New leader for ECM Australia and NZ
From January 2017 Matt George will take up the role of Director of ECM Australia and New Zealand. With over 12 years of on-the-ground missionary experience with ECM in Portugal, first in Bible training in Lisbon, and then evangelism and discipleship of university students in Coimbra, Matt, Louise and their family have now entered a new phase in their lives. Working from Croydon, Sydney, Matt will be heading up a team of workers and in Europe will be making Jesus’ name famous as they support and facilitate their partners on the field.
The Baltic nations of Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia have a combined average 4.3% evangelical population, which is above Europe’s average. Even so, the need is acute, so our desire is to serve this region where we currently have no ministry presence. 
A five-week sabbatical became an opportunity to strengthen churches, encourage believers, and serve alongside ECMI worker Eberson in Portugal. It is a reminder that even a short-term mission trip can leave a lasting impact. 
When war in Ukraine devastated the communities around Irpin, relief centres became places of refuge for those in need. But something even greater happened. As people encountered the love of Christ through practical care, new communities of faith began to grow. Today, Illia and Iryna lead one of those church plants.