Appointment with God
(7/1/2009)
Join God's work to see spiritual breakthrough in Europe.
By: Prayer Communique staff
Telling most Germans you're an evangelical Christian is a great way to shut down a good conversation. My wife Sue and I have found that to be true in Cologne, Germany, so we were pleased when God provided an opportunity to have a spiritual discussion with a nonbelieving couple before "religion" came up.
God literally brought Andreas and Nora* to our table at an Italian restaurant. It's one of those places where all the tables are large and designed for sharing with other customers. While most Germans are cordial but keep to themselves, this couple warmed to our greeting right away. We enjoyed hearing about one of Andreas' businesses and Nora's job at the telephone company. The fact that I'm a pastor came up about two hours into our chatting, and when it did, they wanted to know more.
"We're starting a liturgical Protestant church," I said, "and our second monthly service happens to be next weekend."
Three other creative couples have joined Sue and me in our desire to reach out to "cultural Catholics" here in Cologne--those who keep their membership in the church only because they want the church available if they need it. Then there are couples like Andreas and Nora, who removed their church membership so they don't have to pay the mandatory tax. Many Europeans are separating from state churches for that reason and because they didn't have a choice to join, having been baptized into membership as babies.
The goal of having a liturgical church is to help people worship in a way that's comfortable to them, emphasizing the Gospel message in the ritual. Our prayer is that people will be inspired to put their faith in Jesus.
Andreas and Nora talked with us at the restaurant until midnight, and they expressed interest in coming to the worship service. We exchanged business cards, so later in the week I emailed them a friendly reminder about the service. To our delight, they came!
Though Andreas and Nora didn't participate in Communion, after worship we talked for a while. "The service was so moving," Nora said. "We've never been to a service as personal as this."
They weren't able to stay for the meal after worship because Andreas had an appointment, so I jokingly offered to write him a note excusing him from the commitment. I said, "I'll write, 'Andreas could not come because he had an appointment'--and he broke in and finished the sentence: 'with God.'"
We shouldn't be surprised when we encounter people who are spiritually open. The team of missionaries here has invested considerable time prayerwalking. The Greater Europe Mission family is standing with us to see spiritual breakthrough in this city where so few people have a relationship with Jesus. In fact, we've invited GEM missionaries throughout Europe and anyone else who would like to join us this fall for a week of prayerwalking and seeking out people of peace (see Luke 10). Prayer is tilling the hard soil in our city, and we believe that God wants to make it fertile ground for His Spirit to move. Will you stand with us as we seek a breakthrough in Cologne?
*Names changed.
Country Relation
Germany
July 2009 Prayer Communique 
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