kevin Reilly - Gdansk, Poland Physical silence and stillness in our world are rare whilst the prolonged and heavy silence from within which a soul is able to be restored, is even rarer; yet for David, it was in such a place that God's salvation was to be found. At a...

Five Days in Uzhgorod, Ukraine

Five Days in Uzhgorod, Ukraine

Gert Hijkoop - Netherlands: In the first week of December we made a memorable visit to our friends in Uzhgorod, Ukraine. It was a privilege to see the work of the Rock of Salvation Church with our own eyes, to meet with people and in particular with Edik and Liana and...

Promise – Prophecy – Test

Promise – Prophecy – Test

John Putman - UK: As I put pen to paper (yes, I still use a pen) my thoughts are directed towards the advent season that has just past and the New Year which is now upon us. The Bible contains more than 300 prophecies relating to the Messiah and 52 specific prophecies...

Ukraine Update #10: “But we are not alone!”

Ukraine Update #10: “But we are not alone!”

Kevin Reilly on behalf of Edik and Liana – Ukraine: At the point of writing, myself, Emma, David King, Onno Weststrate and Gert Hijkoop are just back from a visit to be with our dear friends Edik and Liana and the church in Uzhgorod, Ukraine. I will not go into detail...

Lithuanian Hospitality and Fellowship

Lithuanian Hospitality and Fellowship

Rodney Sexton - UK: One of the joys and privileges of being part of the LightHouse Community is the forging of new friendships across political and cultural borders. We have so much to receive from one another, enriching our understanding of what it means to be...

Prayer & Fellowship in Czech

Prayer & Fellowship in Czech

David King: Tricia and I had the privilege of leading a small prayer team to Pardubice in the Czech Republic one weekend in November. Our aim was to spend some quality time with Pete and Michelle Foster and to pray into the work they head up there. Pete, who is...

Guarding Your Own Heart

Guarding Your Own Heart

Elida Stephen: Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Prov 4:23) I have never regretted the decision I made to follow Christ; but the challenges that I have faced, this last year are such, that at times I have felt like giving up in...

Ukraine Update #9: The Lord is the strength of his people

Ukraine Update #9: The Lord is the strength of his people

Kevin Reilly on behalf of Edik and Liana - Ukraine Psalm 28 was the focus of our prayer meeting this morning - we continue to meet twice weekly to pray for an end to the war in Ukraine. It's a psalm of two halves and within these nine verses we are drawn into the...

Gospel Mission into Czech

Gospel Mission into Czech

Jan Lukl - Vlasim, Czech Republic My name is Jan Lukl and I am a preacher at our church in Vlasim - a small town in the Czech Republic. I want to share with you the story of how God led us to found a new church in the nearby small town of Tynec nad Sazavou, 30 km from...

Working with Youth in Niš, Serbia

Working with Youth in Niš, Serbia

Sonja Stojanovic - Niš, Serbia What I’ve learned from years of exciting (and perhaps even cutting-edge) work with youth and students in Niš is that even with the best programmes and fun we can come up with, it’s not a magic formula. Without an overwhelming love for...

…any encouragement, any comfort from love?

…any encouragement, any comfort from love?

Emma Reilly - Gdansk, Poland I'm reading through Philippians at the moment and recently came across this phrase in chapter 2 v 1:So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love… At this point I paused. Wow - yes there is so much encouragement and...

Taking the form of a servant…

Taking the form of a servant…

Kevin Reilly - Gdańsk, Poland It is a striking thought that we should seek to emulate a man who by choice, emptied himself of his glory, power and position in order to serve. For most of us, it is the Rags to Riches story that inspires - but Riches to Rags...who wants...

And let us not grow weary of doing good…

And let us not grow weary of doing good…

Kevin on behalf of Edik and Liana - Ukraine It is one of our great joys to be able to draw attention to the good works of Edik, Liana and the church family at Rock of Salvation Church, Uzhgorod. If those of us outside of Ukraine are becoming war-weary, then it can...

Making Disciples of Jesus – teaching & lifestyle

Making Disciples of Jesus – teaching & lifestyle

Edgaras Untulis - Plunge, Lithuania 2 Timothy 3:10-11 says: But you have followed me diligently in my teaching, in my way of life, in my purpose, in faith, in endurance, in love, in patience, in persecutions, in hardships… I began my journey of faith with Jesus,...

When we don’t fit in…

When we don’t fit in…

Marie Reavey, UK Over the years I have often felt as if I don't fit - that I’m different; and this in turn can sometimes lead me to feeling isolated from my church family. I sometimes find that it's too easy to look at others who appear to be in with the in crowd, and...

Dig Down Deep

Dig Down Deep

Kevin Reilly - Gdańsk, Poland The story of two men building their houses, one on rock and one on sand, is famous in Sunday schools and kids clubs all over the world. But the message of the parable has never been more urgent for us all. Modern, western Christianity is...

Firewood for Serbia

Firewood for Serbia

Kevin Reilly on behalf of: Onno Weststrate (NL) and Vlada & Sonja Stojanovic (Serbia) It may appear to be an odd time of year to be thinking about winter fuel, but the current economic crisis is not just having an effect upon the price of gas and electricity. For...

Ukraine Update #6: Love, Joy, Salvation and Baptisms

Ukraine Update #6: Love, Joy, Salvation and Baptisms

Edik - Ukraine We and our churches in Ukraine are going through the most difficult time we have ever had in our lives. This is a time when we see our compatriots die en masse and our people deprived of their relative, their friends and all the property that they had....

The Business of Mission #10 – God is Good

The Business of Mission #10 – God is Good

Onno Weststrate - Netherlands This will be my last blog about my journey in life and in particular about setting up a business in Romania and my heart for Eastern Europe. After my recovery from cancer I was ready to go full steam with our business in Romania. However,...

A Journey in Prayer

A Journey in Prayer

Karen Sexton - UK It started simply. Kevin and Emma's desire to pray and intercede for those affected by a war beginning in Ukraine. A simple action taken – calling others to join in. A ripple effect of simple actions - people deciding to participate, rising early to...

A Heart for Eastern Europe

A Heart for Eastern Europe

John Gardiner - UK For me a heart for Eastern Europe began when an announcement was made in our Fellowship that Russia was seeking people to take the Gospel into Children’s Summer Camps. I felt that was something that the Lord wanted me to do so I offered and was...

Rock of Ages

Rock of Ages

David King - UK Consistency, security, predictability, are all very comforting terms. Our very existence depends on the laws of nature remaining constant from one moment to the next. When things hold steady we can sleep at night and plan for tomorrow. This sense of...

Steps of Faith

Steps of Faith

Emma Reilly - Poland A number of years ago, I read this passage in Amos 9 v 13-15 in the Message Translation: "Yes indeed, it won't be long now." God's decree. "Things are going to happen so fast, your head will swim, one thing on the heels of another. You won't be...

Ukraine Update #5 – Testimonies of Persevering Faith

Ukraine Update #5 – Testimonies of Persevering Faith

Kevin Reilly on behalf of Edik and Liana - Ukraine The noise of the war, for many of us, has retreated to the background of life; but for Edik and Liana and the church in Uzhgorod, a life lived in wartime continues to present its many challenges. Refugees continue to...

The Lighthouse Community in Warsaw

The Lighthouse Community in Warsaw

Rodney and Heather Sexton - UK Rodney: How can one ever do justice to such a wonderful weekend in just a few words? We saw diversity in unity at its best – friends from Albania, Czech, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland and the UK, all with a heart for...

Ukraine Update #4 – Testimonies and Thanksgiving

Ukraine Update #4 – Testimonies and Thanksgiving

Kevin Reilly on behalf of Edik and Liana - Ukraine Russia continues to press home its war upon Ukraine and and so we we continue in our support for Edik and Liana and their ministry there. Within the Lighthouse Community we have always aimed to value and express...

Loving Strangers in Moldova

Loving Strangers in Moldova

Thomas Grässlin (Germany) with Ina and Ivan Vdovicenco - Moldova Ina and Ivan Vdovicenco have served in Moldova for around 15 years with Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru). Thomas Grässlin has known them for 13 years and they are among his closest friends - part of our...

I am a New Creation

I am a New Creation

Dace Verdina - Latvia I was born in 1969 in the former Soviet Union, in the republic of Latvia and I grew up with my mom who believed in the system of communism and in its development. I grew up in a family with a passive and alcoholic father and a strong-willed...

Take Care of Yourself

Take Care of Yourself

Colin Stephen - Albania Recently I have been doing a study for our church plant as we move forward in appointing a leadership team there. In looking over the characteristics of a church leader in 1 Timothy, I have been struck at what Paul says to Timothy. Timothy was...

Ukraine Update #3 – Light Shines in the Darkness

Ukraine Update #3 – Light Shines in the Darkness

Kevin Reilly on behalf of Edik and Liana - Ukraine At point of writing, Ukraine is 67 days into a war that it did not initiate or choose. The continued bombardment of Ukrainian towns and cities and the senseless destruction of human life is before us everyday in the...

…always pray and don’t lose heart

…always pray and don’t lose heart

Jem and Anna Sewell - Kent, UK We recently were introduced to the early morning prayer meeting for Ukraine by our good friend Angela Kemm. We love the fact that Kevin and Emma lead together and the prayers are passionate and spirit led. We are both early risers so a...

Called to Croatia

Called to Croatia

Faith and Ian Barton - UK Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will truly plant them in this land, with all my heart and with all my soul. (Jeremiah 32: 38-41) During a Bible week at Stoneleigh, UK in 1998, Ian responded to a message about being...

Let Your Reviews be Written in Heaven

Let Your Reviews be Written in Heaven

Vlada Stojanovic - Serbia It has become so easy for customers to leave feedback or give reviews. There are so many possibilities - literally at our fingertips - for praising and encouraging sellers or restaurants and hotels that have served us well and have given us...

The Business of Mission #9 – Confusion

The Business of Mission #9 – Confusion

Onno Weststrate - Netherlands The story so far: in my previous blog I wrote that we were well on our way in Romania, with our first official order from a UK company and a very healthy order forecast. We had some start up issues - in our line of business this is quite...

A Lithuanian Church on Mission in Ukraine

A Lithuanian Church on Mission in Ukraine

Edgaras Untulis - Plunge, Lithuania Kevin writes: A small church in Plunge, Lithuania has been responding to the needs of Ukrainians since the invasion of 2014. Vaidas was sent by the church as a missionary to a small community of believers in the Donbas to serve the...

Called to Latvia #3

Called to Latvia #3

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you, I entrust my life. (Psalm 143:8) Once I had moved to Latvia, I officially became a foster parent and this made my search for a suitable house...

Ukraine: Pray – Give – Go

Ukraine: Pray – Give – Go

Forty days ago (at point of writing) on 24/02/22, Ukraine was invaded and along with everyone else, Emma and I were shocked and horrified at what was happening. Providentially, we had an LHC meeting planned for 24/02 with our LHC brothers. About 12 of us pile into...

€100,000 – Respond and Rebuild

€100,000 – Respond and Rebuild

Kevin Reilly (on behalf of Edik) - Ukraine Within the Lighthouse Community, loyalty is a very high value for us - our fellowship is meaningful, real and covenantal. To this end, our friend and brother Edik is in Ukraine and since the very first day of the invasion, we...

SUPPORT UKRAINE: FINANCE – FOOD – FUEL

SUPPORT UKRAINE: FINANCE – FOOD – FUEL

Kevin Reilly (on behalf of Edik) As I write, the difficulty in purchasing everyday items in Ukraine continues to worsen. Food and fuel shortages - compounded by wartime demands being pressed upon an already beleaguered economy - are worsening, and this situation will...

A Weekend in Albania

A Weekend in Albania

David King - UK Towards the end of January this year, a small team consisting of Kevin and Emma Reilly, Onno Weststrate and myself, had the joy of visiting Shkodër, a leading city in Albania. Our purpose was to meet Colin and Elida Stephen in person, and bring...

Called to Latvia #2

Called to Latvia #2

Nynke Zaal - Latvia In December 2010 I emigrated to Smiltene, Latvia with the blessing of my home church Elim in Reeuwijk, Netherlands. ‘For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and...

God is our Refuge and Strength

God is our Refuge and Strength

Edik M. (Ps 46) - Ukraine 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble...

Lighthouse Online – a Reflection

Lighthouse Online – a Reflection

Emma Reilly - Gdansk What a great morning! On Saturday 22 January, we gathered online (31 people from 12 nations) to worship Jesus, and to learn more of what it is to be “Sons and Daughters - Led by the Spirit of God.” Thirty-one friends gathering online from twelve...

Business and Mission Seminar

Business and Mission Seminar

Mostar - Bosnia and Herzegovina Do you know anyone who is interested to connect with entrepreneurs in the region of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina? A day of connection and encouragement is being held on 05/03/2022. Onno Westrate and Bernard Mikulić will be hosting....

Called to Latvia #1

Called to Latvia #1

Nynke Zaal - Latvia Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to Him! (Ps 128:1) As the oldest of five children, I grew up in a Christian family in the Netherlands. When I was 18 years old, I promised God that one day I would go to serve in His Kingdom...

The Business of Mission #8 – Off we go!

The Business of Mission #8 – Off we go!

Onno Westrate - Netherlands The official starting date of our company was 1st April 2008 and we registered as Turbocam Romania s.r.l. In preparation for our starting date, I leased two new CNC milling machines which, looking back, was a miracle that my bank here in...

WINTER FUEL FUNDRAISER – NEWS, STORIES AND MORE

WINTER FUEL FUNDRAISER – NEWS, STORIES AND MORE

Within just a few weeks in December 2021, together we raised a staggering €26,000. We were aiming for €10,000 and we have been simply blown away by God's faithfulness and the generosity of those within the Lighthouse Community: friends and partners - individuals,...

PRAY FOR UKRAINE

PRAY FOR UKRAINE

an appeal for prayer support by the LHC As many of you will be aware, Ukraine is currently facing the prospect of a Russian invasion. For many of us, this situation feels very far away and removed from everyday life in our own nations; but for those living in Ukraine...

Look to the Lord and His Strength-1 Chron 16:11

Look to the Lord and His Strength-1 Chron 16:11

Kevin Reilly on behalf of John Putman and Rodney Sexton The challenges that we face as a community are vast and on-going. We work into nations where conflict is ongoing and the potential for escalation is very real and where economic hardship, migration, poverty and...

€25,800 Raised for Winter Fuel!

€25,800 Raised for Winter Fuel!

Kevin Reilly - on behalf of the LHC €10,000 was my faith-goal for fundraising money to support 100 households during three winter months in five nations but the outpouring of generosity and God’s faithfulness has honestly blown us away! God has been so faithful and...

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

Kevin Reilly - Gdańsk, Poland Surely, these are five of the most familiar words in the whole Bible - The Lord is my shepherd - and yet as with many things which become familiar to us, if they are to retain their value in our lives, it is good to pause, occasionally,...

TOUCHING THE HEM OF HIS GARMENT

TOUCHING THE HEM OF HIS GARMENT

Sonja Stojanovic - Nis, Serbia The woman who had been bleeding for 12 years dared to believe that if she reached out and touched even the hem of Jesus’ garment that she would be healed. Life had been cruel to her and she was left destitute and shamed. Yet when...

€10,000 Winter Fuel Support

€10,000 Winter Fuel Support

Lighthouse Community €10,000 is what it takes to provide wood or gas for 91 households for the duration of the 2021-2022 winter period. As a community, we are pulling together to support families and households who - due to the effects of the recent rise in fuel...

DEVOTED TO ONE ANOTHER – RELATIONSHIP NOT RELIGION

DEVOTED TO ONE ANOTHER – RELATIONSHIP NOT RELIGION

Rodney and Heather Sexton - Romania and UK Welcome to Bazna, a village of some 2000+ people nestled in the heart of Transylvania, Romania, with its fortified church, Orthodox convent and disused brickworks, and now, natural gas plant. Bazna is a place where the...

DEVOTED TO CHRIST AND HIS MISSION

DEVOTED TO CHRIST AND HIS MISSION

Colin Stephen - Shkoder, Albania In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus is declaring that He has all authority in heaven and earth, and he sends out His followers to disciple new believers. There is no command here to evangelise. It is as though it is assumed that as He Himself...

A God of Small Things

A God of Small Things

Kevin Reilly - Gdańsk, Poland Our God is a great God. Unlimited in his power, he knows all things and he is present in all things. The rule of Christ is forever increasing in the earth and the universe will one day be made new upon his return. These are great and...

Mission, Business and Care for the Poor

Mission, Business and Care for the Poor

Onno Weststrate - Serbia and Croatia If you have been following Onno's blog, you will know that he has a passion for business and mission and a big heart to serve the poor. The following article is a mixture of information and updates about small business initiatives...

Loving the Ones and Twos

Loving the Ones and Twos

Heidi Reger - Bucharest, Romania When I first moved to Romania I came with big prayers, big dreams and big hopes of what God would do, and God has moved and worked in the lives of people I have met but perhaps not in the way that I first anticipated. A verse that has...

The Business of Mission #5

The Business of Mission #5

Looking East - Onno Weststrate By 1999 it had become clearer to me that I needed to listen to the audible voice of our Lord and leave my current job and join Turbocam. It was clear that the mission statement of this new company was the very thing I was looking for in...

Your Kingdom Come – Miracles in Ukraine

Your Kingdom Come – Miracles in Ukraine

Edik - Ukraine We asked Edik to share something about what is happening in Ukraine - miraculous healings, a fresh boldness to share Jesus and growth in the church are all a part of the story of what is happening among our brothers and sisters in Ukraine right now. In...

Prayer

Prayer

David King - Tunbridge Wells, UK. Noah reached out his hand from a window in the ark to receive the returning dove which had a freshly plucked olive leaf in its beak. That leaf from the tree of oil was the tangible promise of a new future, of a new and washed...

For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat

For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat

Kevin and Edik - Ukraine Our friend Edik cares for three churches in Ukraine and with the support and generosity of many of us in the Lighthouse Community, he has been able to support many people in very practical ways. It is a joy and a privilege for us to partner...

The Roar of God

The Roar of God

Kevin Reilly - Gdansk, Poland In March this year, a number of us in the Lighthouse Community met to pray and seek God together. There were prophetic gifts among us and we came together, expectant to hear something from God and to bless one another. God spoke to me...

Europe 2021 – A Missiological Report (ECM)

Europe 2021 – A Missiological Report (ECM)

This is an extensive and well-researched paper by Jim Memory of European Christian Mission (ECM). At fifty pages long, it's a serious read, but if you are interested in understanding the general and spiritual context for Europe today and the implications for mission...

Relationship – Discipleship – Friendship

Relationship – Discipleship – Friendship

Kevin Reilly - Gdańsk, Poland. As a Christian Community here in Gdańsk, we are looking to grow together, through our shared commitment to three Biblical ships. Relationship Our need to be in relationship with God and with people exists because we have been created in...

Loving Our Neighbours

Loving Our Neighbours

Emma Reilly - Gdańsk, Poland In July this year, we had the joy of seeing one of our friends from Gdańsk get married. We first met Ola about seven years ago at the local supermarket, where she was working. She heard us chatting in English at the checkout, and always...

The Wrestling – Rest of Jesus

The Wrestling – Rest of Jesus

Kevin Reilly - Gdansk, Poland For many of us, we live with the idea that rest and holiday are a means of escaping the pressures of life. There is, of course, a truth in this; but a more biblical understanding of rest offers us something quite different. Firstly, we...

Offerings for Ukraine

Offerings for Ukraine

Together, the Lighthouse Community raised €2300 for our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. But in addition to this, friends from beyond the LHC (many of you) contributed a further €400 and so in total we were able to send €2700 to support the work in Ukraine - a...

Following – Learning – Making

Following – Learning – Making

Kevin Reilly - Gdansk, Poland Kevin and Emma Reilly At the beginning of Mathew’s gospel, he records Jesus’ promise to those who go after him: "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Mk 4:19). The promise is simple and conditional - to follow Christ is to...

A Vision for Moldova

A Vision for Moldova

Thomas and Nadine Grässlin - Germany Why Moldova?I (Thomas) visited Moldova for the first time in 2009. I did not know much about eastern Europe and former communist nations and I did not plan to come back as I had an invitation to Bali right after. I already counted...

I see a man, beckoning you to Krakow.

I see a man, beckoning you to Krakow.

Janusz Lasz - Emmanuel Church Krakow, Poland and Brighton We are Polish family. From the beginning we knew that God was calling us to be part of a church plant. And so - in the 90’s just after we became Christians - we joined a small church plant in Wroclaw. We were...

You have been my hope, Oh Lord, since my youth

You have been my hope, Oh Lord, since my youth

David Jones - The Father’s House, Smiltene, Latvia. Our church youth group ‘Go Bananas’ (don’t ask) has been running for over ten years. What I share here will all be pre-COVID as under current regulations we aren’t able to meet. And, for reasons I still can’t fathom,...

Raising Family on Mission

Raising Family on Mission

Emma Reilly - Poland I think we have always had a strong sense of being a family together on a mission. Each of our girls was born in a different place, as we moved from Kent to London to join gospel plants. In August 2008, we came to Gdańsk in Poland, with a simple...

God’s church – God’s family

God’s church – God’s family

John Putman, UK In one of those memorable passages in the closing verses of the book of Joshua, Joshua declares ‘choose this day whom you may serve…but as for me and my family we will serve the Lord ‘ (Joshua 24:15). How lovely to be part of a family that is serving...

THE Bulgarian Recipe

THE Bulgarian Recipe

Anatolie Cernii To make this recipe, you will need the following ingredients: 500 years of Ottoman rule43 years of communism30+ years of transition to democracymountain tops and beaches (for decoration)a pinch of salt Marinate the raw Bulgarian soul with Ottoman...

A Heart for Romania

A Heart for Romania

Heidi Reger Growing up in a Christian family, I had knowledge of God from an early age and made a public commitment to follow Jesus at the age of 8. I was at a Christian summer camp at the time and I remember realising that I couldn’t just live off my parents faith...

Praise, Worship and the Spirit’s Power

Praise, Worship and the Spirit’s Power

Rodney Sexton, UK Rodney is married to Heather and has 2 grown-up children, 3 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He has long-standing ministry connections with Romania and Poland and is now based at New Life Christian Fellowship, Beccles, Suffolk. Rodney serves...

The business of mission: A Romanian Road…

The business of mission: A Romanian Road…

Brasov 1985 Onno Weststrate is elder at Elim church, Reeuwijk, the Netherlands and is part of Lighthouse Community leadership. Currently involved in a number of start-ups in post-communist countries to support local church plants. God has put it in my heart to share...

Cultural Spotlight – Latvia

Cultural Spotlight – Latvia

Latvian culture looks and is very different now compared to how it was like when I grew up under a Soviet regime. During 30 years of independence it has evolved and is now a mixture of Latvian folk heritage and Soviet and Western influences.For centuries we have been...

Losing a Ring, finding HIS direction

Losing a Ring, finding HIS direction

We had been living in Pardubice, Czech Republic for three years and we had gathered around us a group of Christians to pray and worship together. My wife Michelle had a clear call to return to the Czech Republic but I never felt that we would be the ones to lead a...

Desire the Spiritual Gifts – Prophesy!

Desire the Spiritual Gifts – Prophesy!

Maurice Nightingale is married to Rachel and is a member of the Relational Mission apostolic team. “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” Our God is a God of revelation. He is not a God of riddles and muddles. He...

The Power of Hope

The Power of Hope

Hope is a wonderful word which probably deserves far more attention than we give to it. David King is elder at New Life Church, Turnbridge Wells, UK, and is part of the Lighthouse community leadership team. Hope tells our hearts there is something worth living for -...

Rejoicing in Hope… Constant in Prayer

Rejoicing in Hope… Constant in Prayer

Some things have changed in Uzhgorod recently because we have been praying. God spoke to me about adding a Wednesday night service with a sermon into our Church life. God spoke to me about making this change during a personal time of prayer and the effect upon the...

Cultural Spotlight – Czechia

Cultural Spotlight – Czechia

Hi, I am Michelle, I am Czech and I live with my family in Pardubice, Czech Republic, or Czechia for short. Czech people love food, beer and good wine. There are many different traditional Czech foods like guláš or pork with sauerkraut and dumplings. An interesting...

Assurance of things hoped for

Assurance of things hoped for

Hi! I am Colin Stephen, originally from Aberdeen, Scotland, but since 1995 I have been serving the Lord as a missionary in Shkoder, Albania. I am married to Elida, from Shkoder and we have 3 boys, Aron (21 years) Joel (19 years) and Tomas (16 years). I grew up in a...

Online presence in 2021

Online presence in 2021

Because we want to take our communication with you, our supporters, to a next level, we have started a collaboration with the guys from The Boost Company. They are missionaries but also experts in everything that has to do with media. God is working in Eastern Europe...