We did not get the chance to blog immediately following Nick's visit due to our annual GEM conference that took us to Hungary. People have been asking and wondering.
It was a blessed whirlwind of a few days. I thought a few of us were picking Nick and those on his team at the airport. As we waited I did not see any cameras in the crowd, but as he rolled out in his wheelchair out popped video cameras in many directions. Yup, it was big news in Timisoara. The newspapers had referred to him as a pastor living without limbs. The first church service on Monday was packed with people standing along the side of the aisles. That church can seat 2500. His message was powerful and the line afterward to greet and hug him took almost 2 hours.
The following day there was a press conference followed by a kind of townhall meeting with local professional regarding the state of living for those with disabilities here in Romania. That evening he went to our church in Timisoara. Yes, the one that had just built a ramp the two weeks prior to this visit. God has great timing. This church can only seat about 1200 people. Because of this it was overflowing into the front hall and 300 chairs in the basement with a live video stream there.
We have been praying for a movement that the churches can reach out to this part of the community. Please pray with us that maybe from these events the churches can provide special bible study and sunday school classes for as well as access to their general services.
It was that time again for annual conference. Every year we look forward to this time to reconnect with other GEM missionaries servicing throughout Europe. Worship is with a great professional team from the states that serve in a week long mission to us missionaries. This is a huge blessing to us. Worshiping in our language is a moving and true worship experience.
