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"YOU ALL HAVE GOT THE WALL."
Currently there are four BMW units working in Berlin, and we also have the privilege of working alongside the German Inland Mission and one of their missionary couples. There is always more to write about than there is time to read it, so we will leave general facts about our home for you to look at when you have time. We want to give you a more personal look at what God has been doing in our neck of the woods… "WOHER KOMMT IHR?" ("WHERE ARE YOU FROM?") The work in
Berlin began over ten years ago. The Sweets and Willoughbys and
Chris Sears moved into the city from southern Germany. They immediately
began work with some German Christians, and through many seasons
of prayer and Bible study, witnessed the birth of a church in East
Berlin. It continued to grow and mature, and with the Lord as Master
Builder holding His plumb line, we have seen the church go through
a great many hard and yet good times. The Master is always straightening
us out! In January of 2004, the leadership of the church was handed over to a group of five German elders. A group of seven deacons joined them in May of 2006. The church (called Christen in Marzahn/Hellersdorf or CMH) continues to function steadily under the capable leadership of these men. "WAS MACHT IHR?" ("WHAT DO YOU DO?") As a team, we
are committed to the following purpose:
In the midst of this question, the Lord continues to develop some key ministries in Berlin. Both Albrecht Schmidt and Dan Willoughby are helping a Vietnamese ministry develop. Chris Sears and Dan Willoughby and Philip Sweet are trying to see relationships started with hearing impaired people. Briana Efta is checking out the possibilities of a Polish ministry. Debbie Willoughby, Linda Sweet, Chris Sears and Barbara Schmidt are active in counseling and discipleship.
We could live and work in Berlin forever and there would always be a great deal of significant work to do. The philosophy of many Germans, especially here in East Berlin, is one of apathy and atheism. When asked about Jesus Christ, many people would say, "I do not know who Jesus Christ is." Consumerism is trying to fill the void in people's lives, but to no avail. Many are lonely and disillusioned. The state churches (Lutheran and Catholic) have long since departed from the true Gospel. The 3.5 million, sprawling city of Berlin is deeply in need of ordinary Christians to boldly and faithfully live Christ-like lives. Despite all of this, the team has felt the Lord's call to develop a different outlook for the future. Much of our heart will stay in Berlin. Yet, remembering that the Lord is the one building His church, we are seeking His will about where to continue serving in that process. "WOHIN GEHT IHR?" ("WHERE ARE YOU GOING?!")
We are looking for FACT people who can join us:
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The
first picture of Berlin in your mind is probably that of the Berlin
Wall or the "Berliner Mauer," as they say over here. Although
that story began and ended years ago, the divide between the east
and the west continues to this day. The borders have blurred a little
since 1989 (when the Wall was brought down and Communism collapsed
in Eastern Germany), but the people are still greatly divided in
culture, work ethics, and values. You can generally tell which side
of the city a person is from by their philosophy of life. 
We
value our relationship to the Lord and to each other and so we meet
every week to pray and to plan together. These meetings are vital
to this stage in our development as a team of church-planters in
Berlin and in northeast Germany. Because the church-plant in Berlin
has become fully-rooted, we are in the process of making some important
decisions about the future. In essence, we are saying, "Well,
what do we do next?!"
Also,
there are three daughter churches developing from the main church.
All of them are in very different stages. One began full services
in January and has officially become a church. Another is still
meeting only once a month and is in the starting phase of church
planting. The third is in the very preliminary stages. A further
Bible study east of Berlin is also seeking the Lord's will as to
becoming a future church.
Much
of the area surrounding Berlin (called Brandenburg) has no churches.
We believe that the Lord would have us to begin to spread out into
the outlying areas around Berlin. Where that could be is one of
the hardest questions confronting us now, but that is for God to
show us when it is His time. We do know that in order to really
do our job correctly, we will need more people!
We
would like to say that the two most important qualities, in people
that we are seeking, are primarily available and teachable. Being
faithful is a lifelong process and communication is something that
we are continuing to learn as the years go by! We hope that you
will think about coming over here to join us. Come and see us and
get to know what we are doing, and think about if God wants to place
you here. We would love to get to know you! We are eager for more
hands, more heads, and more hearts! Contact 
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