Church of God Central West Europe

25/04/2026

08/03/2026

02/12/2025

CLOSING REMARKS 2025

I’ve run out of superlatives to describe all we’ve experienced on the mission field this year. We’ve been showered with favour and grace throughout the year.

Of course, there were also many struggles, setbacks, disappointments, and hindrances to be overcome, but by the grace of God, here we stand, Soli Deo Gloria!!!

We can’t thank you enough for the strong leadership, unwavering support, and encouragement from our field director, Dr Stephen and Janice Darnell, General Directors, Dr Thomas and LaQuita Propes, and Assistant Directors, Dr David and Fernanda Ramirez. Your visionary leadership and support have been invaluable. Big shoutout to Dr Mark & Lynn Swank for believing in us and opening doors of opportunity to share about the mission work in Europe and to expand the kingdom network. Special thanks also to the entire team of „Weltmission e.V.“ in Germany and Thomas Strenkert for his legal advice and support for us European missionaries.

And last but not least, huge gratitude to my wife Maite Jacobs Serra and our kids Sophia and Jan for your love, patience, and for being constant encouragement and partners in missions. We love going on missions and ministering together as a family every time it’s possible…

On a personal note, we are so excited that our daughter Sophia will be getting married to Niklas Beck in August 2026. They are a great team together and both have a heart for missions and serving the Lord. Then, we, Jivko and Maite Jacobs, announced this last September that after 22 years pastoring Crossroads International Church in Freudenstadt, we will be transitioning to a new season and ministry. We’ll begin ministering monthly and assist the local leadership team of Christian Centre COG in the city of Bad Säckingen, Germany (near Basel, Switzerland). They’ve been seeking a new pastor, and we’re excited to help. Lord willing, we’ll transition in the summer of 2026. During this time, we’ll build the local church and develop the Church of God in Switzerland through church planting, networking, and amalgamation wherever the Lord opens doors and hearts.

We couldn’t do what we have done without all of you, our family, friends, colleagues, missions partners, pastors, churches, state overseers, youth directors, mentors, and Kingdom-minded people… together we can FINISH the Great Commission in our lifetime…

Until all have heard and Jesus returns!

Jivko & Maite Jacobs
Regional Superintendent Central West Europe
Church of God World Missions
Project Number 102-9559
https://www.cogwm.org/shop/jacobs/
[email protected]

From 2004 until today, Jivko and Maite have been the lead pastors at Crossroads Church in Freudenstadt, Germany. Since 2018, Jivko has also been serving as the Regional Superintendent of the region of Central West Europe for the Church of God World Missions. This region includes the countries of Aus...

02/12/2025

DECEMBER
These first days of December, I’m catching another plane en route to Athens, Greece. This trip is my final field mission for the year. This week, we’ll sign the contract and finalise the purchase of an additional 200 square metres and three more rooms for our COG central church and outreach centre in downtown Athens. Construction workers are already hard at work on a brand new bathroom, industrial kitchen for food outreach distribution, three new classrooms for kids, youth, and adults, and a complete remodelling of the sanctuary to transform it into a state-of-the-art worship centre. This newly upgraded centre will help us reach out to this vast city of over four million people, with only a few thousand evangelical believers in the entire metropolitan area. The harvest is truly ripe!

As you read this, our missionaries, Dr Diako and Jasmin Alikhani, are preparing for the first opening service of our new international church plant in Marousi, northern Athens, this coming Sunday.

With deepest gratitude, we thank Bishop Brian and Cathy Yaun, along with all the Youth and Discipleship Directors, for their impactful contribution through the YWEA 25 „Grace for Greece“ Project. I’m confident this investment will significantly change the course of the Church of God in Greece for generations to come, reaching countless souls with the love of God and the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jivko & Maite Jacobs
Regional Superintendent Central West Europe
Church of God World Missions
Project Number 102-9559
https://www.cogwm.org/shop/jacobs/
[email protected]

02/12/2025

NOVEMBER
In November, another special highlight occurred when I followed the invitation of Pastor Michael and Becki McDermott to join them for their annual „World Day“ Missions Weekend at LifeSource Church. I was simply overwhelmed by the spirit of excellence, worship, appreciation, and prayer that permeated the Life Source Churches as they reach out locally and globally. I feel incredibly privileged to be a part of this Kingdom missions movement.
I was also so blessed to spend a few days at the Virginia COG at the beautiful state campground of Virginia with my dear friend and youth director, Chad Fickett. This was truly a time of brotherhood, rest, and encouragement.

Jivko & Maite Jacobs
Regional Superintendent Central West Europe
Church of God World Missions
Project Number 102-9559
https://www.cogwm.org/shop/jacobs/
[email protected]

02/12/2025

OCTOBER
In October, we, all of Europe, CIS, and the Middle East, joined together with the Latvian church for the „Alive 25“ European Congress under the powerful leadership of our Field Director, Dr Stephen & Janice Darnell, and the Latvian COG led by Bishop Modris Ozolinkevich. Thousands gathered to worship and experience the power of the Gospel, preached powerfully by our General Overseer, Dr. Gary & Lori Lewis, Assistant Directors, Dr David & Fernanda Ramirez, and Evangelist Nathan Morris (Shake the Nations). It was truly an impactful weekend of revival and unity for all our churches and leaders in Europe and beyond.

Later in the month, Jivko was invited to the Illinois COG Ministers Retreat. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and strengthening kingdom relationships. A special shoutout goes to Pastor Justin and Jamie Demers for hosting me and Bishop David and Sonja White, along with the entire state office team, for this incredible opportunity. The following Sunday, I thoroughly enjoyed worshipping with the Restoration Chapel church family in Waterloo, Illinois. This church has grown from eight to over 300 people in just three years under the anointed leadership of Pastor Justin and Jamie Demers and their dedicated team. It’s truly a testament to their faith and dedication.

The previous Sunday, I had the privilege of ministering at the Bulgarian COG „New Life“ in Chicago with Pastor Vladimir and Didi Georgiev and dear friends Pastor Stan and Vania Tanev. I also had a wonderful time with youth pastor Ivo Ivanov. He hosted two volleyball games and BBQ evenings at his open house and even gave me an exciting biking tour of Chicago. We biked over 30 miles around the lake and downtown, which was a fantastic time spent with friends.

Jivko & Maite Jacobs
Regional Superintendent Central West Europe
Church of God World Missions
Project Number 102-9559
https://www.cogwm.org/shop/jacobs/
[email protected]

02/12/2025

SEPTEMBER
In September, we embarked on three short missions trips. First, Jivko visited Sibiu and Cluj, Romania, where he met with Pastors Michael & Michaela Gravitt (Worship Centre Sibiu) and then they visited the new church plant and drug rehabilitation centre in Cluj, led by the brothers Ovidiu & Darius Plesa and their committed team of leaders and volunteers.
Shortly afterwards, we visited Lausanne, Switzerland, with Pastor Scott and Kristy Crowe from New Beginnings COG in Carrollton, Georgia. We spent time with our young church and Pastors Miguel and Carolina Montalvo, offering encouragement and support.

All through the year, Jivko stayed on the legal work for Athens, Greece, in order to begin the reconstruction and remodelling process as part of our YWEA 25 project. Legal work moves really slowly in Greece, but we did not give up. The remodelling work finally started in mid-September.

Towards the end of the month, we welcomed special friend Dr Fred Garmon and the LeadersLab to ETS Germany. Fred had a great impact on all the students and leaders present for the weekend and shared a powerful, timely message on Sunday morning for the season of transition at our local church.

Jivko & Maite Jacobs
Regional Superintendent Central West Europe
Church of God World Missions
Project Number 102-9559
https://www.cogwm.org/shop/jacobs/
[email protected]

02/12/2025

AUGUST
In August, we had a truly special opportunity to serve the worldwide church by leading worship at the Jerusalem Council 2 in Athens, Greece. Under the leadership of Dr James O Davis, we thoroughly enjoyed leading worship and learning from some of the finest Christian leaders globally, including Dr Leonard Sweet, Dr Michael Brown, and Dr Tim Hill. This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we are incredibly grateful to Jesus for this opportunity.

Jivko & Maite Jacobs
Regional Superintendent Central West Europe
Church of God World Missions
Project Number 102-9559
https://www.cogwm.org/shop/jacobs/
[email protected]

02/12/2025

JULY
In July, we enjoyed a wonderful month filled with special events. Highlights included an open-air baptism service at the lake and two Gospel concerts. The packed city church in Freudenstadt hosted a concert with a 600-strong audience, while the Gartenschau X Freudenstadt & Baiersbronn stage drew over 1,000 people. Our choir directors, dear friends and ETS Music directors Ania and Norbert Pawlak from Poland, performed exceptionally well. Their efforts reached many people with the Gospel message and delighted the audience with their beautiful music and singing.

Jivko & Maite Jacobs
Regional Superintendent Central West Europe
Church of God World Missions
Project Number 102-9559
https://www.cogwm.org/shop/jacobs/
[email protected]

02/12/2025

JUNE
In June, during the Pentecost weekend, WakeUP Winterfest – Germany’s national youth conference – celebrated its 25th anniversary. Jivko, who led the conference from 2004 to 2012 as the European Youth Director. Some 500 young people joined as the theme for the anniversary was „Legacy“. Jivko and other national leaders, including Pastor Sascha Kielwein, international speaker and author Jimmy Hong, Evangelist Gernot Elsner and many others, shared inspiring stories of God’s work. We were deeply moved by the incredible impact of God’s presence and the enduring legacy of the conference’s influence on future generations of leaders.

Jivko & Maite Jacobs
Regional Superintendent Central West Europe
Church of God World Missions
Project Number 102-9559
https://www.cogwm.org/shop/jacobs/
[email protected]