The purpose of our trip was to meet with strategic partners and catch a vision of how our church could join with them, support the work they were doing. We met with seminary leaders and men who train pastors to do the work of “church planting” – starting new churches.

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In Germany, our church focuses on supporting the work of starting churches, specifically encouraging existing church plants and serving pastors who want to launch more churches. We help financially and send mission teams to serve in the ministry to German people. In a sense, this is non-traditional Christian mission work since many of these new churches will remain as house churches, never organizing to function as most American churches do. I believe, though, it's reflective of how churches first organized in the years following Jesus’ resurrection.

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Our pastor friend, Philipp, had identified a large demographic of young people in Frankfurt who love video games and cosplay. Most of them have never attended a church service and know little about God and the gospel. They describe themselves as nerds. Philipp combined “nerd” and “church” and prepared to start the “Nerch”, a church for nerds.

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Our team flew to Frankfurt to help him with its launch. We provided American style barbecue, slaw, cornbread, baked beans and cobbler. Over 50 nerds came to the first service of Nerch. They played video games, enjoyed a good meal and listened as Pastor Philipp shared a gospel message. Nerch officially started that day. It was our privilege to meet these young men and women, have gospel conversations when we could, and share the love of Christ with them.

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We had offered a similar meal to an existing house church two nights before. We loved meeting its members, hearing and sharing stories of our faith, catching up with friends we’d not seen in a while and singing worship songs. We were encouraged to find ourselves among God’s people in a different land. He has his people everywhere.

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There was a little time for us to be tourists. We cruised on the Main River and enjoyed a day trip to Heidelberg. The old town, the Church of the Holy Spirit and the ancient castle on the mountain above the city amazed us. We walked, we ate, we took photos. 😊

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Gary and I were clearly the older ones on our team of 14. We’re so thankful the desire to reach and serve the people of Germany has been stirred in the hearts of the next generations in our congregation. They’re committed to return to Frankfurt and hope to see many come to faith in Christ and more churches begun.

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A stranger in the Newark airport asked me once why we were going all the way to Germany to do what we’re doing. My pastor gave me the reply I use today: “because people everywhere need Jesus.”

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