Official handover of the European Leadership from Roy and Ruth Harrison to Gerd-Walter Buskies.

The CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship) European Conference took place in Schwäbisch-Gmünd/Germany with 450 workers and friends attending from around Europe, Russia, and Central Asia (about 43 countries). This big event comes up every three years and lasts for a week.

One of the highlights of the conference was the passing on of the baton in the leadership of Europe from Roy and Ruth Harrison to Gerd-Walter Buskies as the new European Regional Director. Roy and Ruth Harrison have served as European Directors for 16 years. Under their leadership the ministry has grown up to 600 workers in 45 countries.
Here Roy and Ruth are standing next to the painting presented to them at the conference. The painting was done by Aapo Pukk – a respected portrait painter from Estonia who has painted heads of state and leaders in Europe & US. G.-W. Buskies is standing on the left.

Conference photos by Tim Shirey

Dear Aapo, 
 
What a wonderful surprise when we were presented with that beautiful oil painting.  It is really very special and we will always treasure it.  The children are a great reminder to pray for the boys and girls of Europe.
 
We have several examples of your work here in our home now.  On another wall is the picture in chalk of a forest path which you gave to Roy once.   We had it framed and people, especially one of our daughters, say they enjoy looking at it and we also.  Thank you, Aapo, for all your great work.
 
May the Lord bless you and your family,
 
In Christ, for the the children,
 
Roy & Ruth Harrison

Among the Conference speakers was also Mr Reese Kauffman, President of Child Evangelism Fellowship. Pastel portrait of President Reese Kauffman was painted 2002 in front of world-wide CEF family during the CEF International Conference in Glorieta, New Mexico.