German Missions
What we will be doing
We are missionaries affiliated with the Assemblies of God. We will be involved with a church planting team in Rostock, Germany. It is located in northeast Germany, north of Berlin. This area was formerly the country of East Germany. We will work with a church named "Christliches Zentrum". In English, it is "Christian Center". This church was planted in 1993 and now has approximately 50-60 people in attendance each week. It is made up of mostly 25-35 year old people and the majority of meetings are done in small groups. God is calling us to disciple new Christians and to teach leadership to maturing Christians. It is very clear to us that God has shaped and molded us for this task.
Read more about Rostock at Wikipedia.org...
Why we do what we do
God loves people! Everything God does is based on His unending love for us. He has been planning on people sharing His love with Germans long before Germany even existed. The town of Rostock has a population of around 200,000 people. It is home to the one of the oldest universities in Germany (founded in 1419). The region is a vacation area during the summer months. This town and region have much to offer, yet the society's spiritual condition is disturbing.
With the pervasiveness of today's western culture, it's trappings can be found everywhere. Higher education, striving for a better income, filling life with the material possessions, and living a life that is full of every pleasure are just some of the standards in German life. Today, many would state they are a part of a denomination, yet very few people attend church. "Church" has become synonymous with religion, tradition, and boredom. It simply does not affect daily life. Just as in the United States, religion is available (if you need it). Statistics from northeast Germany show that 85% of the people claim to be atheists (there is no God) or agnostic (IF there is a God, he is not interested in me personally.) God wants to make His love for people known in Germany!
You can find all of these issues in any town in America. Germany is not the ONLY country in need of a renewed move of God, but it is where God has called us to share His love with others. Just as here in the United States, we are praying for God to raise up people who will listen, respond, and share the love of God.
A short history lesson
You may ask "Isn't Germany full of Churches?" The answer is YES. Most towns have a centrally located Catholic
or Lutheran Church. Many of the theology books, 75 years old or more, are
written in German. In the former East German city of Wittenburg, Martin Luther presented his "95
Thesis" stating things he felt needed "reforming" in the way the church operated. This led to the
Reformation and the founding of the Lutheran Church. Religious history runs deep in Germany, yet
religion does not change the hearts of people. It has hidden the message of the Cross for years.
Before World War II began, government leaders addressed church leaders. They specifically asked
for the help of pastors to build a strong country. In essence, they demanded church leaders work
with them. Those who did not join the ranks, like Dietrich Bonnhofer, were taken into custody or
silenced. This is just one of many events that helped dilute the message of Christ and the Cross
during the first part of the 1900's.
During World War II, many of the churches were damaged or destroyed. To help with rebuilding
efforts in the late 1940's, the government levied a 2% income tax to help with funding. That
tax exists today, but people are given the choice to un-register if they do not want to support
a church. This is yet another reason that people are not interested in attending or being a part
of an organized church.
Germany is in need of a fresh look at the Gospel of Christ. God desires to make Himself known to Germans again. This is the reason God has called us (and many other families) to Germany.