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A Permanent Home for a Ministry Training School

We plan to purchase a historic church building in Bathgate, Scotland, to become the home for our ministry training center that equips leaders and missionaries for gospel advance in Europe. This page describes our plans and how you can be a part.

EUROPE: NEED AND OPPORTUNITY

Some of us are old enough to remember the darkness that was the Soviet Union, an officially atheistic regime marked by cruel, state-sponsored persecution of Christians and the suppression of churches. On a CBU Mission Trip to the Soviet Union in May 1990, the Lord opened a door for the gospel. The ‘door’ was simply an opportunity to preach the gospel to a room full of university students. Atheists came to Christ, students responded to the gospel, and CBU began to take baby steps for gospel advance in Ukraine. Over the next few years, we planted five more churches in Ukraine – and one in Spain – all of which remain thriving.

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L'viv, Ukraine
Ternopil, Ukraine

One small step of obedience has produced exponential growth; one brief gospel presentation resulted in thousands encountering the good news of Jesus. As we celebrate this, we also look beyond to the rest of Europe. This continent needs the gospel of Jesus. If you grew up in the Bible belt, you might think everyone has access to the gospel and that most people are Christians. This is not the case in Europe. When you think about Europe, you might think of the majesty of the Swiss Alps, Paris in the Spring, or a lazy afternoon in the Italian countryside, under the Tuscan sun. But as beautiful as Europe is on the outside, the spiritual darkness that grips it is overwhelming. Out of all the regions of the world, Europe remains the dark continent. It is deeply secular, spiritually closed, morally relativistic, and gospel resistant.

We plan to establish a ministry training center in Europe. Out of all the regions of the world, Europe remains the dark continent. It is deeply secular, spiritually closed, morally relativistic, and resistant to the gospel. Following in Paul's footsteps (Acts 19:9-10), training leaders is a key part of gospel advance. 

Training Leaders

For the gospel to win in Europe, there is a huge need for contextually-appropriate church planter and missionary training in Europe that not only lays biblical foundations but also equips leaders for practical and spiritual ministry in the European context. Launched in 2017, our ministry training school equips leaders with theological foundations, practical ministry skills, and dynamic spirituality to plant, lead, and grow Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered, contextually appropriate churches. In these first four years, we have equipped over fifty leaders, pastors, missionaries, and church planters from nations across Europe. But now it is time to establish a home for our school.

In partnership with Centrepoint Church in Bathgate, Scotland, we are raising funds to purchase a town-center venue in Bathgate, Scotland to serve as the permanent home for our school of ministry.

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A Strategic Location

If we’re going to reach Europe, we need to reach places like Bathgate. This strategically-located town is a microcosm of the secularization that has happened across Europe. At the beginning of the last century, multiple churches filled the town center. Unfortunately, like many church buildings in Europe, the building we plan to purchase is currently being used as a cinema and a nightclub.  

This story has been multiplied across Europe: the light retreats, the darkness comes in, and God's people stand on the sidelines feeling powerless to respond. But God has a better way.

A Permanent Home for our Ministry School

In partnership with Centrepoint Church, we had previously made plans to build a new building that would serve as a hub for equipping and sending ministers across Europe. Now, instead of building a new building with all the laws, requirements, and high costs in terms of time and finances, we dream of redeeming a historic building so that we can carry on advancing God’s gospel – here in Bathgate and Scotland and across Europe.

Even though – like Abraham being willing to sacrifice Isaac – this new building would have been expensive, costly, and require great sacrifice – we had been moving forward because we felt this was the right thing to do. But like Abraham with his knife raised, ready to sacrifice Isaac, the Lord has provided a building, a ram in the thicket.

Not only is this the most strategic location in this town, but also in the heart of Scotland, within an hour of the nation’s two major international airports. It will serve as a base for training and sending missionaries out into God’s great harvest.

God promises in Isaiah 61:4 that those anointed by the Spirit of God will

build up the ancient ruins;
    they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
    the devastations of many generations.

This is what God is calling us to do. Although it was our original plan to build a new facility in a village near Bathgate, we believe God is calling us to buy a town-center venue, redeem it for his glory, and to establish our ministry training center there. As we have explored this option, we feel this plan is best for both Centrepoint Church and our school of ministry. 

  • First, it’s in a better location – rather than being on the periphery, it’s right in the heart of the town, giving us an accessible and highly visible platform to spread the gospel.
  • Second, it’s better stewardship: A new building would have cost us around $2,000,000. We hope to purchase, renovate, and raise a few years of operating costs for this existing venue for around $875,000. Imagine buying an iconic church building that will serve as a ministry training center, touching the continent of Europe for decades to come – for only $875,000.
  • Third, it’s a better timeline: the new building would have taken us years to accomplish as we hurdled the barriers of planning permission, fundraising, and building. This building is ready to buy now - we can accomplish this project in the next few months.
  • Fourth, the permanent home will enable us to conduct better training – every minister, missionary, church planter, and evangelist equipped at our School of Ministry will be trained with a vision that pushing back the secular darkness of Europe is possible with the Centrepoint Bathgate congregation ready to do the same from its new home.

But beyond all of the practical benefits, this is about the glory of God. By redeeming a house of God for gospel ministry, we are making a prophetic declaration that God’s glory will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. 

It’s time for the CBU family to join our faith and our financial resources to redeem this church and restore this house of God to its original intention. 

It’s time for us to reach Europe from the heart of Scotland. God is going to use our prophetic act of rebuilding the ancient ruins and re-digging wells to spark revival, transform Scotland, and launch gospel advance across Europe.

The Action Plan

We need to act now – powerfully – decisively – intentionally – to get this done. We need to act now before another business swoops in to purchase this iconic building. 

If we all do everything we can - now - we can get this done. This is a time to write the biggest check for the kingdom of God that you have ever written. By making a sacrificial gift, you will make a prophetic statement that the light is coming and that the darkness is fleeing.

As we redeem this building for God's glory, we’re going to see it break out all across Europe. You can sow a seed, the fruit of which will echo in eternity. Don’t be timid – in a spirit of prayer and in humility before God’s holy presence, we need you to make the biggest contribution you’ve ever made.

Now is the time for action. Let’s get this done.

 Click here to make a special gift to this project.