ECM’s vision is to see the peoples of Europe transformed in the name of Jesus Christ. This is our dream and aspiration and it motivates everything we do. Our purpose, or reason for being, is to glorify God by the planting and developing of reproducing churches that evangelize and disciple the peoples of Europe. Our identity as a mission is principally expressed through our Statement of Faith and our shared values. Other missions may share the same vision, even the same purpose, but the following shared values and distinctives establish the unique culture of ECM.
We value a life oriented to God, where courageous faith, prayer and the Bible are the basis of all we do as a mission. (UP) We are committed to integrity and mutual respect in our relationships, that we might be known for loving and caring for each other as we work towards our common vision. (IN) We believe in participating actively and creatively in God’s mission as we reach out to the peoples of Europe through the establishment of new communities of Jesus followers. (OUT) We are committed to working and learning together, as teams, fields and national sections, and through partnerships with others, in pursuit of our common purpose. (TOGETHER) These four values rest on ancient foundations, namely the four marks of the church as expressed in the Nicene Creed. These have been the core values of ECM since its inception in 1904. (https://www.ecmi-usa.org/our-values)
On January 1, 2016, the ministry of New Hope International became part of the family of ministries associated with the European Christian Mission International. Today, the more than 25 national workers of New Hope Bulgaria, New Hope Hungary, New Hope Romania and New Hope Ukraine, have joined hands with ECMI to bring hope to all of Europe. The New Hope office is now part of the office of ECMI-USA. For almost 20 years, Hank Paulson and New Hope workers smuggled Bibles and Christian literature into Eastern Europe. They also convened secret youth camps and training programs to strengthen the Church. After 1989, New Hope established ministries that would establish and strengthen the church in several former Communist countries, with each New Hope ministry registered in its own country as a non-profit organization.
NPC has had ties with ECMI’s Timisoara office going back to the first visit NPC made to Romania in 1997, when the team met Tavi Verlan, Tinu Leontiuc, the TImisoara team and their families. Until his retirement in 2024, Tavi and his wife Jen coordinated the office’s publishing activity and maintained relationships with the publishing houses and supporters. New Timisoara leaders Ionel and Simona Morariu continue the book publishing and discipling of current and future evangelical leaders. They also are active in Christian counseling, including counseling couples planning to marry, and in creating podcasts on Christian life and discipleship.
As the New Hope Ukraine (established in 1995) Field Director, Roman Matviyiv oversees eight full-time staff members, over 20 part-time staff and approximately 700 volunteers in most of the 25 region-states of Ukraine. Every year New Hope Ukraine team reaches out to thousands of students, children, orphans and families using various kinds of programs to spread God’s love and Word. The Lviv team cooperates with Young Life and Young Lives in their outreach in Lviv. During the period after February 2022, Roman and his team have devoted substantial time and effort to care for Internally Displaced Persons fleeing the war in eastern Ukraine. The team has still conducted summer camps and other youth outreach efforts during this period.
Alex and Liz Preotesea-Wagner focus their work in Cernavoda, Romania on outreach to young people. Alex and Liz provide spiritual guidance, help young people with vocational skills, and guide them away from trafficking. Alex and Liz also work closely with the local Betel Baptist church, where they are involved in the church’s children’s ministry and youth ministry. Roma children are part of the church’s outreach, and the NPC Children’s Ministry nurtures a relationship with the Betel Baptist children as the two groups explore ways to encourage one another in the Lord and to learn about their respective faith communities.