� together, to gather - gospel mission into 22 post-communist European nations by 2033

Contents

Vision p2The Catch 22 Strategy p3

The 22 Nations p6Research and Data p7

Funding and Community p9

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1. Vision The Light House Community purposefully embraces the post-communist nations of Northern, Eastern, Central and Southern Europe in order to:

• fulfil the mandate to go and make disciples of all nations;• play our part in fulfilling the RM vision to plant churches into all the nations of Europe;• pray for, give to, train, send and support pioneering leaders who are called to serve these

nations with gospel ministry;• establish, build, grow and maintain fellowship with all who are a part of our community,

persuaded that we can achieve more together than we can apart;

The LHC serves 22 of the post-communist nations of Europe by:

- preparing individuals and couples for long-term cross-cultural mission; - sending called pioneers into communities;- providing money to release pioneering leaders 2 days a week, at point of entry;- building, maintaining and growing financial and prayer networks beyond these nations;- supporting sent leaders through meaningful fellowship and on-going pastoral ministry;- planting gospel communities that reproduce within the host nation through indigenous

leadership, within 5 years;- redeeming the life chances of children and young people living in orphan care through Spirit-

led projects and initiatives;

We have a vision of the future whereby the poorer, post-communist nations of Europe are home to thriving, grace-filled and Spirit-led church communities: 22 nations in 15 years. We call this the Catch 22 strategy - to catch 22 nations in 15 years…impossible, but for God.

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2. The Catch 22 Strategy - a two box advantage

Why a two-box advantage?

Europe is not a continent of equals. There are the nations that have, and those that don’t. The 22 post-communist nations within the 10-30 and 60-40 window of Europe are all, without exception, below EU average, economic standards (see fig 3a) and therefore the LHC recognises that sending pioneering leaders into these nations is more economically challenging than sending them into other parts of Europe. The LHC strategy is built upon a premise that equity not equality is required to fulfil the vision to plant into all the nations of Europe.

Furthermore, those we work with are proactively moving into nations where indigenous people are often seeking to leave, due to the economic conditions that they face (see fig 5). Health care and education systems are often below an EU average and salaries can be as much as 20 times less than the EU norm (see fig 4). The economic conditions of the 22 host nations present leaders with a range of challenges that are not faced by those who are called to minister into the nations of Western Europe or Scandinavia. We recognise this and therefore we respond with equity, not equality - a two-box advantage, enabling our leaders to overcome some of the “life” challenges presented by host nations. We believe that Gospel planting ministry comes at a personal cost, but we will not allow it to cost a couple their marriage, children their future and leaders their mental and emotional health. The two-box advantage exists to release those we send into gospel ministry, whilst at the same time supporting them personally.

Our Sent leaders commit to a period of ten years in-country and our commitment to those we send lasts for the duration of that period. Their sacrifice is significant and therefore, so is ours. The LHC, standing together in the tougher places of Europe. Together, to Gather.

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(fig 1)

Equality Equity - the LHC way

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Box 1 - Together

Those called to go and plant into one of the 22 host nations are drawn into a two year programme of fellowship, pastoral care and support. Pioneering leaders are able to access this programme either:

- from within their country of ministry, having already relocated;- or from within their sending nation, up to six months prior to relocation into the host nation;

The Key components of the Together programme are:

Fellowship - building and facilitating friendship among all who stand together within the LHC;Foundations - sharing principals, experience, teaching and ministry that enables pioneering leaders and couples to go and to stand fruitfully within their host nation;Family - growing healthy marriages and raising Jesus-loving children within an isolated and economically challenging context;Fathering - building lasting and meaningful relationships between newer pioneering leaders and those who are more experienced in cross cultural mission;Finances - the LHC 40% funding of an in-country budget is in place from point of entry, releasing two days per week for pioneering leaders; other financial topics include: personal long term financial planning, investing for the future, the cost of children’s in-country-education, establishing the principal of giving into the vision of the LHC; Faithfulness - standing, prevailing and persevering in the long-term call of God;

The Together Programme is delivered over two years with each component accessed during a residential weekend. It is fully funded by the LHC and pioneering leaders attend as singles, couples or as families, the intention being to not only impart and share teaching, but to build relationally as well.

(fig. 2)

This is a rolling programme that is intended to continually draw in new leaders who consider themselves part of the LHC / RM family and who are planting into one of the identified 22 nations. Indigenous leaders - those who are identified and being discipled within host nations - will be drawn into the programme at points that make sense for them to do so. All LHC leaders (whether sent leaders or indigenous leaders) will participate in the programme.

Box 2 - To Gather

The LHC draws pioneering leaders together in order to gather. We are served by the apostolic leadership team of Relational Mission, led by Mike Betts. Maurice Nightingale and his team serve us apostolically in order that leaders are equipped to fulfil the Catch 22 strategy: 22 church plants established within 22 post-communist nations of Europe in 15 years.

The RECRUIT - REACH - REAP - REPRODUCE programme provides pioneering leaders with a framework from which they are able to begin to gather within host nations. The vision for pioneering leaders to identify and disciple indigenous leaders is particularly addressed here and therefore the two-box advantage is established, as sent leaders are drawn together and then equipped to gather.

LHC pioneering leaders commit to a ten year residency within host nations. Within the first five years they aim to establish communities of indigenous people and within this, they aim to identify

Fellowship Foundations Family Fathering Finances Faithfulness

Year 1 Year 2

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and train one indigenous leader / leadership couple who will be the catalyst for the second gospel plant within the host nation. Indigenous leaders will then be drawn into the Together Programme.

During the second five year period, indigenous leaders will be released and sent to plant and establish a second gospel community within the host nation. Thus, within a ten year period, two gospel communities will be established within a host nation. Success is measured, not by numbers who choose to gather into communities, but by the quality of the leadership and the strength of relationship that has been established among pioneering leaders, gathered communities, indigenous leaders and the LHC and RM Apostolic Team. As a long-term strategy, it is vital that indigenous leaders are meaningfully drawn into the life of the LHC and RM, if gospel mission is to remain fruitful beyond the lifetime of the sent pioneering leaders.

(fig 3)

Together, to Gather Therefore, the LHC Catch 22 strategy is to find, train and equip 22 leaders who will plant and establish 22 Gospel Communities into the 22 target nations within 15 years. Within each Gospel Community, indigenous leadership is identified, trained and released, enabling a second GC to be planted into the host nation, five years or so after the initial leadership team has arrived. Pairs of gospel plants, as a vision from the outset, enables the multiplication of indigenous ministry within host nations. This process of coming together in order to gather, continues throughout, broadening the resource base of the LHC and enabling this ministry to be multiplied across Europe.

Ultimate responsibility for ministry into these nations sits with the apostolic team of RM, as headed by Mike Betts.

First 5 Years Second 5 Years

Sent pioneering leadership is in place and is participating in the Together, to Gather programme.

A community of indigenous people has been gathered in the host country.

Indigenous leadership has been identified.

Indigenous leadership has begun to be equipped through the Together, to Gather programme.

Indigenous leadership has been sent out and a second community is being established within the host nation.

Indigenous leaders complete their Together to Gather training.

The two communities work together within the host nation and remain committed to the vision of the LHC and RM and further indigenous leaders are identified and the ten year equipping and sending cycle begins again

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3. LHC Nations - Where do we stand? In the 10:30 and 60:40 window, within 22 post-communist nations of Europe.

(fig 3a)

The Baltic States Central and Eastern Europe The Balkans - S. Europe

Estonia Poland Serbia

Latvia Ukraine Croatia

Lithuania Belarus Montenegro

Slovakia Bosnia and Herzegovina

Czech Republic Bulgaria

Hungary Albania

Romania Kosovo

Moldova Greece

Slovenia FYR Macedonia

Kaliningrad - Russian Fed.

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30˚60˚

40˚

10˚

4. Economic Context Extract of data for the 45 European countries for GDP and Per Capita for 2016

Nations 2016 GDP (Billions $)

EU GDP Ranking

Per Cap($)

% of EU Per Capita Av. ($23 821)

Netherlands 769, 9 7 45, 210 190%

UK 2 649, 9 2 40, 412 170%

Germany 3 494, 9 1 40, 236 169%

France 2 488, 3 3 38, 537 162%

Italy 1 852, 5 4 30, 294 127%

Spain 1 252, 2 6 25, 483 107%

Slovenia 43, 8 28 21, 370 90%

Czech Republic 185, 3 19 18, 326 77%

Greece 194, 5 18 18, 078 76%

Estonia 23, 5 32 17, 896 75%

Slovakia 89, 8 22 16, 648 70%

Lithuania 43 29 14, 899 63%

Latvia 28, 2 31 14, 141 59%

Poland 473, 6 10 12, 309 52%

Hungary 117, 7 21 12, 240 51%

Croatia 49, 9 25 11, 858 50%

Romania 181, 9 20 9, 439 40%

Russia 1267, 8 5 8838 37%

Bulgaria 49, 4 26 7, 091 30%

Montenegro 4, 2 41 6, 809 29%

Serbia 37, 4 30 5, 294 22%

Macedonia 10, 4 37 5, 060 21%

Belarus 45, 9 27 5, 092 21%

Bosnia and Herzegovina 16, 3 35 4, 289 18%

Albania 12, 3 36 4, 210 18%

Kosovo 6, 7 39 3, 662 15%

Ukraine 83, 6 23 2, 052 9%

Moldova 6, 1 40 1, 872 8%

Data References: GDP Data Per Capita Data (fig 4)

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LHC

Nat

ions

Migration Map Europe 2014

The following countries all experienced a net loss in terms of population size: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria and Albania. Although the data is from 2014 it is helpful to simply note that population sizes up until this point were reducing in LHC nations.

Reference: Migration (fig 5)

Implications We are embracing long-term mission into nations, many of which have populations that are emigrating due to the economic conditions there. If we want to send people long term for gospel ministry, we must be prepared to support them to stay. Those sent into the nations outlined above are going against the tide - more people in these countries are leaving than staying - staying costs, and so we stand together, releasing ministry, supporting leaders and fulfilling our mandate to serve, sacrifice and send into the post soviet nations of North, East, Central and Southern Europe.

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5. LHC - Funding The LHC is a registered charity and is funded through the donations of those who partner with us to fulfil the vision of gospel mission 22 nations in 15 years. Partners include individuals and businesses. All who choose to give, become members of the community and as such, receive the following:

- a six monthly progress report outlining the work of the LHC;- bi-monthly prayer updates and requests;- an annual financial breakdown outlining income and expenditure;- the opportunity to experience life in one of our host nations as part of the Big Family Initiative;

We see the LHC as a genuine community and family. Those who choose to join us become equal partners and co-workers within the project.

Securely established and accountable to the RM apostolic team, the Light House Community is confident in its inter-church identity. Our partnerships are established around a common theme - to bring gospel mission to 22 post-communist nations. Therefore, the LHC is non-denominational and we partner happily with Christians and Christian businesses from all streams.

Our light - the doctrine and the expression of our Christian mission - sits squarely within the theology and values of the RM church family, but our base is intentionally broad with regard to our partners and members, enabling us to stand and serve as we do.

We truly see the LHC as a community and therefore it is important to us that our partners are able to experience life in one of our host nations. There are annual opportunities for LHC members to visit, serve and receive from within one of our host nations. We call this the Big Family Initiative.

The Light House Community exists for a single purpose: to facilitate the planting of gospel mission within the post-communist nations of Europe. We believe that this is a vision bold enough and specific enough to appeal to Christians beyond our RM family.

How big do you want this to be? God said to us, some months ago…

� together, to gather - gospel mission into 22 post-communist European nations by 2033

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