March

Uli talks to a Berlin student.

“If we are going to do something in Berlin,” says Uli Täuber of the German university ministry, “it must be good, and we must do it with lots of people.” Campus für Christus Germany has long been interested in Berlin, due to its influence and its status as capital city. In fact, when Campus Crusade for Christ first came to Europe, Berlin was one of the first places in which they set foot. But in recent years, the resources were not there to do more than maintain a small ministry presence.

Then God began bringing together the pieces to enable a more substantial outreach. First, the Agape Europe leadership designated Berlin as one of the international “mega-cities” that would become a ministry priority in the coming years. Berlin has always been influential, points out Clemens Schweiger, director of the German ministry. Now that the government of a unified Germany is based there once again, its strategic position is growing. It’s also a bridge between Eastern and Western Europe, due to its history.

As Berlin — a cosmopolitan, international city – once again takes its place on the world stage, it is becoming ever more strategic. “If you influence Berlin,” says Clement Schweigers, director of Campus für Christus Germany, “you influence the world.

Second, the American STINT program began looking for a new German city in which to partner. “We have had a good experience with the STINT team in Freiburg.” says Uli. ”In seven years they have gone from 0 students to about 70.” Now that the STINT work in Freiburg is finishing, the Americans are available to partner with Berlin.

This year 13 STINTers are in Berlin, working on three different universities. “We want to develop a German-American partnership in Berlin,” says Uli. “We don’t have the resources for a large team, but last year, we sent a German missionary project here in the spring, and it went well. For German students, it is exciting to come and do evangelism in Berlin. And next year we plan to send one or two campus staff members.”

Finally, God began drawing other staff members to the city. An organisation called “Together for Berlin” arose to build unity between the churches. People who had been involved as students years ago reconnected with the ministry.

“The Berlin ministry has never produced big numbers,” says Julie Erickson, who has served in Berlin for 35 years, “but those who did become Christians were leaders. And many are now working in government or industry.”

The Berlin team enjoys spending time with each other. At their monthly meeting, they often talk about how they can support each other’s ministries. Here Joe Hartung talks about a recent event he held for people in the business world.

We want to provide brief glimpses of some of the people God is calling to work with Campus für Christus in Berlin, and the outreaches they are developing. They are coming together as a city team, working closely to support each other’s ministries and laying a solid foundation for long-term impact.

“My prayer is to see a movement develop in Berlin,” says Clemens. “As a mechanical engineer, I know that “movement” means something is rolling and creating energy. The team in Berlin is starting to create energy, though it is still fragile. And for this I say, “Hallelujah!”

Julie Erickson has been reaching students in Berlin for more than three decades.

“The troops need two things to survive,” said Dr. Bill Bright’s assistant to Julie Erickson many years ago. “They need soup and warm socks. And second, never give up ground that you have won through blood, sweat and tears.”

Julie never forgot those words. She has been in Berlin for 35 years, usually reaching out to international students and running a weekly book table at the Free University. The Berlin ministry has been sometimes bigger, sometimes smaller, but Julie has been a pillar through it all. “I can stay here and hold the ground until the troops come,” she says. “I can give them soup, and I can give them warm socks.”

Over the years, Julie has developed several convictions about how to reach a mega-city. For example, she believes the staff team needs to be a small community, caring about each other, encouraging each other, even living near each other when possible. Otherwise they get swallowed up by the city and grow discouraged.

Monte and Anne Keltner opened their home to the Berlin team, which met for many months in their living room.

A year ago God brought a retired couple to the Berlin team who have joined Julie in “feeding the troops and providing warm socks.” In fact, Monte and Anne Keltner have served as the glue that holds the team together and help provide that sense of community. They moved into an apartment near Julie, where Campus für Christus people have historically lived, and began serving the team in endless small ways. “The Keltners have opened their home,” says Julie, “whether it is for a staff meeting, an evangelistic Thanksgiving dinner or a pancake breakfast for international students. They provide the framework for things to happen.”

“I thank the Lord for the Keltners,” says Clemens Schweiger, director of Campus für Christus Germany. “They are friendly and show hospitality to the rest of the team, and they make a difference.”

Adapted from Agapé News, the publication of Agapé UK

Right at the start of January, some 300 gathered in Nottingham to attend Fireseeds, Agape UK’s new conference for students and graduates. People with a passion for Jesus came from universities across the country, and as far away as the Middle East.

Each day began with worship and prayer, and included Bible teaching and discussions of questions facing students and graduates ready to devote their lives to the Great Commission. People could explore possibilities in the mission field and in the work-place. And there was time to connect deeply with other believers facing the same questions.

The concept of “fireseeds” paints the picture of a burning fire, with embers, or seeds, being carried by the wind to start new fires elsewhere. As people return home from the spiritual fire of the Fireseeds conference, they can spark new spiritual fires wherever they go.

“I’ve got the most burning desire to share the Good News with everyone I meet!” said an Oxford student who began following Christ seven months ago. “Fireseeds provided amazing teaching to prepare me for evangelism next term. And perhaps the most inspiring thing was the worship with hundreds of other people sharing your love for Jesus.”

On the penultimate day of the gathering everybody went out to different areas in Nottingham to share the gospel – even a local prison. Hundreds went out in faith and that afternoon a small handful of people became Christians.

“There were many things that needed to happen,” said conference director Andy Dixon, “but God smoothed the way and it’s all worked out better than we could have imagined. People came, got inspired and did indeed leave to become fireseeds in their own communities.”