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November 22, 2020 by admin

Brian traveled to Greece upon completion of University to serve within an existing ministry, headed by Gail Stathis and others. Brian served that ministry in various capacities, and in 1996, helped to co-found this new mission effort, EME Ministries. He now serves as the General Director for the ministry, which has its base in Glyfada, Greece (a suburb of Athens).

In the time that Brian has been engaged in cross cultural work, he has served as a Senior Pastor and Co-Pastor in the Glyfada Christian Center, where he still retains that leadership post. His primary responsibilities now include the general oversight of EME Ministries, including project oversight, fundraising and recruiting, personnel management, etc. He continues to travel in ministry throughout the countries of South Eastern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa as a speaker, and as point person with projects supported by EME Ministries. Brian also serves as the Mediterranean Zone Leader of Vision International Training and Education Network. With this role, he spends time interacting and assisting other local churches to develop education and training programs of their own.

A key to revival in our region is to see leaders in Orthodox church set on fire for Christ, and our Arab brothers and sisters empowered to win one another for the Lord.

Dr. Brian van Deventer, World Zone
“As a refugee from my beloved Iran, my life was hard in my adopted nation of Greece…but I am grateful for my new life here. I believe God is preparing me, through church here in Glyfada and Vision to return someday to Iran, to open schools of ministry and to help plant churches…by His grace we will do it.” – (Name withheld for safety reasons)

Twenty-one modern states have a coastline on the Mediterranean Sea. As one can see, this is a vast area, some of which overlaps into Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Our World Zone Leader for the Mediterranean has responsibility for this vast area with multiple languages, in cooperation with our Western European and African Leaders. Our need is to find key leaders who can catch the vision of Vision in these nations

Mediterranean Zone Leader: Brian Van Deventer Contact him at brianv@ememin.org

February 12, 2020 by admin

World Zone Australia

Vision began in Australia under the leadership of Dr. Ken and Dr. Alison Chant, on the small island of Tasmania. From the start, the goal of taking the whole word to the world was in the heart of our founders, and it continues to be the passion of Vision worldwide. Vision has numerous Resource Centers in Australia, New Zealand, and South East Asia.

Recently Alison Chant wrote us to say, “We are finished with fires here and instead have been flooded with rain. The Christians united in their prayers and the Lord answered abundantly with floods. This is indeed a land of droughts and floods.” We are praising God that our friends in Australia are safe and the threat from the fires has ended.

Myanmar

Since 2002 we have been supporting several local bible colleges in the outer suburbs of Yangon and over 160 students have graduated from those colleges. Following the devastating Cyclone in 2008 those colleges were devastated, buildings destroyed and a few of the students were killed. Most dispersed and engaged in ministry with many Buddhist priest. The International Bible College has gone to assist the ministry in reaching people in that nation. We now have two colleges, one in Yangon and one in Mandalay, Nepal. We are being encouraged to continue the translation of our materials as the need is great and the potential is tremendous. Thus, our strategy remains to translate works and plant schools, with the eventual hope of conducting leadership conferences for the underground church as the Lord opens doors.

Papua New Guinea

Two colleges have been established in the Port Moresby province and interest is being developed in Madang and Mount Hargan in the Central Highlands of the nation for colleges to be established in those nations.

Philippines

On the Island of Mindanou a college and training center has been established. Vision has also established programs in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.

Zone Leader: Denis Plant, M.Th. Principal@visioncolleges.net

Dr. Denis has enjoyed a teaching ministry for over 40 years. Moving up through the ranks of the local church he moved on to pastor and later to pioneer several churches in NSW. Denis has taught in several bible colleges in Australia and around the world and has established two Bible Colleges, one of which is now the denominational Bible College for the Foursquare Churches in Australia

January 23, 2020 by admin

Part II January VLOG

I Want to Be Like You Dad Part II

Who Am I?

I am what I eat, or my life is my physical existence, and the length of my life and the health of my existence is most important. Thus, I am what I feel, how I look, or how I compare to others in my sphere of influence.

Others, especially men (though this is changing some) will state, “I am what I do.” Their work or especially their title determines their relative worth. This distortion of true identity is not just seen in secular circles, but in the image enhancement demonstrated by local pastors who exhibit 9 or more letters after their names (B.A., M.A., Ph.D., etc.). Education is an important ingredient for successful ministry, but it should not be the primary basis of self-esteem.

Related to education as image enhancement is, “I am of worth because of who I know, where I live, how much money I have, etc.” All of these identity enhancers, if portrayed as a primary statement of worth, are fleeting at best. Yet, they are quite commonly the “masks” worn by many.

Finally, and this is especially true for men and women raised in dysfunctional homes, “I am” what has been spoken over me from times past. These “prophetic” words make up the “compensations” for the true identity which Christ will form in us and are the focus of this book. Our identity, or our core self-concept is primarily formed by age 8-10 years. If one has been told that they are ugly, stupid, inferior, whether in word or deed (or both), over a period of time, by a significant other (usually a parent and especially a father), that label becomes indelibly etched into consciousness. Essentially these negative prophecies when embraced distort the Godly self-image causing permanent, if not irreparable damage. These images are reinforced through chosen (whether unconsciously or consciously) adult relationships, and patterns (especially co-dependent or dependent) develop.

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Any one of the “I am’s” covered here will leave a hole in the soul that needs filling with something. The attempt to meet deeply felt and legitimate needs through self-medication, compulsive behavior, or passive avoidance will never work, but may give temporary relief from shame based (I am worthless, I will never make it) identity. The church must be prepared to minister to the core identity of God’s people, and bring more than symptomatic relief. The heart cry is for actual restoration of the heart or core of the person.

What is My Purpose?

Productive and purposeful activity is one of the essential elements of a happy and well adjusted life. Somewhat related to one’s identity, or an extension of it, is a person’s unique purpose. “What is my life all about and what am I here for?” These are not merely adolescent questions, but questions of the aged as well.

Purpose is related to vocation. In secular terms, our vocation is that which will provide for necessary status, esteem, comfort, and security. As such, the greater one’s status, education, vocation, the greater their worth in this world. The Church of Jesus Christ has a distinctly different perspective.

Essentially, to the committed Christian, vocation means servant hood to Christ and His Body. A Christian’s avocation is that which we do to pay our bills. Within that purpose, the highest calling would therefore be that of five-fold ministry, or to other service (Elder/Deacon) in the local assembly. The church has strayed far from these lofty goals to accommodate the world’s perspective of worth.