Connect Europe 2008
Connect Europe is a friendship-based movement and 'learning community' that links around 200 emerging (and potential) visionaries and pioneers in 20 nations around Jesus, and a common passion to start and shape new movements of prayer, justice, community and missions throughout the continent. In 2008 several focused and regional events and trips are shaping up, that will provide excellent opportunities to see and taste what God is doing in other nations, (re)connect, develop friendship, build, and grow in teamwork. Let's move with the dreams and visions God put in our hearts, and expect Him to open doors of opportunity this year.
THE AGENDA FOR 2008:
If you wish to stay in the loop of what will be happening this year, then send an e-mail to info@connecteurope.org with the subject line 'CE keep me updated!'
APRIL
11-13: Story-telling weekend on new expressions of church in Assel, the Netherlands. Maximum 35 people, only Dutch-speaking. Contact: Rick Jansen, rickjansen AT zonnet.nl.
11-13: European Prayer Summit in Brussels, Belgium. Organized by the European Coalition for Israel, it's good connection point for those interested in the field of international politics. Several Connect people will be attending. Contact: Niina Orpana, orpana_niina AT hotmail.com.
15-17: EuroChurch conference in Lisbon, Portugal. The theme is 'Bible and mission in the new Europe' and it's a conversation of missional practitioners and thinkers. Contact: Lammert Vrieling, lammert AT shemacommunity.ch.
18-20: Connect France gathering in Nimes, France, to pray into this nation and connect with emerging pioneers. Contact: Florian Hoenisch, florian AT traumhaus-taunusstein.de.
24-26: Consultation for German-speaking church planting practitioners in Münster, Germany, with Alan Hirsch. This is an invitation-only, interactive, small-scale consultation with the vision to connect emerging church planters from Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Contact: Stefan Lingott, Stefan AT epic-church.de.
MAY
21-24: Tribal Generation gathering in Uberlandia, Brazil. Olgalvaro Bastos Jr. invites us to join the Tribal Generation gathering in Brazil that will draw emerging leaders from all over Latin America for a time of celebration, envisioning and friendship. He writes: "The idea is to bring a new generation of leaders together to share and learn from each other what God is doing in our generation around the globe. We want to make a difference in the coming years, and see international partnership developed." Contact: Olgalvaro Bastos Jr., olgalvarojr AT saldaterra.org.br.
29-1: European gathering 24-7prayer in Brno, Czech Republic. An intentional 'building' meeting for those who develop prayerrooms and boilerrooms in Europe. Contact: Phil Evans, phil.evans AT 24-7prayer.com.
JULY
9-13: Connect Europe gathering on the grounds of the SLOT Arts Festival in Lubiaz, Poland. A good opportunity to connect and strategize with emerging leaders from across Europe and learn some artistic skills on the side. Contact: Florian Hoenisch, florian AT traumhaus-taunusstein.de.
11-20: Generation Fire, Connect World, and World Youth Days in Sydney, Australia. For those with a global vision and/or a keen interest to see God move in the Catholic Church. This is the rough schedule: 11-13 July: Generation Fire gathering with emerging leaders from all over Australia, New Zealand and a few Pacific nations, in the Blue Mountains near Sydney. This will be a time of friendship, (prophetic) prayer and envisioning for God's work in (discipling) the nations. 14 July: Connect World, a one-day consultation with 25-30 network leaders from several continents. 15-20 July: Service, teaching and outreach during the (Catholic) World Youth Days, the largest emerging generation gathering in the world. The theme is from Acts 1,8: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses." Contact: Donny McGregor, donny AT generationfire.com.au.
SEPTEMBER
12-14: 24-7 Feast, international gathering for those involved in the 24-7prayer movement, held in Southampton, England.
NOVEMBER
6-8: Simple church conference with Floyd McClung for the German-speaking nations in Wuppertal, Germany. Contact: David Schäfer, davidschaefer AT gmx.de.
14-16: European learning consultation for new church planting network leaders, in partnership with the DAWN European Network. Across Europe a new generation of church planting visionaries and pioneers (roughly under 40) is emerging. They established various networks to see their nations saturated with Jesus-centered communities of faith. This is a small-scale, highly interactive invitation-only meeting, that will likely be held in Germany. Contact: Marc van der Woude, info@connecteurope.org.
NOT YET FINALIZED / TO BE CONFIRMED:
- Meetings with Stuart Murray in the Netherlands, likely 29-31 May.
- Encouragement trip to Iceland, likely in June.
- Connect Europe core group or family gathering, possibly in the last weekend of August.
If you are organizing a Connect-type event in your region, go on a pioneer trip yourself, or want people to visit you with specific encouragement, help or training, then let us know at info@connecteurope.org.
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ALREADY PASSED ACTIVITIES IN 2008:
JANUARY
11-13: A prayer and connection gathering for the Nordic nations in Turku, Finland. Contact: Petra Karilainen, petrak AT windowslive.com.
FEBRUARY
9-27: UK Tour 24-7prayer: prayer and envisioning throughout the United Kingdom. Contact: Phil Togwell, uktour AT 24-7prayer.com.
15-17: Connect Europe core group weekend in Prague, Czech Republic. Contact: Marc van der Woude, info@connecteurope.org.
