We serve the Europe and the Middle East on what we call the Three-Worlds Team. Three-Worlds is a wonderful ministry paradigm that is doing great things in this region, and is inspiring similar approaches to ministry beyond (to learn more about 3W, click on the link above).
We have team leaders stationed centrally in Germany: the Nachtigall Family who are always on the go to the 18 countries actively served by 3W. We have our eldest teammates in Bulgaria: the Simpson's bring unique gifts to a difficult area to serve, but are also utilized wonderfully throughout the region. Both of those families actually have a historical connection to where we serve here in Cairo: Jamie Nachtigall and Dave Simpson lived where we do now as their families are among our predecessors! We have veteran teammates in Berlin working in a unique partnership with the German Church of God: the Philips family bring years of cross-cultural ministry experience in to the XZ Berlin project. And there are our newest teammates in Amsterdam, Netherlands: the Kihms recently began working among the Church of God congregations there, which are the very definition of the Three Worlds of Christianity.
We also have teammates who are still working to raise their support networks in the States (and beyond). They are Zach and Audrey Langford. We are so proud of Zach and Audrey and so excited for what they will bring to the team. To say that we know them well is a bit of an understatement; in fact, there are all sorts of connections with this awesome couple:
And we could go on...
The work that they will do with the congregation and community in the northwest of England couldn't be more important. I know that the western world may not view England as in much spiritual need, but your stereotypes could not be any more wrong. We believe so strongly in Zach and Audrey and the work that they will do, that we not only support them, but we're actively seeking to get the word out on who they are and what they are going to be doing. The video at this link was created to introduce the Langfords and to help you understand who they will be serving...
If your congregation is looking for a way to get engaged in global ministry, look no further! Connecting to 3W is always a good idea ;), but it doesn't get easier than connecting through the Langfords in England. The work they will do there will need a lot of prayer support, and you will be informed of ways to keep praying and investing in the lives they are serving. You and your congregation could get involved so easily with them--take it from me, we've taken several trips there--you can jump right in to deep relationships and levels of service because there's no language divide and the needs for encouragement and partnership are so great. And, then there's the parallel lessons you and your congregation can learn from as you hear their stories about engaging a community under the effects of post-Christendom.
Our teammates rock--they really are amazing and each one is doing unique and special things for the Kingdom. We are honored to work alongside of them--and we're all eager to be working alongside of Zach and Audrey. We hope that you will get involved in partnership with them!
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| Zach and Audrey (center) with Pastor John & Linda of Birkenhead ChoG |
We also have teammates who are still working to raise their support networks in the States (and beyond). They are Zach and Audrey Langford. We are so proud of Zach and Audrey and so excited for what they will bring to the team. To say that we know them well is a bit of an understatement; in fact, there are all sorts of connections with this awesome couple:
- Audrey actually spent several years in Maadi, Cairo - in fact, she attended CAC where our kids attend school now!
- Zach and Audrey grew up in Decatur, Alabama - the very community we moved from en route to Cairo!
- Zach was baptized in the congregation we pastored in Decatur, and was a regular in the 6th Avenue ChoG's service projects, including mission trips. Zach went to Guyana, South America with us, as well as to the United Kingdom, several times.
- Zach felt his call to missions ministry through those trips, and the 6th Avenue Church where we pastored helped to sponsor him for a ministry internship with the Birkenhead Church of God (across the river from Liverpool) one summer; and they helped to provide the way for a brief ministry assignment after Zach and Audrey's wedding before being invited to join 3W.
- I officiated their wedding :)
- The Birkenhead Church of God, which will be a primary ministry responsibility for the Langford's, actually helps to support our family; meanwhile, the Sioufi Church of God in Beirut, Lebanon, a congregation we regularly serve in our corner of 3W, will support the Langford's!
- A major ministry component for the Langford's with 3W will be developing a program of care and support for the TCK's (third-culture kids) that are on our team; we currently have 1/2 of the TCK's on the team (with 1 in Netherlands, and 2 in Germany). Zach and Audrey have a special relationship already with our kids and we couldn't be happier to have their support.
And we could go on...
The work that they will do with the congregation and community in the northwest of England couldn't be more important. I know that the western world may not view England as in much spiritual need, but your stereotypes could not be any more wrong. We believe so strongly in Zach and Audrey and the work that they will do, that we not only support them, but we're actively seeking to get the word out on who they are and what they are going to be doing. The video at this link was created to introduce the Langfords and to help you understand who they will be serving...
If your congregation is looking for a way to get engaged in global ministry, look no further! Connecting to 3W is always a good idea ;), but it doesn't get easier than connecting through the Langfords in England. The work they will do there will need a lot of prayer support, and you will be informed of ways to keep praying and investing in the lives they are serving. You and your congregation could get involved so easily with them--take it from me, we've taken several trips there--you can jump right in to deep relationships and levels of service because there's no language divide and the needs for encouragement and partnership are so great. And, then there's the parallel lessons you and your congregation can learn from as you hear their stories about engaging a community under the effects of post-Christendom.
Our teammates rock--they really are amazing and each one is doing unique and special things for the Kingdom. We are honored to work alongside of them--and we're all eager to be working alongside of Zach and Audrey. We hope that you will get involved in partnership with them!
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