News from Berlin Summer Missions Trip

Students stayed with families in the church, cultivating strong relationships that were inspirational and faith building for all of us - the hosts and for us visiting. On the mission field, students spent each day from 9am to 4pm involved in evangelistic activities ranging from Bible discussions, personal Bible studies, evangelistic training, team building, and conversations with Berliners about God, faith, religion, faith, purpose, and eternity. We also did a lot of sharing of our faith. 

Thousands of students were reached out over the 7 week period and seeds of faith were planted in thousands of hearts that God can make grow. God blessed the efforts of the team as more than 40 Berlin students came to the bi-weekly discussions throughout the trip and over 30 students studied the Bible during the seven week mission! At the time of the team’s leaving, 15 students were still studying actively studying the Bible and continued to do so with members of the church.

The students were also able to bond with and inspire the church while they were living in Berlin. Countless dinners, conversations, and hang out times created strong relationships between the Berliners and Americans. The church demonstrated its love and affection for the group constantly! At the final going away dinner, as more than 20 members of the church came to eat with the team, share about how they were impacted and inspired. They sent us home with love. While in Berlin, the team was able to play volleyball every week with members of the church, eat in their homes, go to house churches, midweeks, and devotionals with different groups within the congregation. We even participated in the Berlin church's annual community triathlon and attended the 20^th anniversary service for the congregation. It helped to make the celebration great. The team was invited to sing “Men Who Dream” at the 20^th anniversary service. The song was received with thunderous applause as the song moved the hearts of the disciples to dream again and think about the next 20 years.

 

In summary, the overall expectations of this summer mission were achieved in great ways! God worked powerfully through the team to reach many students, and move their hearts toward a knowledge and love of Him. God also moved to bring unity and faith to the Church through the students that came. Many brothers and sisters shared about how inspired, challenged, and edified they were by the disciples that came from the US. A true family bond was created, as many tears were shed during the goodbyes at the final worship service and dinner that followed. By faith, this team of thirteen disciples went to Berlin to serve the Lord and his people. As we went about God’s mission, his Spirit worked powerfully through all! To him be the glory through Christ!

To see more from IMS and the churches supporting their work go to www.missionssociety.org.  Click to read IMS' Milan story.