When the study week moved its locations to Germany after a few years, calling it by its original name of “Concentration” didn’t quite fit in a German context. So it was changed to the current Advanced Bible Study Series or ABSS. It remained a week of deeper Bible studies meant to help European Christians deepen their knowledge and faith and also serving as a great networking time.
When I was an apprentice living and working with Jim Krumrei in Haarlem, the Netherlands in the early 80’s, I spent my first two times down at this study week in 1983 and 1984. It was a time to see other apprentices in Europe, get some good biblical training and even get some snow (that came much more easily to Germany than to Belgium).
Since then, we have tried to make it in February. Shirley of course had to skip a few years as the boys were growing up (although they also came with us some of the time). After the boys left home we still had a dog. This year was the first real time that Shirley could have come along, but the week was also planned just a week away from the Ladies Retreat, which is also in Germany and organized by various congregations in Europe. This year the Ladies Retreat is being organized by the ladies from Switzerland.
ABSS brings teachers together from around Europe and always includes at least one from the US. Although the lessons at first glance may not seem to be organized together, they all seem to work well together. This year was no different. We heard from a teacher from Marseilles about the gospel and the Romans, the kingship of Jesus. We heard from a Scottish brother working in Birmingham, England about the signs surrounding the death of Jesus on the cross. The main lessons on Galatians came from a brother from Alabama while a brother from Canada taught us online in the evenings about the Holy Spirit.
In addition to all of this it was good to have some lessons from Gijs Bardoel who is now working with the church in Antwerp and whose mother meets with us in Maastricht. It has been good to see how Gijs has grown in faith and continues to desire to reach out in faith to all those around him.
We had participants of several different nationalities, including Dutch, Belgian, German, Swiss, French, Ukrainian, English, Scottish and American, as well as various mixtures. The lessons are always in English, but we all try to help one another in understanding. The Thursday evening follies (“talent” show) is presented in the universal language of laughter. Paul Brazle, who has organized the event for the last 30 years or so, joins me in writing a song based on the teachers for the week to close out the talent show.
Last week Shirley had to make do without me in the house. This week (from Thursday to Sunday) I will have to make do without her in the house as she goes to the Ladies Retreat with three other ladies from Maastricht. We are thankful for these times of learning, teaching and growth in faith. Pray for all who attend and for those organizing.
(picture is from a few years back)
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