North Europe Leaders’ Conference Copenhagen

24-27 October 2007

By Stuart and Becky Hodgson Wilster, Germany

Pioneering, the prophetic and church-building all, at some point, captured the attention of around 120 leaders from northern and central Europe who met in Copenhagen for the third year running.

International paths have been crossing at Copenhagen – the name is originally derived from ‘MerchantHarbour’ – for almost a thousand years. Trade routes across the Baltic Sea still link the Danish capital with Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Finland and, to the north, Norway.

The initial North European Leaders’ meeting in 2005 saw around 30 people gather in Estonia. In 2006 CopenhagenCommunityChurch hosted twice that number. The fact that numbers doubled again for last October’s gathering is testimony not only to the warm and natural hospitality of the Danish hosts, but also to the inspiring nature of these gatherings to date.

Mike Betts (UK), together with Henk Kersten (NL), Maurice Nightingale (UK), Josef & Elin Kristensen (DK) and David Holden (UK) served again with faith-inspiring messages which addressed the practical challenges of planting and building God-glorifying churches in a European context.

Prophetic input through Keith Hazell (Canada) helped to sharpen further the prevailing sense of God’s grace and favour as He helps us to establish significant relationships and build healthy foundations for the works to which He has called us in northern Europe. This was reflected in a rising sense of common purpose and calling as we worshipped together in the presence of a mighty sovereign God.