Volunteer Summit for Central and Eastern Europe

                                                                                                               Vol. XX, No. 8, October 2007

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC – Grace Community Church in Nashville, Tenn., will host the International Mission Board’s (IMB) Volunteer Summit for Central and Eastern Europe Nov. 8-9 and related events Nov. 8-10. The free conference is ideal for Great Commission Christians who wish to discover specific ways they can help “tell the story of Jesus” to the peoples of the Former Soviet Union and the entire region.

More than 20 Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) missionaries and missions leaders will introduce attendees to the region and cover the topics of praying strategically, using media skills on the mission field and volunteering through partnerships with missionaries. Multiple breakouts throughout the summit will provide time for face-to-face discussion with summit speakers.

“There is no way that we as IMB missionaries can be the only harvest force out there to get the job done,” said Mark Aderholt, Central Europe strategy associate. During the summit Aderholt and other missionaries will discuss their areas’ specific needs.

Related events are free and include an Accelerate Hope session that will occur alongside the summit as a time of training for individuals interested in virtual strategy coordination (VSC). A VSC is responsible for developing strategies from home to reach people groups with no missionary presence.

A student ministers’ afternoon gathering is set for Nov. 8 and will allow opportunities to learn how to be more involved in international missions. That same evening students are invited to Vanderbilt University to discover how they can play a crucial role in fulfilling God’s call to go to the ends of the earth.

Taking the Great Commission Seriously, a post-summit related event, will occur Nov. 10 and will be a day packed with missions-experienced speakers, worship led by Andrew Peterson, a plenary session led by CEE Regional Leader Rodney Hammer and breakout sessions covering a variety of missions topics. The day will close with a post-lunch panel discussion. Breakouts include Hope Communications—explore how students, enthusiasts and professionals can use their skills and talents in media to be on mission with God in CEE—and PrayFIRST—learn how to pray and lead others to pray strategically for reaching the lost of CEE.

Workshops also occurring Nov. 10 will unpack how volunteers can influence specific CEE people groups. Reaching the Roma of CEE and Reaching the Muslims of CEE will point attendees toward how to shed the light of Christ among these two demographics.

Through attending two summits Marc and Kellye Hooks realized CEE has a need that matches their talents and calling. The Hooks currently are preparing to serve in Russia.

“The (Summit) can answer questions people have about how they fit into the plan of God for the nations,” Kellye said. “Anyone who puts their tithe in the plate every week should attend and see how their money is being put to use — I think they’ll find it a very heartening, exciting experience.”

A second summit will be held in Arkansas on April 21-22, 2008.

To register for upcoming summits or for more information, visit hope4cee.org and select “IMB Volunteer Summit.”