Break-through. Plain & simple.
I gave you a land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built, and you dwell in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant. Joshua 24:13 (ESV)
Note – all of the images in this post are clickable to enlarge.
Our new building in Munich
It was July 28. As I was on a call with my pastor, I got an email notifying us that our lease was being terminated. We had been able to pay our rent for over 1.5 years, but not for the second contract that we requested to exit at the beginning of 2024. We began to pray. And search. After 3 weeks, during a Friday night prayer meeting, I felt impressed to check a church (New Apostolic Church) that I had considered to ask if we could use their facility. On Google Maps is stated, “Permanently Closed.” Curious, I drove there after our prayer meeting and prayed there. I found a number in the display case and called and left a message. I followed the link to the website, found an email and wrote it. Then we went out of town. While driving back, I got a call from a realtor asking if I was the one interested in the building. Asking if I was interested in seeing the property, I said yes. “How about 1:30pm tomorrow? I will be in Munich,” she replied. So we met, and the building was more than I expected for the rather small footprint.
After the initial viewing, I emailed and expressed our interest. Then radio silence. Finally I got an email from another person at the real estate agency regarding the utilities. The only time, due to vacations, that we could meet was October 9. 6 weeks after our first view. So, going only on pictures we took in our first visit, the rest of the body had to follow the decision without having seen the building. So we signed the contract on the second viewing when only 2 other saints could see the church building.
The building has everything we need. There are pews. Chairs. Tables. There were even paper towels and toilet paper in the restrooms. Therefore, the verse at the beginning of this update. Rev. Jeffrey Harpole preached our Opening Service, an arrangement that was made even before the lease termination that set it all in motion. He had just preached and taught at our Elisha Conference in Bern, Switzerland the days beforehand.
Afterward we had a fellowship meal in the foyer – the only other space outside of the sanctuary which we could use – and it was filled with guests. We had several first-time visitors with us as well as saints coming from Heidelberg and Fürth to join us.
New Place, New Births
Just last week, I got a call from a sister in the Church of Acts in Bonn, Germany. She had been having online Bible Studies with a Filipino group – of 54 people and typical attendance of 20 or so – and there was a member living near Munich that wanted to be baptized!
So Sister Marie and Sister Anjela both traveled serveral hours by train to accompany the other sister wanting to be baptized. While they were doing that, yet another sister decided to be baptized as well. They arrived at the church and had a Bible study together in the foyer over coffee before service.
So we baptized them both in Jesus’ name – and the sister below received the Holy Ghost after being baptized!!
In addition to the 2 out-of-town sisters and the two baptizees we also had 3 other first-time visitors and 3 second-time visitors. This is as many visitors as we had all last year. The location where we are >
< is much better placed than where we were, a 3 minute walk from train, subway, tram, and bus.
Elisha Conference
We were blessed to have Rev. Jeffrey Harpole with us to teach and preach at Elisha Conference in Bern, Switzerland. He preached powerfully both nights and taught during the days.
He and Sister Harpole hosted a Question and Answer session, fielding many questions and giving their insights on many topics.
... and beyond
After Elisha Conference, we had the Harpoles in Munich for a brief visit and to be with us in service. We had a great time of fellowship and a chance to see Dachau and some of the sights in Munich.
Jewish synagogue in Munich, St. Jakobsplatz
Now that God has provided a miracle for us, He is also challenging us to greater faith. We must rise to the occasion.
Regarding our building situation in Munich.
Accepting The Challenge
Bulgarian Church
After our second service in Munich-Moosach, two young men came in to the church during our coffee fellowship. They told me that God had sent them and that they were looking for a place to meet, as a church of about 70 people. I asked them to come back with their pastor, which they did after the service.
We had a good conversation where we spoke of faith and doctrine, where I learned that they believe in one God, baptism in Jesus’ name and receiving the Holy Ghost with the sign of speaking in tongues.
I suggested that in order to get acquainted that they come back with a group next week. They came with a group of about 25 people for the opening service, before they had to leave for their service at 1pm. They worshipped emphatically, and were very attentive to the word.
The next week, I was invited to be with them for their service, and the pastor asked that I preach for them. So I did. They had exuberant worship, heartfelt prayer, and were very attentive to the preaching.
We are praying that the Lord lead us in our next steps working together with this group of Turkish-speaking group. I have the impression that there are many people that need apostolic training.
Please Pray with us!
- Effective follow-up with new visitors
- Bible Studies and fellowship for new converts
- Wisdom in our next steps with the Turkish-Bulgarian church
- Finances and administration for the new building
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