Serve Globally has named Chris Peterson as the new regional coordinator for Europe. He began serving in the role on November 1. He will be commissioned at Gather 2024.
“We are thrilled for Chris to join Serve Globally as regional coordinator,” says Grace Shim, executive minister of Serve Globally. “His life and ministry have already demonstrated a heart for global service and mission, the value of the local church in cross-cultural settings, and commitment to faith formation in community, all of which are important for this role. In addition, Chris has a natural warmth and gracious spirit that will enrich our team in serving together. I thank God for directing Chris to us at this time!”
Peterson, who will serve as a co-coordinator with the current regional coordinator for Europe Letha Kerl, succeeds John Kerl after his retirement earlier this year.
Shim says, “Serve Globally has been profoundly impacted by John’s leadership over the years. He combined his pastoral, strategic, and visionary gifts to invest in developing global personnel, expanding and cultivating regional partnerships, and mentoring and encouraging colleagues, including Bob and me when we served as Asia regional coordinators. I thank God for John and his lifelong example of love for God’s mission and people wherever he has served.”
We sat down with Peterson to ask about his new role.
Can you tell us about the path that led you to this position?
Surprisingly, my pathway to this position began back in 1998 when I was a recent graduate from North Park University and discerning my next steps. I received an invitation to apply through North Park Seminary to be a pastoral intern at Immanuel Church in Stockholm, Sweden. This experience had an enormous impact on my life and trajectory in ministry.
Looking back on that experience, I see that God was putting on my heart a long-term call to serve in Europe. After completing seminary studies, I received a pastoral call to serve in Stockholm where I went on to serve for 17 years. I was lead pastor of the International Fellowship within Immanuel Church and served as vice senior pastor for the broader congregation. Immanuel Church has three language groups worshiping in Swedish, English, and Korean and was a former Swedish Mission Covenant Church, now Uniting Church in Sweden.
During those years I had the opportunity to build ministry friendships and connections in Sweden and many parts of Europe. It was a joy to connect with Serve Globally personnel on annual retreats and through our shared work in Sweden. The invitation to join Serve Globally felt like an exciting new pathway in ministry that aligned with my heart for Europe and experience in serving here.
How is this role different from what you were previously doing?
In parish ministry, I was more focused on the local mission of the church and on guiding and caring for the congregation. In this role I will be supporting global personnel all around Europe as well as building relationships with European ministry partners from various Christian traditions and cultural contexts.
What are you looking forward to?
Seeing what God is doing in and through the passionate hearts and loving hands of global personnel in Europe. During the annual retreat for our region last October, I felt both inspired and encouraged by the stories they shared. I look forward to serving alongside them and discerning and moving forward into the pathways God is opening for us in Europe. It also feels exciting to serve on the broader Serve Globally team, to learn from other regional coordinators, and to contribute with my gifts and experience.
What should readers know about serving in Europe?
Though Europe is united in many ways politically and economically, it remains an incredibly diverse continent representing so many nations, languages, cultures, histories, and traditions. People serving in Europe are constant learners and adapters to their context.
Europe continues to receive large numbers of refugees fleeing war and conflict. Churches and many Christian organizations are seeking to advocate and care for them as they await asylum decisions, and for those granted legal status, to begin building a new life. It is inspiring to know that many of our global personnel are partnering in these ministries of compassion.
For many years, particularly in Western Europe, secularization has become strongly rooted in society and poses unique challenges but also opportunities in inviting people to experience and embrace the good news of the gospel. There is a deep longing, especially among many young people, to align their passion for ecological and social justice with a broader vision and hope for themselves and the world.
All around Europe there are small movements of renewal and growth in the church. It is exciting to witness how immigrant communities are inspiring and partnering with the churches to bring new life and energy. I have often felt that God is bringing partners in the gospel from around the world to revive and build a new movement that reflects the global church and God’s vision to bring us together from every nation, tribe, and tongue.
Europe is an exciting and challenging place to serve!
