CEE joins Western Europe to create European Affinity
IMB workers like Milton Magalhaes in Lithuania are transitioning from being a part of Central and Eastern Europe to joining one of eight affinities worldwide. Many in Europe now are operating under the European Affinity label.
International Mission Board (imb) workers across the globe are transitioning from grouping geographically into regions to grouping into affinities, joining coworkers reaching similar people groups. This transition has workers from Central and Eastern Europe, Western Europe and multiple other former regions combining to create the European Affinity. All 12 former imb regions are shifting to eight affinities worldwide.
Mark Edworthy, the European Affinity global strategist, said he sees the change as beneficial for all imb workers.
“We’re seeking to position ourselves as best we can to reach all the nations,” he said. “The new structure should put us in a better position … where borders are no longer going to be walls and people groups are going to be accessible in … every ethnic group.”
The European Affinity includes ministries to Europeans located not only in Europe, but all over the world. This includes Canada, Australia, Brazil and Reunion Island, while workers are continuing to discover where pockets of Europeans live.
“The sun never sets on the European Affinity people group,” Mark said. “Somewhere in the world, every day, a European should be confronted with the truth of the Gospel.”
For some workers the transition has meant a shift in leadership, but the focus of sharing the Gospel with Europeans through church-planting and relationship-building remains the same.
Mark said, “There’s no manmade border or barrier that should deter us.”
Posted by Natalie Kaspar on Jul 2, 2009
