The Snyders in Germany

One year ago today in Shingal, Iraq and the villages around it inhabited by a lesser known people group called the Yazidi were captured by ISIS forces.  Fathers were seperated from their wives, young men were separated from their mothers and sisters.  The men were systematically murdered.  By UN calculation over 5,000 were killed.  The remaining women and children have been sold as sex slaves, married-off in a forced conversion or have been trained as "cubs of the Caliphate" to become murderous child soldiers.  5,000 - 7,000 were captured and by in large most remain Islamic captives.  The surviving families pray to be reunited with their daughters though many on both sides have given up hope leading to the reports of Yazidi captives killing themselves.  This intense pressure gave rise to this now somewhat renown rescue video which I cannot watch without crying.
I cannot believe the extent to which the nations are flooding to Germany.  Beforehand I knew of the refugees but many attempts at contact were so difficult as to make me wonder if it was worth it.  Language barriers and extreme need and system abusing liars all take the edge off of our passion but now as the nations no longer rise as water seeping through the cracks but as water bursting through the door and pouring through the window I am made to consider what my role, our role in this might be.

   The Yazidi people have a strange form of faith mixed with Christianity, Islam and Tribal superstition.  They revere a top fallen angel and are therefore known as devil-worshipers by the Muslims.  But in this I imagine there must be an openness to the Gospel.  As I considered these things today I saw a dark man with two children at the park.  I asked his language and he said "Kurdish" and expanded that he is a Yazidi who fled from Sadaam Husein.

Gods will be done.  "in the latter days the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it" - Micah 4:1 AND Isaiah 2:2

God finally brought together youth from seven different churches across Lippstadt and it was a really cool time.  We had young moderators, awesome testimonies from youth who God has been moving powerfully, fantastic music from the God Fearing Youth Crew from Koinania Hannover, and a solid preaching on the Calling of the Disciples. Then after more worship we forced everybody to mingle by charging them three signatures from new aquaintances in order to score a free bratwurst or two.  Then they pulled couches together around a big bomb fire with marshmallows.  Lots of people stayed until midnight or later and spirits were high.  Many said they want to do it again and we plan on doing exactly that.  We'll be looking for a date in the late summer/fall and you can be praying with us that God multiplies his work as these youth share with their friends "you really missed out last time."  May many come expecting to hear from God and may their expectations be exceeded as they were by one youth who said "I've never felt such a nearness to God like that in my life!  The feeling was incredible."
Thanks to God for the God Fearing Youth Crew for coming out, showing up and leading us in true worship.

Earlier this year as I wrote about a city-wide youth rally I seemed to be the only one who believed that it could happen.  Yet in two weeks God is going to make it happen.  Young Catholics, Lutherans, Pentecostals, Charismatics, Baptists and others are coming together to praise God with one voice and in one spirit.

A few months ago even an elder thought that the Bible study at the High School would fall apart or be stopped.  Now God has opened the door that I should have the honor of preaching at the graduation service in a Catholic Church.  The church is supposed to be "crazy full" and it is going to be happening this Saturday.  I've also been selected to be the main preacher at the Youth Rally.  It reminds me of the verse:

"And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was."
- Hebrews 5:4

Two excellent oppertunities in the next eight days to tell hundreds about the glories of Christ.  Great oppertunities but also the weight of resonsiblity is hanging somewhat heavily on me.  I am not afraid because I have nothing to lose but I do concern myself hoping that Christ would be glorified in all my speech and confirmed in the hearts of the hearers through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Beyond all this there is the great blessing of our third child Elijah.  I am so happy to welcome him to our family but I know my thoughts are divided and that we are also suffering attacks on our thoughts and our relationships so as to discourage us from taking full advantange of the good things God has laid before us.  At the moment my inlaws are also living with us to help with the baby which is not always so simple.  So as I have been praying that words might be given me and that we might be relieved of our anxiety.  To these ends and beyond I decided to write this update and reminder to you our faithful family in Christ that you might aid us in a great victory for the name and glory of God in Lippstadt.

What greater battle can there be than for the hearts and minds of the next generation?  These next two weeks could prove to be a decisive battle in the ongoing struggle.  Therefore I ask for a few minutes of intercession on our behalf and on behalf of the city that hearts would be opened to hear the word and that many disciples would be made who would make more disciples.  Also please ask for an easing of the language barrier and that the right words would be spoken.  We thank you and love you.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirits,
- Aaron

It is amazing how quickly we forget what God has done for us.  In simply thinking of 2014 few things come to mind.  It actually seems at first that nothing has gotten accomplished.  But as I examined last year's calendar preparing to throw it away I decided to jot down all the major happenings.  The list came to over two pages of events.  In order to bring our supporters a little bit more into our lives here in Germany I would like to share some of the list.

So Aaron met with the Visa man yesterday to inquire about all that would be needed for us to reapply. 

My first Pastor's Conference this week in Siegen, Germany was no let down.  It was an amazing time getting to know all the wonderful people there.  David Guzik (Calvary Santa Barbara) returned with guess speakers again and brought some great messages.  But as David so well put it "the real confering takes place between sessions."  I was so incredibly encouraged to hear of what God was doing with simple guys in Germany.  Several of the other youth pastors I spoke with kept saying "I don't know why the kids keep coming.  I can't figure it out.  We just meet and eat together and teach the Bible and they keep coming and getting saved."

No wonder God is using such people.  No "Ten Steps to a Cooler Youth Group" or "here's how to try and be as spiritual as me" but rather simple guys preaching the Word to the best of their abilities and God is blessing it.  I don't want to belittle their efforts or acheivements.  The churches by and large are not growing by the numerical leaps and bounds standards of American churches but they are growing!  In an increasingly post church culture where church membership is annually dropping off by several percent these brave warriors are seeing gains.  I spoke with one extremely faithful man from Kosovo who has been serving for the last fifteen years and has an attendance of 25.  One could jokingly say that such growth is about as fast as the birth rate.  That is until one considers that in these countries the population due to the low birth rate is actually declining at 1.3 children per couple in Germany.

No I am afraid things do not look good here.  I often feel as one in Constantinople about eight hundred years ago.  But God's Kingdom does not stop advancing.  Even if God sends his people into exile his Kingdom advances as he makes them a lesson for the ages.  Please do not cease pray for us few soliders standing in the gap for the thousands here in Europe.  Pray that God continues the steady growth of true believers here.  May he be gracious with us and may he spare America from the darkness that is still presently decending upon this land.  May he awaken the hearts of many through your prayers.
Pray specifically for Martin and Anastasia (JW friends who we meet with), Mark (a curious seeker) and K. (will soon be a teen parent).  Finally pray for our boldness especially in reaching youth and college students at the new college.

Grace and Peace be with you all in Christ Jesus,

Mr. Snyder in Him

This week was the evangelical alliance prayer week in Lippstadt.
The goal and hope is that the body of Christ in Lippstadt comes together nightly at a different church every night to pray with one another.
Sunday morning Aaron had the pleasure of bringing a greeting from our church to a Pentecostal church around the corner,it started at 10am.
we arrived early as a family, but it was a very crisp cold morning..
unfortunately the doors were locked so while we were waiting to hopefully be let in we were getting cold. Nobody answered the number we hoped would lead to the doors being opened.
Thankfully just right down the street was the EV FREE church so we went over there to get warm and wait until it got closer to service time. That was pretty cool because Aaron was able to talk to another dad who happened to come from a city where Aaron had gone on outreach to in Kirgizstan. We got warm and returned to the church where Aaron was given the honor of teaching God's word.
Thankfully God's word never returns void, this we are confident. Translation can make a big difference. It is
At this church alone we spoke with people of a Ghanian, a Russian, and people who were Polish, Spanish, and Italian.

We went out to catch the last bit of sunlight before dinner time later this afternoon as a family. We walked through town like we usually do. On the way I was able to invite a mama with twins to the Mommy Playgroup.
We usually let Peyton play on all the toys throughout town as we go,
and we had stopped to play on this big wooden Viking style boat that swings.
Then walked up a Chinese family, with a 20 month old.
Turns out Aaron had met her and her son in the summer time at the park one day!
The meeting could have only been ordained.
To keep it short, they have both studied the Bible, and almost read it all the way through,
they are wonderfully curious about the things of God and Aaron was able to share the gospel with the husband. As I spoke german with the mommy she mentioned how they don't have very many friends(although they've been here 4 years or so) and she was going to send her young son to kindergarten so he would learn german. I invited her to the play group, even though he is supposed to be at kindergarten during the morning time BUT she smiled so big and said, we won't go to kindergarten on Thursdays anymore, we will play with you!! I hope she is as excited as she seemed :)
Please please please pray for this wonderful family, we are hoping that they can be apart of the home group that should be starting up soon! We spent about one hour watching the kids play and talking.
Our little social butterfly was also able to make more friends with some little Italian girls.

update on our outreach to the JW family: we ask you continue to pray; for us to have discernment & wisdom and for them to have their eyes opened to the truth.

    But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.  Beloved, I urge you as pilgrims and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.