Mary's Prayer

from generation to generation

Mary sings in response to the news that she will bear the Messiah: "the mighty

one has done great things for me--holy is his name. His mercy extends to those

who fear him, from generation to generation." Luke 1:49-50

He is mighty!  He has done great things!  His mercy extends to the next

generation!  Thank you for partnering with us in reaching the nations and the

next generation with the good news of our Savior's birth, life, death and

resurrection.  Together we've seen him do great things this year...

great things he has done in 2010

     * he has touched the lives of more than 100 MKs & mission families:

       providing counseling, small group discussion, spiritual renewal and

       practical training through our programs and relational ministry

     * he has equipped more than 100 national leaders around the world:

       providing training for next generation ministry through our GYF

       Institute sites in Asia, Europe, and the USA

     * he has raised-up new missionaries: bringing Drew & Lindsey Wilkins to

       join our team

     * he has given many a heart for the work: raising-up brothers and sisters

       to join us in prayer, participation, and financial partnership

   We rejoice with you this Christmas: "the mighty one has done great

   things--holy is his name"!

   Thank you for faithfully partnering with us this year.  Your prayers and

   encouragement, love and support have fortified and sustained us as a family

   in mission.  We are humbled and blessed to be sent by you.

   May you find assurance and fresh hope this Christmas in Mary's song: "His

   mercy extends to those who fear him--from generation to generation."  His

   mercy extends.  His love cannot be thwarted.  He will fulfill his promise:

   to you, to me, and to all his people--our people--in every nation and each

   generation.

  Merry Christmas!

   

   Eric, Rebecca, Abby, Meghan, Natalie and Emma

Would you consider a year-end gift to the Larsen's work in Global Youth and Family Ministry?

• give online by clicking "donate" at www.gyfm.org

OR

• send checks to:

Mission to the World

P.O. Box 116284 

Atlanta, GA, 30368-6284

Attention: Larsen support #29256

Latin America Area Retreat NEWS!

We just got back from Mexico where we had the joy of leading a team of 26 youth pastors, ministering to 400 mission kids and their families from across Latin America.

There are too many stories to share and much to praise God for:

We saw kids connect with each other in the safety of small groups as fellow TCK's--sharing each other's burdens and celebrating joys... We saw redemptive relationships formed between youth leaders and MKs... We experienced sweet seasons of prayer and worship as believers connected across continents and countries... We saw kids grow through effective teaching and application of God's Word... We shared in the sorrows and struggles of those wounded in the line of fire... We saw God deliver his people from vehicle accidents, rip tides, and hurricanes... We counseled and encouraged many parents wrestling to love and lead their MKs through adolescence and the TCK experience... We saw new ministry avenues open up to speak into the lives of college and 20-something Mks and see them catch a kingdom vision...

Thanks for praying for us and partnering with us in this ministry! 

Click here for more: www.gyfm.org

With much love,

The Larsen family

One Crazy Summer!

It’s been a full Summer, to say the least!

At the tail end of May, Eric travelled to London where he spent time developing a partnership with a local church there. The church is seeking to reach out to the European youth and growing population of immigrant young people in London. He also spent time working with MTW missionaries on a strategy to better minister to our MKs across Europe.

After London, Eric traveled to Hungary to participate in the European Leadership Forum. The ELF is a grass-roots gathering of 500 conservative evangelical leaders from 50 countries across eastern and western Europe. The GYFM seeks to partner with the ELF in providing our Institute training to European leaders struggling to engage the emerging generation in their countries. Many participants expressed leaving encouraged and better equipped through what we had to offer.

In June, we travelled as a family to Harvey Cedars Bible Conference in NJ. Eric was invited to speak at Victory Jam summer camp, sharing the gospel with over 400 students from all walks of life. God also provided many opportunities for us to encourage youth pastors and their wives, and to share the vision of the GYFM. We saw the spirit work in many lives during the week and came away encouraged as a family in ministry.

In July, we travelled to Ridgehaven in NC to serve during MTW’s Re-entry conference, followed by MTW’s Summer Conference. During Re-entry, Eric and Rebecca lead the mission kids in a time of debriefing and processing through their time on the field—helping them to wrestle through cultural, emotional, and spiritual issues of transition and adjustment. Then, together with the Ridghaven staff, the GYFM lead a weeklong summer camp experience for TCK’s –involving hiking, rafting, ropes course, and swimming, as we spent time in Bible Study, singing, one-on-one counseling with the youth, and offering seminars and consulting with mission parents.

Later in July, Eric travelled to New York to serve during MTW’s Cross Cultural Mission Internship program. This time is focused on preparing new missionary families to serve cross culturally. Eric spent his time training, leading an event for new MKs, counseling mission parents, and building relationships with new missionary families in an effort to set them up for success as they go to the field.

Then in August, our Global Youth and Family Institute offered it’s third foundations training module in STL in partnership with Covenant Seminary. Through this course, leaders receive training in a variety of models and methods for engaging the emerging generation with the gospel. In fact, our GYFI is about to graduate it’s first class of 8 candidates in our certificate program. Some are headed to Africa and Europe, while others are serving in culturally diverse and unique ethnic groups within the US.

Support update: 81% Praise the Lord!

We still need $1,600 per month. It is our prayer that God would raise up…

• 25 people to partner with us at $25/month
• 10 people to partner with us at $50/ month
• 5 people to partner with us at $100/ month

Would you consider increasing your giving by one of these amounts and letting us know by email?

If you have not been able to give or give regularly, would you be willing to join us at one of these amounts?

How? Go to www.gyfm.org OR

Send checks to: Mission to the World, PO Box 116284, Atlanta, GA 30368 (MEMO: Larsen Support Account 29256)

Above all, your prayers are what we need most! There is no way we could sustain without the love and prayers of God’s people surrounding us and going with us. Thank you for sending us and partnering with us as together we work toward Reaching the Nations and the Next Generation!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from the Larsen’s and the Global Youth and Family Ministry!

“The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.” –John 1:14 (MSG)

Immanuel, God is with us! We rejoice with you in the ways God made his presence known to us this year—going with us and before us in life and ministry. We pray you know His presence in a close and personal way this Advent. May he fill all our hearts with hope as we trust in the One who came for us, is with us, and is coming again!

Here are some of the ways you enabled us to serve MKs in 2009:

1. The Families in Global Transition Conference--working with leaders across sectors to care for families living and serving cross-culturally

2. The Europe/ Africa Area Retreat--providing spiritual refreshment for missionary kids and families serving in Eastern and Western Europe, Africa, and Muslim States

3. Re-Entry Conference--helping mission kids in transition off the field as they deal with issues of identity, loss, and cultural confusion

4. Summer Conference--providing a summer camp experience for MKs during their Home Mission Assignment in the US

5. Pre-Field Training--offering seminars, consulting, and one-on-one counsel to youth and families preparing to go to the field as missionaries for the first time.

6. GYFM Associates program--working to recruit US youth pastors and churches to minister to specific mission teams and youth on the field

And here are some of the ways you enabled us to equip national leaders to reach youth around the globe:

1. The European Leadership Forum--invited to offer some of our GYFI (global youth and family institute) training to leaders from over Eastern and Western Europe

2. Korean Leadership Training--partnering with RTS to train Korean pastors and missionaries in engaging the next gen in their culture and context

3. Latin American Leadership Training--partnering with MINTS and local grass-roots church planting networks to train leaders in Colombia

4. Japan Church Planting Institute & Christ Bible Seminary--gave seminars, consulting and taught seminary course on reaching the emerging gen with leaders in Japan

5. Youth Ministry in India--led retreat for youth of lepers, training and consulting with local youth leaders, budding partnership with PTS as future GYFI site

6. Equipping U.S. leaders--leading SLYnet (St Louis Youth Network), partnering with Covenant Seminary to mentor and train church leaders in next generation ministry.

As it stands, we are at approx. 80% of our needed support (only 20% to go!). Please pray that God will see us to 100% as we enter 2010. Occasional gifts have kept us afloat. Would you prayerfully consider a year-end gift? Even better, would you consider making a monthly commitment, or increasing your current commitment?

You can donate online by going to www.mtw.org (click the image marked "donate online" and follow the prompts).

And check out our latest "blogumentary" video at www.larsenlog.blogspot.com

Thank you for praying for us, encouraging us and supporting us this past year. It is a joy and privilege being sent by you to extend the gospel to the nations and the next generation.

In His Grip,

the Larsen's

(Eric, Rebecca, Abby, Meghan, Natalie, Emma)

Global Youth & Family Ministry and Institute

"Reaching the Nations and the Next Generation"

www.larsenlog.blogspot.com

www.gyfm.org

www.mtw.org

Japan 2009

India, October 09

Bogota, Colombia

Global youth culture is alive and well in Bogota, Colombia. And churches are struggling with how to engage. But God is raising up many pastors, leaders and parents who are prayerfully seeking wisdom in passing the baton of faith to the next generation.

It was my privilege to spend time encouraging students and leaders alike: counseling, consulting, training, and praying together over the eight days I was there.

My faith and confidence in God's work in and through His church grew as I encountered men like Javier and Daniel. These two Bogotano pastors are leading a church planting movement and seminary fueling renewal in the city. They described to me the growing disconnect between the church and the young people of Bogota, and the many challenges that young Bogotanos face.

For instance, many youth feel so disconnected with adults and so defeated by the residual fear and oppression of the terror stricken culture, that every year 100's of kids participate in mass suicide. Even more tragic: none of these kids are personally and physically in relationship with each other. The suicides are orchestrated through online "cultures" or communities, and kids are found dead across the city--alone in their rooms in front of their computers.

Kids are desperate the world over. Where are the adults who will personally pursue them and enter their world of hurt and confusion with the hope of the gospel? Please continue to pray with us that God will raise up a generation of leaders to reach this lost generation.

Thank you for supporting and sending us in the call to "Reach the Nations and the Next Generation".

Razor wire and graffiti: youth culture against the backdrop of terror

El Camino Academy: teacher training and speaking in chapel services

Speaking to the youth group of United Church of Bogota

Training Colombian church planters and seminary students

Parent/ teen seminar

Preaching at United Church

New friends

Yum!

Spain, April '09

We've just returned from Spain where we lead a team of 20 pastors and youth ministers to bring spiritual refreshment and renewal to 100 mission kids from all over Eastern and Western Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. MTW provides an Area Retreat for these 600 missionaries and their families once every 4 years. It's hard to put into words how important this retreat is to these servants and their kids. For many MKs this was a time to be known and poured into in a relevant and personal way--a way they rarely experience on the field. And for many, this retreat marked a significant moment in their walk with Christ. Here are some of their own words:

"I love hanging out with other MKs"

"The small groups and leaders were really awesome and the music too"

"I now have lots of friends"

"This was an awesome retreat - I never felt scared to share my thoughts"

"Thanks to the leaders, you guys rock!"

"Amazingly awesome!"

"The message was so appropriate for the stuggles of MKs"

"As an MK preparing for college it was helpful to hear from people who had already faced the transfer to a university"

"I liked the activities and the teachings on grace"

"Being reminded of God’s grace and how amazing it is no matter how messy e are was just what i needed"

"That we can hope for a time that all tears will be wiped away"

"While i face temptation and pain the only thing capable of overcoming these is a deeper more genuine faith than many ‘masked’ christians have"

"Even when you don't desire God he still desires you"

"That i am just as important as my mom and dad"

"That even though i am a kid i can still work for God"

"That no matter how far you run and push away. God isn’t going anywhere"

"That I am not alone in my struggles"

"God still loves us despite our failures"

"To take off my mask"

"That God loves Losers - because i sometimes feel like a loser"

"That there are many kids like me who understand what it's like to me an MK"

Thank you for investing in us as we invest ourselves in the lives of those growing up on the mission field. By God's grace, together we are seeing Kingdom impact!

In HIs Grip,

Eric and Rebecca Larsen

(Abby, Meghan, Natalie and Emma)

Abby, Meghan, Natalie, and Emma "hangin-out" at the terminal

100 middle, high school and college missionary kids worshipping and growing together

Emma's become an expert traveller

Larsen ladies in flight

Brussels, January '09

I’m writing this post from Operation Mobilization’s center in Brussels, Belgium. A group of new MTW missionary candidates have gathered here for a month of pre-field training. The mornings are spent in classroom instruction, while the afternoons/evenings are spent in practical ministry assignments around the city. I have spent the last few days meeting with individuals and families and doing some training for the group on global youth and family ministry. Brussels is a great location for this training: 45% of the population is immigrant. Our missionary candidates will be placed in Persian, Korean, Dutch, French, and Indian contexts. Please pray that these new missionaries will grow in grace and skill as they are equipped to take the gospel to the nations. And pray that my time here bears fruit in seeing each one inspired and empowered to reach the youth in their context--including caring for the TCKs on their teams.