STORIES FROM
EUROPE

They share: "We are 6 months into working in student ministry with the University Bible Group (GBU) in Coimbra, Portugal. Across the academic year, 40, 000 students study in Coimbra, which is one quarter of the city’s population! We are thankful to God for the 25 or so GBU students that meet together for weekly Bible talks and Bible studies. It is a diverse group: new Christians, those still investigating, Portuguese Christians of various denominations, and Christians from Portuguese-speaking countries like Brazil, East Timor, Angola and Mozambique.

"Our focus is to pastor, train and teach these students from the Bible so that the church in Portugal and beyond may be blessed with mature and servant-hearted leaders. We are currently writing several Bible study series and a training course for students on how to read and teach the Bible to others. It is encouraging that the current GBU Coimbra leadership team desire to have the proclamation of Jesus from the scriptures at the core of GBU activities, which is something that cannot be assumed! We often feel limited in our capabilities and capacities, wishing we could be more and do more. God has been reminding us that we are merely ‘jars of clay’ that are purposefully fragile, in order to display the glory of Christ all the more (2 Corinthians 4:7). We recently welcomed our first child, Oliver, into the world. Amidst the newness and challenges of parenthood, we are thankful for the joy he is and how his presence provides many opportunities to connect with new Portuguese people in our community."

Please pray:

• Praise God for his work in the University Bible Group in Coimbra, enabling the gospel to be preached and students to study his word. Pray that these students may continue to be matured in their faith, service and witness.
• Pray that as we serve as ordinary and fragile “jars of clay” in Portugal, we might display the glory of Jesus all the more (2 Corinthians 4:7).
• Pray that we may be godly parents and rest in God’s sovereignty and care for Oliver. Pray that Oliver may know Jesus as his Lord and Saviour.

To find out more about Samuel and Emily's work please click here