Lula and I recently had the privilege of visiting with Rev. Dr. Gottfried Martens of Trinity Lutheran Church (SELK) in Berlin-Steglitz. Dr. Martens is the sole pastor of what is possibly the largest congregation of Persian-speaking Christians in all of Europe. They have some 1,500 members—1,300 of whom hail from Iran and Afghanistan. In this COVID-era Dr. Martens sometimes leads up to 25 services a week to ensure that as many congregants as possible receive the Lord’s true body and blood for the forgiveness of their sins and spiritual sustenance. In addition, Trinity Berlin-Steglitz is the temporary home of thirty Iranian men. Even though all of them are baptized communicants and have been Lutherans for a long time, the German government believes these men converted only to receive a residence permit in Germany. As such, it is trying to deport them, which would most likely result in their execution in their homeland. Yet, amazingly, even in the 21st century, Germany still recognizes church asylum and so Trinity Berlin is granting it to these men: if they remain on church property, they are safe from deportation. Lula and I got a chance to meet with them and we were greatly encouraged by their strong faith in Jesus Christ. The Lord is clearly blessing the Persian ministry of LCMS/SELK in Berlin, Hamburg, Leipzig, and Dresden, and we are excited to join their ranks. Starting tomorrow I will begin working alongside our missionary colleagues in the two SELK congregations in Hamburg—attending their Persian-language Bible classes and soon making house calls to church members from Iran and Afghanistan. Praise God that the Gospel is being heard and received by countless people around the world and that so many from Iran and Afghanistan are being drawn to the Truth! Indeed, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ”(Rom 10:17, ESV)! (We were granted permission to take their picture and to report on this wonderful story).
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