On Saturday morning when it began to snow, the outlook for the Go-Church’s kick-off service in Germany didn’t seem very positive. The team had prepared. They had prayed. They had fasted. They had invited one person after another for the past 3 months. And they were standing in the faith that God was planning something great for this first public event as a new church.
On Saturday morning when it began to snow, the outlook for the Go-Church’s kick-off service in Germany didn’t seem very positive. The team had prepared. They had prayed. They had fasted. They had invited one person after another for the past 3 months. And they were standing in the faith that God was planning something great for this first public event as a new church.
But all day the snow kept piling up. And so did the cancelation calls. Roughly 40 people said, “Thanks for the invite, but I just can’t go out in this at night.” Regardless, the team kept preparing, kept trusting - God would bring the ones who most needed to be there.
One might say there was reason for doubt, but faith is the opposite of doubt. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (ESV) Faith doesn’t look at the obstacles. Faith focuses on the heart of God - and his heart has been crying out for this city in Germany.
Regardless of the fact that 8 inches of snow had dropped throughout the day, 100 people showed up that evening! (This is a HUGE number by German standards.) Most of them were non-Christians. Several had never before been in any kind of worship service in their entire lives. It’s as if this community has been waiting for a life-giving church....and God was waiting to fill it!
God builds puzzles! This story of one woman illustrates this so well. Kathi grew up in Berlin under very sad circumstances with parents who were alcoholics. Her situation was so bad that on her own initiative, she went to live in a children‘s home at the age of 14. Some years ago she moved to Dresden with her partner and three kids. Sadly, her partner was not much different from her parents and life was a struggle for Kathi. She is a strong person and has always been a fighter, so she was determined that her kids were going to have a better childhood than she did.
The Walents invited them to church and Kathi and her two daughters came. They said they had never before experienced such a wonderful service . Josi kept coming every Sunday. As things got even worse at their home, the Walents invited them to come to a family camp in October. Kathi and the two girls came. The last night there, Kathi and Josi sat down on the “blessing seat“ in the prayer room. Christina Walent asked what they wanted prayer for, and Josi cried and said she would so much like for God to accept her. After talking to them, Josi and Kathi gave their hearts to the Lord. All of heaven threw a party as God wrote two new names in the Book of Life!
AGWM personnel in Germany, John and Kristen Koeshall relate how God is at work among the University students in Erfurt. From time to time, student groups from the United States come to help in ministry and outreach with Students for Christ in Europe. One of those American students, Molly, shares an exciting story from her second trip.
Aiyanna, (pictured 3