Denmark developments

09 February 2010

Many of you may have met our Danish regional coordinator Bjarne Gertz Olsen during his stays in England. He is now a dear friend and colleague.

Back in October I was lucky enough to go and launch Messy Church in Denmark, and now Bjarne writes of what's developed in the four months since. I think you'll agree with his triumphant and understated ending: 'something is happening.' Bjarne writes:

'By this mail I want to give you some short information about what is happening with Messy Church in Denmark.

'Now one Lutheran church near Copenhagen starts to have Messy Church.
Two mission houses belonging to Danish inner mission have started Messy Church,
one in Holstebro and one in Bethesda Aalborg. In Aalborg they call the work "evening free".

'So now there are as we know three places where there is Messy Church - and we know they are also working with Messy Church in another parish in Copenhagen.

'Also on the official churches homepages of the Diocese of Aalborg and in the Diocese of Copenhagen they have written about Messy Church.

'And your book, Lucy, is also now on the religious paedagogical homepage.

'I had now been contacted by the National Association of Local Congregations board members, and they told me that I can go to this big organisation's national meeting in June, where there will be around 1000 congregation members - and have exhibition stand of Messy Church.

'The evangelical churches (Pentecostal, Baptist, Methodist, Salvation Army) have a children's leaders' conference in November and there I will speak about the concept of Messy Church and the book. I will stay on at that conferences and have the book about Messy Church for sale.

'So something is happening.

With love
Bjarne'