(June 30, 2014 - by Ruth Pike and Harold Goerzen)  A world map proved particularly useful to delegates attending Reach Beyond’s biennial European Conference in the picturesque Swiss town of Männedorf on the edge of Lake Zurich. It wasn’t because the location was hard to find, but it gave a visual demonstration of this year’s conference theme, “To the Ends of the Earth.” As one delegate observed, “Actually, the map said it all.”

During the weekend conference in May, organized by Swiss World Office of Reach Beyond (formerly HCJB Global), participants enjoyed fellowship, Bible study, prayer, a side trip to Europe’s largest waterfall (Rhine Falls) and the opportunity to gain a broader vision of the mission’s global ministries.

As the conference unfolded, the map on the wall gradually became a mass of colorful orange dots speckled across the map as different regions and Reach Beyond ministry projects were presented. More than 50 delegates were present, representing 13 countries on five continents.

Participants included the mission’s regional leadership team, representatives from the European World Offices, partners and friends of the ministry, and new missionaries being sent from the mission’s Swiss office. Reach Beyond President Wayne Pederson did not attend in person but provided a video greeting for participants.

“Five years ago we decided to move the direction of the conference from a weekend of local European ministry reports to a focus on the worldwide directions and involvement of the mission,” said David, executive director of the Europe/Eurasia Region.

“We decided to begin inviting people from other regions and focusing on at least one—sometimes two regions—at each conference.”

This year’s event focused on the Asia Pacific and Latin America regions with reports on media and healthcare ministries from different members of the regional leadership team and the World Offices that support the organization via prayer, funds and personnel.

“During ministry reports we got a deeper insight into new Reach Beyond concepts, goals and vision,” wrote Czech radio programmers Pavel and Klara Steiger in their prayer letter, summing up their time at the conference. “It was interesting to see the variety of rising opportunities around the world and how to reach unreached people of different continents and cultures through technological and educational advancement.”

“A very informative few days—eye-opening, enriching,” commented another attendee.

“For me it was the best preparation for our time of service—got a really good insight into Reach Beyond,” remarked a new missionary. “It was also a foretaste of heaven, worshiping with people from all over the world.”

“Having the map on the wall gave everyone a picture of the scope and passion of Reach Beyond,” added David. “It’s no little thing to transition from what started in Latin America 80 years ago to the one we have now, and bringing along partners with us. We displayed a passion for the unreached, and I believe the participants were able to grasp that direction.”

Source: Reach Beyond