Serious prayer for revival in Europe began in 1980, and that autumn the Europe missionaries gathered for a week of prayer, reflection, and planning. Out of this came the commitment to see the missionaries of Europe as a united team, reaching out into new countries. One of these was England.
After an exploratory trip, the decision was made to send Phil and Elinor Steele, joined by Dave and Cindy Kowalke, to the city of Birmingham. Within a short amount of time services were started in a vacant church building, and a sizable group quickly assembled for Sunday services. Rather than being new converts, most of these people were from other churches. Unfortunately, the ministry only continued for a few years.
A new team began to form, and services began in a school building. Many of the new people were contacted through the guitar classes begun by Dave Schwan, who came to England with his wife Becky in 1988. The church grew and is under British leadership. A branch church was begun by the Schwans in another suburb of Birmingham, which has also seen encouraging growth, and commitment to outreach in the community.
Current outreach ministries include concerts, participation in community festivals, Bible studies, children’s game evenings, volunteering in the local community youth center, and serving on the chaplaincy team at the huge Bourneville middle college, with its approximately 15,000 students. In addition, Bill Kiddoo, a member of the former missionary staff, reaches out to international students in language teaching ministries.
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