Europe — A Call to Biblical Integrity

Currently, 458 Assemblies of God personnel across the Fellowship have responded to God’s call to preach the gospel in Europe. However, they are not only called to preach the gospel; they are called to model it as well. For many years secularism, skepticism, atheism, hedonism and religion without power have hidden the true Christ in Europe. Today our missionaries and missionary associates, working alongside Pentecostal workers across Europe, are modeling biblical integrity. The result is that for the first time Europeans are learning who Jesus is, seeing the change He brings to a life and gaining a better understanding of Christianity.

Paul and Jocelyn Gracza, missionaries to Hungary since 1990, were the first AG missionaries appointed to a former Iron Curtain country. “The national ministers God brings us into partnership with are very capable and gifted,” says Paul. “What we missionaries bring is a different perspective. Physical presence and longevity of service build a strong foundation for effective ministry. We have learned to accept responsibility when we make a mistake. We have learned to say ‘I am sorry.’ We missionaries are not competing with anyone; we are serving the Lord.” 

Mike and Sheila Fitzgerald, missionaries to Iceland since 1992, founded Lindin Radio in 1994. Today Lindin’s transmitters established across Iceland reach 85 percent of the nation, all of the Faroe Islands and 25 percent of Greenland’s population with the gospel. During Iceland’s recent economic crisis, the government witnessed many leaders charged with misuse of funds. Mike and Sheila immediately called for a 10-year evaluation of their books and accounting practices, and the professional auditor said, “I see nothing that causes any question or alarm.” The Fitzgeralds, in the midst of the country’s scandals, modeled integrity.

Rick and Jan Cunningham, missionaries since 1984, have served in Romania since 1996. Jan works in a culture that does not value women in ministry. Yet her call to develop children’s ministries moves her to step out and serve with passion. She takes teams to villages and stays in believers’ sparse homes. She chooses to model for her team of local workers a lifestyle that demonstrates simplicity. She is earning respect and credibility in a society and culture that desperately needs such an expression of integrity.

Terry and Marsha Peretti went to Italy in 1976. For many years, they were the only missionaries accepted to minister in Italian churches. Ministry they were passionate about often had to be set aside in accordance with what they were “approved” to do by Italian leadership. Yet the Perettis walked in integrity and prayer and continued to love and remain tenaciously optimistic. In this their last missions term before retirement, the Perettis have seen a new relationship birthed between Assemblies of God World Missions and the Italian national church that promises a bright future.

Since 1995 Suzanne Spolarich has worked with the student population in France and more recently in the Paris area where more than 600,000 international students live and study. Suzanne’s pursuit of God’s call while respecting the position of the French movement regarding women in ministry has established her integrity with many pastors. In fact, the pastor of one of the largest churches in France invited Suzanne to join his ministerial staff. She encourages, motivates and sends out student leaders from the local church to evangelize students in the city and region. She also has increasing opportunities cross-denominationally through Top Mission, a French Internet ministry, to train student workers and influence the direction and effectiveness of singles in ministry. The French Assemblies of God has appointed a committee to take a fresh look at its position regarding women in ministry.

Thank you to every U.S. district, section and local church for sending people like these to partner with us in proclaiming Christ and modeling biblical integrity across Europe.

For more information on Europe go to http://www.eyeoneurope.org/

Greg Mundis, Europe regional director since 1998, was recently elected as AGWM executive director.