"For this purpose the Son of God was manifest"

Christmas in the medieval city of Feldkirch...our new home and
ministry base. Schattenberg Castle sits perched high above the city.

I went into Feldkirch today to visit our bank. Bread of Life Christian Center rallied around the need for shoes, socks and Bibles for needy children in Guanajuato, Mexico. It was with joy that I went to deposit and wire the love offering from Austria to Mexico. We are a small pioneer work here, but we will consider the nations!

As it was beginning to get dark, the lights were coming on and people were beginning to gather in the market area. Watching this take place...I began to ponder the very reason that Jesus Christ came..."To destroy the works of the Devil." 

While Jesus is not often the focus of most people during this season, we can see the goodness of God as we read about a child wrapped in the cloth used to wipe down the animals, laying in a manger. What hope He brought with Him as the angelic choir sang to God's glory.

Jesus Christ was not a passive person, but one who challenged the tradition of men and invaded every system of hell in order to set the captives free. He told those who followed Him, "If you see me cast out demons by the Holy Spirit...the Kingdom is upon you." (see Matthew 12:28). A trail of delivered and healed people marked the road everywhere that He walked. Oh, the goodness of God found in Jesus Christ! He is the Warrior! Finally, on the cross He made a mockery of the Devil openly. 

Through Jesus, we have hope and salvation...also, a command to go forth as He did setting people free from disease and the oppression of the Devil. This is our calling for Germanic Europe! Compassion for the multitudes has gripped our hearts...this is the heart of the Father. Revival must come to Austria and the other Germanic nations! Help us reach this generation with the liberating Gospel! 

Other News:


Switzerland
I have been traveling to Hombrechtikon, Switzerland on Fridays to minister and encourage a small group there. It is about a 1 1/2 hour drive. This past week we all went to a regional meeting focused on the Kingdom of God along the shore of Lake Zurich. It was a great time together as we worshiped and connected with others in the Zurich region. I hope to get better acquainted with this regional group. The couches were quite nice! Cake and coffee followed.

My Birthday in Austria
Angie is in Texas for the holidays and packing up the house in San Antonio before attending the Missions Conference at Destiny Church...I remained here with the ministry and will join everyone in January. But, I was not alone on my Birthday. The people here are so awesome! I was invited to hike up one of the higher mountains in the area by a good friend and the church gave me a surprise Birthday party that night! There was a special song and slide show. I received a package from my parents. Also, I was able to talk to my children and Angie!! I must say the hike up and down the mountain was pretty brutal! The breakfast buffet at the first level was great!! The first photo is the view from our table at the restaurant. A gift from my friend. It was a good time as I'm building friendships in Austria.

Being in the homes of church members here in Austria and Switzerland has been a blessing! The feeling of community is growing.


We are rejoicing over the testimonies of answered prayer and the miracles that are taking place! Please stand with us in prayer. There are many more miracles that we long to see.


I've received open invitations for prayer meetings with other leaders in our region and to minister as well. Please keep us in your prayers so that we can be an encouragement to the Body of Christ here.


We are looking forward to attending the "Light Your World - His Hands, His Feet, His Voice"  Missions Conference at Destiny Church January 15-18, 2012! Anticipation is building as we expect to be reunited with friends and receive from the powerful times of ministry. I'm glad to say that there will be a small delegation at the conference from Austria and Switzerland.


We are looking ahead to 2012

• Children’s ministry to be developed and implemented at Bread of Life, Feldkirch.
  
• Leadership development course implemented for the purpose of raising up world changers.
  
• Reaching into the city with Holy Spirit outreach strategies and equipping Believers for evangelism.
  
• Continue to build a “prayer furnace” in our city where all believers can participate.
  
• Re-Tool and equip the work in Hombrechtikon, Switzerland.
  
• Inspire those with different talents and abilities to arise in passionate worship that allows for a Holy Spirit flow.
  
• Continue in a greater way to connect, encourage and participate with other ministries for the purpose of Kingdom momentum and the transformation of our region.
  

Angie and I want to thank everyone for your prayers, encouragement and investment in the Germanic harvest field. We have been here just over 2 months now and are forging ahead with our leaders here in preparation for revival in this region.


We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas Season and prosperous New Year - where Christ and His glory are at the center of all things.


In Christ,
Doug and Angie Pitman

Happy Thanksgiving

Angie and I would like to wish everyone a very happy and enjoyable Thanksgiving with your loved ones and friends. We are thankful to the Lord for all that He has done in our lives. We also want to thank each and every person that has supported us in prayer, encouragement and with your finances. We stand amazed at how the Lord has turned hearts toward this work in Europe and opened these doors wide for us. We pray the blessing of God's covenant that He made with Abraham upon all who have blessed us..."I will bless those who bless you." (Gen. 12:3)

It really hits home that Thanksgiving is an American recognized holiday while being abroad.   The fall colors and cold weather have been a joy and inspiration. It's been so long since we've experienced the change of seasons while living in San Antonio. I enjoy hiking. These times are times I pray and listen to the Lord as I walk. The colors remind me of God's ability to create breathtaking beauty out of desolate darkness. That is the vision we have for Germanic Europe. I enjoy looking over the Rhein Valley and praying for God's perspective on things. Our human perspective is always in the way and falls short of God's plan.

Driving in Switzerland to our Bible Study

Update: 

Angie is in Texas and will be making a feast for the family there. They are very thankful. She will be helping our son prepare to move and enjoy the holidays with our kids and grandchild. We felt this was important because we left for Europe with a three month preparation time. We were so busy preparing, we were gone in a flash. This will be a busy time for Angie. She will be staying in touch with the ladies in Austria through technology. I will remain with the work here in Austria and Switzerland until early January when I fly back to San Antonio for the Missions Conference at Destiny Church.

Good things are happening here in Austria and Switzerland. There is a momentum coming from the times of prayer as we are leading the congregation into a deeper passion for the presence of God and compassion for their city, region and country. Also, I've received an invitation to speak at the largest Spirit Filled Church in the State of Vorarlberg. It is 25 years old as has 80 members. There is much work to be done here...and we are thankful to be sent.

Love,

Doug and Angie

We are here to stay...and preach the Gospel!

RESIDENCE PERMITS!

God's plan is unfolding before our eyes! We have found favor with the Austrian Government and have received our "Aufenthaltstitel" (Residence Permit). Some here believe that this is a miracle because these permits have been very difficult to come by. But, we have answered God's call and He has opened this door with His mighty hand and outstretched arm. Without this permit we could not do what we need to do in Austria and Germanic Europe.

This is where we applied for our Residence Permits. 
It will take you 5 minutes to tell someone where you worked.

A CALL TO PRAYER!

I took a walk one day for the purpose of talking to the Lord about this work and the future. He spoke to me that we were to bring the people together and cry out to Him in passionate prayer for the Church, the City, the Region and the Nation. So, we've dedicated our Wednesday meetings to do just that until the Lord says differently. Our desire is to lead the people into expressive worship and prayer. Momentum is building as we cry out to the Lord together. We've had 14 people to come the last several weeks. This is amazing!

This is the beginning of a prayer movement for Feldkirch.

From time to time Angie and I would drive up into the mountains
above our city and pray for God's kingdom to come and His will be done.

MINISTRY TRANSITION!

Gerda Green (Gerda and Joe Green pioneered this ministry) returned this week from San Antonio to be with us. It was really good to see her. It was all business for us while she was here. We had to do several legal things concerning the ministry of Bread of Life Christliches Zentrum. We had a great leadership meeting at Bread of Life and all has gone well. Saturday night we had Gerda minister and she transferred the staff of spiritual authority to Angie and I. We sure did miss Bro. Joe and wish that he could have been with us. We are so appreciative of their labor of love that birthed this ministry in  difficult soil. The Green's will always have a place at Bread of Life! So, this has finalized the transition of spiritual authority and the future is ahead of us all. 

Angie helping set up for after the service.

Worship 

Everyone is listening.

Welcoming everyone.

Transition of Spiritual Authority. The Shepherd's Staff.

Delegation from Switzerland. Peter (Wearing the vest) and Elizabeth
(Wearing the red scarf) will be at the Destiny Church Missions Conf. 2012.

CHURCH LIFE!

We are very grateful for the leaders here at Bread of Life and all who attend. Every week we are becoming more familiar with one another. We can't mention names because so many have been a blessing. We have had powerful times of altar ministry where people were delivered from tormenting spirits and experiencing love and peace like they have never felt. God is giving the right Word every week. 

We know that we have just begun and the seeds that have been sown in this land will bring forth fruit in this generation. We will continue to preach the gospel of the kingdom without hesitation and with boldness. We ask you to keep this ministry in your prayers as we invade systems of hell and bondage with God's Word, Love and Power liberating all who are sick and oppressed of the devil. God is building a city of love here at Bread of Life!

"Hello Destiny Church" from Bread of Life!!

Angie and I attended a youth orchestra concert with a worship
leader who's daughter plays the clarinet. They love the Arts.

Angie and I attended a youth hockey game with a church member.
Her son is at the face off. Dario is 11 years old. 
He scored a goal that game.

Having refreshments and good conversation after worship service.

Giacomo and Ester. Giacomo is an Elder
and Ester leads worship and translates.

A friendly place...

Maria brings fresh flowers
from her garden every week.

Angie in the office trying to call our daughter
Heather on her Birthday Saturday.

Building that Bread of Life Christliches Zentrum
meets in every week.

LANGUAGE CLASSES!

I'm experiencing many "first" since coming to Austria. We've never been Missions Ambassadors, never had a Residence Permit in a foreign country, never lived in a foreign country, never led a ministry with translators and have never taken foreign language classes. Angie will begin in 2012. The countries represented in my language class are: Bosnia, Croatia, Turkey, Afghanistan, Serbia, Brazil and Italy. I try to shine. The German that we are learning together is the only common language, so it's going slow. Pray with me that the Holy Spirit will be present to do what I can't do yet.

Class time.

(L-R) Milka, Croatia; Slobodan, Bosnia; Jankovich, Serbia;
Kilma, Brazil and Claudia our instructor, Germany.

MacBook, Holy Book, German Book and coffee.

ANNIVERSARY!

Angie and I celebrated our 27th Wedding Anniversary October 22nd. We stayed local and rode the cable car up the mountain in Dornbirn. It was a great day! We walked the mountain trails and enjoyed God's creation.

Up, Up and Up!

We love our new country! There are cities to be taken!
There are valleys to be reached! There are regions to fall to the Gospel!

PRAYER REQUEST!
We are grateful to all who have sacrificed in prayer and in finances for the sake of the Gospel in Austria. This means everything to us.

1. Unity and agreement among God's people.

2. Increased boldness in the Holy Spirit to be faithful witnesses.

3. Youth and children to be rescued from bondage and deception.

4. Holy Spirit anointing to turn hearts to God as the Gospel is preached.

5. Supply and finance to be released to Bread of Life supernaturally.

6. Hearts to be on fire for the Lord, totally yielded to Him and His purpose.

7. Increased levels of prayer and fasting for Harvest and the Laborers to arise in Austria.

8. Husbands and fathers to turn to God.

Feldkirch attracts people from all over.

Gift bags: Krampas - The devil of Christmas
tormenting children. This pagan
ritual is still celebrated.

Witchcraft groups openly recruit on the streets of Feldkirch.
It's time for God's truth to reign!

For all contact information: Scroll down to the end of the blog.