Voices from Hungary

Eric just recently returned from training a group of leaders at the European Leadership Forum in Hungary. Please take a minute to watch this short video of testimonies from participants.

The ELF brings together conservative evangelical leaders from 50 countries across Eastern and Western Europe who come together to pray and strategize in reaching their continent for Christ. Our Global Youth and Family Institute partners with the ELF by providing training, mentoring, and consulting as we seek to equip and encourage European leaders in reaching the youth in their communities. Thank you for partnering with us in reaching the nations and the next generation.

To Europe or bust!

Please pray for us over the next two weeks: I'll be in London this week working to establish a flagship GYFM work in partnership with the International Presbyterian Church of West Ealing (Francis Schaeffer's former church!) and our new GYFM Missionary, Marta Douglass! Marta will be partnering with the local church to reach and disciple local London youth (one of the most diverse cities in the world!) as well as training leaders in youth ministry and working to care for Third Culture Kids across Europe.

After a week in London, I head on to Budapest, Hungary to serve at the European Leadership Forum. The ELF is a gathering of over 500 conservative-evangelical leaders from 50 countries across Eastern and Western Europe. They come together annually to encourage one another, pray together, and strategize and train to reach their continent for Christ. While there has been training offered at the ELF in things like church planting, arts & culture, apologetics and science & culture, there has been a gaping hole re next gen ministry. We have been invited to bring our GYF Institute training, and are building towards a strategic partnership to equip and encourage many european leaders in engaging the emerging generation. Pray God uses the seminars, small groups and one-on-one mentoring/ consulting to make a Kingdom impact!

Thank you for partnering and praying with us toward the vision of reaching the nations and the next generation with the love of Jesus!

Launch! Global Youth and Family Institute: U.S. site

The Global Youth and Family Institute is the primary way we are equipping and encouraging ministers around the world to lead the church in engaging the emerging generation.

The goal is to equip missionaries, church planters, youth ministers, and lay leaders through strategic sites around the globe.

We have launched sites in Japan and Hungary, and are working on launching sites in India and Colombia. We have more invitations than we can accept!

This past month we launched our U.S. site in partnership with Covenant Theological Seminary (St. Louis, MO).

By God's grace, nearly 40 leaders participated in a 4 day intensive training module titled: 'Theology of Global Youth and Family Ministry'. This is the first of three "Foundations" training modules we offer through the Institute.

Students from Covenant Seminary were able to take this course through the GYFI and receive 3 credit hours toward a concentration in Global Youth and Family Ministry in the MA or MDiv degree programs. In turn, those who complete our three Foundations courses will earn a certificate from the Global Youth and Family Institute.

The three GYFI Foundations courses are:

1. Theology of Global Youth and Family Ministry

2. Global Youth Culture, Development, and Discipleship

3. Global Youth and Family Ministry Models and Methods

I was blessed and encouraged by the insights, questions and passion of those who participated. It was obvious that God was at work through the week, fueling a heart for Christ and kids.

Please pray for our second foundations training course which will be offered later this month. Ask God to use the work of the Global Youth and Family Institute to train and deploy an army of men and women who will lead the global church in 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

Bullet Trains and Bhuddist Temples

Take a ride with me on the Bullet train... Visit some Bhuddist temples and Shinto shrines in Kyoto... See beauty veiling darkness... But the gospel is breaking through!

Japan 2009

India, October 09