“O [your name] put your hope in the Lord, for with the LORD is unfailing love and …full redemption.” Psalms 130:7
Dear Friends,
No matter what lies ahead in 2009, you are commanded by an act of choice to put your hope/confidence in God. The reason for this has more to do with the object of our hope, and less with the circumstances around us. Thank God, His love will never fail, and His redemption is sure.
This Fall, Jen and I had the chance to visit the church in Graz that we first ministered in when we moved to Austria. The church has grown from 130 to 250 people. I was able to speak at their church retreat and we reconnected with “kids” who were in our teen group ten years ago. This time around we were pressed with questions on parenting, since many of them now have their own little ones. It was truly an awesome thing to see how God has guided so many of them along the way...every face you see here means something to us. A great new development in Graz is that we have been able to start a third region of our Evangelical Academy. Now young people are able to study theology, but remain in their home area in the state of Styria.
December – Month of Encouragement
We continue to support and encourage nationals along the way. On my last trip in December I was able to connect with unsaved and Christian friends. Please be in prayer for the following:
Richard Schmidt
On Saturday, Oct. 25th our dear friend and brother in Christ was playing soccer, when he suddenly collapsed on the field and died of complications with his heart. Richard had been instrumental in starting and leading the Austrian Prayer Movement among the youth. He was on tour with us in the USA in 2006, and we supported his ministry. I was able to visit his wife Melanie, and some of the band members on this last trip to pray with and encourage them. Melanie showed me a quote from Richards’ diary in 2002: “The time has come to storm the gates of heaven with our prayers. Austria is in bondage and held down by strongholds. We must increase our prayers for this country 100-fold.”
The Austrian Prayer Congress
On the first weekend in December I was able to attend the prayer movement which continues in Austria. On Sunday afternoon, the young people were sent out onto the streets of Vienna to strike up conversations with Christmas shoppers. It was great to see people being stretched and pushed to pray for their lost friends and loved ones.
Michi and Liesi Bozanovic
Michi, from our church in Villach, has finally finished his studies in Theology and is being groomed to take over the youth ministry in our state, Kärnten. Please pray for him and Liesi as they are newly married, and Michi seeks part time employment in a secular field. They are looking at raising some supplementary support until the churches in Kärnten can do more for them.
Marco and Dagmar
“You were like a Paul, and I felt like your Timothy..." Marco went through our discipleship program and EVAK, and has been effective in the youth ministry in Spittal. He is having a “desert” phase in his ministry and needs our prayers. It is tough for him to balance working full time and lead a youth ministry and a new marriage. Please pray for Marco and Dagmar.
Tom and Helen
Tom is close to finishing his studies with our EVAK. He was in our original teen group. He and Helen have great leadership skills, and they have the opportunity to go to Lebanon for a six month internship. After that they will begin in a newly planted church in Vienna. Go, nationals!
Pray for them all...
In Christ,
Bobby, Jen and Kids Parschauer
Coming Up:
February – Work team trip to Graz
March/April- Austrian Pastor fund raising trip May – Youth convention in Innsbruck
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