Fröhliche Weihnachten
Wishing you and your family a most wonderful Christmas and a blessed 2022 with these German Winter impressions. Jesus Christ is indeed the Light of the World! Continue reading Fröhliche Weihnachten
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The Light of the World
In the Land of Luther, where today only some 6% of the population have an active Christian faith, how would you go about connecting people with the centrality of Christianity? You could hardly do better than what the Liebfrauen-Überwasser church in Münster has done in their temporary LUX3 exhibition. For starters, this 800-year-old church is … Continue reading The Light of the World
My Heart for Very Joy must Leap
As Lula’s, Lillian’s, and my first year as missionaries draws to a close, we are so grateful for all of you who continue to pray for us and support us as we share the Gospel here in the Old World—in German and Persian (Farsi). But we have even more to be thankful for: While we … Continue reading My Heart for Very Joy must Leap
The Cost of Discipleship
Have you ever concealed the fact that you are Christian? Perhaps because at your place of work or in your social circles being a follower of Christ is “not cool”? Some people are not afraid to stick their neck out for Jesus—or their arm. I recently met a young man who hails from a Muslim … Continue reading The Cost of Discipleship
Receive the Lord’s Gifts Often
Things are kicking into gear now with my ministry to Persians. Last week I rented an apartment (photo) in a Hamburg neighborhood with a very dense population of Iranians and Afghans. Considering my still modest Persian language skills, I am very grateful for the patience and support of my brother pastor Rev. Marko Turunen, sent … Continue reading Receive the Lord’s Gifts Often
Thanking God for His Gifts!
James 1:17 reminds us that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.” This Thanksgiving, Lula, Lilly and I are grateful for the many gifts the Lord has bestowed on us these past twelve months: the privilege of being sent abroad to share Jesus Christ in a brand-new environment … Continue reading Thanking God for His Gifts!
Do I HAVE to Forgive?
Traveling on the ICE bullet train today, I walked to the dining car to have a cup of coffee. I saw a young German soldier sitting at a table and asked whether I might sit across from him. I thanked him for his service, and we chatted a bit. He said he has only been … Continue reading Do I HAVE to Forgive?
Riga Luther Academy Intensive
One of this month’s highlights was the first real-life get-together of Riga Luther Academy’s students and staff—at a one-week intensive at the Old Latin School and “Kolleg” in Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Germany. After “knowing” one another only from Zoom, it was a joy to finally meet in person. Students and staff from Latvia, Bulgaria, Romania, Italy, … Continue reading Riga Luther Academy Intensive
Paths to Lutheranism
I highly recommend listening to these personal stories of people who journeyed from various religious beliefs (or none) to Confessional Lutheranism. If anyone is interested, my story from agnosticism to Confessional Lutheranism is also in this collection. Continue reading Paths to Lutheranism
Largest Persian-Speaking Congregation
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 … Continue reading Largest Persian-Speaking Congregation
The Tiews in Germany 