The Five Initiatives

European Initiative ministry focuses on its 5 core values: evangelism, compassion, teaching, prayer, and blessing the Jewish people.

Evangelism

World respected missions organizations agree that Europe is now less than 2% Evangelical Christian. In Berlin, Germany, the home of EI’s European base, less than 0.5% are believers. We agree with the late Pope John Paul II who said, “Europe must be re-evangelized.” In today’s post-Christian Europe the city does not go to church, so the church must go to the city.

EI teams, partnering with local churches and ministries go to the busy squares, parks, and transportation hubs of European cities. Each team creatively proclaims the gospel through contemporary methods while bringing the life and love of Jesus Christ to unbelievers. The teams reach the lost through a diversity of strategies including: street preaching, spiritual surveys, children’s ministry, rock concerts, university outreaches, the arts (dramas, dancing, mime, and visual art work), sports evangelism, worship, and more. Thousands of Europeans hear the gospel through EI outreaches and many have come to believe in Jesus Christ.

Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few, therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” (Matt 9:37-38)

Compassion

European Initiative believes in the clear biblical mandate of blessing the poor and downtrodden of spirit.

Jesus, while speaking in reference to helping those in need said, “…To the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.” (Matt 25:40)

Despite its reputation for material affluence, millions live in poverty in 21st century Europe. Most are immigrants. “The least of these” who are despised and forsaken by society at large are the Roma, otherwise known as Gypsies. In the Balkan nations of Romania and Bulgaria the Roma represent more than 15% of the total population - their numbers are increasing in Western Europe as well.

Since January 2008 EI has led outreaches to Gypsy villages in the Transylvania region of Romania. Our ministry to the Gypsies is spiritual and practical. EI teams proclaim the gospel in the villages and pray for the sick. Because the needs are so overwhelming, we bring coats, shoes, sleeping bags, and other winter clothing to the poor. Few in Europe endure such impoverished conditions and bitter winters as the Romanian Gypsies.

In addition to the compassion ministry to Gypsies, EI teams are active throughout the year in assisting several local ministries in Berlin who reach out to drug addicts and the homeless.

“Go and report what you have seen….the poor have the gospel preached to them.” (Luke 7:22)

Teaching

The small remnant of believers in Europe are eager to build a strong biblical foundation in their lives. EI invites and organizes opportunities for international pastors and teachers to equip and encourage the body of Christ in Europe. (Eph 4:11, 12)

Respected leaders have been invited to Europe by EI to teach and equip in many different venues including: conferences, citywide meetings, weekend seminars, Bible colleges, family retreats, and local church gatherings. Topics have included worship, marriage and family, missions, leadership, church growth, discipleship, prayer and intercession, ministry to Muslims, Christian character, evangelism, Messianic Judaism, prophecy, inner healing, spiritual warfare, church history, and more.

EI believes in the vitality of the church and intentionally strategizes to strengthen European local churches. We believe that God’s Kingdom will advance and impact the European culture through a healthy, glorious, growing local church.

“... teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” (Matt 28:20)

Prayer

Time Magazine stated profoundly, “Europe is the world’s spiritually darkest place.” The battle for Europe must be waged through prayer. EI believes that before we go with the Good News, first we must go to our knees in prayer. In EI’s campaign of airlifting American Christians, several teams have come to Europe with the singular vision to pray. EI prayer teams have come with specific prayer assignments. One team went to Auschwitz and Krakow, Poland, to intercede for the healing of the still-existing wounds related to the Holocaust. Other teams have come to pray in Herrnhut, Germany, the site of the 18th century Moravian revival. Several EI teams have traveled to Wittenberg, Germany, the birthplace of the Protestant Reformation, to pray for a new reformation to sweep Europe. All the teams have been engaged in prayer for the spiritually lost of Europe.

Additionally, EI teams have helped support existing European prayer ministries. EI teams go to local houses of prayer and attend city prayer gatherings. The battle for Europe is fought in the hidden places of prayer. This battle is far from over, but EI remains engaged in the fight.

“With all prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit….be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.” (Eph 6:18)

Jewish Ministry

European Initiative’s Jewish ministry focuses on two strategies: leading Jewish people to salvation in their Messiah and educating the European church in understanding its Jewish roots. EI has invited respected Messianic Jewish and Christian leaders to teach in seminars, local Messianic congregations, Bible schools, and churches.

During the 60th anniversary of the Holocaust an EI team met with leaders of the Berlin Jewish community to build friendships and give a generous financial blessing.

Partnering with a Berlin-based Messianic congregation, EI organized concerts with Jewish classical pianist Sam Rotman. A believer in Jesus Christ and one of the world’s top pianists, Mr. Rotman shares his testimony with unbelieving Jews and gentiles during his concerts. The EI sponsored concerts with Mr. Rotman in Berlin and Warsaw, brought the gospel to many Jewish people including Holocaust survivors.

For the past thousand years a significant percentage of the world’s Jewish population has lived in Europe and endured intense persecution. With a recent resurgence of anti-Semitism in Europe, it is vitally important for the church to stand with Israel and the European Jewish communities.

And I will bless those who bless you and the one who curses you I will curse. (Gen 12:3)

Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them (the Jewish people) is for their salvation. (Romans 10:1)