Over the last 12 years the Lord has spoken strongly to the Sword of the Spirit about an open door for mission and a special season of grace, especially for the young people in Sword of the Spirit. Given the increasing difficulties and challenges which Christians face around the world – religious persecution, drift from Christian morality, and breakdown of marriage and family life – there has been a growing sense of urgency among Sword of the Spirit leaders to work more closely together internationally to strengthen the work of building Christian communities and preparing community members to be fully engaged in mission.

The European Sword of the Spirit Football Tournament has been running since its inception in 1992 and remains one of the highlights of the year (if not the highlight) for many throughout the region. It’s an event unlike any other, filled with football (obviously), fellowship, banter, prayer, brotherhood and community.

Back in 2007 when I was serving as director for Koinonia, one of our Kairos evangelistic outreaches for university students, I had an opportunity to speak with a guy who was beginning a period of missionary work with a local church in London. He was 23 and eager to begin his work with students.

Cuando El Pueblo de Dios apenas comenzaba en el Líbano, sus miembros no sabían que estaban a punto de entrar en una guerra civil que diezmaría su país y amenazaría sus vidas. El ánimo que recibieron de otras comunidades cristianas hizo posible que los miembros de esta comunidad permanecieran en el Líbano y sobrevivieran una guerra que duró 15 años y fueran un apoyo para mantener la esperanza y una visión para el futuro.