In June, over 100 leaders from 26 different nations came to Kraków, Poland, for the 4thof 5 modules in the European Leadership Training School (LTS). The school started in Norway in October, and aims to bring together leaders from all over Europe over the 5 intensive modules, and then have them work in processing groups and hand in assignments online in between. This new model will give credits equivalent to the 12 week LTS schools in the UofN.
In Krakow, the school focused on areas of influence in Europe. Jeff Fountain, former YWAM European Director, and now director of the Schuman Centre for European Studies, shared on perspectives of Europe’s past, present and future. A missionary from Jordan shared with us how God is working amongst the Muslims, and how we need to see the refugee crisis as an opportunity for ministering amongst the Muslim World. Bruce Clewett with Kerygma, shared on how we need to be partnering with the Catholic World. We were also privileged to hear from Auxiliary Bishop Ryś from Krakow who gave us his perspective of the situation of the Catholic Church in Poland.
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| Jeff Fountain praying for Bishop Ryś |
One evening, instead of the planned “fun night”, we joined in with a Catholic Praise time in the main square of Krakow. It was amazing to see how many people came to praise the Lord publicly and how open to the Holy Spirit the worshippers were – Charismatic Renewal is happening in Poland! You can see a video here of what it looked like here.
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| Bruce Clewett sharing how to walk hand in hand when you don’t see eye to eye |
We were joined by most of the YWAMers in Poland, and it is a joy to see how God is slowly but surely adding to their numbers – now we have 4 locations. They were all involved in some way in the hosting of the school, but the biggest thanks goes to Helen Hess in Krakow who did most of the heavy lifting to find places for 120 people to meet and sleep for the week. Well done team and especially Helen!
I am a student on the school, and am enjoying seeing how God is networking us together across Europe and growing each of us through the 5 intensive weeks. We now have to do our LTS “project” by the end of July, and the last module and graduation takes place in Kiev, Ukraine in August.
I am so pleased that these leaders could come to Poland and focus on the northern part of our region, seeing what God is doing there and how they can become involved. As we see God already multiplying what is going on there, we need to keep praying for growth in our numbers and impact throughout Poland.
-Belinda Chaplin
YWAM Central Europe Convener