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S2-E16 | Everyday Eurasia |  Mark Louw · Eurasia Region Podcast

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  This week on the Everyday Eurasia Podcast, we check in
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  with a Regional director, Mark Law.
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  Having served as a Regional Director for the Eurasia region
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  for the past two years, Mark shares how he's doing, what he
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  is observing during his travels, and some of the experiences that
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  have shaped his journey. TuneIn to hear his insights and
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  reflections in this week's episode of Rd. on the podcast.
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  Welcome. To the special Everyday Eurasia
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  Media Reflection series. Over these five days, I want to
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  share some observations, lessons, and encouragements from
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  across the Eurasia region. Our theme throughout the week is
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  simple. God is already there.
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  A scripture today comes from Acts 17 where Paul arrives in
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  Athens. In verse 18, we read this Now
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  while Paul was waiting for them at Athens.
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  His spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was
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  full of idols. Rather than beginning with
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  condemnation, Paul begins with observation and reason.
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  He looks carefully. He discerns where God is already
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  at work in the hearts of people and where there are voids.
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  Over the past months I've been reminded repeatedly that
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  Northern Europe and the Western Mediterranean are not
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  spiritually abandoned places. Many people speak of Europe as a
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  secular, closed or post Christian continent.
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  Yet when you listen carefully and you walk slowly enough, you
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  begin to see signs of spiritual hunger in some cities.
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  Ministry is growing quietly through immigrant communities.
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  In others, it begins around a coffee table, a shared meal,
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  laughter, joking conversations between neighbors.
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  Some of the most encouraging stories that I've heard are not
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  about large public successes. They're about faithful acts of
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  discipleship. One leader shared with me how a
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  small gathering in the living room slowly became a worshipping
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  community. Another leader told me of
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  relationships formed with refugees and international
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  students that open doors for prayer and discipleship.
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  In Switzerland, there's been renewed Nazarene witness after
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  years without a congregation. We thank God for these new
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  sparks of life across these two fields of the region.
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  The lesson I continue learning is this God often starts small
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  before he does something significant.
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  We sometimes look for visible momentum while God is planting
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  seeds beneath the surface. We want rapid growth, but the
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  Kingdom frequently advances quietly, relationally, and
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  patiently. Jesus spoke about mustard seeds
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  for a reason. The Kingdom often begins in ways
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  that appear unimpressive. Perhaps some of you listening
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  today feel discouraged because your ministry feels small.
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  Maybe you're faithfully serving a handful of people.
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  Maybe you're praying for a breakthrough that has not yet
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  come to not underestimate what God does through faithful
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  presence across northern Europe and the western Mediterranean
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  fields, I have seen that the Spirit is still drawing people,
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  still calling disciples, and still building His church.
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  Isaiah 43 reminds us, See, I am doing a new thing now.
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  It springs up. Do you not perceive it, friends?
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  Do you not perceive what the Spirit is doing?
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  Sometimes the challenge is not whether God is working, the
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  challenge is whether we are paying attention.
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  Across Eurasia, we're learning again that God is already there.
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  Lord Jesus, quiet our hearts so we may recognise where you are
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  already at. Work around us, strengthen your
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  weary servants, renew our hope and teach us to join you with
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  humility and courage. And as your people serve across
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  Eurasia, may we remain faithful, attentive to your spirit and
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  rooted deeply in your love. In Jesus name I pray.
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  Amen. Thank you for listening to the
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  Everyday Eurasia podcast, Inspiring Fate for everyday.
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  For more Everyday Stories, subscribe on this podcast
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  channel, follow our socials, Facebook and Instagram, or our
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  newsletter Snapshots. For our newsletter and further
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  information about the Eurasia region, visit our website,
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  eurasiaregion.org.