When you think of Germany, what comes to mind? The Oktoberfest? Fine cars? Martin Luther? While all this is still true, Germany is in some ways quite different from what it was only a generation ago. Almost 20% of the people living in Germany today are refugees, having arrived in the past ten years. And over one quarter of the population has a so-called “migration background”—mostly from Muslim countries. At the same time, this demographic shift provides a huge potential for evangelization among the immigrants from Iran and parts of Afghanistan. LCMS missionaries are bringing Jesus Christ to these Persians who, in turn, are sharing Him with friends and family back in their homelands, whom we cannot reach directly. The result of this mission work by the LCMS (and other groups)? About one third of Iranians back home are now secretly Christian!
*** And now you can witness God’s work here in Germany first-hand: join us next year for a stunning experience that will take you to important Reformation sites, but will also provide a deeper understanding of the spiritual condition of the “new Germany.” We’ll pray in the Wartburg in Eisenach, where Martin Luther translated the New Testament into German; meet Persian-speaking immigrants in Leipzig and hear about the amazing mission work being done there; witness a Divine Service conducted by Rev. Dr. G. Martens in his congregation of Persian asylum-seekers at Trinity Lutheran Church, Berlin-Steglitz; and visit the LCMS’ Eurasia Center for Spreading the Gospel in Lutherstadt Wittenberg, where you will hear about our ministry to English and Ukrainian speaking expats. We invite you to partner with us in God’s mission in Germany from September 23-29, 2026. Estimated cost: $1,500 -$1,700 per person (airfare not included). For more information, please contact me at christian.tiews@lcms.org . To sign up directly, write Erin at Erin.alter@lcms.org . Hope to see you next September here in the “new Germany”!
You can take a look at the Wartburg right here:
The Tiews in Germany 