More about OurTrip Home

Last month we wrote about how things are going on our current home service assignment (furlough) so I thought I would answer a few of the common questions that people have.

Why are you here and for how long?

Right now, every five years that we are in Austria we are required to come back to the States for a minimum of six months. It also happens that this coming January our church is having its biannual missions conference so we are staying here through January.

What will you be doing while you are here?

When we come back to the U.S. for any significant length of time we usually have three goals; rest, reconnect, renew.

Rest is actually harder than it sounds. Though we miss being in America while we are away, our home is no longer here. None the less, it is important, for a time, to get away from every-day ministry in Europe and reflect on where God has brought us and listen to where He might be leading us next.

Since Denton Bible Church is both our home church and sending agency, it is very important to reconnect with not only our office staff, but also our larger church body. Not only do we have opportunities to serve in the missions office, it is also important to us to get involved in things like Bible studies and mom’s groups. While we are away, it is easy for us to forget that there is such a wonderful local body of believers that love us and are behind what we are doing.

Finally, it is very important that we renew our ties with the individuals who are praying for and financially supporting our ministry. We do our best to communicate regularly though pictures, emails, and even calls, but there is nothing like sitting down face-to-face and getting a chance to swap stories and pray for one-another. We are very thankful for those who have been supporting our ministry and we are especially in need of new partners who will help to send us back by funding the ministry that we do in Central Europe.

That is what most people are asking us about this trip home. What do you want to know?

A big trip

You may have heard that we are coming to America for the next six months starting this May, but you might still be wondering why. Well there are several reasons for this. First, due to the type of visa that we hold we are not allowed to stay in Austria for longer than five years at a time. In order to be eligible to stay for another five years we have to leave for six months. Not only does that mean that we've been here for almost five years already, it means that every five years we will have to do this, unless we can change the type of visa that we get. Now that the church is recognized this might be changing in the future, but for now we are trying to stick to the regulations.
Second, we are due for a home service or what is commonly referred to as furlough. We will be spending some time resting, but this will be no six month vacation! No our main purpose in a home service assignment is renew our ties with our sending church by spending time serving in ministry there as well as reconnect with our current supporters, which leads me to our final reason for coming home...
Support. We've never quite been fully funded during our time here, and that fact has really been felt over the last year. We are really hoping to get our numbers back where they need to be and it's going to take a good chunk of time to get that task accomplished. Also, considering that we may be doing more traveling during our next term it would be good to have a healthy ministry budget. So please pray for us that the Lord will supply all of our needs during this trip. We are trusting that He will.

Leadership Akademie Video

Here is a video from the Leadership Akademie team project that I mentioned in our last post. If you would like to see more pictures of our team at work check out our flickr page.

Celebrate: Our Week in Pictures (2.23.14-3.01.14)

The celebrations started when Naomi dressed up at school for Fasching or Austrian Mardi Gras


Then our team celebrated after we helped to pull off a weekend conference called Leadership Akademie.

And finally Naomi celebrated her 3rd birthday!

Ecks' Files Video Update October 2013

Ecks' Files Video Update October 2013 from Matt Eck on Vimeo.

Regional Possiblities

Find Vienna on a map and draw an imaginary line north to south through the middle of the city. Now look to the right of the line and what do you see? Eastern Europe as far as the eye can see. It's easy to understand how Austria or Österreich, which literally translated means Eastern Kingdom, got it's name. Considering this there the hope that our team here and in Romania might not only have local but also a regional impact.

In the fall I had the opportunity of visiting some Bible Training Center for Pastors (BTCP) students in Romania. Denton Bible Church has been training pastors there for the last 15 years and the courses continue to bear much fruit in the life of the church there. In an effort to further their training, several of the top students have come in for extra courses that go deeper than the general material. In October, my new field director, Tim Ford, and I attended the course where we both lead devotionals before the lectures. After that we were invited to travel to Moldova, a small neighboring country to help open up a brand new BTCP there. Moldavian culture is heavily influenced by both Romania and Russia, so it was a little bit like going back to Russia for me.  One of the Romanian pastors that Denton Bible has trained has started the course so it is amazing to see how the course is not only multiplying, but being taken into other countries. It was a real honor to be there and help start the first class. I’ve been told that the students enjoyed having us there and I have been invited back.

This has given me a glimpse into the possibilities of our team having not only a local but global impact. Pray with us as we make steps to see where God might lead us in this endeavor.

to see more pictures of the Moldova trip be sure and like our Ecksfiles page on Facebook

Our Week in Pictures (Feb. 17th-23rd 2013)

As you can see it snowed again last week...

...and I got caught out in it one day..

...but that didn't keep me from teaching BTCP!

If you would like to see all of our pictures like our Facebook page (top right hand box), follow our twitter feed, or follow us on Instagram (texmeck).

Church Recognition

"Is that a cult?" It is a common question that we get here in Austria. The evangelical church is not a historically established entity and so many people don't trust it. It is part of the reason that we meet in Starbucks for our Bible study because many Austrians are leery about going to a church service at a Freikirche or "Free Church," so named because the church is not supported by tax revenue from the state. Not only are the Free Churches not accepted by society as a "real church" they are actually not even recognized as a real religion by the Austrian government. That means that most Free Churches are not technically churches, but religious organizations  That might not sound so bad but consider for example that Free Church weddings are not recognized unions, or Pastors are not considered clergy-they really can't even take the title of pastor. Recognition might even open up new avenues for missionaries that are working with registered churches here. Currently the only visa we can get is one that does not allow us to "enter the job market" here which puts limits on the amount of time that we can spend here.
It seems like it would be easy for the evangelical church to become recognized, after all you only need 0.02%  of the population to be adherents of your religion to apply. Buddhist  Muslim  even the Mormons are all recognized, why not the Free Church. Sadly there is no one evangelical denomination that has the required 17,000 members to apply for official recognition. That is a sad commentary on the state of belief here in Austria.  However, there is currently an effort for five denominations to come together so that the Free Church can finally be recognized here. For any of you who are interested in reading further about the developments on this here is an article on church recognition by the European Baptist Federation. Please be in prayer that this process opens up avenues for the Gospel to go out here in Austria.

Our Week in Pictures (Feb. 10th-16th 2013)

Last week was cold and snowy. The snow started Tuesday morning early when Matt was at the church...







...and went through Wednesday night when Matt was a heading to the Oasis refugee ministry center.















Liz and Naomi managed to keep warm though :)

















If you would like to see all of our pictures like our Facebook page (top right hand box), follow our twitter feed, or follow us on Instagram (texmeck).

Brother "Yusef"

Matt continues to go down to the Oasis refugee center once a week. It is always a huge blessing to talk to the young men who come about life and about the gospel. A few weeks ago Matt met a young man named "Yusef" who is from Central Asia and claims to believe in Jesus. "Yusef" doesn’t speak much English, but he and Matt still do their best to communicate. He and Matt talk on the phone during the week and Matt continues to encourage him in his faith and in his struggle through the asylum process. Matt is especially excited about "Yusef"’s hunger for the Bible. "Yusef" is really hoping to get a white card soon so he can go to Vienna. When the refugees are first processed in the camp, which is in the small town of Traiskirchen-20 kilometers from Vienna,  they are given a green identity card. This restricts them to the refugee camp and the surrounding area only. They are not allowed to travel on any public transportation. In the next, less restrictive step in the process they are given a white card which allows them some limited travel. "Yusef" is hoping to get a white card so he can go to Vienna and attend church.  Pray that "Yusef" would continue to grow in his new faith and be protected from others from his home country that might not be too excited about his faith.

Update: "Yusef" has been transferred to another facility in Austria which means his process is moving forward. Matt texts with him regularly. "Yusef" is glad that he has been transferred but lonely because he has no friends with him in this new place. Please pray for encouragement and that Yusef would continue to grow in his faith during this time.

African Believers

One of Matt’s Nigerian students has had some trouble lately with his residency. He is an asylum seeker and had received a negative judgment on his case. The judge wants him to go back to Nigeria, but his lawyer says that he still has a chance to stay. If you think about it please be in prayer for ND. African immigrants are not very welcome here and there are many negative stereotypes about them, but there are many who come here who are evangelical Christians. Sunday mornings, without fail, we see Africans on the subway, dressed up with Bibles in their hands. God just may bring the gospel back to Europe, through Africans who received the gospel initially from European missionaries generations before. Pray that, if it is God’s will, good men like ND would be allowed to stay here and help spread God’s word.

Like Family

BTCP weekend class at our apartment.

The thing I like most about Bible Training Center for Pastors (BTCP) is that it is more than just a class. The shortest track is at least 400 hours of class time. When you spend that much time together it's less like a teacher-student relationship and more like a family. We have a couple of traditions that I particularly enjoy. We always start off class with prayer. Often I am tempted to cut this time short, but I am convinced that better work is done during this time than any amount of teaching I can do. Our other tradition...which is a fairly recent addition, is a Friday-Saturday class one weekend every three months. We do this to get in the occasional "sprint" into our learning marathon so that we don't start lagging too far behind.We make something special out of it, opening up our home and having meals together. It's a time of fellowship mixed with teaching and though they are a lot of work for me AND for Liz, we both have come to enjoy them.
I was preparing for our latest weekend class on Thursday when I got a call from one of the students. He had called to inform me that his job did not renew his contract and since his visa was dependent on his work he was likely to have to go home for good. I asked him how he felt and he told me he wasn't sure, yet. I was only the second person that he had called. He seemed to have a peace about moving on, even though he had been here for the last seven years. I think the two things that he most regretted leaving behind was the church that he is pastoring and our class. I was touched by his encouraging words, as I never really knew how much our class time really meant to him.
I don't say this to brag. I say this to say thank you, all of you, who read, pray, and give so that we can be here and share life with the people that God puts in our path. And if you think about it please be in prayer for my friend and the church that he pastors.

It takes a team: update

Adam and Kasey with Liz at a BBQ two years ago

For those of you who remember our team braved the cold for several hours at the beginning of the year to ensure a place in the visa line for our newest team members Adam and Kasey. This month Adam has gotten confirmation that he has been approved for his visa. Kasey‘s visa situation is still a bit in limbo. She had forgotten to sign her application which means she will need to come and resign it in person. Fortunately, though it sounds like she will still get it! The plan is that they will come with the Student Ministry team from Denton Bible Church and stay. Pray for them to get the rest of their support raised, and that all the details works out for Kasey’s visa when she gets here

Luke 10:1-2 and Outreach in Austria

In Counseling

My husband and I are celebrating four years of marriage this week. We've talked about how it now feels like we have a little bit of mileage behind us, although four years isn't a long time. Just that we're out of the newlywed stage now and are also learning to be parents. Man, that first 2 weeks of parenthood was SO rough! Sleep deprivation is a horrible thing! Yet in those first two weeks we had to work like a team like never before and I was so thankful to have help! I literally could NOT have survived those weeks without my husband. His voice of reason that contrasted my hormonally-messed-up mind and his ability to calmly problem-solve and come up with a plan were invaluable. It has been a joy and a source of pride to see how God has really helped Matt shine in his new role as a father.

I could go on and on about what a good father Matt is, and maybe I will in another post. In thinking about our four years of marriage, however, one of the things I appreciate most about my husband is how he has counseled me and pointed me towards the gospel. We are currently going through a course on how to counsel people biblically and I am learning the importance of listening well and asking good questions, neither of which I am good at. But these are things that Matt has done well for me, and through these acts of love, God has been changing me, helping me see the root sin issues that are the actual causes of why I act and react the way that I do to life (see James 4:1-10). Most of the time I don't see the root sin immediately. In the moment I may react to Matt in an unloving way or just be "in a mood" and not sure myself what I am feeling and why. But through talking things out with Matt after some time, I am beginning to recognize my ungodly motivations and desires easier and quicker, and am able to ask myself some questions about my motivations and the condition of my heart.

The point is, I've found that when I recognize the root sin, and not just believe that the way I react to life is only the product of factors like emotions, stress, or circumstances, I can gain victory through Christ by confessing the sin (my heart attitude toward God) and allowing Him to work through me to put sin to death, as in the "put off and put on" passages (Ephesians 4:17-5:2; Colossians 3:1-17). I can actually get out of a rut of always reacting a certain way and not knowing why when I let God's truth instruct me and then run to Him for help, instead of trying to improve myself in my own strength and not getting anywhere.

So what are the good questions Matt asks me while he listens? Mostly variations of, "What do you mean?", as I share how I feel and he wants to clarify. Also, "what made you react by doing such and such and how were you hoping to solve things by that? He also re-states what I say to make sure he's hearing me correctly or so that I can explain it better. Most of the time the result is that I realize that I am putting my "kingdom" above God's kingdom, and when I don't get what I want, I react in an ungodly way (see again James 4:1-10). So that's a question I'm trying to start asking myself as I'm deciding how to react: "Whose kingdom am I focused on right now?" When I remember that God's will in every situation is for me to be conformed to the image of Jesus (Romans 8:29), I'm better able to trust Him in the moment and act in a more God-glorifying way.

Proverbs 20:5 states, "The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out." This is exactly what Matt does when he listens and it is such a blessing to me. As Matt and I continue on this journey together, I too want to grow in loving him by listening well and asking good questions. For a really helpful resource for your own personal reflection, check out David Powlison's X-Ray Questions.

A new spin on an old tradition

Viennese Melange served on a traditional sliver platter

Coffee is a big part of Viennese Culture.  Legend has it that the first coffee houses sprung up in Vienna sometime after 1683 when the hastily retreating Turkish army left large amounts of coffee in their wake.  Since then it has been a cultural tradition to sit for hours in a coffee shop, playing cards, talking politics, and especially reading the paper. It’s no surprise then, that Christians would take advantage of the Vienna coffee culture to gather study and discuss the scriptures.  A few years ago, in fact, some friends of mine started a Bible study group in one of the Vienna Starbucks locations. In the next four years they have expanded to all but three of the eleven Vienna locations. What’s most exciting is that because of the open nature of the groups it has become a non-threatening venue for all types of people to explore the message and claims of the Bible. From time to time the SBUXfellowship has asked me to help out with teaching some of their leaders and before we had to leave Vienna for our visa purposes, Liz and I were looking at helping out with this group in some way. Just recently we had one of the leaders over at our new apartment and he mentioned that one of the three locations that they didn’t have a study was only a block from our place. I said,” That’s funny, I’ve been praying about starting a bible study.”  So since then we have been praying about starting a study at the Starbucks in Millennium City mall. I’m really looking forward to see what God will do with this. Please be praying that people who might not normally feel comfortable going to a church might come and hear what God has to say to them through His word.

It Takes a Team

The line waiting to get into the immigration office

Earlier this month we had our new teammates, Adam Spencer and Kasey Krominga, come to Vienna and apply for their residence permits. They are still raising their support, but Lord willing they will be ready to join us sometime this year. We made sure they got started on the process early so they don’t have to go through what Liz and I did.

Having recently gone through the whole process we knew what to do to get them ready. We helped them get all of the documents together and walked them through the steps of the application process. You may remember that the residence permits that we apply for have a quota on them making them highly competitive. The competition is so fierce that you have to be here in Vienna on the first working day of the year in order to have hope of being approved. Each year there are more and more people applying and you have to get there earlier every time. The first year we did it, we showed up 2 hours before the office opened and were around number 30 and 31 in line (60 is the maximum amount of  permits that are given each year).  Last year we showed up an hour earlier and were still about at the mid-way point in the line. That year people started lining up the day before and were keeping a list to make sure that the first ones that showed up were the first ones that actually got in.

With this in mind we planned to show up at 4am  (4 hours before the office opens) to stand in line. However, since Liz and I don’t live too far from the visa office I decided to walk up there on Sunday around 3:00pm  to see if a line had already formed. Sure enough a line had formed and I asked if I could put Adam and Kasey on the list. The lawyer who was keeping the list said yes, but that someone would need to be there the whole time to stand in line for them. I quickly called the team and we organized a schedule to stand  in line for the next 17 hours! When I got Adam and Kasey on the list at 3:30 pm they were numbers 20 and 21. Adam came to relieve me at 6:30pm and by that time the number was up into the 50s. So this year the quota number of 60 was already met 12 hours before the office was scheduled to open!

Be praying that the Lord would give us wisdom as we look at the future. The good news is that this residence permit will continue to be issued, but the competition for it keeps getting stiffer each year. Pray that the Lord would grant Adam and Kasey the permit this year and that He would show us how to proceed if we add any other team members in the future.

Ministry Pictures from Fall 2011

Pictures from the refugee ministry

We are discouraged from taking pictures of the refugees because of the sensitive nature of there situation, however I was able to snap a few pictures of the staff of the "Oasis." These are some of the folks who make the ministry to the refugees possible.

A Short Update on My Nigerian Friends

I wrote a few months ago about my Nigerian Friend Uche who was in danger of being deported back to Nigeria. I later found out that not only Uche was in danger but also his roommate Moses. You will remember that I had been helping teach Uche to read and Moses was a part of my Bible study. I wanted to let everyone know that Moses and Uche are doing fine now. Moses tells me that he had a close call with the police one day and has since moved out of the house he'd been living in. He also told me that he had the help of a lawer that does pro bono work for refugees and he and Uche are back in the process of getting their residence visas. Uche has since started taking a German class, which is even better for him than me trying to teach him to read in English. Moses has also joined my BTCL class which I started two weeks ago. Keep praying for these guys that they would continue to grow in their knowledge and love of the Lord and that they would be salt and light here in Austria.



A picture of part of my BTCL class with two of my Nigerian friends