Summer Recap

One of the highlights for me this summer was getting to work on a team, got to travel to different cities, got to come alongside an existing church to encourage and assist in different components of their vision, and deepen friendships among laborers. In each location, it was a gift to rub shoulders with new friends and to see the local church motivated and excited in what God was doing through them. Dortmund – we got to help launch their first youth camp and help the community know who they are, where they are and see new people attend. In Berlin, their desire was for training on foundational components of being a disciple of Jesus. We were all extremely excited in what we saw God do (will elaborate with the next picture). In Cologne and Stockholm, we continued to engage the community and see new people open up for deeper conversations.

Story from Cologne…While out talking with people, some of our team got to talk with a man who at first was not sure if he really wanted to have a conversation about deeper questions. Yet as the discussion continued, he shared that he had recently had a terrible accident that left him and the doctors hopeless in his recovery. He then had a dream where a man in white, who seemed to be glowing, healed him. He woke up miraculously healed. The team was able to share that this man was Jesus. Hesitant, but curious, pray for him as the local team to follow-up and share more about the truths of Jesus.

Evangelism can be a strange word today. What does it mean, whose job is it, and what does it look like. One of the most striking things to me these past four weeks was how many people thanked me for opening up conversations that helped them think about deeper questions. Yes, there were many people who said no thank you to a conversation, but there were over three hundred people that said yes. And not only yes to answer questions about their worldview and belief system, 64% of the people wanted to hear what the Bible had to say. People were curious and stayed in conversation wanting to ask questions and learn why Jesus matters. It was amazing to get to part of many of these conversations. Please join us in praying for the seeds that were sown these weeks and that they would grow in good soil!

What’s next? Friday the next team comes! Here is Stockholm we will receive two more teams to build on what has started. We have kicked off a language cafe, to build community and meet a practical need on Monday nights. Tuesday afternoon the neighborhood kids have requested we resume kids club. Friday nights we have a bible study. It was great to already see new people show up to these activities and looking forward to seeing what can be built up these coming weeks!

Financial update. I am still looking for/praying for new monthly commitments so that I can stay in the harvest full time. This past summer project confirmed once again that there is a great opportunity to work full-time towards the vision of engaging least reached people. Please join me in praying for this need. If you know someone, please put us in touch. If you’d like to join the team, you can get started here.

Half way through

The first week of our summer project was in Dortmund, Germany. We spent the week coming alongside a local church in helping them launch their first summer youth camp, advertising who they are in the community, hosting a discipleship training and having a great time!

I was amazed in some of the conversations I was able to have, specifically with two young women. We discussed different worldview questions and explored how they came to these conclusions. When asked if they wanted to learn what the Bible says, they were open and curious. When asked what would be something I could pray for them in their lives, the response was for peace and faithfulness from others. You could feel the hurt they carry and the hunger them seem to have to figure out to walk well in this life regardless of what is happening externally. Would you join me in praying for Marlene and Nexie?

Our team then traveled to Berlin. Again we came alongside a local church to participate in some of the goals that they had. We hosted a training in how to engage in conversations, ask questions and share faith. Getting to participate in their weekly gathering was also a gift. It is always a wonderful experience to worship God in another language! There was a group of 15 to 22 of us that would go out each day to talk to people. About one third of the people we approached were not interested in having a conversation. Yet 42% of the people welcomed not only a conversation but wanted to learn about Jesus and what the Bible says. It was an incredible opportunity to see hearts opening up to learn and discover.

Honestly, I was overwhelmed by the number of people that said yes when I asked if they wanted to hear my story and what the Bible taught. I also enjoyed getting to talk to people that grew up in the GDR and learn more about their perspective with the Berlin Wall opened. I admit I had many moments of being overwhelmed with the history, experiences of the lives lived here in East Berlin, and opinions and perspectives developed coming out of this history. Please pray for those we got to converse with would continue to seek truth, visit the church and follow up with someone from the team.

This week we are in Cologne, Germany and then the team heads to Stockholm. Again please pray for the next month. I will get to host three teams between August 11th and September 12th, and then have a recent university grad come alongside the work for two weeks after that. Another full month, and excited about what the Lord will do!

This ministry is made possible by people like you. Thank you for the support you continue to give in emails, letters, phone calls, prayer and the finances. I’m still praying for new monthly financial supporters to bring my account to a healthier position, if you are able to be an answer to this prayer, click here! Talk soon! Blessings, Sarah

Happy Summer!

Euro LiNC has kicked off this past week. LiNC, Laborers Impacting the Nations for Christ, is a summer project started years ago to provide a push of energy, resources and God’s presence in a location to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. This year is the first cohort recruited solely from our side of the pond. Our team is made up of Americans and Germans visiting four cities during the next four weeks. We are coming alongside a local church assisting in outreach to the communities, providing training to the saints, and hope to encourage God’s bride in Dortmund, Berlin, Cologne and Stockholm. Please pray for favor, for connections, and for churches to be strengthened.
Local church in Dortmund
Never get tired of listening to Martin preach
A welcoming church family
After service discipleship training
Each morning we start with team time
Rode around handing out flyers inviting locals to camp this week
Day 1 setting up the tent and having a water fight
A brief snapshot for the past 2 days. This week the church will host a youth camp from ages 6 to 16. People we invited today already showed up! Pray for many more to come these next few days. We also had the opportunity to share good news with strangers in the park. Pray for more opportunities to engage the community here.

What comes next…

Friday – Head to Berlin

August 6 – Start in Cologne

August 10 – The euro-LiNC team lands in Stockholm

August 26 – A second team coming from Utah lands in Stockholm

September 4th – A third team from South Carolina lands in Stockholm

September 10th – Ella, a recent university grad, will spend three weeks in Stockholm

It is a full schedule. Praying for God to use this time to cultivate the soil, meet new people and start new groups while still supporting what is already happening!

Financial Update

As you may recall from the previous update, there is a push to find new monthly supporters in order to make the account I am responsible for more stable. The generosity of one-time gifts has been incredible, but in looking toward healthy funds for sustainable work, please continue to join me in praying for this support!

PRAISE report – $1150 has already been promised!

That leaves $850 more in monthly giving. If you are already a financial supporter, would you pray about someone you know that we could ask? If you are not yet a financial supporter, would you consider to become?

Here is the link, if you want to use it or pass it on! And please let me know if you’d like a video chat to talk more!