Filling Austria With the Knowledge of God's Glory
//Special Report: International Rhema
When Fred and Judy Lambert moved to Austria in 1994, the faith message was not well received. In fact, articles appearing in every major Austrian newspaper denounced the church and school they started as a cult. Even the state-run television stations picked up the story and broadcast it on their news programs.
Fred and Judy, 1990 and 1991 Rhema graduates, weren't discouraged by the negative press. "With time," Fred says, "We began reaching out and developing relationships with people."
Those relationships blossomed, and today the Lamberts have good working relationships with the same people who once criticized them and the faith message. And their church, Freie Christengemeinde Wels (FCG Wels), has become one of the largest Pentecostal congregations in Austria.
Today, Fred and Judy are seeing a great spiritual hunger in FCG Wels. The congregation comes together charged with a high expectancy for the working of the Holy Spirit. Although healings are common, the Lamberts are sensing they are on the edge of a breakthrough into even greater healings, signs, and wonders. Since the church's inception, more than 3,000 people have given their lives to the Lord, and Fred and Judy believe they will see an acceleration in the harvest of souls.
Rhema Austria
Four months after the Lamberts arrived in Austria, they started a Bible school. That first year, 30 students enrolled. Then in 2000, their school joined the Rhema network of international campuses. To date, 279 men and women are second-year graduates and over 500 have completed first-year studies. In addition to Wels, Rhema Austria campuses are located in Braunau am Inn, Klagenfurt, and Lienz. Another campus is scheduled to open in Vienna in 2013.
Rhema Austria grads are committed to spreading the life-changing faith message to their fellow countrymen.
One couple took over a dying Pentecostal church in Klagenfurt. Since then, the church has regained life and grown, and it is positively impacting the city. Another couple led a Bible study and house group in Rohrbach for several years. On July 15, they began conducting Sunday church services.
Josh and Irene Lambert ('09, '11), the Lamberts' son and daughter-in-law, head up Worship Revolution, the largest youth event of its kind in Austria. Three times a year about 400 youth from churches across Austria gather to worship God. Every time, many young people are saved, healed, and filled with the Holy Spirit.
In addition to FCG Wels, the Lamberts have planted five churches and have helped Rhema grads plant an additional eight churches. One of those—in Trostberg, Germany—is now pastored by Robert Tomaschek, a 1996 Rhema Austria grad, and his wife Irmi.* This church is also home to Rhema Trostberg. A recent Rhema Trostberg graduate has planted a church in Rosenheim, Germany, providing another great example of the ripple effect: Rhema grads teaching others who in turn teach others.
Moving Forward
It's the Lamberts' desire that Austria be filled with the knowledge of God's glory. To accomplish this, they plan to plant more churches, open more Rhema campuses, and encourage graduates. It's a hefty task, but the Lamberts have dedicated their lives to training men and women who will minister the life-changing Gospel to others. It won't be long before all of Austria will know about the saving, healing, and delivering power of Jesus Christ!
* To learn more about Robert and Irmi Tomaschek and Rhema Trostberg, go to www.khm.com/twe3.
Reaching the World
Rhema Austria grads have moved beyond that nation's borders to share the Gospel. One couple went to Tanzania to work with Wycliffe Bible Translators. Several have traveled to South Africa to help Peter Pretorius feed 500,000 children a day.
While visiting her daughter in Australia, Rita learned about Karobran New Life Centre, a shelter for women who have been abused and on drugs. While she was in Australia, the Lord dealt with her to stay. Over the past seven years, she's seen many women set free from alcoholism and drug addiction through the teaching of God's Word. Rita credits what she learned at Rhema Austria with making the difference in the lives of those she ministers to.
Christmas Joy in a Shoebox
Roswitha, a 1998 Rhema Austria grad, was helping in the children's ministry at FCG Wels. When Samaritan's Purse discontinued its Christmas shoebox program in the region, Roswitha asked Fred and Judy if she could continue the program through FCG Wels, and they readily agreed. The first year, between 500 and 600 packages were collected. The number rose to 2,000 the second year and continued to grow. Last year 20,000 packages were collected from churches throughout Austria! Through this program, churches that have never communicated with each other are now working together to ensure that children in Romania receive shoeboxes filled with Christmas joy!
RHEMA Austria Prayer Focus
» More of God's grace
» More open doors for the school among Pentecostal and Charismatic churches in Austria
» Greater healings and miracles to confirm the Word of God
» More partners to help the Lamberts establish churches and train men and women for ministry
» Finances—for both the Lamberts and the pastors of newly planted churches. Many of those pastors work full time in addition to pastoring.
To learn more
about Fred and Judy Lambert, go to www.FredLambert.org.
Healed and Whole!
There’s not enough room to write about the many wonderful healing testimonies at FCG Wels. Here are just two.
Markus, an Austrian police officer, had five herniated discs in his back and was in constant pain. His pain medication didn’t work, he couldn’t sleep, and the pain was so bad he literally cried. To make matters worse, his marriage was falling apart and his work as a police officer was suffering.
He heard about FCG Wels at a Full Gospel businessmen’s meeting and decided to visit. During the service, he was instantly healed! He committed his life to Christ and was filled with the Holy Spirit. It wasn’t long before his wife started attending with him and their marriage was restored. Shortly after that, his entire family began attending and all gave their lives to the Lord!
When Berta began attending FCG Wels, she had been battling uterine cancer. Several operations and rounds of chemo proved unsuccessful. The cancer kept spreading. She finally reached the point where she said, “No more.”
When she came to FCG Wels, she was prayed for, and she grabbed hold of the faith message and began confessing the Word. Over a period of time she got better, and now, 10 years later, she is still cancer-free!